阿拉回来鸟，中心思想有五条：

1. 没有受到罢工影响。

2. 终于去了卢浮宫。

3. 五日西班牙，狂爱西班牙啊。。。就是没人说法语，更没人说英语。

4. 疯狂大血拼，花掉本人近三个月工资，绝对心痛，可是超级有满足感，战绩如下：

      Ferragamo包包一只；

      Sonia Rykiel上衣一件；

      Thierry Mugler香水一瓶；

      其他souvenir以及巧克力等零食若干。

5. 冬天巴黎的气候糟透了。

 

稍后奉上本人平淡如白开水的游记以及风景照数张！

 

顶着日趋白热化的法国大罢工浪潮，阿拉周六要飞巴黎鸟，敬请期待本人的乌龙账、糊涂帐兼报流水帐。。。

画外音：我自以为记叙地还是蛮“惊险戏虐”的，可是报流水账了这么多，也够罗嗦的了，终于到了完结篇，我也挤不出啥故事了，就这样无聊地结束把。

P.S. 顺祝老姐6月的欧洲游愉快！么劲，阿拉好想能再白相下去阿~~~~~~~

 

4月12日—15日

4月12日清晨，我们搭着满是狗屎的汽车出发去瑞士。

路过枫丹白露宫，转了一圈，在第戎解决中饭，然后昏昏沉沉地进入瑞士境内，夜宿日内瓦，本来想晚上得闲出来探险，结果晚饭时喝了一杯白兰地，回到房间就趴床上睡着了。第二天来到洛桑，傍晚奔赴伯尔尼。这次阿拉没有醉，也没有被其他事拖住，就在晚上拿了张地图出来逛街。可是，人家早关门了，阿拉逛个屁阿，眼见越走越荒僻，仅有的一点方向感也要消失了，只好止步回酒店。可是，伯尔尼是个有趣的城市。楼房上有像“牛鬼蛇神”一样的雕塑；也许你脚底板旁开了扇门，拾阶而下，是酒吧或夜总会；弯曲的街道内，有橱窗布置很妖的erotic shop和sex cinema……好多建筑和街道，给我不仅陈旧的感觉，还有妖气和诅咒，大概是晚上的缘故。总之阿拉没能细看就回去睡觉了……第三天准备去苏黎世，路上经过好多漂亮可爱的小镇，真不想回来了阿。

好像在瑞士也没啥特别有趣的经历，每天太阳一出来就开始扛着boss的摄影包从东跟到西，一直到太阳落山，不是待命更换各种镜头，就是帮忙赶天鹅，要么就请boss中意的人群给他老人家摆pose，作孽啊……我们在一个小城镇的湖边碰到一身穿奇异服装的男子，显然他引起了boss的注意，也勾起了他强烈的摄影欲望，拍摄过程中，我们展开以下简短对话：

我们：why do you wear this kind of strange clothes?

男子：for a game.

我们：what game?

男子：someone has to find me.

我们：er~~~~~~

男子：yes, I’m waiting for my friends to find me.

阿拉继续各牢……

 

来到苏黎世，巧遇他们庆祝春天的游街活动，boss那个兴奋哟，紧跟队伍，阿拉这个小拎包的，只得跟着他负重狂奔。Boss吩咐阿拉跟队伍或居民聊聊，了解活动情况，阿拉开口第一句：do you speak English?人家摇摇头，茫然地看着我，我再硬着头皮问：francais？人家继续摇头。天哪，这里有人能和我说法语已经是很幸福的事了。后来Boss太投入，队伍里有人晕了过去也不晓得，只知道死命凑上去拍照，结果被人家鄙视了出来。拍照结束后，我们在一中餐馆吃了晚饭，饭后，大家在街头闲聊消化，boss递上一根雪茄，阿拉竟然鬼使神差地接了下来……我盘算着晚上继续出来，说不定还能碰上其他什么狂欢活动，结果被司机骗到乡下一酒店下榻，彻底灭了我夜游计划。顺便说一句，这次的留学生司机很不厚道，小盘算好多，背地里说人家坏话也很不道德，那就说到这里吧。

 

