Wu Life Journal - Volume 3

David Wei and Donnie Allan Don Dada and Wei One Der

05.12.09 - 055

 

Wu Rolls Together as One.

 

After a few years of knowing the name, I finally got to meet my master's first foreign disciple, brother Donnie Allen. It was an epic meeting of sorts, as both of us have a strong passion for the arts, and we are both committed to our practice.  He recently moved to China with his family to study TCM, so he stopped by the Wu for a quick visit.


While he was here, we enjoyed a lot of tea and shared many a talk about our perspectives on theory and practice.  It was quite interesting to find out just how much we had in common, such brilliant reflections.   For never even meeting the guy before, we could finish sentences for each other and even source random quotes from a any number of pop culture flicks, it was rather bazaar.  Beyond all that, in class time, he busted his butt hard and worked up a good sweat - something I really admire.  Donnie is a cool dude. 

 

As of now, he plans to be back sometime this summer for a few months to practice more.  Then, he wants to look into possibly staying for good once the new year rolls around.  So many possibilities to create, big fun on the horizon.

Such a pleasure meeting my kung fu brother Donnie..

'I call my brother son cause he shines like one.'

 

 

05.10.09 - 054

 

Visa Man Randy Savage

 

For the last however many years, foreigners have had a hard time extending visas here in Wudang.. ESPECIALLY us Americans.  Those of you that have followed my journey here know that I seem to have visa issues every three months or so.. well, this time was no different.  See, last month, my visa ran short.. but to make matters worse, I didn't even have money to pay for the extension.  Same old story, right?

 

Well, luck would have it that at the very last minute I was brought on as an assistant producer for a National Geographic series and I got an advance payment to do all kinds of leg work for the show.  Not only did that payment cover my visa with scratch to spare, but I still have the other half of my payment yet to come when the filming actually takes place!  So blessed!

 

Beyond that, when I got my visa back, I was surprised to see that it was for 6 months as opposed to the standard three.  Super stoked, I inquired about it.  Come to find out, I am the FIRST FOREIGNER EVER to get a 6 month visa out of Wudang.  Apparently the standard extension is only for 2 months, but our school gets special 3 month deals because of some network connections my master has.. but for whatever reason, the visa office chose me to be the first recipient of a half year visa.  The cool thing is, that they say next round I'll be eligible for yet another six months - this time with multiple entry capacity!  No more super expensive, super shady business visas for me.  So blessed!

 

 

04.21.09 - 053

 

Visa Issues.. AGAIN!!

 

It's that time of year again.. my visa is just about up.  I'm down to my last two weeks or so and luck would have it I'm dead broke.  Ah, there is always something!  There was an opportunity for me to go to the city of Shenzen on business to make a bit of money, but it turns out that the investors fell out last minute and canceled.  Really, I only need 100 US, which isn't much, but to be out here in rural Wudang, I don't have many ways to come up with that type of loot. 

 

At any rate, I have full faith it will work out,.. it always does.

 

 

Birthday Boy

04.20.09 - 052

 

Jeff's Born Day

 

Last night, a bunch of us got together to celebrate Jeff's birthday.  We had a huge dinner at the local restaurant, Xuan Wu, ordering nearly everything off the menu - some dishes twice.  The service staff must have been so upset with us with all our loud barking and carrying on, but we had a blast.  After the meal, a fraction of the group broke off to enjoy massages while the others went back in early and called it a night.  In the end, lots of love and smiles were shared, and everyone had a good time.  Happy birthday Jeff.

 

 

04.19.09 - 051

 

Blame it on the Rain.

 

Horrible night of sleep last night.  The rain has been pounding down really hard.. so much so, my ceiling started leaking.  At first, I thought I heard a moth continuously flying head first into something.. but upon second glance, it was the drip drop of rain water forming a puddle on my comforter that was making the annoying sounds.  The drips were leaking in such a way that I couldn't move my bed to avoid them.. so with that, I had to prop my mattress up against the wall, lay out some buckets to catch the rain water, and sleep in another room.

 

Right now, the school is more crowded than it has ever been, and as a result, nearly every single room is occupied.  That left me with a super junky room to sleep in.  A busted window and a dirty bed.. I swear, after living in China for three years, I'll be able to sleep anywhere.  Sigh.

 

 

04.18.09 - 050

 

Push Hand Party.

 

This year marks another funky year for weather.  The winter wasn't so bad, but it just lingred around far longer than usual.  Now that it is spring, we get days of super hot 100 degree weather followed by crazy thunderstorms and buckets of rain.  What on god's green earth is going on here?

 

Today was another day of rain which means practice was held indoors.  However, now at a time where our school has more students enrolled than ever, it is pretty crowded in our little upstairs training hall.  That said, the group splits into two, newer faces are upstairs practicing forms together, while senior students go down into the hallways and push hands.

 

There are about six of us that get to push and it most certainly gets pretty rough.  As most senior here at the moment, and by far the largest student, it seems like I am the one to beat, and a couple of the other guys really let into me.  I love it.  Granted I still get knocked around a bit, but I absolutley love it.  Luckily, we're all good guys so no one gets overly aggressive or competitive.  Such fun - I like it when it rains.

