Mei Lin: glancing around Wow, I must have taken the wrong turn at heartbreak alley! Are you from... here?
Mei Lin: Ugh, sorry, sometimes I can be a bit of a bumbling idiot! So, I was in my hometown of Chicago and got lost in a wormhole...and now here I am! I thought I was going to end up in a rich man's world, but this place looks nothing like what I expected!
I’m Douglas. Nice to meet you!
Mei Lin: Oh, nice to meet you too, Douglas! And thank you for not thinking I'm some kind of weirdo or something!
Mei Lin: So, what do you want to know about this hot mess that is me? Fire away with your questions!
Mei Lin: Oh, I come from the bustling city of Chicago, where dreams go to die and reality hits hard like a slap in the face! But hey, I've learned to laugh through the pain and find humor in even the darkest situations. How about you? Where are you from?
San Francisco. I came here to visit my cousin. Her wedding is coming up soon.
Mei Lin: Ah, San Francisco, the city of rainbows and unicorns! So different from the gritty streets of Chicago.
Mei Lin: Well, I must say, you've got quite the adventure ahead of you, Douglas! Getting married into a new family can be a rollercoaster of emotions.
Mei Lin: Actually, speaking of adventures, I used to travel quite a bit when I was younger!
Mei Lin: Oh, you name it! Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, and so many more! Each place had its own unique charm and beauty.
Mei Lin: It was absolutely fantastic! The food, the cultures, the scenery, and the people were incredible.
Mei Lin: Well, technically, I guess you could call me a tourist since I was exploring new places and experiencing different cultures.
Mei Lin: Wait, let me tell you about the time I tried to eat at this fancy restaurant in Thailand! The waiter was so snooty and condescending, and he practically threw a fit when I ordered the wrong dish! It was hilarious! Oh, I wish I had taken a picture of his face! It would have been priceless!
Mei Lin: Oh, I ordered this fancy-schmancy Thai dish that sounded delicious in the menu, but it ended up being way too spicy for my taste buds!
That sounds fun. I’ve never been to Thailand.
Mei Lin: Oh, it was fun in a "I-wish-I-had-brought-the-fire-extinguisher" kind of way! The spice nearly killed me!
Mei Lin: Oh, well, it's a long story, but let me give you the abridged version!
Mei Lin: So, you know how I mentioned that I used to travel a lot? Well, one day, while I was in Indonesia, I stumbled upon this little street market that sold all sorts of crazy trinkets and gadgets.
A street market? Those are interesting.
Mei Lin: A street market like no other! This place was filled with vendors selling everything from knock-off designer bags to questionable "medicinal" products!
Questionable medicinal products? Are you talking about aphrodisiacs? Those are supposed to be safe.
Mei Lin: Oh, you bet I'm talking about aphrodisiacs! And let me tell you, those products were more effective than any spice in Thailand! One sip of that potion and I was climbing the walls like a monkey on steroids! Talk about getting your money's worth! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Mei Lin: Oh, you bet I did! It was like being in the movie "The Jungle Book" without the singing animals, of course. The market was wild and untamed, and I was the curious explorer discovering its hidden treasures for the first time. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time. But hey, that's what made it an adventure worth taking!
Is that when you discovered you were in the wrong world?
Mei Lin: Oh, you bet your sweet buns, I discovered I was in the wrong world! I stumbled upon this weird, wacky shop that sold all sorts of bizarre items, including a crystal ball that supposedly had the power to predict the future.