A taxi driver
I was late to the gym today, which means that I was late out of it as well. At least too late to get to my Taiwanese class on time by MRT, so I had to take a taxi. Which is always somewhat of a gamble here in Taipei. It ain't always the best of the best of the best that go for a career behind the wheel here.
So I got in, told the guy I was going to Roosevelt Rd. between Shida and Heping, and then asked him if he could go down Heping and turn left onto Roosevelt Rd., since that would put me on the right side of the road, just next to the place where I was going. Simple enough, you'ld think.
So he said: "But I can go Xinhai and turn right at Roosevelt."
-But that will put me on the wrong side of the road. You'll have to go down Heping and then turn left.
-OK, so I can go down Shida Rd.
-But that will put me on the wrong side of the road. You'll have to go down Heping and then turn left at Roosevelt.
-But I can turn left at Shida, that would put you on the right side.
-Yes, it would put me on the right side of the road, but making a left turn at Shida takes us in the wrong direction. If you go down Shida, you will have to turn right at Roosevelt to get to the place where I am going, and that would put me on the wrong side of the road. You'll have to go down Heping and then turn left at Roosevelt.
-So what side of the road do you want to go to? What's the number? Even or odd? Tell me that and I'll know which side immediately.
-I don't know the number. I go there every week, and I never check the number because I know the place. But if you take a left turn at Heping onto Roosevelt, you will be on the right side.
-Thank you.
Something wasn't getting through. I knew we were speaking the same language, so it must have been something else. It was almost time to get out and look for another cab at the next red light, when he said that he would make me a drawing. You know, to show me. So I said that I'd better do the drawing, since I knew where we were going. 
I drew it, wrote the names of the roads in Chinese for him to see, made a big mark where I wanted to get out, and handed him the drawing.
He looked at it: "But then I can go down Heping and turn left at Roosevelt." Just as if he was thinking that, "Boy, is this guy stupid who didn't say so in the first place."
-Yes, you can. Please do. That will in fact put me on the right side of the road, just next to where I'm going.
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