We went out bowling tonight with my friends Anqian, Emily, and Zack. We went to a locals’ joint called Sakura. John and I went bowling several weeks ago with Wang Jian and Ya-Ya near their home in Hankou district. I really suck at this sport, but it’s so much fun. We showed pretty good improvement last night compared to before. But John and I are going to start bowling on our own so we can practice our game!

The cool thing about places in Shanghai… there’s no open container laws. Not that such regs apply to nondrinkers like me, but it’s good news for John and others. After bowling, we headed to a 24-hour place called Bi Feng Tang. John felt a new kind of liberation, chugging his beer in public. BFT was cool… we sat in these makeshift outdoor rooms, covered from the rain by a patio umbrella and sheltered from the wind with shower curtains. Sounds dingier than they looked actually. Plus there was a little fan heater by the table… it was so nice and toasty. I’ts been awhile since John and I have hung out late with other people. It was a good time. We hope to throw a party at our new place in a few weeks. Maybe even break out the boardgames (yes, I brought Taboo and Cranium to China)!