May 20, 2008

MATCH REPORT: Result doesn't match effort in China-trip finale

SHANGHAI, China -- Today was our last day of planned events in China! I can't believe our trip is almost over.

This morning we went to Shanghai's Yuyuan Garden, which is very pretty and similar to the Summer Palace in Beijing. It's different, though,

Lenay Goble and Dulcie Stone posed for a quick shot Tuesday morning at Shanghai's Yuyuan Garden.

because it's a tranquil place in the middle of a crazy market. However, when you are inside the garden area, you never know exactly what's around you.

After that, we got to do more shopping and bargaining at that crazy market! All of this shopping is definitely not good for my bank account. I did find a Starbucks, though. So, I enjoyed a Chinese iced-vanilla latte.

One of the craziest things I saw today was a keychain with two live fish swimming around on the end. Abbie Howe bought one and let the fish go into a nearby river. It was money well spent.

Later, on our way to the gym, we had an experience I could have gone my whole life without experiencing. Apparently, in China there is no speed

Lauren Carter, from left, Shirley and Allison Raguse checked each other's height Tuesday afternoon in Shanghai. Shirley used to play volleyball for Quing Pu Training Base, the Bears opponent, but an injury ended her career early. She served as an English translator Tuesday afternoon.

limit, and it is acceptable to pass on the shoulder ... in a huge bus! Once we arrived, we got to take part in a match that was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The school we played, Quing Pu (ching poo) Training Base, is known as one of the best sports academies in all of China -- it's where Yao Ming graduated from -- and it was neat to play players who have been playing for so long and who only play volleyball for a majority of their time. We were told they only go to school three times a week, and some of the players are on China's junior-Olympic team.

It was crazy.

We lost in a close five-game match, but we learned a lot and finished our China trip with a 3-1 mark. The Chinese play very low-error volleyball, so we were forced to play low-error volleyball today. I hope we're able to bring that style of play back home with us, as well as bring home the aspect of Chinese volleyball that might be the most important: commitment. The teams we have played have players on them who have played volleyball once or twice a day since they were nine, or so. And it definitely pays off.

We have a free day scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday) and then we fly home on Thursday. This whole trip has been an unbelievable experience and we are all very grateful to be a part of it.