第四天早晨，大家便一路逛回巴黎去了。路上，大家找不到厕所，只好在一家家庭小旅馆里解决生理需要，顺便每人要了杯啤酒解渴。不晓得是我太没用，还是人家自制的啤酒太厉害，几口下肚后，我又趴了下来，临走前阿拉跌跌撞撞地走到老板娘面前说，您家啤酒可真厉害哟！

回到巴黎后，阿拉一身臭汗，又马不停蹄地跟着boss和L以及她带来的三个电视台滑头见面吃饭。因为大家要谈一个项目，boss很严肃地说，侬要帮我好好翻，搞得阿拉相当紧张，鉴于阿拉翻的比较糟糕，后来碰到要紧内容，L还是很不放心的用法语重复了一遍，阿拉那个汗哟……不愧是电视台混得，伊拉谈正经事还无聊笑话一大堆，把阿拉老实人兜得团团转，分不清伊拉在讲正经事还是开玩笑，还有个家伙谈到一半就失踪了，经他同伴提醒，发现早就溜到邻桌找美女去了……

终于吃完了，回到酒店打包准备回国。

 

4月16日

回国。

话说当日我和boss被丢在了火车站，M临走前看了一下站牌，站牌上还未跳出我们这班火车的信息，说我们的火车可能要变轨，我们信誓旦旦地说没有问题，人家就走人了。在继续讲我们的虚惊前，有必要先解释一个问题。火车票上最重要的信息，1是左边的始发地、目的地还有车次；2是右边的车厢号、座位号、是否无烟区、还有是否上下层。老实说，正常情况下哪里的车票都应该这样的吧。比较tricky，或者说对我这种糊涂虫来说比较tricky的是，人家的铁轨以及车厢都是voie这个单词，现在先假设我不知道有这层区别。

我们所在的站头的voie是用字母标示的，站牌上还未跳出我们的火车应该从哪个voie进，可是我们的火车马上就要到点了，我忙问工作人员，人家说你们的火车应该在另外一个站台，而且应该从voie9进。虽然这个voie号和我们车票上的voie18不相符，但我想这不正好符合M先前的提醒，说我们的火车要变轨嘛！于是就带着boss来到另一头的站台，找到voie9上的火车和我们的座位号，可是却看到我们的座位上已经有人坐着了，忙拿出车票和他们核对，人家噼里啪啦的法语我当然是没明白，好不容易catch到他说pas le train，终于明白阿拉上错火车鸟！慌忙下车，再找工作人员问，工作人员看了站牌叫我们回到先前那个站台再看那里的站牌，阿拉抽牢，领着boss狂奔到先前的站台，此时boss的脸色开始变得很难看，大家开始狂汗，人家是被我折腾出来的，我主要是冒冷汗……现在差不多已经到点了，该死的是周围没有一个工作人员，我抓住身边的清洁工就开问，不晓得人家是不愿回答呢还是真不知道，反正是又摇头又摆手的，满嘴的no no。阿拉pretend没看到boss的脸色，抛开boss冲到售票处去问，售票处队伍老长的，我等不了了，转身问身后一个准备买票的女士，人家还是满嘴的法语，我奇迹般地听到retard，又奇迹般地突然领悟到这是late的意思。Thank goodness，我终于能交待了。我回到站牌下，找到boss，说明了情况，看到周围原来一群人都在等，不过阿拉还是不放心，又问了身边一大爷，又一不说英文的，不过大家还是很艰难地确认了。

顺便说一句，到这个时候，我依旧还在把站牌上的voie和车票上的voie混在一起。

阿拉误点的火车终于来了。我们跟着人群走向列车。其实这个时候就应该根据车票上的voie找车厢了，我说过我还混乱着，所以刚坐定不久，又有一群人过来，显然我们占了人家的位子。可是当时，我还是掏出车票给他们看，同时心一凉，不会吧，又错了？！阿拉这一天内猜够了法语，继续指手画脚地跟他们确定，这回车是没有上错，就是voie，也就是车厢错了，这个时候我终于弄清这两个不同的voie分别是指什么。谢天谢地，阿拉不能再搞错了。于是再次带着boss死命冲到阿拉的voie和座位上，刚坐定没多久，车就开了！这车开得过程中还开开停停的，后来不断有announcement，神经质的我每次听到announcement就那个慌啊，直抓住身边的人问怎么了，怎么了。可怜大家还要互相用鸟语来揣测……

