One in billions

We have had wonderful weather this last 2 weeks between 25-30 degrees and low pollution aqi, so I have been able to run more. A while ago I could not go for more than 20min before my back was screaming in pain. After discussing the issue with my brother I have made some changes and lately it has been no problem. In terms of technique I have shorten the steps (Alex said people that have flexible hip flexors  have a tendency to take to big steps), changed location to a park that has different height levels which gives a variation in movement going both up and downhill instead of just flat running. Also some yoga exercises before heading has helped to reduce the tensions in my back. 

 

2 weeks ago I was working on a Sunday event to promote the company by playing sports with kids. I was approached by a couple from Feiyue asking me if I could wear the shoes and take photos for their website. Why not? And they sent me a pair for free! This shoe brand is like the Asian version of converse, very popular, so now I am part of Chinese cool club.

However, I don’t agree on, or fit in, the snow white fashion complex. There are so few outside sitting areas or outdoor swimming pools because Chinese people flee the sun. They sell whitening cream and walk to work under umbrellas to protect themselves not to get a tan. 

One thing that makes me so happy to see when I get of the metro late is seeing the Chinese people coming together dancing in the streets! It is mostly women but also some men and children. They bring their speaker and do one routine after the other without stopping. It looks like they are really enjoying themselves and nobody cares about audience.

Since I don’t eat meat in china (because of how animals here are treated, how unfresh it looks in the shops and badly treated in terms of bacteria’s) I eat and try more and more fish dishes instead. This chili, on the bone-fish is delicious but since I still can’t speak Chinese I have no clue what it is I am eating or if the dish has a name.. 

 Here are some pictures and movies I received from parents lately. It will be really fun to have as a memory. To explain Corey 2,5 years old’s knowledge about Sweden is because I got the honor to do a PowerPoint and play presentation about Sweden at the kindergarten since they are working on the fact that the world is big place and people come from different places. The got to pretend they were animals living in Sweden, doing sports that is popular, dancing to popular music and of course dancing the frog dance we do on midsummer.

 

A while ago, was Eurovision week. I could not see it live this year because of time difference but I managed to see it afterwards online. To honor my favorite song this year, Belgium’s number, I posted a video a while ago with dance. The lyrics about the city light hit me and thinking about leaving shanghai in less than 2 months. There are a lot of things I will miss from this place but also other stuff I am happy to be without. Life now in Shanghai sometimes gives me feelings of being lonely even when surrounded by millions of people and I struggle to sleep. There is a contrast to how I feel when I am enjoying myself working with dance every day! Happiness and harmony floats though my system and coming out of own-time-dancing I feel powerful both inside and out. I wanted to re-use some material from a 3y old impro I did in Egypt on a vacation that is me expressing the flow of happiness. But mix it up with soreness and helplessness in week movements, and contrasting big and strong ones that makes me feel powerful! Many of my friends (and also some unknown) gave me good comments and it made me so happy and thankful! Even if I cannot do 4 pirouettes, bend my back in the needle or whatever a lot a people find impressive watching youtube videos of crazy talented young kids, I can still affect. Being real is for me important when I create and expression is sometimes harder to learn then physical skills. We are good in different ways but I feel it is important as an artist in this industry to stand for what you believe in and give yourself a gentle clap on the shoulder, acknowledging your strengths. If I would to compare myself to what every other dancers can do better than me I would be afraid to lose my passion, and that would be a shame..