37. Dating 2: KTV

RUGBY TOUR TO NANJING

It was a week-end for firsts. Good firsts.

Yes first tour of the year to the city of Nanjing. First time I’d travelled over 600 km in one day to play a game of rugby. But well worth it!

Our Freshers team is just that fresh faced but raw talented newbies in Shanghai. The game in Nanjing was schelduled as a warm up game for a 10’s tournament next week-end of which we are reigning champs,  so we better start bonding quick!

And bond we did!

Nanjing were extraordinarily good hosts but the pitch they provided us was by far the worst pitch I’ve ever played on. There were dug in bricks in some parts so we had to cordon part of this run down football turf.

The 10's game was a little one sided, 16 tries to 1. They’re quite a new team as well with less big people.

Incidentally as I’d missed training recently due to work, I’d been moved into the pack. But consequentially loved it. I ended up at prop when we transferred to a sevens game. Prop! First time I’ve played there. Unfortunately I didn’t notch my first try, which was particularly fine worthy given that the whole team got about 30 (including  the sevens game). Rob Johnson, prop and Derwent top try scorer would be shaking in disbelief at my try negligence.

Anyway tour finished with us losing half of our French contingent to an early train so the seven of us left went to socialize in the bar.

Nanjing’s great hosts tag was deserved here. 8 large pizzas they provided and beer on tap. It was a heavy four or so hours, which included numerous boat races where I chugged for my life and numerous fines which were diligently honoured

I love Rugby. The people who follow it are generally wealthy but also love drink. So naturally our parting gift received was 2 thirty packs of Tsingtao. I asked the stupid question ‘Shall we save these for the party* later?’. *We were attending a leaving do later.

Needless to say, the train ride home was how can we put it nicely, very English.

New Class

I woke the next morning. I was still drunk. But good drunk. No headache just a fantastic sensation to carry on singing.

And I can safely say my classes in school benefited. Being a little under the influence is without a doubt not in the contract but the classes were great and that I swear it wasn’t blurred vision!

Yes I have a new class. This is my PET examination class. However me taking this class caused quite a stir namely as it involved me dropping out from my Kindergarten class from which a parent had taken me out for a drink (buttered up, I like to call it).

An argument followed. Thankfully it didn’t trouble my new class, which went well. Essentially it’s teaching the best 5 students in the school for an exam they are going to take, the motivation in there is palpable.

Changning staff were in good form though. I think the parents argument brought us all closer and good banter was had.

KTV

This very vaguely brings me to the date. I hope I haven’t lost any of you readers out there. Its just I thought I'd get some more of my life in after enticing you in with the juicy headline. Thanks for hanging on in there. 

Yes KTV the other option of a first date it seems for Chinese girls. Other being of course skating. KTV, ‘a way to relax’, is glorified karaoke. Cracking stuff, where's the alcohol.

Yes, Luo Wenjuan, a new girl who I met serendipitously at last weeks Lantern Festival brought with her hope that Chinese girls could be dated. She’d bought me dinner despite my cries on the first date and I was fairly pumped to try my hand today at KTV.

Things you should know. She doesn’t speak a word of English. Not a word. This is a check in my books. I need to learn. My google translate has been used a lot recently.

However for this date the sister was coming along, who spoke perfect English because of her job.

Ok so the date went ok. Here are the reasons.

A work colleague of the sister came along too. Thank god because three is a crowd.

Chinese girls are more generous than I gave them credit for. They bought me a drink.

I had my first cider in China. A rather nice one too.

Singing is fun. The Chinese girls take it very serious which is funny to watch.

They named the Chinese song which has been in my head since Suzhou with Darren. Youtube : zui xuan ming zu feng. As Toon champion Greg Robson would say an absolute TUNE.

My song choice was good. Stumbled a bit with One Love-Blue, but brought it back with Mariah Carey- When you Believe, an absolute belter and when it was Gotye’s classic I brought it home with my own Walk off the Earth version.

Luo Wenjuan had actually an English name. Cherry. It’s a fruit and means lovely I was reassuringly told.

I suppose after a host of special dates you have to kind of cherry pick when in China.

I'll get my coat.

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Right well that’s all folks. Thanks for reading and maybe one day I’ll write about the New Year celebrations or something.