Pascale Ouimet, publicist for Cirque du Soleil's "Quidam," spills the beans on what it's like to run away and join the circus.

8:30 a.m.

Shanghai Sheraton Wake up in a hotel room. Where am I? Seoul? Dubai? No, Shanghai.

8:45

Coffee ... must have coffee.

Hotel Gym

9:00

It's powertime. Work out on the elliptical and sweat away last night's drinks. Redemption is a good feeling.

Hotel Room

10:00

Organize a surprise birthday party this evening for Olivier, a co-worker and good friend. We're a family here, and if family happens to involve free cake then so much the better.

10:10

Tidy up my affairs in my home away from home; quick hotel breakfast then off to the circus.

Taxi

10:20

Learn a new Chinese word, “zheli,” as I frantically flip through my phrasebook trying to tell the driver to stop.

Cirque Castle, Century Avenue, Pudong

10:30

Walk past security. Greet several artists as I head to the majestic trailer pod that is my office.

11:10

Wham, bam, e-mail time. Catch up on news from the other 12 Cirque tours, check in with our Australian marketing firm and pause to soak up the day's events.

1:10 p.m.

Prep work for my next few interviews keeps me in the office. The desire to go outside and bask in the sunlight is sated by hilarious conversations with co-workers inside.

1:45

Interview time begins. Today there are only two, so I finish early and grab a bite in the on-site cafeteria. Simultaneously eat and argue with the cooks about the best place to go out at night in Shanghai. They win the argument.

2:30

Backstage tour for a group of journalists. Walking around the site reminds me of just how cool my job is—who else can say they work next door to 52 artists, acrobats and musicians? Journalists talk to performers and are ecstatic about seeing the show tonight.

4:20

A newspaper wants to do a piece on a performer, so I set them up and monitor the discussion. Secretly mull over what sights to see this weekend. Hangzhou? No, the Oriental Arts Center, that'd be nicer.

5:17

Phone call from friend whose plane from Amsterdam just touched down in Shanghai. I've left her a key at the hotel's front desk and advise her to sleep off her jetlag before dinner.

5:35

Brief two artists for their media interviews tomorrow. They're ready to strut their stuff.

6:40

Prep time for the show. I settle in the media, then check on backstage interviews. Unsurprisingly, no need for damage control.

Cirque Castle

7:30

Show starts. Catch the first few minutes and marvel at the amazing talents onstage, then head back to the office to relax and plan my schedule.

Taxi

9:10

Going to meet up with friend and people watch at a café.

Ye Shanghai

9:30

Arrive and order coffee.

Cirque Castle

10:00

Return for the surprise birthday party. The grin on Olivier's face makes all the planning effort worthwhile. The chocolate cake doesn't hurt either.

Bar Rouge

11:00

Head over for drinks with friend and two colleagues; more catch-up conversations and people watching ensue. Lively debate about the best city we've been to so far; Shanghai's only two weeks old but is already a contender.

11:40

Order another glass of red; contemplate moving to Argentina. Decide against it—the circus beats grape-growing hands down.

Sheraton

12:10 a.m.

Head back to hotel room exhausted but happy.

12:30

Fall asleep dreaming about today's chocolate cake and how I wish we had more （celebrations that is, not cake).