Kim Ketcham, our team manager, sent out her notes from the trip and I just had to share them. I think it was Jim Hinsvark who had one of the best quotes at the end of the first week ... he said, "It's been a long month this week." It really did feel like a month. We packed so much in during the 7-10 days that we were there and so many things happened so us -- natural (earthquake, typhoon, solar eclipse) and unnatural (well, we won't go into those).Here's Kim's notes...
Every one of the team added to the fabric of this trip. What crazy memories!! What an unforgettable time in Taiwan!! Never to be duplicated. Every time I do a trip like this, I feel as if my horizons have been broadened – that I understand the world better. There are so many common bonds with people from other countries; it’s great to see everyone laugh at the same things & cheer together. Dragon boat and other sports are good for the world!
I hope you are proud of your accomplishments on the water. Most of the team is either of Senior or Grand Master age (how many need reading glasses???). I believe the reason we did as well as we did is because you are in great shape and you are experienced dragon boat racers. Mike did a great job of coaching you into one team, and you gave it 110%. We had very little time to put this team together and together we were amazing. We had the heart and desire to do our very best. Your best is all you can ever give. Congrats on representing the US honorably. Hope your jet lag isn’t as bad as mine. Cheers,Kim
A Month in Taiwan Last Week (Kim’s view)
Friday, July 10
- Evening departure from PDX to SFO (Rachel & Kim on a laugher)
- Picked up a Thai lady along the way (she loved us)
- Met Jim Hinsvark’s friend and his son at SFO
- Jim’s friend bought sushi and beer, our Thai lady friend shared awesome homemade food
- Late night flight to TPE
Saturday, July 11
- Saturday didn’t happen, flying over the Pacific
- Laurie, who left earlier, arrives in Taipei
Sunday, July 12
- VIP arrival in Taipei at 5:30am, met at the airport and escorted to the City Hotel
- Woke up Laurie; went shopping at the street market (wonderful fresh fruit and baked goods)
- Laurie, Holly, Kat, Rhonda, and Kim had a crazy (hard, couldn’t breathe through it) massage
- Jim and Rachel went to the jade and flower markets
- Excellent beef noodle soup
- Simon arrived and looked after us
- Dr. Chen calls and tells Simon to not let us eat street food ... TOO LATE!
- Taipei Night Market
- Late night arrivals of California and Philly contingency
- Beers and laughter in the lobby
- Midnight-- celebrate Mike Jr's 19th birthday!!!
Monday, July 13
- Dr Chen arrived
- Tailor in the lobby, Opening Ceremony outfits
- Practice on the Chinese Taipei team’s boat
- Trip to the bank with Dr Chen
- Video review in the computer lab at the school
- Bus compliments of Dr Chen
- Lunch & refreshments compliments of the Chinese Taipei team
- Visited Taipei 101 building
- Mongolian BBQ compliments of Dr Chen
- Nighttime EARTHQUAKE!!!
- Practice on the Chinese Taipei team’s boat
- Drinks compliments of the Chinese Taipei team
- Lunch at Taipei 101
- Bus trip the length of Taiwan, club humor in the back of the bus, conversation & sleep at the front, fun and Starbucks at the rest stops
- Bus compliments of Dr Chen
- Accreditation at Kaohsiung City Hall
- Check into the Garden Plaza Hotel in Kaohsiung
- Night Market
Wednesday, July 15
- Met Jeff, our attaché
- Tour Lotus Pond race venue (beautiful!!)
- Karaoke on the bus (Sweet Caroline, da-da-da)
- Unbelievable tour of the Buddhist Temple:
o Calligraphy, the whole team silent, wind chimes
o Largest free-standing Buddha in Asia
o Omi-toe-fo
- Dinner at TGIFs in the Dream Mall, compliments of Simon's brother:
o Crazy waitress named "Cat" silenced "Fish-head" bill
o ICF officials joined our party - Bus compliments of Simon
Thursday, July 16
- "85 Degrees" coffee and baked goods
- Skirmish with the Canadians over the practice bus (Marc & Jimmy, wall of men)
- Met our security detail
- Practice at Lotus Pond on the race course
- BBC Charley on the boat
- Team leader meeting
- Typhoon rain, running with Dr Chen and Arny
- Opening Ceremonies (meeting other athletes in the field, waiting under the stadium, entering the stadium, singing Volare and We Are The Champions, laying on the ground watching fireworks)
- Way, way too hot and humid for Kim in wool!!!
