It was Saturday, May 2, and we were having lunch with some family and friends at the apartment where I live. Tom, a close friend of the family, asked if Charles and I wanted to go with him to watch him play football - called soccer in the US. We finished lunch, caught a taxi and first went to Tom's home to get some things and then to the field where the team had already started playing. Tom is the old guy - age 47 - on the team, but he keeps playing because he likes the sport and he likes to encourage and work with the younger men who join the team each year.
Since Tom was late he sat out the first half, but used his time to help some girls learn some skills in playing volleyball. He sure loves helping people learn and is so good with them.
At half time, Tom and his younger son went out on the field to toss an American football back and forth. After the game he spent some time playing badminton with him.
There was a person there covering the game for the newspaper and they noticed this foreigner taking pictures. Using Charles as an interpreter, this person interview me. I wonder what they might have said in the paper on Sunday. It was a fun experience.
It was time for the second half to start and the team, including Tom took to the field. They played hard and won 5 to 2.
Near the end of the game their star player, who had made two of the five points, left the game for a cigarette. It was amazing to me how many of the players smoked at halftime. If only they understood what they were doing to their health.
There was this little Chinese girl hanging around, but she was just shy enough that I could never get her to look at the camera.
It was a very good afternoon. As Charles and I watched, we had some good conversation. He would really like to come to the US next year for graduate study and visit my family. Maybe.
