A Bus Adventure

I was standing at the bus stop alone last week with about 50 people around me. There was not a single other caucasian. As I stood there, I thought how this would have scared me to go alone 5 months ago. Things have become a bit more familiar these last months.  Bus 21 came, and after riding it for about 20 minutes, I saw the name of the store where I was supposed to meet my friend, Gunjee.  The strange thing was that I didn't think that this was the right location.  I thought the store was bigger and brighter.  This one looked rather run down.  This was in an area of town I'm not super familiar with, so I jumped up from my seat and quickly got off the bus.  The bus pulled away, and I crossed the street to the store.  The more I looked around and walked up the street, the more I knew that I had definitely gotten off the bus at the wrong place.  (Since then, I have learned there are two stores on that side of town with the same name).  Now I had a dilemma.  I needed to get back on a bus...either the same number if another "21" came, or one that I thought might take me where I needed to go. I missed Bus 21 (the one I knew), since I was on the other side of the street during heavy traffic.  Once I got across, another bus came. I asked the conductor "Urgoo Kino?" (name of area where I needed to meet Gunjee)...and the conductor shook her head yes.

I wasn't nervous, but just mad at myself for making Gunjee wait (not a problem in this culture, but I still "live" in my culture sometimes!). I was wishing I knew more Mongolian so I could communicate more thoroughly with someone around me. I'm sure I sounded so dorky in Mongolian, making incomplete sentences! And forgetting to put the "question word" at the end of the sentence...instead, making a question sound with my voice and looking questioningly at the person. They probably think, "Poor American Woman!" Oh, well, I will take all the sympathy I can get!

There is a happy ending!  I DID find Gunjee at the bus stop which was about five minutes past the first stop where I had gotten off.  We had a great time with the hair cut experience and eating some pie at a nice bakery afterwards.  We were able to have a valuable conversation that day.  I am thankful for my friend, Gunjee, and the time I spend with her!