到了里昂后，一切还算顺利。

4月11日

完成任务后，下午乘车回到巴黎，准备接下来开始的瑞士四日游。

4月9日

没有早起成，而且临行前向boss汇报时，boss竟然一时兴起也要跟了出来，呃~~~，您别，可是阿拉没有胆子说出来，也不会编理由让他不要出来。

唉，于是我们只能热热闹闹地三人行。

先去我向往已久的拉雪兹神父墓。我其实只要看亲爱的王尔德，想想大老远的来了两回，就看一个好像太浪费了，个门，再找一个Jim Morrison吧，那个，阿拉就只晓得这两个咧。这里耽搁了很久，拉雪兹神父墓出来后，我们来到“美丽城”找中餐馆，接着赶往圣母院那一带，串烧看景点！

阿拉一路下来走马观花地看了圣母院，塞纳河，协和广场，蓬皮杜，新桥……（排名不分先后左右忠奸），结果来到卢浮宫的时候已经不早了，就外围逛了一圈，决定明早趁下午去里昂前再来一次。

我们在圣母院后花园向塞纳河眺望，每逢有游船经过时，就起劲地挥手瞎打招呼，看到船上有人也向我们挥手就最兴奋了，我们果然是无聊的女人。最好玩的是，我们向一船孩子挥手时，男孩子统统向上方抛飞吻，我们猛笑，再猛挥手……

经过新桥的时候，猛然想到这是拍“新桥恋人”的地方吧，果然是人多到一点情调都没有，再经M提醒，对拉，这也是Carrie和Big相拥的地方呢！

时间不早了，我们准备打道回府，回去的路上M先帮我们买好了去里昂的火车票，我们再回到“美丽城”继续吃中餐。不晓得是太累了还是什么，我喝了几杯啤酒就醉了。就在这神志不清的情况下，先和M把boss送到酒店，然后和M回她家，打包去里昂的行李，准备洗好澡休息，明天直冲卢浮宫。结果，由于不了解人家家里的水箱是哪能运作的，反正轮到我洗澡洗到一半就没有热水了，虽然巴黎天气好到吓人，可是晚上还是很冷的，么办法，阿拉只能洗冷水，这下，酒是彻底醒了……

4月10日

一大早，人家还在睡梦中的时候，阿拉就揣着本地图自行出发鸟！很兴奋地来到卢浮宫，看到门口有几个人晃悠，心里觉得不妙，果然阿，TMD，居然闭馆了，我……我……我无精打采地走出卢浮宫，心想，没劲阿没劲，接下来去哪里咧？查了下地图，临时决定去看奥赛美术馆和铁塔。

来到美术馆，天哪，队伍排得可真长，不管了，我好歹在巴黎得参观个什么馆的吧，幸好排了半个小时就轮到我了。

参观，拍照，出馆，去铁塔，喝，上铁塔的队伍更长，这回么法再耗下去了，就晃了一圈，找人给拍了照，然后忙着找地铁准备回学校和boss碰头去里昂了。

顺利回到学校，抱怨了一下我的背运，然后拎起包，由M送我们到火车站。由于M忙着赶回学校，我和boss就被晾在了火车站，接下来由于阿拉的糊涂和神勇，boss陪我大大地虚惊了一场……

到达亚眠后，在boss的催促下，找了份地图，开始找旅馆。先是连hotel都找不到，后来找到hotel，却没有空房，最后终于在街道某拐角处安顿了下来。刚卸好行李，又急着陪boss出去找地方拍照。

出了旅馆，大家兵分两路。M自管自办事，我和boss四处乱转，觅拍照处，选中了靠河的一条小巷。我手里紧攥着那张地图，几次三番想辨认出自己所在方位，结果还是凭记忆，按原路返回到先前和M分手的地方，大家会合后到旅馆等L接我们去吃饭。

我们来到一家叫les marissons的餐厅，就在先前靠河的小巷上，是L丈夫的姐姐所开。在法国几天几乎没一次吃的舒坦的，可是这家的法餐，阿拉还是真心感觉不错。

吃好饭，回旅馆已经凌晨，boss命令早晨6.30外出拍太阳，欲哭无泪啊……只有祈祷老天下雨……which is obviously impossible，来法的几天，天气好到吓人。

