Please feel free to enter the bars and enjoy yourself. It may be best to go with a friend, however. They will help to provide a safe zone and may help to prevent some trouble. They may dare you to go up and speak to the hot looking girl standing off by herself. (Say “Thanks Napolean” if they do so.) They may help pour you into the cab for the ride home.
The purpose of going to bars is to have fun and enjoy yourself. Do you like to dance? Do you like to meet new people and friends, hang out, and relax? Do you like to drink? Do you like to watch big nose guys get hit on by gorgeous girls? Then you want to go to bars!
Note that the dangers in bars are not required, but are free choices. (Unless you go to a place with huge cover charge to pay for the view. THAT may get you into trouble.) Most trouble in bars will come from drinking too much, spending too much, or talking too much or to the wrong person, or playing house with someone who provides something to remember her forever, whether disease or child. So beware! But those are your choices!!!
GO!!! Have fun. Dance. Be responsible.
And regarding famous American brands, get what you like, what looks good, and what fits. Pay no attention to the TH, or CK, or whatever brand is on the clothes. Most are newbies, and liable to fade away. And FYI: trust me, no piece of clothing should have more than one brand identification. Nikes do not use Adidas insoles or BK tongues.
Levi’s, Bass and Izod are classic. Ralph Lauren is pretty nearly classic. TH, American Eagle, and DK are new. P.H.A.T. is right now. What do you like?
I also get these weird, strange emails from people, but they just get deleted. Hawaii is a wonderful place and the weather is just absolutely perfect. Have a good time, and enjoy being an Uncle. I’m one too.
On Jan 14, 2005 11:15 AM, kiddy said:
Hey,guy,do you want to prove something? Is that an “adult declaration”thing? Come on,don’t makes me laugh.
I have definitely seen people (mostly girls) shaking their heads nonstop in clubs. I have also heard that these “shaking head pills” (摇头丸) are ecstasy. I haven’t seen all this head-shaking in the US, though, which makes me wonder… maybe they’re shaking their heads because of the name of the drug? Maybe they think that’s what they’re supposed to do on ecstasy, so they do? It’s the chicken/egg question, really.
I did a Google search for 摇头丸 and the first result was: Ecstasy Drug: the traitor exposed
The real information on the drug ecstasy, presented by the Church of Scientology. http://chinese.notodrugs-yestolife.com/
Ha! Great graphic on the front page, too. :)
On Jan 14, 2005 1:02 PM, Jane said:
Aloha Dan!
I just got back from a vacation in Hawai’i myself. What island are you on? I did the standard touristy thing in Waikiki for a week and a half. Weather is perfect isn’t it? I still haven’t adjusted back to the Pennsylvania chill yet.
Have a good time, and hang loose cousin.
aloha
On Jan 15, 2005 7:50 PM, Steven Jiang said:
“Head-shaking pills” are e… head-shaking just ‘cuz lot more bad dancers in this country, being high or not.
On Jan 17, 2005 3:08 AM, Wenwen said:
Here is a FUD-less website on the drug that is commonly refered to as “the ecstasy”.
Even if things here on the main Shanghai Diaries blog seem a little slow sometimes — like when I’m in Hawaii — check out The Blotter. It’s updated daily.
Doug,
Thanks for your comments. One minor detail I forgot to mention: The former student is a female.
Dan
On Jan 18, 2005 12:53 PM, Z said:
God, You are in Hawaii??????!!!!!!
Urgh!
This is really an interesting story. Actually I don’t think westerners use head-shaking pills as much as Chinese do. I have friends who have taken the pills though, it’s said you have to shake your head non-stop in order to bring out the effect of the drug, otherwise it might harm your health, such as damage to the brain and heart. I have also heard cases like some people were sent to hospital or even dead right after they took the first pill. Seems the drug works different on different people.
dan, i love the Blotter and actually some of my posts are inspired by your Blotter posts. thanks a lot.
i have been to hawaii a few years ago, very beautiful and expensive. i might develop some funny “aloha stories” based on my experience late this week. i miss the old guy who showed me his “chinese girlfriend” when i went to rent his bike. that’s in the big island. and i just dump the last kona coffee bought from hawaii a few days ago (another silly thing i did).
Actually, if these “head shaking pills” are indeed ecstasy, then I think Westerners pop them far more often than the Chinese. And Westerners seem to get the drug’s full effect without shaking their heads. Besides, every Westerner knows that it’s the constant shaking of the head that will damage the brain.
