we live so close to the ground now!

We just moved.  Oh, have I mentioned that twenty times already?

I showed you the video of Skye’s encounter with the “other” dog in our apartment on Monday.  Now I have more funny tales of moving to share!

riding in cars with houseplants

We took many loads of our stuff across town ourselves, which meant a lot of taxi rides.  I have been meaning to tell you how much I love Shanghai taxi drivers. I may be jinxing myself by saying this, but they know all the streets!  I can count on one hand the times a driver has had no clue where I was asking him to go.  I find this truly amazing. Maybe they have some sort of GPS that I don’t know about, but even so, I’m impressed.  You describe where you want to go here by saying the names of two streets “Xingfu Lu, Fahuazhen Lu,” for example.  And almost all the time they say “Xingfu Lu, Fahauzen Lu–Hao!” or “OK!”

Often they also amuse me by singing or humming, or by listening to sugary sweet pop music. When I’m in the car with Sean, however, I get to witness conversations that don’t happen with my limited language skill.  On one of our moving rides, the driver pointed out a huge green mansion and said it was Jiang Zimen’s house, and has two floors underground, and is designed for having fun, and the son lives there now. It’s in a park, and “you can’t build houses there, but they built a house there!” He knew all of this because he’d previously given a ride to the house’s architect or builder.

Another driver was cruising down Jianguo Lu and after driving silently for awhile pointed out a woman and said “Now that’s a pretty woman. Even more pretty because she is on a motorcycle.”

Things were funny outside of a cab, too.  The mover guy who helped us move the bulk of our stuff on Saturday showed up a couple hours late because “Oh, I’m in Pudong!” at the appointed meeting time. So we took one last stroll around the park while we waited.

Oddly the whole neighborhood seemed to be shifting as we made our departure.  Suddenly some of the major road construction that was going on the whole time I lived there cleared.  And the construction station in the middle of the park, for a new metro stop, was gone!  Workers dug in the dirt, putting in new landscaping.  We walked paths that never existed before!

As we looped around we admired the work of a few of the workers.  They must have been from out of town because we heard some foreigner rhetoric that I haven’t heard since Tianjin days.  “Oh, you are American, of course, all Americans have big noses.” We laughed. “And all Americans are tall.”  Sean pointed out that one of them was actually slightly taller than he is, and joked, “but all Americans are big and strong.” Then they changed the subject and went back to noticing at our noses.

Around another bend in the park we noticed a maybe 19-year-old kid carrying something in one hand, about six inches from his body.  It was a giant frog!  Maybe for an evening meal? But he kept walking around the park with the frog.  Of course we followed him.  He let the frog hop around the fake creek.  He walked around some more with the frog.  What was he doing? Then he noticed us following him and gave us a look, so we retreated.

The next great moment in our last trip to the park was a man belting out a song.  I did capture a little video of that, see below. (The frog kid appears at the very end, too.)

So the moral of this story is–shake things up a bit, it’s fun.

I saw many things as I wandered through my new neighborhood yesterday in search of the secondhand store we’d passed by a billion times while moving all of our stuff across town.

Can you see how humid it is?

Kind of gross.

Still–I was energized as I walked through the new neighborhood. There was really nothing wrong with our old place.  It was a nice apartment and, boy, did we love that park.  There were a couple moments last week when we thought What Are We Doing? (Like when carrying stuff up four flights of stairs.)

But now that we’re here, I’m so glad we moved.  This apartment just feels great.  Even Skye thinks so–he now goes in every room of the apartment, and at the last place he’d only really go in the main room.  Which can only mean it was haunted, right?

And it’s fun to meet a new neighborhood.

So anyways, it was hot and one billion percent humid.  I was real glad to not be working in one of the steamed foods stands.

This motel is called 268 but also 168, including on the rooftop sign we can see from our window. Hm. . .

I don’t know how blankets will ever dry in this weather!

Or these white jean shorts:

The scene below of course makes me think of Christina’s post on Shanghai colors.

I’m pretty sure the folks above are trying to win the lottery.

This man was eating lunch by a fan. I saw another, older man. climbing onto his bike on the next block. His body curved in a c-shape and he was balding and I’m pretty sure missing a lot of his teeth. As he curled himself over his bike I thought how he looked a lot like a regular-person-sized version of Roald Dahl’s BFG and I smiled.

