Soccer Champions from Around the World

As many of you know, upon accepting my position here in China, I received the unenviable task of telling the soccer program I had helped coach for twelve years that I would not be on the sidelines for the 2006 season. I shed many tears figuring out how to tell the athletes my news. In fact, as I recall that Sunday afternoon meeting, tears still fill my eyes. Lini Reading, the Head coach of the Whitefish Lady Bulldogs soccer team, and I had coached with one another for twelve seasons. Every fall, since I had moved from Minnesota to Montana, had spent on the sidelines, developing athletes and young adults. The flight to China, away from these young women, left a void in my life.

During the last two months, I have followed the 2006 Lady Bulldogs through their season. I have used the internet and email to keep in contact. I have even phoned home the night before or the night of a big game. I called Lini the night the girls took on their cross-valley rivals, Columbia Falls, for Homecoming. I checked my email every half hour, the day of a match, to find out how the team fared. In some respects, I feel like I have held on a bit too tightly.

This last Saturday, the Lady Bulldogs competed with the Billings Central Lady Rams for the right to be called the 2006 Montana State Class A State Soccer Champion. The Lady Bulldogs, through heavy winds, blew away their opponent 3-1 and claimed the programs second State Title--the only Class A girls squad to claim a second crown. I wish I could have been there, but in consolation, I spent my Saturday playing intramural soccer with my students here in Kunming. The following are the only pictures I have been able to find of the 2006 Montana State Soccer Champions.
Senior co-captain, Jen Joern, squeezes by her Billings Central mark. Jen was consistently in the top tier of scoring and assist leaders for Class A throughout the season.
Senior, Carmel Johnston rises above two would-be Rams defenders. Carmel's quiet determination and consistency led the Lady Bulldogs all over the field. Carmel is like BASF: she does not make the Bulldogs; she helps make all her Bulldog teammates better.
With only seven goals scored against them all year--four of those coming against Class AA, Flathead--the Bulldog defense ruled the area in front of their own goal. Here, senior co-captain, Amy Wright (armband), senior goalkeeper, Kirsten NallyMadigan, sophomore defender, Kelsey McKluskey, and Johnston, do what they did all season: keep the ball out of the net.
Senior defender, Sarah Clark, keeps stride with a Billings attacker. During her four years, Sarah has played central midfield, outside defense, central defense, and has even spent some time between the goalposts. A model of consistency, Sarah is not an easy person to beat.
Senior co-captain, Amy Wright has been the starting central defender for the Lady Bulldogs since her freshman season. Prior to being a standout defender at Whitefish High school, she used to take care of my dog Sherpa, when Robert (my twin brother) and I coached her older brother's team. Amy defines the word competitor. Success through effort is her M. O..
Thank you, ladies, for the great season. I wish I could have been there to see it.

Congratulations and Good Luck

For those of you who do not know, upon leaving for China, I left a very special group of young women back in Montana of whom I am extremely proud and who I miss dearly. Last year the Whitefish High School Lady Bulldogs pressed all the way to the State Class A championship match where the Belgrade Lady Panthers just slipped by the Lady Bulldogs 0-1. However, this year once again finds the Lady Bulldogs competing in the championship match, this time versus the Billings Central Rams. Because I want all of them and all the rest of you to know where my heart lies, I am sending out this brief posting to let the Lady Bulldogs know that there is at least one person halfway round the world who wishes he could be sitting on your sideline this Saturday. I miss you and send you all my best wishes. GO BULLDOGS!!! GRRRR!!! And just in case you aren't sure who this is, here is a little reminder. To Billings, MT and Beyond.

"Super Magic" or super charmed?

