Now that I have some table tennis (TT) gear, I need to figure out where to play.  Checking around on the internet, I find mention of several large clubs, but none are near me (as least that I can find.)  I decide there’s no sense traveling and then getting my brains beat out in a club.  I’m gonna find a local park and let some of the locals wear me out.

I walk across the street, into the neighborhood, to a badminton gym.  I thought they might have a few tables and players.  There was a table, but no players.  A few months back, someone mentioned seeing some tables in a park just outside a UHN gate on the other side of the complex.  I walk there next, and sure enough, there are three tables, and people playing on all the tables.

I walk over and sit on a nearby bench to watch.  Within moments, one of the players gestured to me, inviting me to play.  I pulled out my racket and gave it a try.  It took me some time to adjust to my new racket (it’s really good, but different.)  I held up pretty well.  No scoring, just hitting.  I played with seven or eight different players.  They were all curious.  One guy played with a paddle in both hands.  The table was concrete, but the players bring their own net.  There was also a tarp hung up between trees used as a windbreak.  When they finished playing after 45 minutes, they took their net down, untied the tarp, folded it, and hung it up on a nearby hook, ready to be used by the next players.  This group of players seemed to be the regular “morning group.”  They all had their tea, and took turns playing, women and men.  As they were leaving, they were asking my age (I think that’s what they were asking.)

When they finished, I put my stuff up, but a group at another table motioned me over.  This group was younger and played a faster game.  It took some time for me to adjust, but I definitely got faster (I had to.)  They kept giving me the “thumbs up.”  I doubt I could beat any of them in a game, but I could hit with them.  One of the women called a friend on the phone, and they started to try to ask questions, through the phone.  I eventually was handed the phone when they were trying to find out how long I had played.  That’s a tough question to answer since I’ve played since Jr. High, but never really seriously (unless I was playing my son or my brother.)  I ended up spending almost 3 hours playing intermittently with the different groups.

Back home, I had to clean up and get ready to join Judy and a group of BISS teachers at a Sanlitun restaurant.  They were completing the evaluation and review of the Grade 5 Exhibition two weeks ago.  Lots of pizza, chicken wings, and french fries.  Its always fun to sit in a group of teachers from such diverse backgrounds (Canada, Sri Lanka, Australia, Korea, etc.)  So many different viewpoints make for interesting exchanges.