Bar in China Allows Stressed Out Customers to Beat Staff (August 7, 2006, AFP)

A new bar in eastern China is offering customers an unusual outlet for anger -- by allowing them to use the staff as punching bags, state media said Monday. In addition to getting a drink, customers at the "Rising Sun Anger Release Bar" in Nanjing city are able to pay money to beat up staff, smash glasses, shout and scream, the China Daily said. If these anger management techniques do not work, the customers can also receive psychological counselling, the paper said. The bar employs 20 well-built men in their 20s and 30s who have agreed to be hit. Customers can specify how they want the men to appear -- they can even be dressed up as women, the China Daily said. The bar charges 50 to 300 yuan (6.35 to 37.50 US dollars) for customers to release their anger, depending on their demands. The bar was set up in April by Wu Gong, a 29-year-old man who got his inspiration from similar bars in Japan, according to the paper. Wu insisted the models were fully equipped with protective gear, and the bar gave them regular physical training so they were prepared for the attacks. Also, most customers are women, particularly those working in the service and entertainment companies, such as karaoke bars or massage parlors.

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August 24^th – Thursday

I am tired. I’m actually writing this entry “pre” being able to upload it. Here’s what’s happened…

My flight from Tulsa to Chicago was delayed due to the weather in Chicago…for six hours! We got on and off twice, waited a while before the flight took off and a while before we could unload. My 6 AM Tulsa flight didn’t get to Chicago until 1:30 PM. I was due to arrive at 8 AM and was to board the Beijing flight at noon. Obviously, this was missed. So United booked me for a flight to Beijing via San Francisco. However, I had no desire to stand around. So I stood in line 3 ½ hours to get a standby to San Fran that day and at least MOVE toward China.

Amazingly, I was able to board via standby and arrived in San Fran at 9:45 PM. When I went to the Customer Service Center, I was informed that the only flight to Beijing was tomorrow (Friday) at 1:30 PM. So I’m typing this entry at 11:12 PM, knowing I have to spend 14 ½ hours just “hanging out” at the airport. That’s brutal. I have no luggage, so it’s pointless to get a room or anything – at O’Hare they said no one could get their luggage and that all luggage was going to your ticketed destination. So it’s possible that my luggage has made it to Beijing but I’m still in the US. What a night I’m going to have!

August 25^th – Friday

So it’s now 6:57 AM and last night was a little rough. I slept about four hours – then being added to my three hours from the night before. I am more physically tired than I feel because I know I have to stay alert until I get to my location in Beijing where I can shower, relax and hopefully have luggage waiting for me.

I had my last American meal for a while: a bacon, cheese & veggie omelet, hash browns, and wheat toast. I can truly get all these ingredients in Siping but it’s not quite the same. Anywho, my flight is still scheduled for 1:30 PM today, so I’m just sitting here and waiting for another 6 ½ hours.

August 27^th – Sunday

I arrived last night from San Fran at 5:30 PM. My luggage had arrived before, so everything went smooth. Previous to this, I had an amazing experience. While at San Fran, I found the gate with the flight going to Beijing. I saw a few other teachers and visited with them while waiting. About one hour before the flight, there was an announcement that the plane was “slightly overbooked”. They began to offer travel credits but delayed and rerouted flights to China if you wanted. I was already one day late, but I was determined to get on the flight. A fellow teacher helped me get to the front (it was a mad house) and the best news came – I was booked into Business class. It was like going to Heaven. We’re talking an 80 degree tilt for sleeping, personal entertainment screens, endless flow of drinks (I swear I downed a quart of OJ), HUGE chairs (my armrest was like the size of a seat in Economy), and an outstanding and unbelievable menu which included filet mignon, an assortment of fruits and vegetables, and different deserts.

Consequently, I arrived in Beijing completely rested (I slept 8 hours on the plane) and started my trek across town to the training site. I arrived just in time to get one piece of luggage checked for delivery to my school, checked into my room, got a much needed shower, and visited until about 10 PM.

I actually leave tonight by train to Siping. Today, I’ll do a little bit of shopping in Beijing, try to eat at Grandma’s Kitchen (a former China teacher herself who opened an American restaurant), and get a little bit more sleep while trying to get my body in synch with the time change.

August 28^th – Monday

The train ride went well as I slept about 6 hours before arriving in Siping at 5:30 AM. We arrived without a hitch to the school and I have begun the process of unpacking and setting up home again. I had some ma huas for breakfast along with peanut milk. It’s indeed good to be back to my Chinese home.

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In southeast China, they are experiencing quite a large storm and problems associated with it. Read the story on MSN at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14284650.

On another note, I spoke to some Creeks yesterday about China. It was good to hang out with some native “peeps”. They were very curious about how Indians are viewed by the Chinese. Not only am I an “ambassador” of the US (hee, hee) but also the Natives of the US (go Choctaws and Sioux). I taught the group how to say “hello” and “goodbye” in Chinese. Fun was had by all.

Number of views as of this blog entry: 3073.

This weekend is the IICOT (Intertribal Indian Club of Tulsa) Pow-Wow at the Expo Center at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds. I paid for a booth and will be out there Friday and Saturday. Dad has some chokers for sale and he’ll be asking donations for the name drawings that he does. This will be a good time for me to talk about China with my native peeps. It’s $5 at the door if you want to come visit me. The web address for the event is http://www.iicot.org.

Number of views as of this blog entry: 3058.