I walked by myself to the office today. Is that sentence backwards? I told you my English is getting worse, and for the life of me I can't figure out if it should be 'I walked to the office today by myself' or something else entirely.

Anyway! I think going on an errand by yourself is the moment of freedom in any foreign travel -- when you feel confident enough to take off on your own. I remember being downright giddy one time when I was living in S. Korea. I met a friend at the movies and then told her I could find my own way home <through three subways and a short hike>. I couldn't speak more than a few words in Korean and couldn't read the signs, but if I remember correctly I think I only took the subway one stop in the wrong direction before correcting course. ;)

My friend's 14-year-old nephew was a little nervous for me this morning so he carefully copied down a few cell phone numbers on a scrap of paper. I, of course, didn't have a phone, but it was a nice gesture and I could have found one if necessary. But really, what's the worst that could happen...a random chinese chef pulling up to ask me what kind of sauce I wanted?

I had a wonderful stroll and only got off course by a street or two before rolling up to the office. Then it struck me that my usual obliviousness was still intact as I didn't know which apartment number to ring. :p I knew the right floor, but there were four possibilities to buzz. I sat outside on the stoop for a couple minutes, then decided I might as well try out my Spanish. Esta es la oficina de <snip>? Thank heavens it was the right one on the first go.

Of course while I was sitting on the step I realized I didn't know how to get home -- there are several streets of very similar looking townhouses. I've been trying to memorize the house number for a week and have only managed to remember there's a blue flower of some kind and maybe a four in the number. Lucky for me I was able to catch a ride home before I had to buzz at random gates.