About a month ago in Shanghai a group inspired by Improv Everywhere created a “scene” in front of the Sofitel on Shanghai’s Nanjing Rd.

At a set time the group of random folks from a number of nationalities stopped and froze in place for five minutes, causing quite a crowd of onlookers to grow around them. Despite getting away with two “freezings”, the group was amicably told by police that technically they couldn’t continue as it was against Chinese law (?? – if freezing in place for long periods of time is against the law, someone should tell all the assholes that suddenly stop in doorways and in front of escalators.)

Frozen Improv in Shanghai

Original Inspiration – Frozen Grand Central (NYC)

How awesome is that.

According to the Shanghaiist, another possible freeze mission is on its way. Interested peeps should check out ShanghaiiAdLib’s page on the Improv Everywhere community site.

H/T to Kevin Smith, at whose blog I caught this.

It was the first “networking” event I’ve ever been to, and gave me a chance to whore myself a bit as well as finally put a dent in the massive pile of business cards I have.

But more than the business of it all, the dinner was a fantastic opportunity to finally put flesh and blood to the digital avatars that make up a big chunk of my friends, colleagues and acquaintances here in China. People I’ve know in some cases for a couple years, but have never had the chance to meet.

I headed to Shanghai at about 2 p.m., but after a mix-up with the Suzhou taxi driver (apparently my “火车站” sounds remarkably like “虎丘“), I missed my first train and didn’t end up arriving until nearly 5pm.

However, I managed to high-tail it down to the Praxis Language offices (the folks that produce ChinesePod.com) and meet up with a load of people I’ve “known” for a long time, but never met – namely John Pasden, John Beisnecker and fellow Canuck, David Lancashire.

We then all headed down to the rather hip Moon River Diner and met up with the growing crowd of “geeks” (and one race car driver). The night really read like a “who’s who” of the Sinosphere. On top of finally getting to meet face to face with my friend Lonnie, eating BBQ with two of my coolest clients, I also got to meet some fellow bloggers: John, Dan/Kenneth, Adam, and Paul.

And as if this linkfest wasn’t approaching a tipping point – it was also very cool to meet Thalia from ChinaOnTV; as well as the folks behind iTV-Asia, the multifariously talented Corbett Wall and Mr. IWOM – Sam Flemming.

There were a number of other folks I met in conversation, but never got (or happened to lose due to wine) their names.

It was a fantastic time, and definitely worth the two high-speed train tickets to get there, and late/cramped trip back.

So, I just returned from Shanghai, having completed the first step in the marriage process. Wait, I guess the first step was that fateful meeting nearly two years ago… or was it when I decided to stay in China? Or when I popped the question? (you're starting to see why I have a category for this now).

Anyway, the first step in the legalization of our marriage was done today. I had to trek all the way to Shanghai to get a certificate that verifies that I've not got a harem of wives in Canada. Oddly enough what I got was a piece of paper that says: "Canadian law neither requires nor provides for the issuance of such certificate."

Huh, helpful. But I guess it'll do, as it's got a nice blue Canadian Consulate General stamp on it (I am supposing they chose blue to break from all the red stamps being thrown around the PRC) and I paid 345 RMB for it. Try to figure that one out. As much as I complain about a certain government screwing over certain citizens of this dear country I call home… my government takes the cake. They managed to papercut my anus from 11,341km away. Bastiges. I mean, $50 CAN for a girl to print off a pre-written form, stamp it with the pretty blue seal and sign her name stating she witnessed me sign it.

And she didn't even witness it! She handed me the form, said read it over and if it was ok, sign on the line. Then she left the room. I mean… I could have had anyone sign it while she wasn't looking. But even if I did, what would it matter… the thing isn't even what the government of China wants; namely verification that I'm not already married.

Allegedly this is all copacetic however, and I'll not encounter any problems when I present it to the marriage office in Dalian sometime in the next two weeks, when we, at least under the eyes of Chinese law, become married.

The expensive and rather long trip to Shanghai (long in that the business I needed to attend to took all of three minutes – including my trip to the Canadian consulate's toilet) did yield one very positive thing – FAJITAS!

The Consulate General of Canada happens to be located on the 6th floor of a rather swanky tower connected to a rather swanky hotel. As both places tend to cater to foreigners there's a grocery store on the premises that is completely stocked with every Western thing imaginable. I was lucky I came away with only a package of tortillas, cheese, some seasoning and salsa. Had I stayed much longer I might not have been able to afford the train ticket home for having purchased curries, deli meats, $10 boxes of cereal…

Oddly enough, of the very few places in Shanghai I've been, this was the second time I'd been to this shop. The tower that the Canadian consulate is in also happens to be the home to the theatre where my former roommate Freddy, my good friend Vanessa and I all went to see the Chinese acrobats on my first trip to the city. Guess they lump all the suck-money-from-foreigner things together.