4月8日

清晨准时出发。因为亚眠很小，所以很自信地没有带地图出来，结果boss在我的带领下绕了数小时也没有找到昨天那条小河，眼看越走越不熟悉，我慌得不停找人问路。问题是阿拉一来不晓得小河法语怎么讲，二来那条小巷的地址也不清楚，其实即便阿拉晓得小河法语怎么讲，谁晓得亚眠有几条这样的河咧？没有办法，急中生智，阿拉把昨天吃饭的那家饭店名搬了出来。幸好那家饭店在亚眠很有知名度的样子，问的人都知道，问题又来了，他们指的路我哪能也听不明白，最后还是碰运气绕了出来，可惜太阳老早就升起来鸟！对了，在拍那条河的时候，我们碰到一变态，起初还以为人家来晨跑的，特意停下来看我们拍照，哪知看到后来，他居然掀了衣服露出内裤，问题是人家掀了不是给我看的，是给boss看的……

最后我们在亚眠大教堂巧遇幸福地睡到自然醒的M，大伙一路回去，顺带觅早饭，此时已经11点多了，沿路的小店因为过节都没有开门，就连麦当劳都没有早饭卖了，旅馆的早餐时间也早过了，于是我们在大堂里边品上海带来的茶，边啃火车站买的面包，然后等L来接我们去她婆婆家蹭午饭，顺便参观法国家庭的复活节聚餐。

来到L婆婆家。那个，她家孩子真叫多，一个个贴面打招呼下来，头都晕了。我们在花园里就坐。阿拉不懂法语，就看着人家寒暄，倒也清闲了，终于不用翻译了耶，可是也闷得慌！L的儿子在花园里狂窜，忙着找彩蛋，每次在远处看到一个彩蛋，就尖叫，我坐在旁边可吓坏了！有个漂亮MM上来寒暄，于是我们开始聊天，阿拉很不知天高地厚说，让我们来讲法语吧，结果是人家见我不行了，开始说英语，我还继续厚着脸皮说法语，我果然是自作孽不可活！

开饭喽！大家排排座，小孩坐外面，呵呵，跟我们家吃年夜饭一样嘛！我被安排在他们家唯一说英语好的人的旁边，以便翻译，M坐boss另一侧，以便法语翻译。后来咱俩被L责备是不合格的秘书兼翻译，自己讲的欢，把boss晾在了一边，再结果，L所性把翻译全包了，阿拉就闷头吃饭。

饭后，我们参观了一下她家，继续坐了一会儿，boss炫耀了一下他的超级无敌相机设备，我们就闪了。

最后我们乘船游了亚眠就搭火车回巴黎了。

回到巴黎后，我们先找了家中餐馆解决了晚饭，然后搭taxi找旅馆，把boss安顿好以后，我被赶到了M家借宿。

和M商定好，趁明天boss没啥事也没啥应酬，阿拉要早起游巴黎。对了，还要买去里昂的火车票。

4月7日

 

终于可以独立行动了，起来后包里塞了两条带来应急的饼干，就出门了。虽说我们住的这一区治安还行，但是大清早的，天还么亮，人烟稀少的，我还真有点怕。进入地铁，找准方向，进入过道。迎面走来两个有点嬉皮味道的男人，说话很大声，我有点紧张，全身戒备，伊拉越走越近，等走到离我几步的时候，突然张开双臂，大叫一声，作猛扑状，我一惊，不会把，这么倒霉，真碰上强盗了？还好伊拉做做样子，就笑着走掉了。阿拉心还卜卜跳。后来听说就是有些巴黎人喜欢吓中国人玩

 

本来以为地铁的基本体系全球是一样的，就好像你搭两号线张江方向的，就在开往张江的一边等。没想到我进的这一站好像比较特别，一个方向的有两个站台，两个站台间只有一条铁轨，也就是说照理讲两边都可以上人。可是，为什么我这边站台上一个人都没有捏？寥寥几个等车的人统统都在对面站台上。我不甘心，偏就在这边等。地铁来了，我上前扳门把手想要进去，果然还是开不了门阿。车厢里有个人不晓得是想帮我呢还是也想从这边下，也在扳门把手，可惜就是开不了门，我只能眼睁睁地看着地铁开走。我死心了，于是绕到对面那个站台上去等。

