Day 4: Taking Care of Each Other

We started off the morning with a hot shower together. We didn’t shower for two days because the shower was small and seemed shitty. Luckily, we found a shower on the flight of stairs less taken and it was perfect size for us to be in. There really is something about water that makes us feel better. It’s healing. It’s soothing our souls and washing all the dirt of everyday life. The shower set a good pace for the rest of the day.

We packed our things while chatting with Eric and Regan online for a little. It’s good to update on the goodness of other people’s lives while we’re here too so please update! We went to a Café Restaurant for breakfast. It’s like 9:30 in the morning and Calvin’s having Lasagna; I’m having Chicken Kebab. Kebabs are like gyros, slow roasted meat in a pita. It’s affordable and filling! Definitely made us feel good after our tummies were finally filled with real food.

We headed out toward Brighton! We took the underground to London Bridge to take the National Rail there because the Rail doesn’t run through King’s Cross on weekends. It was expensive! 20 pounds per person which is $40/person for an hour train ride. It was nice though! My first train ride and we got to play a good game of Egyptian Rat Screw (I won) and we a couple of magic tricks later, we were in Brighton!

It’s around 1PM now and we are walking towards the Atlantic Ocean. Brighton’s in Southeast England. It was reminiscent of San Francisco because there was all this gay and lesbian pride and special needs information all over! At the Royal Pavillion, there were street festivals everywhere and music and elephant shaped hedges! A definite good time waiting to happen, but we needed a place to stay!

We searched for a place for 3 hours straight, walking to the seaside, stopping at every house and hotel looking for vacancy and most were booked, others were far too expensive. Calvin wanted to be baller status and drop 100 pounds on just one night, but being the oh-hell-no-unsatisfied Diana, we continued walking up and down hills. The Brighton pier was like Laguna Beach meets San Francisco Castro, SF’s Haight Street, and Newport Beach all splattered together. This was the ideal Norcal meets Socal. If it weren’t for the weather in the Winter, I’d probably want to live here.

In the greatest times of doubt, we must have hope. Calvin called a hotel on Oriental Place. They had one more room left. While he was inside inquiring, I waited outside, mapping out our next route. We headed towards Oriental place. Think about this irony: the only two Asian American people on this island forced to stay on Oriental place! FUCKING COME ON, LIFE!!! But there truly was a reason we were being pushed this direction.

Anyhow, Calvin and I were walking with our entire luggage (9 months worth) in the blazing sun, hungry, dehydrated trick or treating for accommodation. We went back to the visitor center back inland, truly believing that we can still get affordable housing! Honestly, this is very unlikely because it was so late in the afternoon and there were so many weddings and events happening this weekend. On the positive, Calvin and I decided that in a war-ridden time, he and I could count on each other to carry each other’s children on our backs for hours. Dependability is important to us because our families had to escape times of war carrying everything they needed on their backs. Some didn’t make it then because of exhaustion. Survival is endurance.

And we endured like cacti! We passed Oriental place at first because there were chain hotels that seemed promising, but they were disappointing. We headed back to Oriental place and we see this backpackers’ hotel, Baggies, and I inquired within. Val, a grey-haired woman with a kind voice told me she’s out of space. I stayed positive, saying my thank yous, even though I was so exhausted. Then she told me she actually had open spaces for 12 pounds for both of us. I was thrilled! Something felt right. I told Calvin, who was ready to fucking snap!

He went to go ask some other hotels up the street while I waited outside for him. We had a system: one would stay with the bags while the other left to ask. Otherwise, we were with each other 24 hours a day. Val insisted that I came in for tea, put my luggage in the living room, or get some water. I wanted to stay so badly once I got into the house. Calvin came back pissed but Val’s voice helped calm him down. 12 pounds for the both of us, and she let us use her office to sleep.

The three hour excursion was well worth it because Val made us feel so comfortable and welcome. We felt welcome in her home, decorated by the postcards, drawings, and memorabilia of past backpackers. She told us about a fish and chips place called Bankers that was outstanding! By far the best fish and chips in the entire world! Everyone said the food in England was shit, but honestly, it’s the local food that tastes delicious, not the over-priced tourist spots. We had haddock and large cod. They had all kinds of fish, swordfish, salmon, tuna, skate, etc. Tres magnifique! I had two shots of southern comfort with cola and calvin had a Budweiser (calvin speaking: I drank her two shots for her). Get this. One of the side dishes was mushy peas. Hahaha I have no idea why that sounds appetizing at all.

The revelation about the day. Day 4 was a test. A test about us. Calvin and I take care of each other, just like the people in this house, just like the community in Brighton. We learn from each other, and push each other, and guide each other, just like the above. It’s important for the world to take care of each other and be open to each other so that we can all survive. This house has people from Mexico, Germany, the States, and all over the world. We come together, harmonious, united in respect and love, and we’re taking care of each other. I’m happy that I’m here with Calvin, someone who’s been taking care of me since I met him, especially more this summer and these past few days. I am also happy to be around so much beauty, under the same moon and stars and sun with you all. There truly are great and good people in this world who care and want to take care of others as long as we stay open and endure the most trying to times. Believe me, the wait is well worth it. The love that comes at you tastes, feels, smells, looks, and sounds so damn good. Cheers!