14th day: clubbin' and connection makin'

September 30th, 14th day (I’ve been here a fortnight!)

Slept until a half hour before my first class. My eyes are half open when I sleep, so whatever I look at becomes part of my dream, however mutated. I had a Weezer banner that used to make a cameo in my dreams every night for two months until I moved it.
Last night I had fallen asleep looking at my hand, and the bunched-up fingers became this peeled-eyed slug creature that was someone’s sister. David Cronenberg could use it in his next film. So I had to interact with it to use the shower and it kept staring at me in that emotionless yet sickeningly angry slug creature way, but I couldn’t beat it to death with a rake because it was dude’s sister. Didn’t get very good sleep.
I only taught three classes. The fourth was cancelled so the students could start their week long holiday. An audience of Chinese parents was gathered at the door and windows of my third class. I kept trying to get them to interact, but I don’t think they knew English. I put a ban on any kind of “play sports” answer yet again, because it’s a cop-out and then everyone in the row gives some variation of it.
Checked email, ate bisquits for a bit as the student exodus filed past my window. Dinner was prepared by one man with a great big smile, who held up his palm to indicate five more minutes was needed before dinner was ready. But five minutes to him was fifteen minutes on a typical clock.
The campus is like a ghost town without the kids. It’s a little eerie. It seems like an outpost beyond the reach of the zombies now.
Erin and I decided to go into town tonight and check out that club proper.

Erin in situ at Coffee Language

McDeviltoast in situ at Coffee Language

We rode our bikes to the hotel, then caught a cab to Coffee Language for our complimentary cup of coffee and two baskets of fries. We could have just split a basket, but I thought they were going to give me a piddly amount like what came with my company sandwich.

You want fires with that?

At the urging of both the resident piano player and Erin, I played three songs: “Steady,” “At the In Between,” and “Favorite Witness.” I’ve really come a long way as far as performing. I didn’t miss a note and could have sung, too if the mic had been plugged in.
Next, we went to the club and were ushered to a table ringside of some odd raffle game.

weird raffle

A long-haired emcee rattled off Chinese and then some bomb noises piped in and he or his henchmen would hand out stuffed animals to people in the crowd.

more weird raffle

This went on for about fifteen minutes. The staff of the club wore these matching Garfield T-shirts as their uniform. One took our order and we luckily ordered two Tsingtaos. The manager, a young guy named Andy sat by us and asked us where we were from and such. We gave him the lowdown and he said his club was everyone’s favorite, mainly because he spoke English.
I asked if there was a dance floor and he motioned it was in the back, and that after the game was over, he would show us.
“Do you ever have guest DJ’s?” I asked.
He nodded.
“I’m a DJ. Do you use CD turntables or vinyl turntables?”
“CD.”
“I’ve got all my stuff with me in China. Could I spin here sometime?”
He said yes and we worked out that I would come there at 8:30 tomorrow to set up. My first international DJ gig! Hot damn!

Sonny & Cher

After the game, some odd “Sonny and Cher” type deal with back-up fan dancers came out. Luckily, when they got into their “capping on each other” schtick, Andy motioned us into the back.

Sonny & Cher's fan dancers

Around a corner and down a low-ceilinged hallway, we arrived at a circular dance area, with tables along the outer rim, and an upper deck with tables overlooking the dance floor. I was impressed.

Chinese club kids

The lights were pretty elaborate. I’d say it is on par with Vertigo or the Warehouse. I got to go onstage, investigate the equipment, which looked pretty standard, and then I just basked in the madness of it all. The DJ spun a lot of cheese house trance, some in English with sometimes very naughty language (“motherfucking slut” was dropped in one chorus like nothing).

more Chinese club kids

I started formulating a set in my head immediately. After another Tsingtao, we took off, as the club closed abruptly at ten to midnight. Perhaps just a weekday thing, I guess we’ll find out tomorrow. As we got in the cab, a carload of dancefloor people hailed us,but the only English they knew was hello. For all I know they could have been inviting us to an afterparty.
Erin and I rode back laughing, amazed at how cool a spot we had discovered. It opened up new possibilities in Haimen City for the break and beyond. I can’t wait to drop my DJ shit on ‘em tomorrow night.