April 20, 2014

We were in Spain, about to catch a boat back to Taipei. It was about 1 AM when we were running up some stairs, it was dark out. A teacher was with us. He went on ahead, triggering the motion senor activated spotlights. He was unfazed. The rest of us were a bit wary about exiting the stairwell, but we had no other choice. I opened the door and ran across the courtyard. Was that a room that was lit up to our right?

We entered another building. It seems like it was a large shallow swimming pool. The water was about ankle height while the pool touched all edges of the room, resembling more of square than the long rectangles that they usually are.

Some other kids were in here. I guess this was the boarding area. A girl came up to me and asked if we were on the same boat. I looked on the inside of my blue nylon jacket: August 18/19. The jacket was printed with all manner of information. The jackets were our boarding passes.

“I guess so…” I looked at her.

“Oh, well then at least we’re on the same boat.” She sighed in relief.

It seemed like everyone suddenly knew it was time to board and was flowing out of the room through another exit on the side. I followed the crowd, out into broad daylight and suddenly found myself on a large sailboat.

My mom appeared rather distressed, “Oh, the rest of the crowd has already gone ahead. They don’t know that those going to Taiwan are supposed to stay at the back!”

Shortly after the captain announced “All passengers heading to Portugal, please proceed to the front. Passengers bound for Taipei, please move to the back.”

Some of the previously mistaken passengers started running back. My dad thought that it must be so when the people in front get off at Portugal, the newer passengers could get on and take their spot. We were quickly proven that wasn’t the case.

Two other boats starting drawing up to the side of the sailboat we were all standing on. They looked like small battleships. Everyone got onto their respective boats and then we went off side by side. It seemed like we were in a river.

“Hey, this is the Pullman Blitz!” someone exclaimed.