I saw some bright sneakers.

I stopped in my new post office. It was mostly empty. I wondered if that would ever happen again.

I saw one sleepy guy.

I saw three more sleepy guys.

I imagined renting this storefront that has a patio out back (can you see it?)

I saw the remnants of a card game.

And this smiley face:

Some monkey pants:

And patterned dresses:

I finally found the second hand store!

There were two accordions for sale.

We’re done moving! We rode our bikes across town Sunday night, which were the last two things to move. And a bag of socks which Sean had left in a drawer. The two new guys in our old place seem to be settling in just fine. We left them the accordion, the large wooden ship, the humongous coil of incense and the silver plastic disco ball maracas that came with the apartment. You’re welcome guys!

There were many funny moments in the course of the move, which I’ll tell you about later. You get a little preview with the video below, however. Now we begin the unpacking phase. (Uff da!)

Please enjoy this week’s links–

> the picnic operetta (back in minneapolis) is awesome and looking for supporters!

> at the writing workshop i led on sunday (which was great) a lot of us talked about the difficulty of getting started, and called on anne lamott’s advice to write a lot of “shitty first drafts.” katie green made a graphic novel about her years struggling with eating disorders, and she is currently describing the process on her blog, including this one about the first draft

> a really lovely 2009 graduation speech by ellen degeneres (yes she dances at the end of it) about how challenges and tragedy and  losses shape your life in unpredictable ways

> while packing last week i listened to this conversation between seth godin and krista tippett on “on being,” about noticing and then creating, and the potential of the current era of communication

> another thing we discussed in the writing workshop is NPR’s three minute fiction series–it’s so great!

> comic books for grown-ups via brainpickings

> the ins and outs of the China Post

> an essay about “becoming” “an artist”

> and here’s skye, discovering the dog at our new apartment:

What’s worth doing even if you fail?

-Brene Brown, Daring Greatly

Today’s note is from Brené Brown’s book Daring Greatly, which I think you should read.  I’ve listened to the audio book off and on over the last several months, and I gain new awareness every time I listen, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Here’s her story behind the title of the book:

The phrase Daring Greatly is from Theodore Roosevelt’s speech, Citizenship in a Republic. This is the passage that made the speech famous:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. 

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again,

because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause;

who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly . . .”

The first time I read this quote, I thought, “This is vulnerability. Everything I’ve learned from over a decade of research on vulnerability has taught me this exact lesson. Vulnerability is not knowing victory or defeat, it’s understanding the necessity of both; it’s engaging. It’s being all in.”

I think it’s easy to hear about this book and think yeah, daring, sure, vulnerability, yeah, I get that–but you should do more than just let those thoughts cross your mind.  Read it and she is sure to open your vision about the ways shame is embedded into our habits and responses to each other, and how we treat ourselves, and how we choose to act or not act. It’s really good stuff.

NOTE: If you are thinking of getting the audiobook, the narrator of the book is not Brené with her Texas lilt, sadly, and is also not one of my favorite narrators. . . which, to be honest, is partly why I listen to it in small segments. . . but maybe the voice won’t bug you as much as it does me. Just wanted to warn you to sample the voice first, if this is something you notice. It’s that thing where women and children are spoken in a high-pitch whine, and the voice isn’t very warm. . . but this is a love note not a complaint note–so I’ll stop there. ;)

This Sunday’s creativity workshop is focused on writing and it’s sure to get your ideas flowing. Each participant will leave having written many pages, and will take home a sweet workbook of inspiration to continue the work on your own.

The venue has changed, so I have room for a few more people–this means you can still join in!  It’s a super cool space in the lanes of Tianzifang. Read the details below and email me if you are interested.

No experience necessary, but experience isn’t a problem, either. ;)  It’s going to relaxed and fun!

SHARPEN YOUR PENCILS! / june 16th /

We’ll spend the afternoon flexing our writing muscles, using some of Lynda Barry’s exercises from her unique book What it Is, as well as a few other sources of inspiration.

You’ll leave with many written pages, and with prompts and tools that will make it easy for you to sit down and fit in 20-30 minutes of writing at home–whether for your blog, your family or personal history, your journal, or to hone your communication skills.

