Not a good day!

We were going to have Chili tonight, and I wanted some cheese to go on top of it. The main and closest store that I buy that kind of cheese at, did not have any last time I was there. I decided to go further downtown to Carefore. I don't know a good way to take a bus down there, so I usually take a taxi.


I decided to take Liam with me. It is his week (each kid has 1 week a month that is "their week). I really don't get to spend one-on-one time with Liam that often. I sometimes worry about him being the "middle child".

Liam gets carsick sometimes. He has since he was just a toddler. Usually we can calm him down and help him feel better....but not always. Today was a - not always day.

Yep! He threw up in a taxi. Not good. The driver was not happy at all. He wanted to know why he didn't throw up out the window. He fussed at me and a Liam. Seriously!? He is 7.

I wanted to get out of the cab right then, but I could not think of how to tell the driver. He just kept driving us to the store. When we got there, I let Liam out and the guy started to yell at me. I tried to pay him extra money. The fare was 25, and I gave him 55. But he kept yelling at me. I did not know what he wanted. I tried to say sorry. At one point he said something that I did not understand... I guess most of what he said, I did not understand. I asked him,"what" in Chinese, he just mumbled, I said what again, and then he just stared at me. It was a little scary.

There happened to be a young guy standing by, and I asked him if he understood. Thankfully, he could speak a little English. He said that the driver wanted me to clean it up.

So I took out the mat and dumped it (which he fussed about) ,and then wiped it off the best I could with tissues. I also wiped down the seat cover.  Mean while, the driver is standing around and pointing out any spots he thinks I missed. 

All taxis have a white seat cover covering all the seats. It can be taken off and washed easily. I wonder who decided to make it white!

There were a few people starting to gather around at this point. The guy started to fuss at me again. The guy translating said something about him not being able to do business. He wanted me to pay him more. He wanted 44 more on top of the charge for the fare. I paid it gladly and went into the building as quickly as I could. I sat down in McDonald's to try to compose myself. I called Jon and cried and told him the story. (When I mentioned that to Liam later, he did not know that I had cried. Liam and Eryn have said that they have never seen me cry.)

I understand the driver being upset. And I really wanted to make things right, but he was really ugly about it. While I was wiping the seat, I heard the translator guy ask Liam something. Liam answered, We are from America and Tennessee. I threw up in the taxi and now that guy keeps fussing at my mamma. That just broke my heart.

It was frustrating because we could not understand each other. I was embarrassed and worried for Liam. Did I mention that it was cold and spitting rain?

I have been going over it again in my mind, and I have been tryin to see it from his perspective.  I really understand why he was upset.  But after I cleaned it up, It was really not that bad.  I would have gladly paid a fair price and I didn't really mind cleaning it up, but it was his attitude toward me.  I did not do it on purpose, Liam did not do it on purpose.  I was really trying to understand him.  At least twice, he stopped talking and just stared at me with what looked like hatered.

 I have been studying Chinese all semester, but it doesn't seem to stick in high stress situations.

We had to take a taxi home, and Liam started to feel sick again. It was really warm in that cab. We got the driver to roll down the window, and then Liam stuck his head out the window. When he started feeling really bad, I got him to stop. We stopped about 3 blocks from home and walked the rest of the way. I really did not want to have a repeat performance.

I am not sure when I will get in a taxi with Liam again! I am very thankful that the young guy was standing by the road when we pulled up. I am also very thankful that Liam is not really sick.