Who would have ever thought that there would be so many Irish soccer teams in China? I had no idea how big soccer was here... Thanks to the companies doing business in China, there are are tons of American and European expats here, and they bring their culture with them...
I came along with the football team, as from Shenzhen, it's 1 1/2 hr train ride to Hong Kong.. I was so looking forward to Shenzhen, and packed all shorts and summer attire, as finally, i was going to be warm....Shenzhen is in South China, and the weather report showed temperatures of high 70's....a great improvement over Dalian's low 50's....Apparently, all the other teams arrived at the same thing, as we ran into them checking into the Marco Polo hotel last night. The hotel was fully booked. Even though they had games the next day, the Irish stayed true to their culture, and headed out to McCawley's Irish Pub, for some pregame festivities. The pub was a short walk from the hotel. I marvelled at the city, as it was like any other big American city, filled with skyscrapers. The city is really modernized, and the total opposite of Dalian, which i now realize is an older suburban city...Everyone here speaks way more English, so communication is a breeze... We sat outdoor at the pub...soaking up the warm weather..... We ordered hamburgers, wings, and nachos....and beer of course...you know how the Irish are..... I planned on leaving soon, even if the others weren't ready, as i was tired, and needed to hit the sack.... But then Stephen said to wait for company, as it wasn't safe to be walking alone... I guess they were all tired too, as i didn't have long to wait before they were ready to go....
The buses were leaving at 8 am, so we had to be down at breakfast by 7:30..on a a Saturday morning.... no chance of sleeping in....We made it to breakfast ontime...don't ask me how.... The food is really Westernized...not a lot of Chinese stuff....and the staff speaks tons more English... I spot this braided bread and decide to put a piece in the toaster...not thinking the slice was too thick...i am trying to dislodge it with a knife, while stephen says don't put the knife in there...now it's stuff and the toaster is smoking... great, i have set the toaster on fire.... the worker is trying to stop the toaster... great going Paulette.... Hopefully stephen won't tell anyone... no such luck...but i enjoy my eggs, bacon, hasbrown and bread and now i am ready to get on the bus....
It's weird that we enter the bus from the middle...the door opens like underground, so you kinda walk under the bus to get in.... We are off to the tournament.... Thtere are like 8 teams there and 4 fields...games are going to play on all 4 fields at the same time.. .hopefully, our teams will play one at a time or we might have to split up to watch them... the girls are first...and first in many ways...this is their first game as well... They are awesome...they won like 4 (a goal and a point) to 1.... We are off to a great start.... The guys lose their first game...but that's ok...we have tons more games to play...
I venture to the Port a potty.... same like anywhere else... disgusting..... but i did think it was funny that even the port a potties are stand up toilets... a guess China will be China....
Fruits, water and gatorade are provided for the players.... McCauley's has a stand where they are grilling hamburgers, sausages, steaks, and making fried rice with vegetables... i sample the fried rice and it is good.... the teams are getting tired now...injuries after injuries, but they are still pressing on... Hong Kong women's are a tough team...we are no match for them...there's a black player, we've nicknamed Gazelle...no ball passes her...even if she is on the other end of the field...we don't even stand a chance.... A few games later, our goalkeeper is carted off on a stretcher... she went down catching a ball, and her knee snapped out and in pretty quickly....she is out for the rest of the day....hope she can walk tomorrow, as she is going to Hong Kong with us... They need an extra player and want me to fill in..... i have no sneakers, no training.... i wouldn't know what the first thing to do.....maybe next time......
The girls are playing against Bejing...and i swear, it's nothiing but Sumo wrestlers on the team.... i hear this is their 5th year in the tournament, and they are good.... our girls are advised to save their energy for the next game, which is the finals....wher we will play for the bowl.... we definitely saved our best for last.... we scored 2 goals and like 3 points... against maybe their 2 points.... awesome finish girls!!! Way to go team Dalian!!!
The men are out the tournament.... All in all, it was a great day..... The buses aren't leaving until 6pm, and a few of us want to go home and relax..so we make it to the main road to catch a cab... a few cabs we stop say no... i wonder why they don't want to go? is it too far? The 3rd cab says yes, even though we got the impression he wasn't too eager...15 mins later, we are back at the hotel.....aahhhhh....time to chill and get ready for hanging out later...Irish style.....We are going as hell's angels so we are wearing wings...too bad my outfit is all black...i guess i can be a devil's angel......
No comments:
Post a Comment