Workshop includes snacks + drinks, a creative workbook of ideas and inspiration to take home. Please bring a notebook or journal to write in.If you’re not much of a writer, this will help you find your way into the practice of writing or journaling. If you write often, this will give you some new points of entry and exercise to try. Either way it’ll be relaxed and fun, you’ll meet some new friends, and leave feeling refreshed and ready to think creatively in any challenge. You’ll also get a workbook of ideas to take with you, so you can continue the work on your own.

WHEN: Sunday, June 16th 2:30-4:30pm

WHERE: Chance Cafe, Tianzifang (you’ll get a map when you register)

FEE: 175rmb/person; or 150/person if 2 or more sign up together

(72 hr. cancellation policy)

> Sign up! Email me to sign up (or ask questions)

We’re moving! This weekend. Just across town, not out of China.  I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned this here, yet, because it’s been a little up in the air.  But papers have finally been signed and packing has begun.  And procrastinating from packing that starts with thoughts like, “I wonder what that show Nashville is all about?”

Speaking of air, it’s nice and opaque today while we run around the apartment packing. Yuck. It’s Dragon Boat Holiday today.  You can read a great synopsis of the holiday here. The races are apparently only 20-30 minutes long, and I guess that is lucky for the racer’s lungs. We planned to go, but after looking at the air, looking around at our still very full apartment, and reading many accounts of the races as “EXTREMELY CROWDED” we chickened out.

Speaking of Chickens–apparently at noon on the dot (which very coincidentally is when I read about this tradition) you are supposed to try to get an egg to stand up, and then you’ll have good luck for a year.  We tried it with these hard-boiled duck eggs from Sean’s boss, but were not successful, and then it was 12:02. Too late.

These fun rides are outside one of the convenience stores on our new street:

This is the number on our new building–3–but there are two threes, because I think the building is divided into two parts for some reason.  But I’m taking it as an auspicious sign, a green and white 33 on the new front door, having grown up with three brothers who were very obsessed with Larry.

I’m also taking it as auspicious that we are part of a succession of North American artists and musicians who have lived in this place.  We found it through a friend-of-a-friend.  I think that is definitely the way to go in this town, because the agents show you the weirdest places. Like one room apartments set up to look like the outside of a ship with life-savers and everything.

Skye is not much help at all with the packing:

Our new place is near Tianzifang, a cool-artsy-turned-touristy maze of old lane houses filled with shops and cafes and trinket-sellers.  It’s going to be fun to explore, especially since I’ll be able to sneak in when the tourist tide is low. The writing workshop this Sunday will be held within the maze, and it’s the perfect setting to, uh, re-set yourself:

This is a change of venue, and I now have a few more spaces at the table than originally anticipated–so if you want to join us Sunday for a creative afternoon of writing and fun, let me know! There is room for you.

Finally, our new place does not have a porch, as I’d hoped, but it does have a nook with a cool tiled floor that comes very close.  I’m really excited for the energy of a new space and a new neighborhood.

Wish me luck with packing.  I sure am a whiny packer for someone who moves around a lot. . .

Happy Dragon Boat Festival Week!

Let’s start today’s selection of links with one about the Dragon Boat Festival! It’s a mid-week holiday which means we just had that goofy thing where Sean had to work all weekend to “get” the holiday.  China this may never make sense to me.

Don’t stop reading–more great stuff below!

> the messy myth: is being organized really always best?

> believer interview with writer jami attenberg

JA: Wouldn’t that be nice if we could all afford to just freely pursue our dreams? I mean: Yes, of course, but nearly every writer I know has to come up with another way to pay the bills. But it’s kind of all I care about so I don’t know. I’m really a terrible person to ask about this because I’m always broke. I guess you should ask yourself how broke you are willing to be first.

> who doesn’t love thinking about themself in new ways?  downloadable lectures about your sign. super interesting, i laughed at myself a lot while listening

> this time of year seems to make me want to make DIY beauty products like tooth-whitener with strawberries and baking soda (haven’t tried yet); shampoo-free shampoo and conditioner; and face cleanser for sensitive skin

> i’m finally reading miranda july’s it chooses you and it’s soo good

> an interview with photographer (and minnesotan) alec soth

How that relates to when I was twenty, and what I’d do over again? I just feel really strongly now that being a creative person means being creative with your life. It doesn’t mean being creative with this one particular activity that you do. Now I see that running a business is a creative activity. How you organize your daily schedule is a creative activity. You can be creative and entrepreneurial in all sorts of different ways.

