I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date…

No really. I was running soooo late for the ceremony. Of course I had everything planned out nicely but we hit a couple bumps along the way. First there was a miscommunication regarding transportation. We ended up with too many people so two of the group had to ride in a different furgon (van taxi). We also started later than we were supposed to due to this and other miscommunications. No worries, we had planned for possible delays. For some reason, no one seemed to be too concerned about the time, especially the driver. Argh. Now usually I appreciate that our driver is a safe driver and doesn’t pass or speed too often. However, this time I would have appreciated a little hustle.
We finally arrive and park a block or so south of the auditorium. Then I found out that leaving my luggage in the back of the van is not acceptable. Now don’t ask me why. I’m not sure if the back didn’t lock or if they didn’t think it was safe to leave it there. Lot of the time, life in a foreign country is a guessing game.
New plan, Liu (our furgon driver) and I will take my luggage to the hotel where I will be staying while everyone else heads to the auditorium. Yet again, Liu doesn’t drive like the crazy furgon driver that I need him to be right now. We get there, I drop off my luggage and back we go. For some reason, he takes a longer way. This might have been so he could more easily find a parking spot. Oh the parking spot. He turns down a street and starts to park along the street but then spies the car leaving from his spot on the other side of the street. Apparently that was the way better side because we waited for about a minute for the guy to leave. We then parked there but not to the liking of the store owner. He thought we were too close to his stuff. After we had parked and gotten out, the store owner insisted that Liu move the van a meter back (that’s about three feet for you non-metric people, hehe).
As they continued to discuss, I told Liu that I had to go. I couldn’t wait any longer. Especially since I had already been called by the people in charge, asking where I was. So off I ran, and I do mean ran. I’m sure I was quite the site. People in this country don’t hurry for hardly anything. Oh and I am wearing a long sleeve shirt with a tie. Oh and it’s already freakin hot outside. As I was sprinting, yep we moved onto sprint mode, I got another call asking where I was. I told her that I was close and was running as fast as I could. She said ok and just keep running!
I finally arrive at the side entrance of the auditorium and guard gives me a defiant stance. Now I am completely out of breath but luckily the director was standing just inside so I pointed to him and he waved me in. I walk to the stage and take my seat in the front row closest to the stage exit.
After sitting there a few minutes, one of the other volunteers took out a tissue and proceeded to help me wipe the sweat off my brow. Now that’s team work!
Of course I made it in plenty of time. Although it just occurred to me that perhaps the President and U.S. Ambassador were waiting for everything to be ready which means they were waiting on me. All right, I doubt that but you never know.
Oh and as soon as I took my seat on stage, I put my phone on silent. Normally a good idea but it meant that I didn’t realize that people were still trying to reach me. They thought I was coming in a different entrance. I guess I just assumed that they knew I had arrived. Oops. My bad.