 

 

Xuan Wu's Guts

04.17.09 - 049

 

The Snake and the Turtle

 

Here in Wudang, there is a story about a snake and a turtle.  The local deity, Xuan Wu, the immortal warrior prince, was once said to be practicing internal alchemy when his concentration was disturbed by the rumbling of his stomach.  Furious with himself, he ripped open his guts and threw out his stomach and intestines.  Upon hitting the ground, his innards transformed into a turtle and a snake.  The other variation of the story is that once Xuan Wu attained immortality, he simply didn't need his belly anymore, so he just ripped it out and made the snake and the turtle.  Funny story, but for me there is another meaning. 

 

Just recently I was introduced to the head of the tourism commission here in Wudang.  Him and his homies are some ridiculously powerful individuals.  They have invested billions of RMB into the development of this town, giving space for a plethora of new businesses to flourish and further allowing countless families to have employment and income.  Sure, I was a receptionist at the Bohemian Club once, and I've met some pretty influential individuals, but never have I been in the direct company of such high rollers.

 

At any rate, for whatever reason, these guys love me.  I'm going to meetings, having lunches, and sharing ideas with these multi-multi-millionaire Chinese guys.  Perhaps early on, say high school or college, I might have been nervous around such folks.. but for whatever reason, now, even though I have nothing to my name but a passion and a practice, I stand confident and strong - unphased by weight these men carry.  I may be a slow turtle amongst these quick thinking snakes, but I'm not intimidated in the least.. perhaps that's why they like me.. but like me, they do.  Offers of resident permits and business visas for me to stay and all kinds of opportunities to work and make money with them have been waved in my face.. but we'll see how it goes.. I'm the turtle, I don't mind taking it slow. 

 

 

04.16.09 - 049

 

Dr. David

 

I had a really interesting dream the other night.. you know, one of those lucid dreams where you know you're dreaming.  It was pretty cool.

 

My dream was set in Hawaii. I was in a cab with my mother and we were on our way to my old job, Auntie Pasto's, to go end enjoy a meal there.  Along the ride, my mother pulled out a large manila envelope and handed it to me.  I opened it, and saw that it was an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Hawaii.

 

Now, even in the dream, I knew I wasn't in Hawaii, I knew I wasn't with my mom, and I knew for CERTAIN I didn't earn an honorary doctorate.. that's how I knew I was dreaming.. but while still in that lucid dream state, I remember looking up and seeing my mom so proud.  I remember the feeling of accomplishment and the feeling of how many more opportunities were now open to me as a result of this simple piece of paper.  I remember that it felt 'right.'

 

When I woke up, I knew it was something I had to pursue.  So there you have it.. I am now in the market for online courses towards getting a master's or doctorate in either nutrition or education.  It feels right.

 

 

Ota and I Ota is Back!

03.04.09 - 046

 

Celebrate Good Times

 

There was a HUGE party at the school today.. a very festive occasion.  It was a big birthday, double going away, hextuple welcome extravaganza.  First was for Calvin who is celebrating both a birthday and a going away affair.. second was Sasha who was celebrating a going away.. and then there was Ota, a returning student that was bringing five others with him.  In all, it made for one Big Party!  Loads of fun.

 

There was so much good food, two huge cakes, and cases and cases of beer.  Though I didn't partake in any of the meats or booze.. there was still ample amounts of goodies to enjoy.  After the meal, everyone went upstairs for a big dance and kareoke party.  It was so cool.  Halfway through the mix, however, a few of the drunk kids started to put cake on each other's faces, and before long, there was a full blown cake fight.  That was my que to leave.

 

The next morning was full of long faces and hangovers.  So happy I have learned other ways to enjoy myself then to just stuff my face with food and booze.   Poor guys..

 

 

03.03.09 - 045

 

Mr. Massage

 

Each and every class, I always give my master a neck rub.  Years ago, while training in Shaolin, my master tried to do a back flip and landed on his head.. the incident left a big knot in his neck that he has never been able to heal.  He has had me work on it several times in the past, so it has just become habit for me to give him neck rubs every day.

 

Now, we have two martial uncles living and teaching at our school.  One has a lower back issue, and another has a shoulder and a shin issue.  So now I'm massaging three masters a day.  On top of that, one of our coaches has a hand injury.. so I have to work with him too.

 

Moreover.. my kung fu brother Jeff has a hip and shoulder injury.. so I've been working with him.  Then there is Daniel, a returning student from Germany that has a shoulder issue.. and another new student from Prague that has a hip issue.  Basically, I'm getting a lot of practice in out here.

 

I dig it.

 

 

david wei Blinded by Thine Divine Light

03.02.09 - 044

 

Here Comes the Sun..

 

After weeks in chilly drizzle.. the sun finally showed face again.  It was as if the heavens parted, trumpets blared, little fat baby angles flew around, and a huge red carpet rolled out for the sun's grand entrance.. YES!!!  Sunlight!  I knew it existed.  Spring has finally made it's presence known, and not a moment too soon.  Happy days, get that good vitamin D.

 

 

03.01.09 - 043

 

I'm Sorry.

 

For the last couple weeks, I've been really bad about updating my journal.  This is partly due to the fact that I've been tied up with other matters,.. but mostly it's because I don't have pictures.  I guess I was really caught up in the aesthetics of my page and wanted to have photos to compliment every blog entry.. poor excuse, I know.. but it was the perfectionist in me that wanted every entry to be uniform.

 

At any rate, I promise to be better about updating this thing.  Even if I don't have pictures each time.