As early as our college years, Robert, my twin brother and I felt like we lead charmed lives. Each time we faced a need in our lives, He-whose-power-knows-no-bounds, would come through. Only days before needing a new place to live? Bam, an apartment opening. Car breaks down? Bam, a blessed new vehicle or money to repair the old one. Bills pilling up with no relief in sight? Bam, an anonymous donation or new job to make ends meet. Even after Robert moved from Montana back to the Midwest, my own life remained charmed--affordable living space, new jobs, new career, new insights. All provided in order to prove to me the glory of God.
I seems that this same level of charm has followed me to China. As many of you may recall, my first blog posting included a picture of my trusty new ride. In less a quarter of an hour, that t'rusty' bike was broken. With one downward stroke in the standing position, I managed to bend the left crank arm. This ultimately led to a broken pedal, which I replaced. I left the crank arm as it was. However, as the second pedal began to crack, I realized I might have spent too little on my Chinese manufactured transportation.
Each day, as my 'new' bike began to sound more and more like the other 'Chinese' bikes I see on the road, I wondered, should I just leave this one unlocked, allowing someone to steal it, or should I try to nurse it along. So you will understand the nature of Chinese bike, let me tell you about two differnt bicycles I saw locals riding. There was the one where the front wheel slanted from lower left to upper right (/), while the back wheel slanted from lower right to upper left (the opposite of the other slash). This caused the rider to do a little dance on his saddle as he tried to keep the push-me-pull-me wheel angles from toppling the entire contraption. The other example is a bike I just saw coming home from school on Friday. While riding directly behind this bike, I could clearly see the front wheel to the left. So while both wheels were generally pointed in the same direction, they road on separate paths.
Anyway, back to my bike. Almost a week and a half ago, as I became extremely dissatisfied with my lovely "Super Magic" (that is what the paint job says), I was riding home from school when my right pedal fell off. As I lamented my bike's new failing, a motorcycle passed me on my left, just as I was passing someone else on the left. My handle bar got hung up on the motorcycle's saddle causing my front wheel to wobble then turn perpendicular to my path of progress. Of course, this led to my flying over my handle bars. After gathering my glasses, I hopped up to show the motorcyclist that I was all right. However, below is some of the damage to the Super Magic.
If you look carefully, you can see that the handlebars were bumped left of center. Also, upon closer inspection, you will see that the left hand shifter is completely broken. This means I cannot change from chainring to chainring. Therefore, my bike is now permanently stuck in the Granny gear.

This shot shows my broken pedal. The other one is cracked. You just cannot see it.
So how is the Super Magic super-blessed? A week ago yesterday (Saturday), I bought two new METAL pedals. I also purchased a new straight crankarm. While it is true that the crank arm and pedal fell off the next day, I managed to retrieve it as it came off (picture me bending over and grabbing the items as they fell off my bike while I negotiated the bicycle traffic coming from Sunday services), and have it replaced in a matter of minutes. It is also true that my chain now stretches from the small chain ring to the small cog on my back wheel, which really is not the best. However, my bike seems to be running like a top otherwise. So while it may not be Super Magic, it does seem to be super-blessed.
I really do love my bike. It deserves some more air in its tires. Maybe tomorrow I will treat it.

A Short Lesson on Bills, and 'Futbal' from Around the World

Let me provide you with a little tutorial about bill paying in China. I will contrast this style of personal accounting with what many of you may be used to in the States. In Montana, a person will receive a billing statement via the mail or via email about thirty days prior to the due date. For people like me, this allows for thirty days to forget when the due date is. For more organized people, this allows thirty days in which to make arrangements to pay the bill. For the most organized people, this gives them one day to pay the bill and twenty-nine days to forget about the urgency of pay said bill.
Here in China, things work a bit differently. Some bills, like electricity, come to your door. Infact, they take the billing statement and paste it to the security door at the bottom of your apartment's stairwell so everyone can see how much energy you waste or conserve. I actually prefer this method: a physical reminder for those of us who need a slap across the face in order to get somethings done. (Note: I never forget about when to get together with the students to play soccer.) The only other method I am forced to deal with is the "your too late method." This method asks me to simply remember that by a certain day each month I need to go to the bank or the gas company or the water company or the phone company to pay my bill. If the bill is forgotten, then the gas or the water or the phone is simply shut off. For those of you who noticed that I had not emailed much last week, it was because I failed to pay my phone bill. Yesterday, Saturday, 14 October, I paid that bill and got my ADSL reinstated. I know I should remember to pay this next month, but I will probably forget. Most likely the due date will be on the same day as soccer.
Speaking of 'Futbal.' Check out these student footballers in our recently initiated KIA intramural soccer league. The athletes range from 7th through 12th grade and include males and females. Saturday marked our second day of competition. After the two scheduled games (4v4 on the basketball court with a 'futsal' ball.), we just played about 8v8 on the larger part of the courtyard. Some of the juniors and seniors were taking the SAT and came out during their breaks.
Jason (American/Korean) controls the ball against Weng Hei (right, Singaporean) and Tan the Man (left, in jeans, also Singaporean). Josiah (American) makes a run forward in support.
Weng 'the Magic Feet' Hei receives pressure from Josiah. Tan the Man supports in the shadows, while Evie 'Present' (American) lurks for the steal.
Tan the Man pushes the ball up the court as Jason applies the pressure. Michelle (Chilean/American) moves wide in support of the advance.
Evie challenges Tan the Man. Michelle provides the second-woman defense, while Josiah attempts to open up for Miss Evelyn.
After nearly a week of rain, the sunny Saturday playing provided much joy. The first game commenced at 0930. The second started at approximately 1015 (3 times 10 minute periods). Then from about 1050 until about 1245 we played pick-ups (8v8) on the larger area by simply extending past the sidelines of the court. The guys especially got a 'kick' out of when they could beat me, but I like to think I dealt out more than I received. Ultimately, it was the quintessential male injury that ended our play time: the old groin injury, and I do not mean a pulled groin. If you are a female and do not understand, ask one of your male friends who has played athletics that do not involve a cup. Anyway, that is 'futbal' from around the world.

