Super Bowl in China
As in previous years, our Super Bowl watching experience in China has been unlike others we have had in the US. Unlike the last two years, though, we stayed at home instead of finding a foreigner-friendly sports bar. When we lived in Shenzhen, Randy worked for an American company, so his taking the morning off was not a big deal (one time one of his engineers told him he understood it was an important American holiday, so wished him holiday joy). We also lived not terribly far from a sports bar that had the satellite feed for the game, so it was a great time for our whole family to enjoy the wonderfully strange occasion of an early morning party. Like Thanksgiving, we usually like to celebrate the Super Bowl with family and friends, but like Thanksgiving, in China we usually don't stay home for it. We keenly feel separation from those we love on holidays, even the Super Bowl.
This year, in Changping, I knew that Randy wouldn't be able to get the morning off, between our just returning from our US trip and Chun Jie coming in a few days. I also knew that any sports bar or similar establishment in Beijing would be quite an inconvenient early morning haul for us, either by bus or by hired car. We still have no internet at our apartment, so I couldn't check online the TV listings, so I just hoped that CCTV-5 would have the game. Thank goodness it did. I would have had a very hard time convincing Randy that it didn't matter to me that I was missing the Super Bowl. He knows better.
Myles and Brigid and I enjoyed watching the Super Bowl at home in our PJ's, though for me it was a little lonely. Of course, since it was on Chinese TV, there were so many things that were different than other times. The NFL has Chinese announcers to provide play-by-play and color commentary, as well as many prepared segments explaining the history and mechanics of the game and the league. They began with the roots in Rugby, followed by the development as a college game, to the dawn of the National Football League. Then there was the first Super Bowl.
This was followed by a tally of Super Bowl wins, and it is IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME NOT TO POINT OUT WHO LEADS THE LEAGUE IN SUPER BOWL WINS!!!! THE 匹兹堡钢人!!!! The Pizibao Gangren are the all-time zui hao-diest and now all of China knows this.
I really enjoyed the game, even in Chinese. The Saints wear black and gold, so it's all good.
This year, in Changping, I knew that Randy wouldn't be able to get the morning off, between our just returning from our US trip and Chun Jie coming in a few days. I also knew that any sports bar or similar establishment in Beijing would be quite an inconvenient early morning haul for us, either by bus or by hired car. We still have no internet at our apartment, so I couldn't check online the TV listings, so I just hoped that CCTV-5 would have the game. Thank goodness it did. I would have had a very hard time convincing Randy that it didn't matter to me that I was missing the Super Bowl. He knows better.
Myles and Brigid and I enjoyed watching the Super Bowl at home in our PJ's, though for me it was a little lonely. Of course, since it was on Chinese TV, there were so many things that were different than other times. The NFL has Chinese announcers to provide play-by-play and color commentary, as well as many prepared segments explaining the history and mechanics of the game and the league. They began with the roots in Rugby, followed by the development as a college game, to the dawn of the National Football League. Then there was the first Super Bowl.
Then the merger, which has led to the league as it appears today.
This was followed by a tally of Super Bowl wins, and it is IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME NOT TO POINT OUT WHO LEADS THE LEAGUE IN SUPER BOWL WINS!!!! THE 匹兹堡钢人!!!! The Pizibao Gangren are the all-time zui hao-diest and now all of China knows this.
I really enjoyed the game, even in Chinese. The Saints wear black and gold, so it's all good.
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