Today and tomorrow at my school is the Sports Meeting. Basically, it is a track and field meet for the freshmen students. But like most things in a foreign culture, there are so many elements in this that we just find strange!
For example, this is your all-inclusive track and field meet--complete with pole vault, javelin throw, discus, high jump, hurdles, etc. BUT... few (if any) of these students have EVER taken part in any of these activities before today. So, you have students attempting pole vault, hurdles and everything else with no training. At Matt's sports meeting last week, a student broke his leg jumping hurdles and students throwing discus could not even throw it past the circle they were standing in. And yet, students suffer through it each year.
Every student I've ever talked to hates sports meeting day--in spite of the fact it is supposed to be fun. The ones that are not competing sometimes take part in the parade and performances of the opening ceremony. But most students just sit in the stands watching. And that's another thing... All freshmen students are required to attend sports meeting all day for both days. Sophomore students are required to attend for at least two hours each day. This is so the stands appear full when pictures are taken. And just in case you think of slipping away unnoticed, the class monitor takes attendance every 10 minutes to be sure everyone is still there!
To top it all off, I am at a school that is 70% girls and 100% art students who would rather sit in the park reading poetry or make films rather than do sports. The plus side is that the opening ceremony at my school's meeting was rather entertaining--seeing as how dance is one thing my students actually like doing.
Click on the photo below to see a few pictures and video of this morning opening events.
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| Chuan Mei Sports Meeting |
