Semester 5 Chapter XVII: Awards, Art & Feasts

Here we go people. Another year is done. It’s crazy how time flies... Remember when Wayne said “and they say time flies/well, mine’s first class”... I kinda feel that pretty much describes my last year... My home is over here now, I managed to surround myself with people who are straight up amazing, I got myself into situations and into places I wouldn’t ever dreamed of... I still don’t know what I want out of life but whatever is happening around me, it definitely makes the energy consistently better... So in no particular order... Shout out to my Shanghai crew (y’all some dope ass motherfuckers), shout out to my day ones back in the Czech Republic (it’s love 4ever), shout out to my fam (say hi to Gin, can’t wait to meet my nephew who is well on his way), shout out to my people all over the world who I still keep in touch with... Shout out to Maroš, I hope you’re doing good up there... You were the best fucking dog anyone could ever ask for and the tattoo of you has not faded one bit.. Shout out to my vegan peers over here... Matterfact, shout out to my vegan peers all over the world... I know we try to live some fucking utopia but sometimes you need a bit of that... Keep it up! I still got a little piece of perfect world in my DNA, ya dig? It's all fucking love... Even though sometimes you can’t see it clearly though all the bullshit or some tears when shit goes bad for a minute... It sounds corny and all but I really feel super blessed having all of you around... Even when my ass is sometimes M.I.A. for months, I see y’all.... It is what it is....

Aight so let me sum up my last week of 2018 for you... Since I don’t really do Christmas much, I didn’t really do any shopping or plans... On Christmas Eve, a friend of mine dropped by, we did some pancakes a chilled for a bit... Kinda perfect evening... No stress at all.... The day after, we followed up on our tradition we kicked off last year. Me and some of my classmates and their friends met by the Church at Hengshan Lu for a service... I still honestly don’t give a shit about anything those people preach, because I feel there’s so many issues more pressing than repeating we are pieces of shit and only unconditional love for God can fix that.... Only so we can go eat some steak or do some shopping right after... Okay, I’m not even gonna... Christians, do what you gotta do... Maybe I just don’t see it... Anyways, it was cool seeing all the people again and doing lunch at that awesome Chinese restaurant on Wanping Lu..

 

On Wednesday, I headed to the campus for our midterm assessment. I still don’t feel most of us know what we’re doing with our research but I guess everyone kinda passed... Who the hell knows... The fun started after that tho... For reasons that are beyond me, I got picked for a Dean’s List this year which comes with a proper ass glass award and a plaque. So during a small ceremony, I received that, hung out with some of my classmates who are crazy enough to actually live in Minhang, and got a dinner which was supposed to be vegan but they dropped a hardboiled egg on it. Maybe they gonna do it right at least once before I leave this motherfucker... I still give them props for an effort...

On Thursday, I met up with my biking partner whom I haven’t seen in a while. Even though Shanghai is freezing, we went for some cool ass ride which took us to the ferry dock by Nanpu bridge, to the opposite bank, and eventually to the China Art Museum (yeah, the big red building). It’s definitely one of the must-see galleries around here but I had kept postponing the visit because you know... If it’s right in the city, the opportunity gonna eventually present itself. The gallery contains Chinese art from ancient calligraphy all the way up to modern age cartoons... It’s massive, free of charge, and pretty interesting... It’s also in the former EXPO area right next to the Mercedes-Benz arena.... Definitely worth a visit... We wrapped the whole shit up at the peanut noodles spot... After that, I stopped by for the doggie and went to my Monte Negro girls’ spot for some drinks... Christmas spirit, you know?

Friday was kinda crazy. I had stuff to do for the whole day and I also had to clear out the spot that become my home for pretty much the whole December as my friend was returning Saturday early morning. I managed to do an awesome dinner at this Vegan Hotpot place with one of my veggie friends, and then headed to French Concession to do one last walk with the dog. My Macedonian bro stopped by for a beer, I cleaned up a little, and after a real long time actually spent night at my spot in Jing’an.

On Saturday, I went to the Powestation of Art for this year’s Bienalle. I still remember going for the one two years back. Crazy... Got accompanied by one of my friends from Monte Negro... For a cool 10 RMB you get to check hours’ worth of art pieces, and even though I’m not exactly an art expert, I really think there’s lotta cool shit displayed over there. Another thing y’all might consider doing while it’s on... By the way we did the whole thing on bikes too... Cause that’s how the fuck we roll... We had a dinner at Jen Dow (another hot pot) and went on to get a beer around the corner from my place with some other peers...

And then there was Sunday. Again, I was kinda busy the whole day but in the evening, I made my way (through a fucking blizzard) to my Lithuanian friends’ spot. Fucking gang reunion. We did secret Santa, we did some games, we talked shit... As a thank you for me being a guardian of the animals and the apartment for a month, I got a big ass package with vegan hams, cheeses, sausages, tofu, chocolates and sweets... Bottle of some liquor... God damn.... My friend made tons of food and huge part of it was vegan too... I got stuffed with incredible potato salad with veggie mayo (hadn't had that in ages)... There was some poppy seed milk with crackers... I mean, she did incredible job making the whole thing perfect. Love!

So yeah... We got 2019 on deck... I don’t really do resolutions but well... I’m just gonna keep on doing whatever I feel like I should cause it’s somewhat working I guess... And for all of you guys... I just hope you gonna get to whatever place you wanna get without making too much damage on yourselves or others... Just be safe, healthy and keep that shit positive... To me, the world seems like a sinking ship for the most part, but that doesn’t mean we should stop trying... Thanks for following this blog (I’m still not sure what makes you do that) and see y'all next year!

