Last week my school had there "Sports Meeting" which in addition to my almost dying six times a day, almost killed me. (but not really, don't worry, i'll explain!)
Here in "This China" which is what most Chinese people refer to it (along with "our China") one must be extra attentive when it comes to basic things like crossing the street or walking on the sidewalk, taking buses, etc. I say that I almost die at minimum six times a day, but that only includes days I venture farther than the school complex, usually. Scooters on the streets and on the sidewalks, it's usually just as safe if not safer to walk on the side of the street as oppose to the actual sidewalk. But another day for that. Back to the sports meeting.
This is a big deal to the students not only does it mean that they get to compete and have fun with there
classmates, it also provides three days free of class. While the Chinese students surely don't regard this as highly as the foreign students, it's pretty awesome. They first day of the the meeting there was a parade that each department participated in. We got these "awesome" sweats to wear and flags from different countries.
*Just an aside, they didn't have and American flag, so I wore my Obama Shirt!
This had to be one of the most honest reactions of how we really felt, being the focal point and photo attraction for many of the Chinese people standing outside of the stadium while we were waiting to march in.
So I ran the 100 meter on the first day of the competition. I Finished in front one two people so I thank God that I didn't lose. I know it was God because in the four days we had to practice for these events, I was timed between 19-21 seconds, which is super slow. But the day of the event I ran it in 16 flat. There is no way you could convince me that wasn't a miracle.
So the Chinese student have been preparing for this event for who knows how long, but our teachers only told us about it five days in advance. We are under the impression that they did this so that there would actually be people to represent the department because what usually happens on days off is that people disappear. So by the second day of the sports meeting about a quarter of the students where in Nanjing, which is about a hour or two closer than Shanghai.
I was here in Hefei nursing my feet, but I did manage to get a Chinese Cell phone! It matches Brents Car!
Really it's silver with a touch screen, the brand is Fashion, a Chinese brand. There logo is the Audi logo. ( Sorry Dad! If I could have found one with a Ford Logo I would have gotten it :)