 

上了下一班地铁，由于巴黎地铁不报站的，阿拉每时每刻都盯着地图上的站名和站头看，生怕错过了，然后我在约定好的站头跳了下来，一下来就看到对面的M，忙挥手打招呼，结果车厢里一群人也逗着玩，朝我穷挥手。

我们换线，到达蒙马特高地那一站，出站，按地图指示沿街寻去。听说这一区阿拉伯人和黑人忒多，治安很不好，夜里绝对不能来，白天还算安全，即便如此，胆小的我依旧怕呀。由于巴黎是盆地，往蒙马特高地，就得爬阿爬，爬得我那个累阿……终于到了传说中的蒙马特高地，准备等日出，结果太阳怎么也出不出来，放弃，逛了一圈圣心堂就前往拉雪兹神父墓了。Dear Wilde，阿拉来看你啦。

地铁在拉雪兹神父一站下，研究了一下地图，确定墓地位置，才发觉人家要9点开门，现在才8点不到。么办法，作罢！跟着M回到她家，讨论接下来安排。由于先前约定中午跟L和M一起火车去亚眠，现在L要照顾孩子，阿拉三人只得先行一步。上网定好12点的车票，研究了下旅馆，没有时间预定，先回酒店退房接好boss再说把。M和我一起回酒店接人，我顺便又电话了里昂，要具体见面地址和联系人电话，这件事情终于算是搞定了。回到酒店，退房，整理好行李，把boss一起接到了M家楼下，阿拉上楼准备了一点去亚眠的物品，然后我们三人赶往火车站。

到亚眠的旅途非常顺利（因为有人陪着，阿拉没咋注意人家火车站哪能运作的，结果，后来去里昂的时候乌龙就搞大鸟！）

1个半小时后，我们到达了亚眠。

 

 

前言

3月初，得知要跟boss去法国，兴奋得不得了，可是接下来办签证材料搞得我心烦意乱，一度想放弃，并抱着签不出的决心和打算去的法领馆，饱受签证官脸色，郁闷极了。结果居然签出来了。于是我更慌了，临飞那一天还在网上查巴黎情况，当时连行程都没搞定，酒店也只订了两天的，接下去都还没有着落。一切的一切都等到了法国再说，阿拉只能横竖横，走一步是走一步了。

甚至临出门前还在出状况。Boss要带去的一份翻译文本没有中文，更没有盖章，阿拉被教训了一顿，boss临时让翻译公司帮了忙。就在这无比的混乱和郁闷心情中，我上了去巴黎的飞机……

4月5日

4月5日清晨6时30分，飞机顺利抵达巴黎戴高乐机场。我拎着两个人的包走出飞机。没想到巴黎机场居然要搭巴士到候机厅的。到了大厅后，我就不晓得该从哪个通道出去了，问了工作人员，人家的法语（不过也可能是法式英语）我没有听明白，反正她向前指了指，还有就只听到passport一个单词，于是我就向前冲，走到一块标有touts les passports的地方，估计就这了，找了个队伍排队。Boss不放心，问了身后一貌似香港人，确认排队无误。轮到我们入境检查了，人家又讲了一串法语，我没明白，于是人家换英语，我更不明白，反正注定是要用猜的，凭着听到的ticket和法语的reservation，我先后递给他往返机票和酒店订单，终于顺利过关。  

我们急着找到行李后，走出候机厅就看到了学校前来接机的留学生和司机，谢天谢地，终于有方向了。

到达酒店后，因为还没空房只得先将行李寄了，然后在留学生的带领下直奔香街，找旅行社，先把这两天的房钱给结了，由此阿拉开始体验巴黎的地铁。到站后，留学生因为要赶往打工地，我们就自行出站了。因为忙着接电话，后来发觉巴黎地铁出站不要检票的！出站后，忙着找香街。当我们站在香街上时，boss愣是不相信，于是只得问身边的建筑工人，人家被问得叭噔叭噔，说这就是嘛，当我再要确认时，人家就只干瞪着我了！然后我们沿街找旅行社和吃早饭的地方，同时与另外一个联系人M接上了头，办完事后，顺带看了凯旋门。接着我们自行搭地铁回酒店，结果，我犯糊涂，提前一站出来，沿路问人才找到酒店。途中还要忙不迭地电话联系某出版社社长F约饭局时间。回到酒店，准备搬行李进房间，一看，天哪，电梯小到只能容纳2个人，只得来回数次把所有行李搬上楼。同时F来电，取消当日饭局，改至明日晚上，通知了boss。大家外出找午饭吃，就临街的一家小饭店吧，结帐时，那个不会讲英语的老板跟我们穷比划，估计是要小费，阿拉以为账单里包含了服务费就没有给，人家做了个算了的手势。嘿嘿，逗你玩儿呢，boss说给5欧吧，人家总算满足了。

