A Day with Xiaoyang | Lunch, Baseball, and Her Bar

Xiaoyang came to Dali the year before last because she met Lao Li in Hainan, and she stayed. Over the past year or so, she often went outdoors and traveled with everyone. When this straightforward Northwestern girl chatted with me about our travel activities, she mentioned that she could totally share her life as a travel experience. Indeed, if you love your daily life in a place, for another person, cooking together like friends, going to a beautiful meadow to play baseball, and opening a bar together at night would be a truly immersive local experience.

Half an hour later, Xiaoyang had written this "One Day Life Sharing Plan," so let's begin~

"If you are also willing to try playing baseball and experiencing being a bartender making a drink, why not join me. Come to my home as a guest, taste my home-cooked dishes, go with me to the fields of Dali in the afternoon to swing the bat in an exciting game of 'wild baseball,' and in the evening come with me to my little bar to experience the fun of being a bartender."

Because every Saturday is baseball day for me and my partners, this activity takes place every Saturday.

Cooking and eating together

This is my second year in Dali. After coming to Dali, I cook for myself during the day. As a Northwesterner, after getting tired of Yunnan Bai cuisine and Ersi and Mixian (rice noodles), I eventually chose to cook for myself. After meals, I leisurely play with the kittens and puppies, and then wait until evening to go to work at the bar. In Dali, there are no worries; worries seem to disappear. The whole day is pleasant, with many ideas in my head, no rush, and no boredom.

Going to the grass to play baseball

Earlier, I attended university in Wuxi, and later worked there. In my spare time after work, I often played baseball with friends. When I first got in touch with this sport, it was actually playing Wiffle Ball with my former college classmates.

Compared to real baseball, this sport is simpler and easier to get started with. It has similar rules to baseball but is not dangerous. Later, after learning more about baseball rules and knowledge, I had the idea of learning this sport. Compared to other ball sports, it is relatively niche in China. I found a club online, explained my intention, and so I joined my first organization—the Spartans Baseball Team—opening the door to a new world of baseball.

I like this sport. It is not just a physical activity; it also requires thinking with your head. There is a high demand for cooperation and understanding between teammates. Baseball is not a one-person sport but the result of teamwork. Whenever I compete with opponents and score, I feel especially excited and thrilled. I enjoy that feeling.

After moving away from Wuxi and coming to Dali, baseball teams were too few. Fortunately, at the end of last month, I found a new organization and started my baseball journey again.

Evening: Going to the bar to mix drinks together

During university, I worked part-time as a bartender for a year and a half. The first lesson in learning to mix drinks back then was washing glasses.

I washed glasses for seven months. During that time, I kept memorizing drink knowledge and taking the boss's exams, and eventually I completed my studies.

In my third month in Dali, with lightning speed, I quickly opened my first bar, Shuangyan Bar. From site selection to renovation, to arranging and purchasing supplies, I busied myself for two months and then it opened.

Every time I think of a new drink, from the ingredients to the method, to what glass to use, how to mix it to taste better, and what garnish matches, it feels like completing a work of art. When a good idea comes, a good creation follows, with continuous attempts and innovations. At last, when I think of a name and hand it to the customer, that moment is like when exam results came out during school days—nervous and expectant. If the customer nods to indicate it tastes good, then that counts as a satisfactory answer sheet.

This is my day: get up in the morning, eat a meal, practice baseball in the afternoon, and after dinner go to the bar to make drinks.

If you are also willing to try playing baseball and experiencing being a bartender making a drink, why not join me. Come to my home as a guest, taste my home-cooked dishes, go with me to the fields of Dali in the afternoon to swing the bat in an exciting game of 'wild baseball,' and in the evening come with me to my little bar to experience the fun of being a bartender.

If you are a woman, you can also stay at my home for one night. My place is in a quiet village 6 kilometers from the ancient city, with views of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, and there are puppies and kittens. That would be a very complete day.

If you are interested and want to know more, feel free to contact me.

Photos