Getting to Know the Locals

I am staying at the Communication University of China, which is a gated-campus. Within the grounds are small stores, cafeterias and a recreational complex.

I arrived on campus around 2:30 p.m. and within five hours, I was playing basketball with the locals. Chad, Chris, Patrick and I all decided to head to the courts and see what competition was around. At this point in the day, the recreational complex was packed with people with jogging, playing soccer and playing basketball.

As soon as we entered the complex we started turning heads. Chad, Chris and I are not small guys and, of course, white. But we still felt welcome so we continued on to the courts. We spotted a group of guys playing 4-on-4 and with Patrick's Mandarin expertise we got in line for the next game. The game was a little different than were familiar with. It was first to five points and there was no checking the ball with the other team before putting it in-play. It meant for some small adjustments by us but our product was just as good. We finished the evening 6-1 and at one point caused a group of locals to gather around and watch us compete against their best players.

Despite not having rested since arriving in Beijing and being a foreigner, our decision to go play basketball was a great one. It presented us with a common ground for the locals and helped us integrate into the community.