Highlights:

• The cold. The fucking cold. Everywhere, all the time.
• While I was working out at Luwan Stadium, I helped this old Chinese lady up on a bar and had a really basic conversation with her. You have no idea how great that felt.
• First run at Jing’an Workers’ Stadium in like a month. Those old Chinese guys seemed quite happy to have me back there. My senior workout squad...

Semester 5 Chapter XVI: Selfies & Christmas Shit

Mic check one two one two... We’re back, we’re good, everything is going well, Shanghai is still a bit warmer than one would expect... And I’m still typing this piece of art from my friends’ spot with their dog sleeping on a couch next to me and their cat starring into a wall on a pillow nearby... Listening to some new 21 Savage, sipping on coffee darker than my soul... All is good...

Aight, so check it out. Last Monday, I met up with one of my friends from the Czech Republic. I mean, it’s not like a close friend but back in the day, we used to work in this bar in Brno together. And in the age of social media, you usually happen to have some sort of contact options for such people forever. So she texted me to let me know she’s gonna be in Shanghai for couple of days cause of work. We met up at Jenny’s bar at Dongu Lu and had a pretty good talk. It had been a while since a had a face to face conversation in Czech...

The evening after, on my way downtown, I got a text from one of my Monte Negro girls who was heading into my area for some street food. We went to this small outdooor joint around the corner. It’s one of these Chinese places where you pick whatever you want from a dyi stand (meat, tofu, veggies...) usually on sticks, and they fry it up for you. When the city gets dark, many of them pop up. Since I’m on my on my healthy vegan shit for the most part, I don’t really eat this often, however, it’s one of those must try things while you’re around here. Not only for the food but also for those tiny plastic chairs, the smell, the noise, the vibes, ya dig? We met up with her sis shortly after and went to Taphouse at Yongkang Lu. Never been to that one but it’s not so bad. They have this deal going on every day – 4 draft beers for 100 RMB – which makes it pretty cheap on local standards. Especially given the fact the beers are real good.

On Wednesday, I met up with another friend at South Huangpu Road to get a lunch. She picked this Find Restaurant at East Zongshan Lu close to the Bund. Another first time. This was definitely the most high-end dining experience I’ve had in the city to date. I’s a vegetarian thing (unfortunately not fully vegan so you have to double check everything while ordering) and I’m talking like white table cloth, shiny silverware, food arranged into all kinds of crazy shapes.... They do sets which would put you back like 600 – 900 RMB per person but they also have regular menu with different kinds of meals, usually priced at around 50-90 per serving. The model is typically Chinese. You order whatever you want, they bring it, you share it. The food was actually amazing... I generally appreciate sketchier local weird spots but if you feel like you need some of the super clean hotel no place vibe, this might be a place to go.

We continued to the Starry Art Museum. I didn’t really do my research on it so I had no idea what to expect. It was so 2018. The museum's sole purpose is for people to take selfies. Different set-ups, optical illusions, rooms with neon lights and mirrors making them look endless. And lotta people taking hundreds of pics for the gram baby. Don’t really think I’ll be back there but it’s a nice way to remind yourself of the times we live in. On God. We wrapped the day by a walk back downtown, buying tons of veggies and making some dinner. Oh, we actually did some veggie pancakes too. Super easy. And I also found out I can still flip those motherfuckers in the air like a pro. Just saying...

On Saturday, there was another vegan potluck at my friend’s spot. This time it was a brunch thing. I mean, it was really more of a lunch since we met up around noon and started eating at like 2. But man... Again, so many cool people and so much great food. Mostly sweet. Pumpkin pies, different kinds of pancakes, jams, chocolate spreads, muffins, powerballs, cheesecakes. Some veggies, I brought some pumpkin beans. It’s been two days, I rode like 60km on bike and went to gym since, and I still feel stuffed. Shit, neither of us could really move once we were done with it. That kinda feeling when you fucking hate yourself but you regret nothing.... All of us ended up taking tons of leftovers home too... SO. FUCKING. AWESOME.

And then there was Sunday. My American super Christian classmate hosted a Christmas party at her spot close to Lianhua Road. We don’t really hang out like that but she’s cool and she invited some of our other classmates I hadn’t seen in a while too. The party was very organized (cookie decorating, Christmas wishes making among other activities), and there was no alcohol – quite refreshing. My Czech ass rarely ends up at parties where drinking is not a protocol. Spent there couple of hours, hopped on my bike and enjoyed a night ride back home to walk the doggie. 

Since my schedule was kinda packed last week even in the mornings, I ended up going to the university gym after a while couple of times. Usually took the opportunity to do some school stuff in the library too. I’m still pushing my Chinese as much as I can and it’s going. Not too fast, not too good but it’s going.

So here we are. Christmas is here and we got one last 2018 blog ahead of us next week. So if (unlike me) you happen to live in a country where there’s holidays, enjoy! I’m not gonna wish you lotta gifts, cause fuck all of that bullshit, but I am gonna wish you some piece and good energy with your loved ones. Cause in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make. Gone!

Highlights

• New Savage and Young Scooter albums. Flames.
• Started watching this Bodyguard TV series – it looks quite cool.
• I can fucking order dumplings along with soy milk at dumpling ladies in Chinese now. I hope you bastards are proud of me.