Jan. 12

Highlights of today:

1. I accidentally misused a grammar structure in class, and I ended up telling Professor Meng that I was eating him, instead of dumplings. Good grief.

2. We had a calligraphy class, where it was confirmed that I suck at calligraphy.

3. Chinese acrobatics! Most amazing two words to combine in one short sentence.

So, starting from #2, today we had a calligraphy class taught by a master of calligraphy. To be honest, I didn't think master was all that good, but maybe I just don't have an understanding of the culture of calligraphy. All I know are two things: 1. I myself, will never be a calligraphy master. 2. Jon and I had more fun making stop-motion films of moving brushes and ink plates.

The Chinese acrobatics show was absolutely amazing! I wish I could have taken pictures, but w/o flash, they wouldn't develop right. And w/ flash, somebody Asian and flexible and valuable to the Chinese acrobatic team might get distracted and fall and die on account of my selfish photo needs. The things they do are just so crazy! It doesn't seem like people should be equipped to bend like this or balance like that.

There was a man that performed an act entitled "ball catching" (awkward translation, I'm assuming). He was in a really low cut, bedazzled one-piece, burgundy, flair pants, spandex outfit. He did this act where he tap-danced frivolously, catching/juggling up to six bouncy balls at one time, and then striking these fabulous poses. It was so over-the-top, we were all dying of laughter. He loved the attention, and this created even more encouragement for further ball catching feats and more exaggerated posing.

Then, there were the contortionist girls who balanced filled wine glasses on a small plate. Not only did their bodies bend and fit like gummy bears, but they were able to balance the glasses the entire time from places like their feet, heads, hands, and noses.

Next was a slackwire performance with a boy in a white spandex leotard who looked no older than 12 or 14. The wire was loosely hung between two poles, and it reacted to the boy's weight and movement, making the wire often look like the crescent shape of a melon slice. I can only imagine the balance and strength this would require. He even was able to ride a unicycle on this wire, AND walk in a handstand position on it! He was a star.

Then, came the first big performance in terms of participants. There were at least a dozen boys and girls together, and they did what could be semi-classified in American terms as intensive, cutthroat cheerleading with red bowls instead of pompoms. They would tumble and flip onto eachothers' shoulders w/o a second thought. There were even times when the guys that were supporting the girls, would toss them to each other, balanced bowls and all - as if they were nothing more than tiny beanbags.

There were also these adorable little boys ages 8 or 9 maybe, in these bright costume overalls that made them look like painters. They also had bandanas and sequined visors. They balanced on these small squares on little poles, while standing on a circular platform that turned almost to a 90 degree angle, forcing them to use the small crutches, walking in a handstand position, up the circle. I know that is a confusing one to visuzlize, but trust me - it was cool.

Then there was this trippy act called "shooting stars" where guys did flips and whatnot while spinning these strings that had lightup weights on each end. In the dark, it looked like a rave. In the light, they looked like they would be winning pizzadough tossers. Their costumes, however, were tragic. They had black spandex tops with glittery rainbow detailing around the arms, neck and bottom of the shirt. However, the shirts were cut like minidresses with small spandex shorts paired with them. AND they had knee-high black tight boot legging things.

Then, there was a crutch girl, guys jumping through tons of stacked ring hoops w/ costumes in blue and green w/ silver lining making them look like old-school power rangers, and girls playing with diabolos (I think that's what they're called). It's this string balance act where a funny shaped spool is rolled back and forth.

The final act was a bicycle act, with the climax being 12 girls on one bike, all balanced with one girl still pedaling at the bottom of the looming tower of girls. It was crazy! That is all.