I think art students should be thinking about that. It’s not just that I go to graduate school, become a teacher, and there’s this formulaic pattern. Be creative.

> a bunny named GOMA on the beach in Japan

give what you want to receive

I don’t remember where this line came from. I think I heard/read it in a few places and then it’s been on a post-it note in our apartment for a while.   It’s basically a variation on the golden rule, isn’t it?–but somehow I think the language of “give” and “receive” is more inviting than “do unto.”

SIde note: in these next few posts you’ll realize that I recently bought a plastic letter stencil set at the stationary shop.

I’m sending you lots of love, peace, joy, magic, openness, aliveness, possibility, discovery, support and freedom right now.

Today I saw a row of trees speckled with white flowers.

A woman giggling and hiding behind a gate to surprise her friend.

An old man on the steps of a large furniture store in a baseball cap, looking serious, his dog sitting 5 feet away with the same expression.

A young girl with a giant sequined heart on her lime green t-shirt and a polka-dotted bow around her neck.

And old woman in 3 different patterns drinking green tea on a different set of steps.

Two men in their twenties operating a remote control plane on a large lawn.

A woman studying beneath giant magnolia flowers.

Huge magnolia flowers!

A grandfather looking at his grandson’s drawing outside of a school.

A middle-aged woman in a tee-shirt with the Rules for Dudes Group printed on the back.

A fire hydrant whose red matched the red in the plants behind it.

Maybe a new metro station going on on Jiao Tong University’s campus.

The little girl from across the hall, sitting in a small orange plastic chair, her grandmother (dressed in two patterns) squatting beside her, waiting for her mom to come home off the elevator.

]]> http://juliekesti.com/2013/06/today-i-saw/feed/ 0 http://juliekesti.com/2013/06/fantasy-island-update/ http://juliekesti.com/2013/06/fantasy-island-update/#comments Thu, 06 Jun 2013 03:07:36 +0000 julie http://juliekesti.com/?p=10162

If you missed my longer explanation last weekend, let me give you a synopsis.  The Fantasy Island adventure that I dreamed of and that many of you supported me in by buying special Packages of Goodness, took a strange turn a couple weeks ago. The artist workshop on “Fantasy Island” was cancelled!

Man-oh-man was that sad. I got online and began researching alternatives immediately, and last week told you all about my search criteria, and how I applied to a residency in a different part of Canada, and how I wanted you to be my good luck charm. I also shared a bit of my residency submission with you, and asked for your feedback, for which you could still win a prize! (You have through Sunday, June 9th to comment and be entered to win.)

So now–the update—

You WERE my good luck charm! I AM going to Canada!  Yes! Thank you!

Picton, Ontario, to be precise:

I have seen Picton described as an Island, but from this map it appears to be not-quite-an-island. Nevertheless the area looks beautiful and water-y.  It’s not the same seaside locale as the Originally Planned Adventure, but it’s still new territory for me, and I find it amusing and satisfying that I ended up finding a place that is also-in-Canada and near a mix of water and land masses.

The place I’ll be visiting is called Sparkbox Studio.

(image from their site: sparkboxstudio.com)

(image from their site: sparkboxstudio.com)

Even though this was an unexpected change of plans, I’m really excited about it for several reasons:

> The residency will be twice as long as my workshop was going to be, giving me more time to dive into my projects

> I’ve had on my mental list for the last year or so: “finally do a residency, darn it! and then do more!”  This gets me to that goal much sooner!

> On that note it made me complete another art application, a useful (if sometimes painful) process

> It fills the requirements of the original quest (and more!)

>There are printmaking facilities, which could make the book that many of you are getting for sponsoring my adventure even more cool

> Sparkbox is dedicated to supporting artists’ professional development

> I will learn more about how Sparkbox integrates with the local community

> We might do an Art Swap while I’m there!

> The facilities and location look beautiful, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to jump in some bodies of water

> While it was awkward to have raised money for one thing and have that thing disappear, I’m up for the challenge of Making it Work anyhow.

(image from their site: sparkboxstudio.com)

(image from their site: sparkboxstudio.com)

So–join me in my excitement!  Maybe leave me a virtual high-five below in the comments.

P.S. Don’t forget to comment here by Sunday to be eligible to win something very special made by me!