Day 15

Today was a slightly crazy day. I actually didn't accomplish too much, but not nothing.

Andy had his meeting with the businessmen today, and the original plan was for me to take the day to do some souvenir and dress shopping. But we received a text message from Berry asking us to meet him at two PM, when Andy would be unavailable, so I went instead.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Before Andy could go to the meeting, he had to buy a shirt. You see, Andy possesses one dress outfit: a pair of khaki pants, a black belt and shoes, a blue jacket and a green shirt. He pairs this either with a blue flowered batik tie, which matches the jacket, or a silver and pink tie (which really doesn't match anything).

The last time he met with his business contacts, he wore this exact outfit, and was worried that it wouldn't "do" to be seen in the ensemble. After all, they might think he possessed only one suit.

So we went emergency shopping. I took Andy to the only department store whose name I can pronounce in Chinese: Jinying, Golden Eagle. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive shopping mall in Nanjing. We looked carefully for a shirt without a Hugo Boss or Lacoste tag, but one that still had long sleeves, to no avail. It wasn't until we'd given up entirely and begun to look at backpacks and sunglasses in the knock-off mall next door that we came across an appropriate store.

West Germany Made! The store sign proclaimed. It carried shirts by Polo and Paul Smith of "export quality," which means that they are likely genuine shirts, just produced in the hours that the factory reports to the company that is it closed for production, so that the additional goods may be sold for a tidy profit on the domestic market.

Andy bought a white shirt with discreet blue and green stripes (I had forgotten his tie was flowered). It was very tasteful and professional with the slight exception of the Polo logo, which for some reason, was orange.

We returned home via the subway with very little time to spare, so we were forced to grab a quick lunch at McDonald's. It is always uncomfortable to visit MaiDanLao because the Chinese look at you with a knowing glance ("They can't stay away, those Americans") and the other Americans, of which there are always several, refuse to meet your gaze in a shameful manner.

After lunch, I met with Pingping and Berry as they had requested at the main gates of Nanda. I was running a little late (due to playing too much Civ IV) and texted ahead to let them know that I would be five minutes late. I love my cell phone; it's so convenient.

When I met up with them, Pingping suggested that we go to Skyway's as she had just gotten up and needed something to eat. Berry was unfamiliar with the place and Pingping told him that he should get to know it--that it was a place that foreigners liked. I certainly like it, and enjoyed the chance to get back into the airconditioning and grab a slice of cheesecake and a ting of Diet Coke.

The cheesecake was slightly dissapointing, being more cheese than cake, but the cherry topping was good and I ate it off the top as we talked. Pingping had a lot to say, as usual, and Berry listened in as we began girltalk in earnest.

I told Pingping that Nick had broken up with me. She was appropriately sympathetic and called him a jackass for me, which I liked. She then told me a about some of her past boyfriends, really, the most tragic one and I listened, intent.

We sat in this manner for several hours before Andy showed up. I had told Pingping where he was and what he was doing, and she said, "Oh, we have a name for this: the Prince's visit." And she laughed. I was eager to see what kind of car he pulled up in, but alas, Andy walked the last half block, so Pingping, Berry and I never got to see. Oh well!

The embarassing part of our tete a tete was that I was very, very sick. My nose was running faster than I think it ever has before, and I used all the tissue packets that I had brought with me (four), started in on Berry's supply, and stolen Pingping's napkin. My nose was bright red with all the wiping, and my eyes were red with unshed tears. I probably looked horrible.

Once Andy joined in, we were still there for more than an hour, bringing my total up to well beyond my limit. I was tired of sitting, despite the excellent company, and so when we parted, I suggested taking the slight walk to Laodifang (That Old Place) for dinner. Andy was up for it, and we got Gongbao Jiding (Kung Pao Chicken) and Maladoufu (Hot and Spicy Tofu).

It wasn't an incredibly productive day, though Berry did give us an additional seven responses. Oh well, if I'm feeling any better tomorrow