回到酒店，终于能休息了！！！

等等，还要试试转换器，一试果然不行，只得下楼找前台借，还要收押金，烦死了，上楼拿了50欧给她，还说找不出零钱，么办法，阿拉只有大面值的咧。各门，各门，就先记你们帐上吧。

再上楼，想起还有电话要打，马上打到里昂一学校，跟他们主席P约在第戎的见面时间和具体地址。NND，人家英语完全听不懂也讲不来，我傻掉。愣了半天，用蹩脚的法语花数分钟讲了一句，阿拉去找个会将法语的人，一会儿再打过来噢。挂机后，我想现在上哪找能讲法语的人来？何况这件事boss又不想让其他人知道。想着想着，我就睡着了。一觉醒来，时间也差不多了。Boss马上要和总校一中国负责人L见面。趁还有时间，我忙拿出先前在Email里P留给我的其他若干联系方式，一个个打过去，没想到人家居然说没有P这个人滴，唯一一个叫这个名字的人是个厨师？！再次受打击，我赶紧接着打，终于有一个中国人接电话了！我慌忙抓住这根救命稻草，不过大家把地点改到了里昂。搞定后，向boss汇报。接着跟中国负责人L见面吃饭。饭后，阿拉把怀孕的L送回家，便打的回酒店了。

酒店前台说有人打电话找我，估计是里昂那边的，回电去果然不错。现在地点又要改回第戎了，还说P的女儿会和我再联系，OMG，阿拉又港掉了。不管了，先睡觉再说，我还要倒时差咧！

第一天，没啥照片，to be continued...

亲爱的们，我回来了。

要souvenior的么有souvenior，要make-up的么有make-up，MD，我连卢浮宫都没去成

我对不起大家，更对不起自己啊……

我又要去睡了……

路过汇报一声，目前为止本人在法国一切都还好，来了4天，巴黎到现在还没时间逛，今天刚丛amiens回来，明天争取赶早游巴黎，详细情况等俺回来详细汇报。

困鸟，睡了。

没啥市，俺就不回大家消息了，手机费忑贵，得帮boss省钱。。。

A Bientot

Sep 13

rushed to the airport with the Big Wife. Met our American judge (LB will be his name in the following story) on board. These two folks have never met before. They said nothing except nice-to-meet-you each other. So the Big Wife kept chatting with me; I kept answering her words; LB kept napping while popping up some questions about the Big Wife every few minutes.

At 4 p.m., we safely arrive in CQ, thus began my terribly awful journey, yet seems quite funny and ridiculous now.

Got picked by the host from kinda CQ garment association, a middle-aged, over-weight, over-energetic and typical CQ woman. She’s been very nice to all during the 4 days.

We accommodated in a hotel near the airport.

Right after unpacking in the room, was told to wait in the hall for a car to send us to downtown so SM LB to hurry up. Downstairs, the host said the car would be late, and LB began complaining of being unable to have a wash before dining outside and having no agenda (or having an ever-changing agenda). Finally, a small car arrived. We were crammed into it and drove for somewhere no one was sure of. One minute, was told to go to a mountain, the next minute, had to tell LB we were going to dine instead. So decided to stop telling him anything. But he kept asking what, where, why… OMD! “why do you have so many questions?” cannot help complaining of it. “you know, professionals ask questions…(blah blah blah, forgot what he said)” SHIT! You professionals! Well, definitely did not spell these words out, just kept silent. At last, stopped by a somewhat “clothing city” where dozens of factories were being built. See, know the destination would change anyhow.

Then, we had CQ hot pot; then we toured around the downtown in the small car; then we headed for the hotel. On the way, found LB began taking interests in CQ bangbang man and  “bangbang-maned” all his way back to the hotel and for the following days.

