Shanghai Noon on the Day of Water

Lighting crackled through the sky; lighting up the clouds around our plane like the flash on God's camera. Then, in the pitch black that followed, we started diving.

The stomach churning decent lasted several seconds before we regained a level flight path, but level hardly meant flat. Our small airliner was jostled around, with the first noticeable lateral motion I've ever felt on a plane, interrupted by more lighting. Some of it seemed so bright I would have guessed it actually went through the plane. The seat belt lights never went off, even after the quaking and lighting subsided.

It had all started much earlier, as I felt the first few raindrops on my neck after leaving the aquarium. I gave the rain more notice than usual because, unlike the frequent torrents Maryland experiences, Shijiazhuang rain was infrequent and light. I estimate that we have gotten less than two inches since I arrived. 

It didn't occur to me that the drops that I was feeling would lead to such a dramatic effect later, mostly because I was preoccupied by figuring out if the aquarium I had just left was really worth it. It had been pretty cool, perhaps a tier below the Aquarium I visited several times while I lived in New Jersey. They had a lot of the usual freshwater and jellyfish exhibits, as well as a neat underwater tube thing.  For an experience like that, I generally wouldn't have thought twice about the value of it, but it was on my mind because I had borrowed 100 rmb from Ruud to get in.

The moment I had to call out that loan was pretty awkward. We had just arrived at the gate, and there were several people in line behind me as I opened my wallet to pay for the 160 rmb ticket. 

Only to discovered that I only had 100.

I gave the teller a panicked look and left the line so the people behind me wouldn't have to wait. Then I had to admit to the group that I didn't have the cash, so Ruud spotted me some, making it possible for me to join them. I was really appreciative of that. Especially because I had run short of cash for a stupid reason.

The first day we arrived in Shanghai I had noticed an odd little shop right outside the hostel. This shop sold linear and rotation actuators and bearings, exactly the kind of thing I needed for one of my building projects back in the States. But, in America, I hadn't found a shop where I could see the pieces before I bought them and where I could buy in very small amounts. Also, I would bet that an American company would charge more than a small shop in Shanghai.

However, despite having this shop literally right under my nose all weekend, I hadn't had a chance to visit and carefully choose what I wanted. The last chance I had was Monday morning, just before I went with the crew to the aquarium, and I was a bit rushed.

I kind of budgeted 100 rmb, but that was flexible because I had no idea what to expect. So, when the guy quoted it at 130 I didn't even hesitate. Less than a minute after that transaction, we were heading to the subway and the purchase was secure in my bag and out of my thoughts. 

The rail and slider I bought didn't really surface again until I was at the airport. And where, of all the places in an airport would they resurface? Security check.

I had thought the 'loan in the middle of the gate' was a bad moment, but I could have sweated through a wool blazer when the airport security attendant pulled the odd, long metal object out of my backpack, giving it a suspicious glare. Until they were pulled form my bag, I never thought the rail and slider looked threatening, but in that moment I wasn't sure if the attendant would agree with me. She consulted more than once with the x-ray operator behind her. I wondered if they would give me translator when they pulled me aside.

Then, in a miraculous moment of benevolence, she put it back, zipped up the pocket and gave me my backpack.

It is comforting to me that every single unpleasant thing that happened that day, and on every day since, is over. But I'm glad I have the memories.

(For all the trouble that rail and slider caused me, until I sat here to write this post, I had forgotten that it was in the backpack I've used every day since then. Funny how things work, huh?)