Color me (not so) surprised when I get a call from my Team Leader at noon one sunny Saturday about a new development: today is Teachers' Running Day! Further inquiry reveals that this event is when all of the University's teachers gather to walk or run for 3K around the campus as a demonstration of good health and unity. When does this start? 2:30pm. What do I have to do? Just walk if you want.
Sounds good.
We walk to the stadium and are greeted by dozens of festive posters advertising the event and inflatable fanfare that seemed to have appeared overnight. I would go as far as to postulate that the event came to life that very morning--at the first indication of a rare, sunny Chongqing day: this is going to be so much more entertaining than I had imagined! (Which is why I brought my camera).
Diana and I find our college's section just in time to find out that the race actually starts at 3pm. Please note the man on the left still smoking his cigarette in this public event of good health; he will probably be one of the runners, too (I've also seen players on the school's basketball team smoke during half-time and play the whole game...I really don't get it!).
It seems that all the Chinese teachers have shown up, quite literally I might add. Many of them still had on their nice wool coat, boots, and for the women--heels. How are they going to run in those??
Cue the following interchange:
Me: You're going to run in your heels??
Marie: No--wait, I'm running?
Me: That's what Kevin (our College's Director) said?
Marie: What?? No one told me! I'm wearing heels!
Kevin: Ok, (points to me) you will have to run for our college now.
Me: (-_-)
In a few short minutes, our leisurely walk around campus turned into a timed competition. For the first time in my life I wore the numbers of a competitive runner, squeezed side-by-side hundreds of colleagues, waiting for the sound of the gun to burst forward into the open streets. Seeing the surprised look on students' faces as a slew of teachers ran past them almost made running Chongqing hills worth it =P
Distance: 3K
Finish line: stadium
Prize: glory (just kidding--it was a huge vat of sunflower cooking oil) =P All in all, an unexpectedly entertaining afternoon at CQUPT!
That's China for you! :)
