The value of 12 hours

I just came back from a short trip to Washington DC.

It wasn't exactly smooth-sailing. Oh well, it started off quite terribly, in fact.

I was up at 4am and all excited to go, only to reach the train station at 430am to realize I had forgotten my train ticket.

Win already, you say?

And so, in my intention to turn home to pick it up so that I can still catch the 440am train, I had an accident.

Yes, an accident.

You didn't read it wrong. I didn't exaggerate.

I was doing a three-point turn and all I knew was, I had checked before I picked the gear into D mode.

The next moment, a car was in front of me and I had hit it.

I didn't take the licence number. I was stupid, I know.

I camt out of the car, all frantic and shaken. And the guy scolded the hell out of me.

The next thing he said, "I am rushing to work."

Huh?

You see. I have never been involved in an accident before. I have no idea what I should do.

All I knew was something was supposed to happen after an accident (I later found out that we have to exchange details and licence plate numbers). I just didn't know what (like I say, I am stupid).

So I was late for my train (and hence my bus into DC).

I decided it was only right that I drive home and tell my host parents about it. I don't want them thinking that I only knew play and had no sense of responsibility.

...

So I reached home and my host mum was awake.

I told her what happened. We went out amidst the pitch black darkness to see the car.

I only remembered smashing the glass of my headlights off. The other car was just scratched. I told her that fact-off.

I also told my host parents that I would be responsible to pay for the damages incurred.

And that was it.

I drove back to the train station. Well, the train had gone off.

Too bad. I called up the operator and asked if it were possible that I take a later bus.

By right, it wasn't allowed, and I knew that.

I explained that I had been in an accident. He let me take a later bus.

I can't tell you how relieved I was.

...

My bus was due to leave at 1230pm but it was late.

For a while, I was thinking maybe it wasn't going to run (because when I spoke to the guy earlier on, he had wanted me to be on the 530pm bus since that timing was confirmed. The rest were not! OMG!)

So I waited in trepidation. Mixed with anxiety.

Was that it? Was I due not to go to DC?

Oh well.

When the bus finally came, all I could think of was 'Yay!'.

...

I reached DC at around 430pm. The sky was getting dark already.

There was a girl (whom I have never met; the only connection was that she is from the same agent based in Malaysia) who was supposed to pick me up.

I should say it was both a good and bad thing. The good thing was that my accomodation was all settled and I am grateful about that. The bad thing...Um, I think I will save that for later.

...

I spent roughly twelve hours in DC. Was it enough?

There were a few moments when the girl (let's call her N) and I had a few conflicts. She would say things like "if you end up not visiting many places, its not my fault ok".

Um, from the first email we communicated, I never had the cheek to want to claim that it was her fault if I didn't get the so-called worth back.

What is worth anyway?

"At the rate you are walking, I doubt you can cover many places."

Why was I walking so slowly? Why...I don't know. Maybe because you are from DC and I am staying in NY?

"We waste time like that (I needed to eat breakfast before we set off and to her, that was wasting time) then you don't blame me later ok".

Huh? If I don't eat breakfast, I can't even function. For goodness' sake, I am here to have fun, not engage in survival DC!

"If you didn't come to Washington to see these, what are you here for?"

Um...that one was tricky. She still insisted I didn't make sense after I have explained.

Look. I know she is an experienced backpacker.

I know she has been to Southeast Asia. I know she has gone to China.

But I don't think that gives her a right to make judgmental comments.

(I am trying to convince myself that she didn't mean to be judgmental. I am caught in between.)

Frankly, if you were to calculate the costs of the trip empirically, then yes, I didn't get the worth out of it.

I didn't get to explore any of the museums I had planned to.

I didn't get to visit the Library of Congress.

I didn't make it to try some popular food.

But you see, if you think about it, I almost didn't make it after the accident (no no, I am not hurt. I am just saying, the bus guy could have decided that he will not let me on the bus). So everything from there is a bonus.

Within these short twelve hours, I learnt so many things.

I learnt how the metro works, which is totally different from the subway in NY.

I understood a little more about the geography of Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland.

I realized how important it is to travel with people of a similar personality and/or mindset.

Last but not least, I experienced how inconvenient it can be to put up with somebody you are not really familiar with.

(I will elaborate on the details in later entries)

Many au pairs have the tendency to put up at another's place just so that they can cut down on accomodation.

Well, that is just what I did! Thinking that I was some smart aleck who got a good deal.

But while I am thankful of her gesture, the afterthought was how inconvenient it really was.

She lived about 40minutes (including drive time from the metro station and traveling time from one metro station to another) away so going back to her house and putting down my bags was not a possible option.

And so with that, I had to lumber around with 2 heavy bags.

If you remember, I have misaligned spinal bones, so can you imagine how much pain I am feeling right now after two days of lumbering in thick armour (I woke 4 layers, including my down coat) and heavy backpacks.

The first sensation I had when I woke up this morning was that my shoulder bones were cracking.

No, they are not actually cracking--I don't know how to describe to you but um, they just feel terribly out of place and painful?

And I was thinking about how she commented about the rate I was walking.

Maybe I am not physically strong and fit, but she is clearly not emphathetic as she has claimed either.

...

Was it all worth it?

I guess it all depends on how you define it.

If you are talking about the decrease in expenditure as a result of putting up at N's place, no.

If you are talking about the lessons I have learnt and taking them forward from there, I would say it is a definite yes.

Saving on accomodation at the expense of my body is the worst decision I can ever make.

Staying put at an acquitance's place and having to put up with her insensitive and rude comments is not worthwhile either.

And there are a few other things which I also learnt--and I will elaborate in later entries--which are definitely a plus plus.

So anyhows, I figured I would still be going on more trips.

But this time round, I will very much prefer to be alone.