Kuai dao le.

Almost done. I have about 12 days left in Asia assuming nothing radical changes in the next week and half. Then im in Texas for a bit, then Vienna, then London, final destination Atlanta....assuming nothing radical changes between now and then. Ive kind of just been on this strange moment to moment thing in asia for the last month where everything seems to be happening at once, which is fantastic but overwhelming. I could do anything if i try hard enough, so really i just need to know what it is that i want to do. I know i dont really want to go back to Atlanta, but i feel like the time i plan to spend there over the next two years is an investment in a lot of ways. Financially, and relationally. You'd think that after being everywhere I'd be tired of it, ready to settle, aching for all things stationary. Im not, its just the opposite, I feel ignited, I feel like ive just begun, and i feel lucky to do anything im doing. Really, it could all end tomorrow, so Im glad im pushing myself, but I think I am aware more than anyone I know of how fleeting everything in life is. I can definitely live with that, but it effects how i live. There is so much to do in so little time, but really, there is no fucking point in going to the Colosseum or the great wall or even to lunch in the southeast u.s. five blocks down the road if there is no one to bitch laugh eat and drink with. Thats my story.

Fi and I went out dancing the other night, i dont think either of realized how sleep deprived we were because after sharing a bottle of weak red wine we were both drunky. I know this because there was a point in the night where Fi, Ben, and I were practicing lifts in a bar, and Im pretty sure we whacked people around us. I mean were dancers, but were not that starved for practice time, this wasnt the time or place. Whatever it was hella fun. I actually have a lot of bruises on my leg from what i can only assume was the lifts and impromptu splits on the hardwood. After this we went to Shelter for reggae night and dancing our ever lovin asses offfff, i mean offf, sweat everywhere. It was amazing. I got about fours hours of sleep that night. Around 4 am i went to lawsons and got nast sushi and a chocolate dove bar with hazlenuts and ate them in cab back to pudong. Oy. Such is life.

Natlie wrote a song the other night that i about peed my pants listening to. She first looked at me with all seriousness from across the room...

"what are you doing mei?"
"american idol"
"oh really? cool, what are you singing?"
"a very sad song"
"whats it called?"
"The cat has a black eye"

Around the fifth or so verse of "the cat has a black eye" a la Les Miserables soloists melodies, I realized how ridiculous she is, in every sense of the word. There is not much she does that surprises me, but somehow this song really. really. really. got me tickled. And i have to say the ending lyric really summed it up perfectly

"and i dont care about it at all"

"9.5 mei!"

I really dont know where Im gonna be or whats gonna happen to me. Its teasing my nerves, but All i can ask is that whatever it is....miserable or not, that Im in good company.

In good company,

Jie Xi

and now for your viewing pleasure, a little video i like to call...A tuna loses its head it tokyo, it was much cooler in person i swear.