📍 Shanghai, China, 9/25/18

Yesterday, Nikki and I were only supposed to go out for dinner… But we seem to be incapable of not surrendering to Shanghai’s energy and venturing off into its crazy nightlife.

We met an actor from Taiwan, Nikki got a free Juul somewhere, and Alex’s friend taught me how to surrender my soul to crazy techno music. She made me stand with my back to the DJ and told me to just let the music flow through my body. I tried really hard, but I’m not sure I managed it. I’m only used to surrendering my soul to music with words in it.

Alex told me he used to not like techno either, but drugs changed that, and now it hits him right in the heart. I wonder what it is about drugs that makes a person enjoy techno music. It probably has to be a lot of drugs.

Alex also told me that even though he and his friend are the same age, he feels five years older–his friend is more like a little brother. Apparently he’s “been through stuff” and doesn’t feel the need to prove himself like his friend does. He used the example that his friend feels the need to show off his muscles or whatever. I kid you not, 5 minutes later, his friend took his shirt off in the middle of the club and flexed for everyone. Alex shot me a “what did I tell you” look, and I laughed so hard.