Astro Boy Begins

For you Calvin and Hobbes afficionados, the beginnings of Astro Boy and his adventures may be quite well known. In an effort to get his mom's goat, Calvin uses Crisco brand shortening in his hair to create an interesting hairdo for school pictures. His mother freaks out and slicks his hair over with a sharp part on one side. After exiting his house to wait for the bus, Calvin's trusty friend Hobbes (the stuffed toy tiger) suggests a new hairdo. This is when Astro Boy arrives.
However, one might ask, "How do I become Astro Boy, or at least like Astro Boy?" This is where my tail begins. After nearly two months in China, my hair was getting a bit shaggy. Granted, my students loved my hair the way it was, but mild-mannered Roland Franks needed a trim. With the long weekend for Chinese National Day available, I used one afternoon to go downtown to receive a trim. A few other teachers had decided they also needed a trim. However, when the actual time of departure arrived, only Miss Suli Fu and I saddled up our bikes for the twenty-minute ride to the center of Kunming.
Miss Suli assured me that she would take me to her 'favorite' salon. She also calmed me by reminding me that if my haircut turned out to be something other that what I had planned, the hair would grow back. Thanks!
When we arrived down town, Miss Suli said, "I have to have a hamburger." I thought, "Okay." However, in Kunming, the only hamburgers readily available are McDonald's patties. I don't even eat McDonald's in the U.S.. Why would I want to eat it here? Remember, I am mild-mannered; so I consented. As we ate our hamburgers, a small boy looked at me and said something to Miss Suli. She replied nodding. "You know what he just said? You are a foreigner." What could I say to that?
After eating, we wandered toward the famous hair salon. We entered a large glass mall. Everything was glass. Not just the doors and windows. Everything seemed to be transparent.
We hoped on the see-through escalator and moved up two floors. We rounded the corner to where the salon was supposed to be and I heard a high squeek. "It's gone!" Unfazed, Miss Suli followed up her original exclamation with a bold statement, "Maybe it's up one more floor." And sure enough, there it was.
Now, I will admit that we most likely paid too much for our haircuts, but at least I, a Westerner, am supposed to pay too much. I had not, at the time, learned enough Chinese yet to bargin. Plus, at 30 quai (approximately $3.75), I could hardly complain about the original price. So we each took our seat to have our hair washed. When the Chinese wash your hair, you receive a head massage. Getting a haircut is a production, and comfort is a prime component. With the luxury of a wash and condition, I forgot my desire for a trim and simply wanted to stay reclined having the attendant's hands massage my scalp. However, after a fairly involved cleaning, my hair was ready for the stylist.
I say ready for the stylist, because a completely different person from the one who washed my hair ushered me toward the chair for my trim. Miss Suli, having just gotten her hair washed also asked me, "Would you like them to trim it the way you always have it cut, or do you want them to just style it the way they would like to?" Naturally, I wanted it done "my way." I explained to her how I would like it trimmed. She in turn told my stylist. Then Miss Suli wheeled around and walked to her own chair and hairdresser.
While it only took a couple snips of his scissors for me to realize that my hair was going to end up how he wanted it anyway, I sat amazed at how much care he took in trimming my hair. In the States, my barber starts with the trimmers and ends with the scissors. This guy took nearly an half hour with the scissors before he decided to touch things up with the trimmers. He must have used three different hand combs and sets of scissors to slowly, stage-by-stage, snip my hair down to a thinner layer.
However, this done, I was immediately sent back to the hairwasher to have my scalp massaged one more time. A second wash and a second rinse later, I stepped back into the stylist's chair for the final touches to my new dew. When I put on my glasses, who looked back at me? Astro Boy.
After a couple showers, the effect has somewhat worn off. However, unlike the faux-hawk my athletes gave me in Holland during the summer of 2004, I wake up to this style. I come out of the shower with this style. It's as if my hair does not know anything else. I suppose as it grows out this mind-of-its-own attitude will wear away. Not to mention, I kind of like the new me. My students, with the exception of the U.S. 8th grade girls (all the Europeans love it), seem to like the new 'do as well.
However, as we left the salon, Miss Suli groaned, "Do you like your hair?" I said that it is not what I had expected, but that I enjoyed it. With a frown, she replied, "I hate my haircut!" Of course, as a male who knows better, I did not say, "It looks the same to me," which it did. Instead, I replied, "It's okay. It will grow back." Unwilling to be consoled, Miss Suli huffed back, "Yeah, but it will grow back wrong!" Thus, the mild-mannered teacher, Roland Franks, became Astro Boy, at least for a while.