Learning Life Lessions All Over the Place

This weekend, we made our trip down to the beach in Kending. It was a learning experience.

Lesson #1: I Hate Traveling.

No, really. It's extremely stressful and I get extremely sick. At one point as I was curled into a ball battling severe naseua and intestinal cramps, a truly bewildered Paul suggested I demand a rebate on my body, as he was aware of no circumstance under which it worked completely properly. (This is not quite true, obviously.) He also said he had no idea how my body was meant to move, since it was crippled by every mode of transportation. (This is actually not true: neither trains nor boats give me any trouble. Clearly, I was meant to travel only in the late 19th-early 20th century.) Apparently, I also travel in a state of "cat-like readiness," caused by the stress of unfamiliar and poor directions. Oh, and I lost my purse on the bus. And forgot the camera at home (although we bought a disposable one at 7-11). All of this reminded me why I never go anywhere.

Lesson #2: Lonely Planet's "Mid-range" Lodgings are Jennifer-rated "Minimum Acceptable."

We stayed at the Kending Youth Activity Center. I'm not really sure why it's called that, but it's a replica of a traditional Fujian-style village. Basically, it's like living in the old buildings in Lugang or an old temple. The room was small, but comfortable, air-conditioned, and clean. Also, they gave us bottled water, real towels, and adorable little bags with a washcloth, toothbrush and toothpaste, shower cap, shampoo, and soap inside. You are no doubt thinking, that sounds pretty good. Why does that merit a "minimum acceptable" rating? Because I'm a hotel snob. I believe in only staying in hotels that are at least as nice as one's home, ideally better. Anyway, the important thing was that it was a five minute walk to the beach.

Lesson #3: The Beach is the Most Awesome Place Ever.

I want to live on the beach--in a tent, eating only coconuts, mangoes, and papayas off random trees by the road if that's what it'll take--every day for the rest of my life. And I hate camping, mangoes, and papayas. (Coconuts are okay.) The first day, I stayed until the sun went down and the second day, Paul had to pry me away so we wouldn't miss check out. I don't know if he would had been successful if it wasn't kind of stormy. I picked up like a billion pieces of coral, but whittled them down to four pieces. I also didn't wear any sunscreen because I was seized by the "hey, I'm not Scandanavian, forget this!" whim. I don't think I can stress lesson #3 enough. I really, really, REALLY like the beach.

I probably learned some other things, some of which might show up here later or not. I don't know. Just the thought of the beach has caused all other memories to dim by comparison.