We're Breaking Down Cultural Barriers, Here!

So, yesterday, I learned something odd and, to be honest earth-shattering.

Rugby has rules.

Who knew? I could have sworn that it was just a bunch of drunken people from...umm...not America who tossed what appeared to be a football with a glandular issue while they would, periodically and without reason stop play so someone could kick the swollen football across the field. I also knew that, at times, people would cheer, becuase, obviously, something good had happened; and that there was a lot of violent looking tackling.

Well, it turns out, all of this is true. But, there are methods to their madness.

And I freakin' love it.

I went with the Aussies to a pub-style place across from Hooters (yeah...Hooters) to watch the match between Australia (The Wallabies) and New Zealand (The All-Blacks). Australia won, thankfully and I actually learned to love the game.

Then, we went to a Mexican restaurant where I had a delicious quesadilla. And, then, we went to the mecca of karaoke bars.

Let me first say that they don't do karaoke here like they do it back in the states. When we do karaoke in America, we do it in front of everyone. In China, you pay a fee per person and then are taken to a room with your entire party. Then, there is a TV and a computer that has all of the songs available to rock the house with. We went to a place before that wasn't all that great and was, to be honest, pretty shady.

This place was a palace. It was 60 yuan per person, which is just about $10 in America. It looked like a five-star hotel. We walked in and there were giant couches, three mics (unheard of previously) and even a tambourine and a maraca to serenade the singer with. It was a lot of fun.

Today was pretty much a day of nothingness. Tomorrow starts our training...(ominous music plays).