Ok, I briefly mentioned that I joined an improv group. While I have yet to have a practice, the show I attended was great. Below is their set-list, it was basic, but honestly that’s all you need to make people laugh and enjoy themselves!

That one night of watching the improv show reminded me about how much I throughly enjoy improv and the universality of laughter and comedy. No matter where you are in the world, improv is funny. There is something unique about sharing the experience of finding the humor in a situation with fellow improvers and an audience.

In a way, life is just one long improv skit. You never know what’s going to be thrown at you and you just have to respond as best and as naturally as you can; it’s the times that you ack “fake” that you end up with your face in the dirt. If you can’t look at a situation and find the humor you often get lost in the scenario with nowhere to go. In life you have no chance but to constantly develop and adapt to your ever-changing life that living a life without “Yes! And…” would leave you stuck in a rut.

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I originally put this at the end of the posting but thought it was hidden, so it’s now in the middle. I also wrote a brief report on the Catholic Church in China. This is merely a brief overview, which I submitted to my Chinese Culture and Society class, of what will be a large report detailing the historical aspects and well as providing more concrete modern examples.

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While improv is it’s own form of art, I also got the chance to go to M50 with Alison and Kara on Saturday, June 23. M50 is an old slik factory that has been repurposed into an art community. Local Chinese artiest can rest studios and live there for low rates, the catch is that you must be an artiest. From the moment you entered the area, you could not only tell that it was an old silk factory, but that it was also an artiest enclave. Quant coffee and tea shops littler the area, and rounding endless corners and heading down alleys only leads to more exhibits. The art ranged from pictures, to sculptures, to paintings, nearly all forms of art were represented in this place. One of the most fascinating aspect of the exhibits was that many featured pieces that made clear political statements. While I don’t entirely feel comfortable discussing the details of the art, I will add that several historical and cultural icons were shown in a light that is often blotted out here in China. I have no idea how these were allowed. While I was not allowed, nor did/do I feel comfortable taking pictures of the more political images, I was able to snap a few of the more tame art.