 

Sep 14

LB wished to hang around CQ alone, so he left the hotel in the morning. Since other judges did not arrive yet, I stayed at my room wondering whether I should have a sound sleep in the afternoon or rather go out for my adventure in CQ. Sadly, hadn’t made my decision, was called to Big Wife’s room and waited to visit her friends and what she called VIPs both personally to her and to our institute.

We called the drivers’ sister (happened to know the sister of the driver who drove us around owned a garment company and planned to launch new factories in the “clothing city” which we saw yesterday. Big Wife also wanted to visit her company and thought of possible cooperation.) however, we wasted a whole morning in waiting the Big Sister’s car. Finally she sent a Cadillac which flattered Big Wife so much.

So went to visit Big Sister’s company, lunched together and then met a reporter of a local fashion newspaper. Big Wife and Boss wished that I could establish friendship with her so as to promote our institute in CQ, but all I can do is just giggle… afterwards, drove for another judge’s studio in CQ, a local designer, also a dear friend of Big Wife and Boss. Has charming personality. Could be a fascinating salon hostess. Her studio is located up in a hill. We went downstairs to the studio rather than upstairs. There are numerous these houses in CQ and I am so obsessed with these buildings. The studio is SOHOish, decorated with ethnic stuff, surrounded by French windows. Looking from afar through the windows, m in face of one of the two rivers running through CQ. We got a transparent office, a big ancient Chinese bed full of her designed clothes, a mysterious locked cabinet, two cats, a glassy washroom, this place is interesting. Our charming Salon Hostess’ husband is a professor in fine arts in university, a nice man and decent intellectual and artist. Quite like him. Later at diner, had tried to strike up a conversation with him about his newly published experimental book written with rock & roll lyrics, but failed. Sad!

Big Wife and her friends began chatting. I walked around, checked back and forth, touched every little thing… I finished my short visit to the studio. They were still talking. I soon got bored. Had to entertain myself. So repeated the walking, checking and touching… then began playing with the cats.

At last, we went out for diner with other judges and damn hot pot again.

After diner, back to the studio. Chinese judges gathered together, leaving LB alone, being totally ignored. He began playing with cats too.

The most interesting thing I found in the studio was a piece of cloth. Was told it was designed by the couple to help people get cool, cos this summer in CQ was burning. They even designed one for cows. Asked LB if he knew what this was and he said “ART”. Well, no comment, could be an extra function?

Leaving the studio, we started a tour around CQ again. When we wanted to find our driver and drove for hotel, we were told the driver was locked outside and left the key in the car. Well, had to wait by the river now.

Our car arrive at last and we were saved!

 

Sep 15

Rehearsal in the morning.

Poor July. I spread bunds of catalogues of our institute on streets before the rehearsal. You see, had to seize every opportunity to promote our lovely institute.

Then went back to the arena. Rehearsal did not start yet. The host was telling the rules. The arena was a complete mess, garbage littering everywhere. LB kept telling how appalled he was. I was shocked and disappointed too, but what could I do? Complain to the host as you did to me? Of course I cannot. So told him to pretend not to see the garbage.

When I told him we had to leave tomorrow afternoon, he was pissed off again (cos the real show was just tonight, he wished to leave in early morning). He began complaining again, saying he was dragged all around for the 3 days. Actually I did agree him this time and thought he was toyed around by the whole fucking organization. But I did’t tell him this, cos a)why should I tell him and b)don't wanna bother to change his flight ticket. Anyway, he told the host himself and the host could do nothing but change the ticket. After all, government pays, doesn’t it?

In rehearsal, we commented a lot on models instead of real garments. There was an exotic-eyed model, a Japanese-style girl who bears much resemblance with that Japanese model playing in Sin City, a super gloomy little girl who never smiled. That’s all we could do to find fun in such sucking fashion show.

After rehearsal, back to hotel and started to discuss on which prize goes to which collection. In fact, the first prize had been set already since the very beginning. All the judges did was just gave that collection the highest marks. I told LB and to my surprise he agreed to follow the rules of the game.

