Saturday, 胡里山, Beach Party

Inside the fort

Big cannon aimed at America...or not.

The war effort is supported by the hands of those most affected.

Did they really need words for the sign?

Old-school mechanics.

Saturday morning, we all had an early-ass class field trip down the road to Hu-Li Shan 胡里山. A fort constructed during the Qing Dynasty, China's most expansionist period, served as a fort against invaders as well as greater Xiamen's reinforcement of its stance as a leading trade port with the rest of Asia and the world. The fort today, having been restored by the government, serves as a testament to China's glorious maritime history. Such nods to history repeat themselves today, as recently as during the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics...

After that dose of history, I found myself heading back through town in a taxi with Luke later on in the night. We went to a party that was taking place near the Grand Asia Hotel. Yesterday night, an island-wide beach party was taking place among the foreigners and foreign-friendly Chinese. Beers were 10 kuai, mixed drinks 30 kuai and up. I came to the party with the mixture of green tea and soju, 'cause I'm a cheap-ass who likes to pre-game before such occasions. All of the it-people were there: the Koreans, the Dutch, and the Americans. Aside for some tension between me and a certain young man (which, everyone seems to know about) as well as the hit-n-miss selections the D.J. played, for the most part it was a very casual, laid-back affair. I danced for my first time on the sand, which is tricker than it looks. Beyonce makes it look so easy in "baby boy," but no! That is not the case at all, unless you're Dutch and somehow pull the most American and Ethnic dances from no where and you're like: Europe has got it going on in here.

(Stream of consciousness) Wesley liked my concoction so much that he drank the whole thing. We put our feet together and talked about how his were bigger than mine. I got to also go out with the Blazin' Asians (Carrie, Carrie, Ann, Chloe) and Claire for the first time, too, and I must say that those kids know how to show a boy like me a good time. The surprise of the evening: Chloe can dance her ass off! And Niefah. And the Robert character is pretty nice, and better this time than when he was high. He gave me the first Dorito I've had since being here. I swear, China ignites the water in my sign--I love the beach, the moon overhead, writing my grandma's name in the sand, drinking in spirits and Spirits...

I'm also not grounded here. China does that to its foreigners. It's the best soft power ever.