Dan
On Jan 19, 2005 6:14 PM, Z said:
Dan,
You are right. I think people who take head-shaking pills also know the non-stop head-shaking damages the brain. I had this conversation with a girlfriend, who just had her virgin go of such ecstasy before Christmas. She told me she was introduced to take that by one of her friend, and she met a lot of decent, high-class people taking it regularly, who have this drug-taking gathering once a month. I asked her why she did that since she knows it damages the brain, she simply replied because life is empty. I don’t know what to say.
Quite sad.
Supposedly, people on e shake their heads because the effects of the drug are thought to come faster when you do it. I don’t know if there’s any scientific proof backing this, but I do know that I’ve seen plenty of it in clubs in the States too… so it’s not just a Shanghai thing.
Ecstasy will damage your heart and your brain whether you shake your head or not. People who die off it tend to do so either because they misjudged their tolerance (same as any other drug, really) or because ecstasy is very rarely sold pure and is usually laced with anything from cocaine to baking powder (and everything within)… needless to say, certain combinations are extremely toxic.
If you feel like experimenting, make sure you really get to know your dealer. Or you can get a drug testing kit to drag along with you to parties. Or you could get some kind of allergy test to make sure you aren’t allergic to anything. Or you could really save all that trouble, chug a few beers and call it a night.
… and I believe the “Drug taking gatherings” are more commonly known as “parties” and happen every weekend.
Dan, your nephew’s cute and you have great taste in music.
You seem to know a lot about this stuff. Should we be worried?
And I have to agree with you about my nephew. Pretty damn cute. Even when he is crying.
Dan
On Feb 5, 2005 5:33 AM, Elaine said:
Really, ask any kid who’s currently an international student in Shanghai, and they’re bound to know something.
…or they’re SQUARE! :P
On May 22, 2005 5:31 AM, Seagull said:
Im originally from Shanghai and has lived in US for quite a while. I have done ecstasy a few times. And seriously, my experience was awsome. I did it because my bro that I trust my life with told me it was fine, so I did it and it yield me so much positive experience that I have no regret about it at all. Honestly, I think in China we say pretty fucked-up thing about E(head-shaking pill) thats because people has so little knowledge about it. In any case, Im back to Shanghai this summer and I would love to get hooked up with some E, so if anyone know their way around the city and can help me with that please drop me a line. Thank you so much
21 Comments
no wonder you disappeard for such a long time.
have a good time!
Dear Former Student,
Please feel free to enter the bars and enjoy yourself. It may be best to go with a friend, however. They will help to provide a safe zone and may help to prevent some trouble. They may dare you to go up and speak to the hot looking girl standing off by herself. (Say “Thanks Napolean” if they do so.) They may help pour you into the cab for the ride home.
The purpose of going to bars is to have fun and enjoy yourself. Do you like to dance? Do you like to meet new people and friends, hang out, and relax? Do you like to drink? Do you like to watch big nose guys get hit on by gorgeous girls? Then you want to go to bars!
Note that the dangers in bars are not required, but are free choices. (Unless you go to a place with huge cover charge to pay for the view. THAT may get you into trouble.) Most trouble in bars will come from drinking too much, spending too much, or talking too much or to the wrong person, or playing house with someone who provides something to remember her forever, whether disease or child. So beware! But those are your choices!!!
GO!!! Have fun. Dance. Be responsible.
And regarding famous American brands, get what you like, what looks good, and what fits. Pay no attention to the TH, or CK, or whatever brand is on the clothes. Most are newbies, and liable to fade away. And FYI: trust me, no piece of clothing should have more than one brand identification. Nikes do not use Adidas insoles or BK tongues.
Levi’s, Bass and Izod are classic. Ralph Lauren is pretty nearly classic. TH, American Eagle, and DK are new. P.H.A.T. is right now. What do you like?
I also get these weird, strange emails from people, but they just get deleted. Hawaii is a wonderful place and the weather is just absolutely perfect. Have a good time, and enjoy being an Uncle. I’m one too.
Hey,guy,do you want to prove something? Is that an “adult declaration”thing? Come on,don’t makes me laugh.
I have definitely seen people (mostly girls) shaking their heads nonstop in clubs. I have also heard that these “shaking head pills” (摇头丸) are ecstasy. I haven’t seen all this head-shaking in the US, though, which makes me wonder… maybe they’re shaking their heads because of the name of the drug? Maybe they think that’s what they’re supposed to do on ecstasy, so they do? It’s the chicken/egg question, really.