The most annoying thing happened when LB tried to strike up a conversation with one of the judges. He was from SHIFF. LB thought it might be helpful for the institute if he could start a relationship with that guy. OMG, he wanted to do the self-introduction to him and wanted me to translate. The truth is I don't want at all. So told him don’t worry, our Big Boss always has good relationship with this kind of organization. He said that we, employees could not just let boss do these things and we should try to do it first. And I said, of course, Big Boss will tell us what to do. But he just insisted on knowing that man. Thank goodness, that guy was on the phone, so LB did not have the chance. But he did find I was reluctant to do it, so told me that I should train my social skills and said I always seem quiet and lonely and asked me whether I’ve never dated before. Hey, this is too much! Yes I’m not a sociable person. So what? You wanna socialize, so you go ahead. You are in no position to tell me what I shall do. He noticed I was annoyed and stopped saying.

Now, really hate to do interpretation. It is so pathetic to be a little interpreter. And I dislike LB, even though he is relatively kind. But who knows what kind of person he really is. At least don't like his strong desire to socialize, to promote himself even though it is what one had better do in business.

After lunch and discussion, went for a meeting held by the local government with the participation of some entrepreneurs from garment industry. In the meeting, LB again showed American’s nature to give speech in public. He told the host he wished to say something even though he really did not have much to say I suppose. I have said, am not a sociable person. So do not want to speak before a lot of people at all, even interpretation in public is beyond my will. Damn Americans. Doesn’t he know he is just like a clown in this whole activity? Anyhow I was so mad at this shit, but could do nothing but interpret, interpret, interpret… interpretation is really disgusting work!

Meeting was over. Time for diner. Thank goodness, it was not hot pot. At table, people were busy exchanging cards. Besides LB sat a “Zhu Ren” or whatever. Whenever he wanted to toast to LB or me, his first sentence was always “what’s your name?” opposite to me sat a guy with terrorist looking and curly hair. He was like Johnny Cash. So we called him Johnny Cash guy. Our Johnny Cash guy was amusing that I kinda enjoyed the diner that night. There was also an amazing guy who seemed rather enjoyed drinking with everybody. He just kept toasting to everybody at table, nonstop. A chain drinker, I can say.

20:00  The fashion show began. It was much better than what we saw in the morning even though our exotic-eyed girl lost her show on stage and almost tripped over the carpet, but our little gloomy girl smiled at last!

After show, city-tour again. But this time, visited a rather attractive block of buildings. In the end, we had tea along the river and chatted. LB again tried to strike up conversation with everyone and he did this time. But I feel his opinion was a bit ridiculous, immature and superficial to others. Anyway he IS very good at this. Pity that he could not speak Chinese and his interpreter (that is me) hates interpreting for him so much.

Bck to hotel in early morning on 9/16.

Before going to bed, Big Wife gave me a big envelop with 2000 kuai in it, asking me to pass it to LB. So I went upstairs and gave the envelope to him. He was quite upset with the envelope and said he wanted to split 5 to 5 with me. Actually don’t wanna see him being so fussy on it. And am uncomfortable to his reactions. It’s just how we did here in China. You don’t like it, then just return it to the organization. So I SMed him, telling him to keep it and stop being fussy on it, and am too tired to go on with this thing, so goodnight. Then I switched off my mobile phone and went to bed. (problem is he mention this matter again today. Don't know why. I just hate it. So again, told him, politely, I know your appreciation and that’s it for now, we just stop talking it. OK? Then left)

 

Sep 16

Nothing special or funny that day.

Visited “Ci Qi Kou”, a traditionally ancient area in CQ.

Had lunch with the same group of people as the day before.

Had a rest in the afternoon and then flew back home.

 

The competition was a total shit, but some of the people met there were really funny and charming.

The host was nice and warm-hearted.

The Salon Hostess was charming and her unique personality. Her husband was a real artist and professor who is neither too academic and theoretical nor too monerish.

One of the judges from BICT was truly decent and insightful.

Oh, the Johnny Cash guy was amusing too.

Arrived in Shanghai last night from CQ. Am always expecting a chance to be able to travel on business, cos don't have to pay, though it must be less fun, and this time particularly so…

Went to CQ for a so-called fashion design competition. Worked as an interpreter for a foreign judge (who is just our newly hired teacher), as well as a “nanny” for a Chinese judge (who is our dear big boss’ wife)...

 

to be continued tomorrow......