prove it that you're a foreigner, speak English.

something reminded me of this.. something i was told not so long ago.

one thursday afternoon, hongmei called me. she asked me if i wanted to come with her and a friend to see some silk exhibition show in the city. i was tired, but of course, i will say yes, unless i'm 95% tired. i was not at that point. we went with her friend who spoke japanese, but no english. we got to the place, which was near the community pool to find it was closed for the day. well, they somehow got the word in that we were foreigners (not hongmei) for them to let us just look around. in the end, they convinced the evening workers there that i was a foreigner. they told me, "speak English Cathy." i'm like, "what the?! say what?!" hahaha.. well, it 'twas great. well, with my little chinese now, i can tell me people that i'm not chinese and that i'm vietnamese and.. blah blah..

oh yeah.. i love bedouin soundclash now.

shummuh?

today, i went to a "brothel," as Mary says. to me, it was a sketchy karaoke places with female hostesses. i guess to me, a brothel is different.. or something. well, it was Richard's uncle's property where we visited. a lot of ladies walking around wearing less usual chinese-wear. that includes short skirts/shorts, tanks, etc. oh yes, Richard is a friend of Mary's from Beijing. his hometown is this city, so he visits often. he's an editor for a literary magazine and had worked at U of T for one year. also, he's published many books and has degrees in minorities cultures in China. it was a little odd that he brought us to this sketchy area, but whatever i guess. it's family, and it's life for him.

we got a room (of course without hostesses) from one of the room managers. he had some kenny g, but no other English music.. well, except for this horrid rendition of "i will always love you." Richard, Mary, "Little Fatty," and i danced until the last person fell, and that was Richard of course. man, for a young person, i can't not keep up with Richard and Mary. Mary kept wavin' her arms at the air conditioner (it was hot) and Richard kept on doing this semi-robot 80s move. Little Fatty had the best dance music i heard since i got here, that is, most similar to our dance music at home. i was so worn out. oh yes, it was about 6pm to 8pm that we were there. we walked there from bai li yuan park, along the "artificial river." we met his siblings and their families, who all live in that sketchy area.

a lovely thursday afternoon

went on a boat ride in tse cho park, for an hour with wei qi. it was nice and relaxing. not as strenuous as i thought it would be. it was simple and nice. i really, really liked it. especially that we were in an artificial park that was not too artificial. also, i was not too close to the creepy camel.