I did a Google search for 摇头丸 and the first result was:
Ecstasy Drug: the traitor exposed
The real information on the drug ecstasy, presented by the Church of Scientology.
http://chinese.notodrugs-yestolife.com/
Ha! Great graphic on the front page, too. :)
Aloha Dan!
I just got back from a vacation in Hawai’i myself. What island are you on? I did the standard touristy thing in Waikiki for a week and a half. Weather is perfect isn’t it? I still haven’t adjusted back to the Pennsylvania chill yet.
Have a good time, and hang loose cousin.
aloha
“Head-shaking pills” are e… head-shaking just ‘cuz lot more bad dancers in this country, being high or not.
Here is a FUD-less website on the drug that is commonly refered to as “the ecstasy”.
http://www.ecstasy.org/
Bingfeng,
Even if things here on the main Shanghai Diaries blog seem a little slow sometimes — like when I’m in Hawaii — check out The Blotter. It’s updated daily.
Doug,
Thanks for your comments. One minor detail I forgot to mention: The former student is a female.
Dan
God, You are in Hawaii??????!!!!!!
Urgh!
This is really an interesting story. Actually I don’t think westerners use head-shaking pills as much as Chinese do. I have friends who have taken the pills though, it’s said you have to shake your head non-stop in order to bring out the effect of the drug, otherwise it might harm your health, such as damage to the brain and heart. I have also heard cases like some people were sent to hospital or even dead right after they took the first pill. Seems the drug works different on different people.
dan, i love the Blotter and actually some of my posts are inspired by your Blotter posts. thanks a lot.
i have been to hawaii a few years ago, very beautiful and expensive. i might develop some funny “aloha stories” based on my experience late this week. i miss the old guy who showed me his “chinese girlfriend” when i went to rent his bike. that’s in the big island. and i just dump the last kona coffee bought from hawaii a few days ago (another silly thing i did).
don’t feed your nephew with those pills :)
Z,
Actually, if these “head shaking pills” are indeed ecstasy, then I think Westerners pop them far more often than the Chinese. And Westerners seem to get the drug’s full effect without shaking their heads. Besides, every Westerner knows that it’s the constant shaking of the head that will damage the brain.
Dan
Dan,
You are right. I think people who take head-shaking pills also know the non-stop head-shaking damages the brain. I had this conversation with a girlfriend, who just had her virgin go of such ecstasy before Christmas. She told me she was introduced to take that by one of her friend, and she met a lot of decent, high-class people taking it regularly, who have this drug-taking gathering once a month. I asked her why she did that since she knows it damages the brain, she simply replied because life is empty. I don’t know what to say.
Quite sad.
Z,
I’m curious. What city do you live in?
Dan
Shanghai.
hello!!!!
you r not good!!!!!!
Hey random comment people,
Supposedly, people on e shake their heads because the effects of the drug are thought to come faster when you do it. I don’t know if there’s any scientific proof backing this, but I do know that I’ve seen plenty of it in clubs in the States too… so it’s not just a Shanghai thing.
Ecstasy will damage your heart and your brain whether you shake your head or not. People who die off it tend to do so either because they misjudged their tolerance (same as any other drug, really) or because ecstasy is very rarely sold pure and is usually laced with anything from cocaine to baking powder (and everything within)… needless to say, certain combinations are extremely toxic.
If you feel like experimenting, make sure you really get to know your dealer. Or you can get a drug testing kit to drag along with you to parties. Or you could get some kind of allergy test to make sure you aren’t allergic to anything. Or you could really save all that trouble, chug a few beers and call it a night.
… and I believe the “Drug taking gatherings” are more commonly known as “parties” and happen every weekend.
Dan, your nephew’s cute and you have great taste in music.
Cheers!
Elaine,
You seem to know a lot about this stuff. Should we be worried?
And I have to agree with you about my nephew. Pretty damn cute. Even when he is crying.
Dan
Really, ask any kid who’s currently an international student in Shanghai, and they’re bound to know something.
…or they’re SQUARE! :P
Im originally from Shanghai and has lived in US for quite a while. I have done ecstasy a few times. And seriously, my experience was awsome. I did it because my bro that I trust my life with told me it was fine, so I did it and it yield me so much positive experience that I have no regret about it at all. Honestly, I think in China we say pretty fucked-up thing about E(head-shaking pill) thats because people has so little knowledge about it. In any case, Im back to Shanghai this summer and I would love to get hooked up with some E, so if anyone know their way around the city and can help me with that please drop me a line. Thank you so much