Uncharacteristically Classy

Last week was uncharacteristically classy. Here are three unforgettable events that I witnessed in the past seven days that I would consider uncharacteristically classy (at least for this skinflint).

SATURDAY

At school on Thursday I saw a newspaper tacked to the wall. Usually my eyes just glaze over it quickly, scanning the pictures for a familiar face or jersey. But on this Thursday my eyes connected with that newspaper at just the right instant because I saw a horse on the front page. Needless to say, my eyes locked on that prancing animal and I trotted to the newspaper like a fly flying trancelike to that seductive neon light (P.S. – I love horses). The only character I recognized was, 马 which means “horse.” So I asked a passing student to translate. She said that there was a horse competition at the Bird’s Nest on Friday and Saturday. I began to salivate. After wiping up my puddle of drool I texted my friend Huo (who I met on my train ride to Shanghai – God is awesome, it was no coincidence we sat next to each other on a 12 hour train ride) and asked him if he would like to accompany on a man-date on Saturday. It took a little persuasive speaking on my part, but I had a date to see horses in the Nest!

It was a perfect May day and we waltzed into the Nest – that iconic tangle of steel and parked our booties in a shady seat and watched some blue blooded horses jump an obstacle course. It was called a Grand Prix, but after you see a few horses jump over the same jumps even a horse-lover like me gets a bit bored. So Huo and I explored the Nest. I imagined the sulfury smell and thunder of fireworks storming overhead during the opening ceremony three years ago. I imagined the sound of the crowd roaring as Usain Bolt shattered the world record in the 100. I imagined the countless nameless men who built this breathtaking structure.

It was a pretty classy Saturday.

THURSDAY

A few months ago my friend Hannah (a teacher in Beijing for 7 years and an awesome friend) texted our group and asked who was interested in going to The Egg (the National Theatre) to watch the Italian Ballet perform Romeo and Juliet. I replied within seconds, “DIGGITY!!!” How could I pass up a classy night at The Egg watching athletic Italians strut to Bill Shakespeare’s classic? So I put on my fitted shirt (if you are a man, please let this next sentence sink in: If you ever come to China, please get a fitted shirt, it is cheap ($18) and will change your life!), shined my shoes, flossed, and met up with my amigos as we waltzed into The Egg – a gorgeous structure that looks like a giant neon egg - to watch some athletic Italians do things I have no urge to try.

It was my classiest Thursday in China.

SATURDAY at MIDNIGHT

I didn’t even finish Kung Fu Panda 1 because Jack Black’s voice annoyed me. I don’t like 3D movies. I didn’t have time to go the midnight showing at our theater. I didn’t want to die on Saturday from lack of sleep (I had to teach Catechism in the morning and a Bible study at night). But Matthew Jamison Werner is a persuasive man. So we along with Ruby, Teri, and Maria (an MLC friend) walked into the theater at 11:51 pm. We goofed around with those 3D glasses (which look oddly similar to my Dad’s sunglasses – can you believe they completely surround his bifocals?) and as the movie began Matt and I cracked open our Red Bulls.

I left that theater in love with Jack Black’s annoying voice. Maybe it was the Red Bull. Maybe it was the rush of a midnight show. Maybe it was the fact that I saw a movie about China, in China.

I’m not so sure that watching a 3D cartoon at midnight is classy, but it was sure unforgettable.

- m -