August Rush

Beijing’s preparation for the Olympics is culminating. The capital looks great after the facelift, as though she were a bride dressed up for the wedding. She has impressive dowry: the bird’s nest, the water cube, T3 at the airport… ok, no more fanfares; we’ve had enough.

The Games is so influential that it has overshadowed everything and mobilized everybody. One thing I find interesting is the volunteers popped up recently. Every morning on my way to the office, I can see a boy in blue standing at the street corner, next to Sheraton hotel. He’s actually doing nothing, because there’s nothing for him to do. When I’m off work 9 hours later, he’s still there, looking like a scarecrow. I’m wondering what kind of punishment it is for this boy to stand under the sky blanketed with smog-or-cloud-we-don’t-know in such sultry weather for such a long day. What's the big deal?

Blind date

Before adding the title, I looked up the word “blind date” in Collins dictionary, which says: “A blind date is an arrangement made for you to spend a romantic evening with someone you have never met before.” I can’t help laughing reading the explanation because ironically, it’s not usually the case. I’d rather use a more accurate Chinese word “相亲”.

Females, from young girls to old ladies, have an unfathomable keenness on matchmaking. Simply speaking, it’s a boy & girl mix & match game. If someone like me is considered too old to be single, he or she will become the target, like a tube of toothpaste being put on the supermarket shelf, waiting to be picked up.

But sadly, women’s shelf life is relatively shorter, especially in China. Thanks to our enthusiastic wanna-be matchmakers, the rules have been minimized. This family has a son; that one a daughter and they live in the same city, that’s it! Even though the matchmaker herself might have met either.

Given this fact, the odds of meeting the right person are very small. It’s embarrassing to see two strangers sitting face to face racking their brains to find out what they have in common. The longest distance in the world is probably that a supposed-to-be couple gazes at each other across the coffee table, feeling like they hail from two planets.

Pray you won’t meet a stalker. Be grateful when you meet someone normal. Never ever expect a “romantic evening”.

An update

When I went to Shanghai in late March, I discovered some brands never seen in Beijing, Muji, Uniqlo, Hooters… Two months later, I was roaming around the streets and was surprised to find these logos hanging on brand new buildings. The city moves so fast, as if someone had pressed the fast-forward button.

A couple of weeks ago I went to Houhai in the evening. Hutongs, Siheyuans, pedicabs and boats seemed to have slowed the tempo of life here. If it weren’t for the rain, the sunset on Yindingqiao must be beautiful. I was thinking if I were a tourist, I would love it.

Mirrormask

When I woke up in the morning and saw sunlight slanting through the curtain, I knew it was time for a break. So I’m having a whole week off.

I always do things on a whim. Don’t want to complicate my life with plans and changes, just as I never entangle my neck or wrists with those girlish bling-blings.

That summer on my way home after work, I caught sight of a guy in a swanky car at the crossing of Guanghua Rd, and then the following weekend I was already in the driving school. I wish I could have more such whims. But few things interest me; few people attract my attention. I shrug and say “sorry, I’m not interested” too often.

Of course I can’t say it aloud; there’s a mask I’m wearing. Writing is like a mirror, through which I can see myself clearly.

Back to Shanghai

五月的最后三天在上海度过。又听到了软绵绵的上海话，闻到了空气中湿湿的味道。

29号的晚餐是在高邮路上一家很有情调的餐厅吃的，听名字就很fancy，叫做花马天堂。然后来到浦东，蜻蜓点水般走过那些两个月前刚刚来过的地方。正大广场、滨江大道，一切都那么熟悉，只是找不回上一次雨后在清冷的江边漫步的感觉。还不够尽兴，于是来到新天地。三月底来的时候，不知是因为天气冷还是时间太早，酒吧很是清净。而这次一整条街，居然很难找到露天的空位。其实北京的三里屯应该也一样，只是没有机会去发现。并不喜欢这种嘈杂如闹市的环境，相比之下，星级酒店大堂吧那种悠闲的气氛更让人放松。后来来到一个名叫TMSK的bar，算是同事小聚。很久没有喝红酒了，突然发现几口之后浑身暖暖的感觉很舒服。

出差的行程总是安排得满满的，周六能有机会跟好友见面，已经很难得，不敢奢望更多。酒店对面就是中山公园，其实在北京的时候从来没有逛公园的心情，但到了外地便会做一些平时不会尝试的事情。这几天一直风和日丽，公园里极富生活气息，有人在划船、放风筝、踢足球、打羽毛球、弹吉他、晒太阳。。。在这里感觉不到孤单。可惜时间太短，要走的时候很舍不得，能留下记忆的只剩相机里的几张照片了。如果有时间，会多走几条街，看看街边的老房子。记得有人写过这样一句话：＂In Shanghai, half the fun of getting to where you were going, lay in the journey itself. Beijingers, it seemed, were only interested in the final destination.＂ 的确是这样。不知下次再来这个花花世界，会是什么时候。

The earthquake

I felt dizzy all of a sudden and was thinking probably I needed some candies. Earthquake was the last word that would occur to me. The pendant lamp was shaking – it was so surreal yet real.

The news that the epicenter was in Sichuan sounded implausible, but true. In the blink of an eye, the obscure town became the focus of the country. By the way, where is the torch? Few seem to care.

Being thousands of miles away, I didn’t realize the seriousness of the situation until the government announced 3 days of mourning for the victims. All newspapers and websites became black-and-white; entertainment TV channels turned dumb, cinemas and bars were closed…

Many people donated money. But one thing I can’t figure out is why taking a record? Even if I had one million to donate, I wouldn’t want my name to be exposed on the little red board.

Today things are getting back to normal, slowly though. May the victims rest in peace and the survivors be strong.

The unbearable heaviness of shopping

It’s a short Labor Day holiday, but people’s shopping frenzy is totally unaffected. The day before May 1st, they were queuing at the ATMs, warming up for the battles at various shopping malls. What a sign of the booming economy! But the hordes of customers kill all my desire for things and I usually end up home empty-handedly.

Now I’m in favor of online shopping. Clothes, cosmetics, books, household appliances… anything you can think of are delivered right at your door. At first I thought I got addicted, but later I realize it’s become a habit. It saves time on traveling in this enormous city and saves me from breathing in too many noxious gases.

The only place I frequent is the Carrefour 10 minutes away from where I live. But never dare I go at weekends. I hate the endless queue there, or I hate myself for not having the patience to queue. Ugh!