MONDAY, 9/15/14
The weather today is gorgeous. It’s clear, and not too hot. I stop by the wet market for some fruits and vegetables. After lunch I went over to Metro for our weekly grocery run. Later in the afternoon I decided to scout out some bike shops. I’m beginning to get the urge to buy an E-bike. Several of the teachers at my school have bought them, and are enjoying them. I’m trying to balance my desire to own one against the realization that it’s about to turn cold and I won’t have much time to use it before winter arrives here.
I got on my bicycle and rode around the neighborhood, checking out the different shops and pricing. There are some interesting options. On most of them, the battery can be pulled out, carried to the room, and charged. Prices vary based on the size of the battery, etc. No driver’s license is required if the e-bike has pedals (just in case the battery dies). Right now I’m leaning away from making a purchase, but we’ll see where I am in week.
TUESDAY, 9/16/14
It’s another beautiful day for a bike ride. I get moving around 11:00 and head over to the table tennis club. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve played. As usual, I’m anxious about whether or not I’ll find someone to play with. Many of the players come with pre-arranged partners.
I walked in, found my usual hangout area, pulled out my stuff, and began to watch some of the groups playing. After 5 minutes, a lady came over, and we exchanged pleasantries, as best we could with the language issue. She asked if I wanted to play, and I pulled out my net, set it up, and we started. We played for about 20 minutes before she had to leave. I sat back down, and 10 minutes later, another lady came over to play. We volleyed for about 15 minutes, and then her husband walked over and replaced her. He was a much tougher challenge, but my game has improved. Last spring, he would have destroyed me, but I was able to hold my own today. Every player has different spins and speeds, but I’m better at reading the changes, and reacting quicker.
They eventually had to leave, but as they departed, a younger guy walked up. I offered to play and he accepted. This guy played at an entirely new level for me. He started slowly enough, but I caught flashes of speed and spin I had never faced before. After about 10 minutes, he started trying to coach me. He struggled with most of his explanations, but kept working at it, and I eventually began to make some adjustments. It’ll take me some time before I’m comfortable with the adjustments, but I’m going to work on his suggestions. I ended up playing for about 3 hours.
On my way home, I stopped off at the bike shop and replaced the rear inner tube. I purchased a new one 2 weeks ago, but it has been losing air. I asked about fixing it, and was told 100rmb. I asked about a new one, and the price was 30 rmb?
Freshly repaired. I continued toward the apartment. I stopped at a nearby “gym” looking for a pool. It’s a decent place, but not great. I think my best bet is the pool/gym here in the complex. It costs 3000rmb a year. It’s not as nice as the other spots, and certainly not as nice as the Marriott. Since BISS has moved their gym contract to a different hotel, it’s much less convenient. I can’t beat the UHN location. It’s less than 50 yards, door to door, from our apartment building.