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2005-09-19 - 8:28 p.m. Shanghai is a vibrant city with a quite exciting nightlife- the New York City of China, the most progressive, western city in the land of red flags with yellow stars. Since returning from the States, I have been chained to my dance studio and the school library. I forgot what it was like to do things for fun! If you were to overhear the zillions of invitations to social events (okay I am lying- the 2 invitations) I have received this month, you would also overhear one of two replies- “Oh, I can’t, I have rehearsal” or “Sorry, that’s too late, I have to get up early…” Excuses, excuses. This weekend I had myself a good ole time! I found a teacher to teach my Saturday morning tap classes and I was off. Friday night I went out with some teachers from school. Ironically, we went out dancing until 3 am. (You would think I have had enough dancing, but no…)Saturday night I had another performance, and it was crazy. We danced for the Shanghai Tourism Festival. Here’s the stage before the show- and here’s a blurry blurry picture of us dancing. The several jumbotron screens were positioned at just the exact perfect angle so that we could see ourselves while we danced, causing me to become quite freaked out. I think I probably added a few extra moves out of curiosity-the kind you can’t suppress no matter how hard you try. I’ve seen movies and TV shows where people see themselves on camera or on a screen (live) and they wiggle around or gyrate in an exaggerated manner, to make sure it’s really them on the screen. I suppose the logic in that is this- “… surely nobody else on the planet would be making such asinine movements on a TV screen at this precise moment in time who happens to look a little like me…so it’s got to be me!” I exercised this logic all night. Great fun! Once again, this supports the widespread belief that I am way too easily amused. There were at least 1,000 people there, and the event was broadcast live on TV. Yikes…This was all a terrific time, but the fun’s just starting.. that greeted you at the entrance. I was in heaven. This joint ranks right up there with the roller-skating 70’s party. I think there are a few places like this in the states, but I have never been. Yes, I have been to go-kart tracks, but never one with a bar. This should be illegal. [WARNING- Political rant- skip if you want to….What is it with this place? I am surprised there aren’t mini-bars in every car and bus and somehow built into all the bicycles and mopeds. Ireland’s got nothin’on China. I used to think maybe that money made the world go ‘round, and sometimes when I ‘m feelin sweet and hippy-dippy, I like to think that love makes it spin. After this weekend, I am convinced that it’s alcohol. Yes, behind all the leaders of all the nations of this world sits a fully-loaded bar. If not behind them then definitely somewhere close by. China’s lawmakers have got a point- if you keep your subjects drunk and happy and let them do things like swig whisky and play crash-em-up-derby without a helmet for the low price of 5 bucks- who’s ever going to complain about you? Our trusty leader would probably reinstate prohibition if he could. Bush is batting zero when it comes to, oh, just about everything . If enough Americans got drunk and angry all at once AND had access to go-karts that go really fast??????? Why, we’d have ourselves a speed racer riot! I can just see us all now-I’d come home for this- speeding towards the White House in every available go-kart, fists pumping, voices shouting , demanding his resignation! Ah, excuse me, I am daydreaming, back to my story…] (here is Joe-Mike’s co-worker- getting the drinks) we made our way to the track. Terror. That’s a good word to describe this experience. Hey, I know, let’s severely impair our eyesight, depth perception, and judgment in general, and then go super-fast on go-karts on a really curvy racetrack! Thank goodness for those yellow and red tires. We went two times. The establishment actually keeps track of which car has the fastest time. I came in last place the first time, and second to last the last time. Wow, that was the most confusing sentence I have ever typed. Anyway, I pretended I won. I only went so slow because, mainly, I was really scared, but also because I was trying to take pictures- see? I am so talented. I can do two things at once! Yes, life in Shanghai can be a thrill-a-minute…I’ve had all the excitement I can stand for a while. The tap shoes and misplaced books are calling my name, so I have to go! xoxo, julie ?lt;/P> 
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