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5/26/2005

We were invited to march together with the SIB’s athletes during the ceremony of DUFE’s 33rd annual Sport Meets. It was quite an honor for us. We saw sea of people in the stadium. The format was very similar to the Olympics except nations were replaced by departments and colleges. We marched, watched others march, and stood before the podium for congratulatory speeches. I really felt I was part of the whole festivity. I was sure our students felt it was once in their life times to take part in such an activity.

After watching the preliminary men’s 100m heats, in which we cheered the races as if they were our own, we boarded bus and started our city tour. Our Chinese student mentors were already on the bus. Off we went and on the way we picked Pat. Since our student met their mentors yesterday already for shopping, they started talking to each other without any awkwardness. It was amazing how they from two ends of the earth just met and became friend so instantly. The Chinese students were warm, polite, and open minded. They were willing to discuss various topics, including some sensitive ones, with us. We went to a seaside park and Tiger Beach before heading to have a dumpling lunch. Pat offered to pay for the students. Dick and I thought it was good idea. So we three pitched in. The next stop was to visit Dalian’s Aquarium. The admission was rather steep for the students. So we offered to buy the tickets for those who wished to go in (some of them had already been in before). They resisted and finally agreed because they did not carry enough cash with them. Michael promised to pay us back. It took quite some persuasions for him to drop that idea. We told him if they would pass on the goodwill to other students when they were in our positions in the future we’d be more than happy and content.

After the dinner, David, Erik, Matt and Tyler decided to play basketball game. Cristina, Luck and I came along. When we got the place, all the courts (8 of them) were full. Cristina and Luck were tired of waiting and left. The rest of us stayed on waiting for our opportunities. At a point, David said he had to go back to the room for a few minutes. Now we only had the only eligible players Erik, Matt and Tyler. They tried to talk me into playing but I resisted the temptation and urge to play. I told them I would be their “Phil Jackson” the Zen Master. Finally, a game on one of the courts was over. We went over to ask if we (or they) could play and told we had to wait out for another game. So, the boys started to stretch and warm up and I started to worry that I might have to play. Luckily a Chinese student nearby and started a conversation with my boys. So it was our time to play, we asked if he wanted to play. He graciously accepted. Later we were thankful he did because he was a good player. Our team won the first game so continued to play for the next. We were 5-2 (played to 6) when the other team came back and beat us 5-6. Oh, well, we gave it hack a run. It was time for massage.

David, Erik, Matt, Tyler and I went out for massage. Cristina and Luck were supposed to go with us but no one seemed able to wake them up. We five squeezed into a cab and headed to a Korean style massage establishment recommended by Cliff. I was sure this would be quite an experience for these four guys. We walked into the locker room and asked by a male server to strip off. David asked for a robe first before he took his clothes off. This was just the opposite of the order expected here. They waited us to strip and wash ourselves in a public shower room equipped with sauna before giving us robes. I didn’t think none of the guys would feel comfortable doing so. We said we took showers before coming here, which was partially true because the guys who played basketball did. They gave in and handed us robes. We put them on and walked out the dress room. A dozen or so young women had lined up before us intended for us to choose. I did not think it was a good idea to do such degrading thing in front the American guys. We just kept walking passing them by. Then I heard the lady in charge call out “lady #1” and saw the first five ladies in line turned and walked together with us downstairs. Since it was during very busy hours, we couldn’t find adjacent rooms for all of us. So we got separated. David and Matt got their own rooms and Erik and Tyler got a room together. Things started to get interesting. Four American guys practically spoke no Chinese and were getting massages from Chinese women who spoke practically no English. I could image how comic the situations could be. Later, Tyler told us that his lady laughed whenever he spoke something. Erik could only say nothing but “Ni Hao.” Erik and Tyler were put on mascara on their eyes because it was thought funny by their ladies. They had a hard time washing the make ups off the next day.

posted by Unknown @ 9:21 AM