Badminton!

“When you’re traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.” – William Least Heat Moon

I've been thinking about the above quote a lot since I've been in China.  Leaving the past behind is definitely one of the things that draws many expats to China.  For me, one of things I love most about being here is that I get a break from being who I was in the states.  All of the crazy event planning and the looking after everyone's problems, worrying about money, and just all of the stress.  I feel like I can breathe again and like I can just focus on being myself for awhile.  
And you know what? I sort of forgot how social I am.  Now, with that said, I have to tell you that it's sometimes a fight for me not to plan things.  I fact I lapsed a little bit a few weeks ago when I helped plan a Badminton Party for our Academic Team.  It was SO worth it.

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 Ben and Jesse, teaching partners and also a dynamic badminton duo.  I was determined that this event would be a success so in an attempt to get everyone psyched up I talked an incredible amount of trash.  For two weeks I went on and on about how I was going to feast on everyone's defeat...and the smack talk was a lot of fun.  But then the morning of the badminton party I started to get a little anxious.  After all I haven't played Badminton since I was about 16 years old and all of the Chinese have probably been playing their whole life.  Not to mention I did a majority of my trash talking with Ben who was actually a Phys Ed major and can really play the game.  Yikes! 
Turns out I didn't really have to worry.  Everyone, except for Ben, pretty much sucked.

 Ben's a nice guy, he took it easy on us.  Here he is teaching Nicole how to serve.  When Nicole saw this picture she said, "Yeah, I was paying close attention.  I really wanted him to be proud of me!" Dorbs.

 James and Timo.  When we first started playing I made a rule that every time one team scored the opposing team had to do a crazy dance around the court (which was awesome) but then Timo got there and started insisting that we play by 'offical badminton rules'. Lame. ;)

When we were picking partners Karen said, "I will be with Ben."
Me: "What?! You don't want to be with me?"
Karen: "No, I want to win."
But then when she saw HOW MUCH FUN it is being my partner she agreed to switch teams.  And then, because clearly we are a fantastic pair whether it's teaching or sports, we ACTUALLY BEAT Jesse and Ben in one game.

 Even though I'm pretty sue he let me win, I made Ben lay prostrate on the ground as a display of his abject defeat.

 I decided to quit while I was ahead, here's Tina and I cheering everyone on from the sideline.

 I love this picture of them laughing!  After the game my face hurt from smiling so much.

The entire academic team! When I told my boss that we wanted to play badminton and then go to dinner afterwards she said, "Badminton?!...I work at the weirdest center ever."  You mean the BEST center ever! We may not be great at sports but it's sure a fun group!