day 2, 3, and 4

Due to some small technical difficulties, my last post was abruptly deleted by malicious fate. Sorry. I'm going to recap last night for you.

"The people of Taiwan must be some of the most friendly in the world." Texan Chris Barnes, World Bowling Champion at the USA World Games press conference.

Last night was "USA Night" at the Dream Mall, the largest mall in Southeast Asia. As I walked in with my two police escorts, Peng and Zeke, the AIT representative (AIT is the ambassador for the US with Taiwan since ties with the country could rub China the wrong way) showed a clip of President Obama espousing Chicago's bid to host the Olympics. (I say: if Obama thinks Chicago can host the Games, and "remake ties with other countries", then I do too.)

After the press conference, where Chris Barnes, Stefanie Nation (also a bowler), sumo-wrestler/biologist Roger Heffernan, raquetball master Keith Calkins, and Kim Ketcham and Simon Chen of the Dragon Boat Team each gave a personal speech...the party was on: a country folk band struck up some Western music as lines of mall-goers, small children, and US athletes filed up to the tables where they were served nachos, doughnuts and ice cream.

Avoiding the hazardous calories side of the room, I walked around and said hi to all the athletes, and was unavoidably caught in every picture-taking occassion when the announcer would group us athletes around the small dancing elementary schoolers in sparkly outfits, and then say "Smile! Xie-xie. Ni hou, ni hou...". It was a very, very interesting night.