Links
Archives
- June 2003
- July 2003
- August 2003
- September 2003
- October 2003
- November 2003
- December 2003
- January 2004
- February 2004
- March 2004
- April 2004
- May 2004
- June 2004
- July 2004
- August 2004
- September 2004
- October 2004
- November 2004
- December 2004
- January 2005
- February 2005
- July 2005
- August 2005
- September 2005
- October 2005
- November 2005
- December 2005
- January 2006
- February 2006
- March 2006
- April 2006
- May 2006
- September 2006
- February 2007
- June 2007
- July 2007
- August 2007
- September 2007
- October 2007
- April 2008
- June 2008
- August 2008
For three years, I have been in China teaching Swing Dancing. Now I'm wandering yet again...
2004-12-31
Shanghai on 50 Quai a Day
Wednesday (Yesterday)
Wake up. Work on class organization. Go across street and buy meal at dodgey-but-decent Chinese restaurant. They speak no English and have no English menu, so you have to order in Chinese (which I can do, finally). Cost: 15 quai.
Taxi (10 quai) to screening for TV commercial. They are doing a two-day infommercial shoot for an excercise machine, and they need some foreigners to do it. (I ran into the producer for this the other night on my way home). When I get to the studio office, there are 10 other foreigners there, 8 of which I know already from the White Countess movie. I think fully one quarter of the Shanghai Expat social population worked on that movie. I'm hungry so I get a meal across the street (28 quai).
Exit the screening (I think I got the job), and take a the subway home (2 quai).
That evening... NEW GIRL sends JIMBO message on phone. "Want to go to that new bar I told you about?" JIMBO looks at wallet. 45 quai remaining. JIMBO says, "Uh, OK".
Meet and take taxi (10 quai) to the new bar, enter. More people are there from the movie, plus other contacts. BAR CO-OWNER comes to JIMBO and says, "Beer is free tonight. Enjoy the show!" JIMBO is very relieved. He looks to NEW GIRL and says, "Uh, do you like beer?"
The jazz at this place is awesome. Shanghai is getting some really good jazz clubs. Lots of musicians here playing and just in the crowd. MUSIC MAN from movie comes up to JIMBO. "Wow. Hey, nice girl you have there," he says. "Hey mate, hold onto that one."
Later on, JIMBO finds out that ribs are free, too. Munch! JIMBO and NEW GIRL exit bar, planning to go to a new party. Total bar cost: Zero quai.
NEW GIRL realizes she's got to work tomorrow! Quick exit in a taxi for her. JIMBO walks home (again, zero quai). Goes home and organizes music collection.
Thursday (Today)
Wake up. It's snowing! I've never seen snow like this in Shanghai before. Go to meeting with BALLROOM DANCE TEACHER from the movie. He's a cool guy. We are looking at different dance studios and trying to decide where to rent one. We go to a very nice hotel at a good location. We encounter some resistance from the hotel staff about renting out their dance studio. JIMBO looks around at the magazines laying around the reception area. He sees the one he wants and opens it to page 26. "This is me," JIMBO says, pointing to a picture of himself and DANCE PARTNER. "Is this an old copy?" the FITNESS MANAGER says. "No, it's this month's." JIMBO and BALLROOM DANCE TEACHER exit hotel, with a little more credibility. Hopefully we can rent this place because it's just perfect.
Both leave and take metro (2 quai). Stop for dinner at another good cheap eats place (15 quai). Leave and go to English school JIMBO used to work at. Make deal with MARKETING WOMAN to hold swing dancing promotions at their school.
JIMBO exits and goes to his first-ever ballet class. Meet CHINESE BALLET TEACHER who is just adorable. Strictly professional relationship, but it always makes the class go more easily when it's taught by an attractive person. This class is free (zero quai) in exchange for the CHINESE BALLET TEACHER to come to JIMBOs dance class at a time of her chosing.
Metro home (2 quai), cheap eats across the street (15 quai) plus a large bottle of Pepsi (5 quai). JIMBO sends message to NEW GIRL, who is working late and then having dinner with her family, but will see him tomorrow. So you're home for the evening, Mr. Jimbo! Spend the rest of the night listening to you swing music, writing the swing dance newsletter for the upcoming month, and organizing the classes. Overall, quite satisfying.
Friday: Tomorrow is New Years!
-------------------------------
"quai" is slang for the local currency, Renminbi. It's like saying "bucks" instead of dollars.
50 quai equals US$6.09
Comments:
Post a Comment
