Predeparture in Taiwane

June 14th, 1995 at my apartment in Taipei, Taiwan.

One might expect this to be day one of my trip. That will be about July 28th, the day I leave Taipei, or maybe one or two days earlier on my way to the South of Taiwan.

However, is that the beginning? The beginning was perhaps last year, or whenever I first came up with the notion of taking the Trans-Siberean railroad from Beijing to Moscow. The rest of my plan- travelling through Vietnam and China for a couple months, visiting friends and relatives in Europe- has all been built around that.

I figure this year has been so screwy because of the lame duck syndrome. I knew all this time I was leaving. In my mind I'd already left. Oh well, too late for crying over spilt milk, as the saying goes. But then if I'd left last year, I would not have had the money from my last Chinese new year's bonus, and I wouldn't be able to afford much.

So I start with preparation, or more exactly, lists of preparation. For I still have a lot to do and it's high time I get my ass in gear.

June 27th at my apartment

Ass still not in gear, but getting there. Finally went to the hospital to get x-ray copies and see the doctor. After a three hour wait, the doctor tells me in five minutes that I should wait until I get back to the U.S. It's possible I might need surgery. The bone has not set exactly right.

Terrific.

July 27th at my apartment

Day before departure. STRESS. Still have to go to work. Never in my life has so much time passed so quickly. Lots of little shit to get done some I can do in Hong Kong. So much for the R&R I was expecting there!

And it still hasn't sunk in that I'm leaving. LEAVING for good, for a new start. It's still just a lot of runnig around preparing. I wonder if there's a gene for procrastination or if I'm just as stupid as I think I am!