Friday, July 17
- "85 degrees" coffee and baked goods
- Race day number one – 200’s and the 2000
- On-the-water battle with Germany
- Team leader meeting after the 2000m
- Team quarantined (Go to your room with no supper and think about what you’ve done!):
- Wall punch, team unrest
- Beer and pizza in rooms
Saturday, July 18
- Race day number two – 500’s and the 1000
- CNBC correspondent (The Business of Sport)
- Ambulance and hospital visit (excellent care)
- “Rocco’s going to kill me!!” – Jimmy Small
- “Nee-How homie” – Mike Jr.
- Fancy thank you dinner for Jeffrey (attaché), Richard, Yvonne, and Roger (security detail)
- Early morning lobby action:
o Team members up all night with the Russians
o “Enjoy your supper” - Jeff
o Farewell to the Philly group - Move to the Hotel New Image
- Flying Disc competition in the main stadium (Heinekens and Starbucks); invented the US cheer
- Chiropractors under the stadium or bus & lunch with the US Flying Disc team
- Team USA Evening:
o Press Conference (yikes!), TV interviews
o Dancing, gifting mock tees to officials/dignitaries
o Meeting other US athletes (Rocky – racquetball, Chris – bowling, Kenna – sumo, etc) - TGIFs with Simon, security detail, and American Sumo team
o Rock/Paper/Scissors drink game at Simon’s insistence and hosting - Racing taxi cabs!!!!!! (really racing)
- Night Market – really, really hard foot massages
Monday, July 20
- Some West Coast departures
- Running around in cabs with American Sumo guys, Jeff, and security detail
- Flying Disc in main stadium, refined our cheers (Ike!!)
- US Aerial Team (ecstatic to see our flag when they landed)
- Bowling (didn’t get to see Chris but the Koreans were good)
- World’s hottest soup on the hottest day (first non-Asian to eat at the stand)
- Visit 11th Floor Temple, lighting incense, dripping sweat
- More West Coast departures
- Korfball (Chinese Taipei vs. Netherlands)
- Hong Kong dinner (thanks, Tommy!) or German House with sumo guys
Tuesday, July 21
- Jeff, Richard, Yvonne, and Roger still with us
- Racquetball (Canadian thanked us for our support)
- Chiropractor (cute Irish guy)
- NRT train to "85 degrees" (chicken blood & rice popsicle) then on to Ju Jitsu
- Walk through tunnel to Ju Jitsu
- Dim Sum (best ever!)
- Flying Disc Gold Medal match:
o Led the stadium in the US cheer and Jiao, Jiao, Jiao, USA!!! ("Go, go, go USA")
o GOLD!!! Photos with the team, captain wore my flag
o Medal ceremony, parents so thankful to us, flag very sweaty - Mid-Games Athletes party
o Cold Heineken six packs - music, dancing, singing
o Lighthouse bar (owned by an American), tequila shots – Richard’s first ever
o Jeff, Richard, Yvonne, and Roger still with us (we’ve completely corrupted them)
o Laurie and the poker-playing table of old men
o Crazy cab ride (Tom exuberant in Chinese)
o Night market (dumplings)
Wednesday, July 22
- Laurie & Tom early morning departure
- Total solar eclipse
- Free Rx from pharmacist to Rachel
- Cab to high speed train station
- Farewell to Jeff, Richard, Yvonne, and Roger – I bet they miss us!!
- High speed train to Taipei
- Farewell on train to Ike and Cat
- Very cramped and uncomfortable flight to LAX then on to PDX
- A cool 90 degrees in Portland
Thursday, July 23
- All day nap
Friday, July 24
- Back to work and reality (missing the rock-star status of an athlete’s ID badge)
- The people in Taiwan are very FRIENDLY, all of them!
- “City dogs” know how to cross the street with traffic lights
- ICF dragon boat race officials are excellent (calm and calming)
- Taiwan is clean and eco-friendly
- World Games was bigger than imagined
- I don’t do well in heat and humidity
- Dr. Chen and Simon are amazing (and as always, lots of fun!)
- Buddhist monks shine
- Big dogs and families ride on scooters
- We should have more street markets and night markets
- Sometimes you don’t win but you always do your best
- Public transportation is excellent in Taiwan
- We can out-party sumo wrestlers
- Dragon boaters and Ultimate Frisbee players get along well
- 1-2-3, 4-5-6, U-S-A (4 times!!)
Pictures by Tommy Leonardi
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