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Monday, September 15, 2014

So this past weekend I was introduced to Dragonboat racing. My friend Liz got me on the team, kind of last-minute because they needed more rowers. I didn't know I could row. But apparently, I can (along with about 19 of my new friends, most from China). We had SO. MUCH. FUN!

Unfortunately, the race organization left a lot to be desired. We were told to be to the park by 7am Sunday morning, yet we did nothing -- absolutely nothing -- until our time trial at a little after 10am. Yeah, I could've totally slept in. 

Then after our time trial and the race schedule was posted (the posting didn't occur for like two hours after time trials were done!), we realized we didn't actually have a race until the second round -- which didn't end up happening until -- are you read for this? A little after 5pm! At that point, we were really quite livid, and a few of our team members actually bailed so we had to find subs at the last minute. No one could tell us what time we needed to be in the water so we couldn't actually leave the park.  It was very frustrating.

We should have been done and out of there by 4pm. But the medal ceremony didn't even start until 6pm so we didn't get home until like 6:30.

Our team got second place in our division, and we were beaten by less than a half second! We kinda rocked it! 

Though I had to be there ridiculously early, Dan brought the boys down around noon and they got to spend the rest of the afternoon with me at the Dragonboat festival -- we all had a great time (except for the part where we had no idea what was going on and when). 

I learned a Chinese phrase (well I learned many Chinese phrases but I only remember a handful HAHA!): Jia you, (pronounced JAH YOU) which means "let's go!" We got to yell it a lot and I felt pretty cool talking Chinese. 

DEFINITELY gonna do it again next year if they'll have me!

Me and some of my team on the boat

Us on our Dragonboat

I'm waving in the orange life vest. My seat mate was Chen Wey (I don't know if I spelled that correctly but that's how it was pronounced -- he was super nice!)

Me and Liz showing off our second place medals. We definitely earned our bling that day!