Expect the Unexpected

Let me start by saying that my best moments in Beijing have been the ones I didn't really plan for.  If you had asked me Wednesday morning what I would be doing that night, I would have told you I planned on doing homework, and then going to bed.  I might even watch a movie, but only if I was feeling a little crazy.  Now if you had told me that I would be headed to a bar, down a dark alley, to listen to jazz, I would have laughed in your face.  The circumstances that lead to this experience are not particularly exciting.  Essentially, a friend of mine came into my room and said, "Do you want to go see a jazz concert tonight, it starts at 9:00."  On any other day, I probably would have passed, but for some reason, I was feeling adventurous.  You see, I have literally never gone out on Wednesday night.  Call me lame, but I like my sleep.  It's not that I didn't have work to do, either.  I had a five minute presentation the next day.  Not to mention the fact that I am not really a jazz fan.  Despite all these very good reasons why I should stay in my nice warm room, I instead chose to venture forth.  I am supremely happy that I did so.  The concert was in bar in a nearby neighborhood that is filled with restaurants and shops.  As previously mentioned, to get there you had to walk down an alley that I would hesitate to call inviting.  Before certain people start to write me angry emails, I was far from alone, being accompanied by five other people.  Not to mention my already intimidating physique.  That's a joke, people.  The band was sufficiently diverse, with a Chinese trumpet player, an American on the sax, and Australians on the drums and keyboard.  The crowd was a United Nations of foreigners.  We had a great time playing "Guess that Language," and sometimes we simply had no idea.  The music itself was quite enjoyable, though, honestly, it just seemed like an excuse for three band members to stand there while the other guy did a solo.  Then that guy would take his turn to sway back and forth while another guy soloed, and so on, and so on.  The whole experience was quite enjoyable.  Besides, who wouldn't want to be able to say they saw a jazz concert in a bar in Beijing, China?  Oh, and the best part is, my presentation the next day was flawless.