Monday, June 6
Today after work, I took a cab to the American International School in Bousher, a nearby area of Muscat (I live in Al Ghubrah, Bousher is about 15 mintues or so away). The taxi driver was very kind and friendly - he chatted and even put on classical music on the radio for me. He probably assumed I like classical music since I'm Asian. He also talked about how Oman has been developing over the past 40 years (since the new sultan came into power), and explained how one of the biggest developments in the expansion and construction of highways which make travel easier between towns.
I had been expecting a bunch of high school students hucking discs after school. Instead, I found myself playing Ultimate with a group of adults mostly teachers at AIS or the nearby American-British Academy. We scrimmaged before striking up a game to 10. Needless to say, I was pretty impressed. For people in their 20's and 30's, some having borne children, most only having begun playing Frisbee a few years back, they weren't bad! They were pretty fit too, which made me feel rather out of shape, although I claim jet-lag still... It was a great game, so much fun, and it felt good to play Frisbee again - no matter where you go, where you play, the thrill of the game is something awesome that never changes. I scored the last point of the game - and the season! (since most of the players are teachers, they all leave for the summer and return around September) - which felt good, although I think there were others who wanted (and probably deserved) it more that me. Afterwards, Jeff (through whom I'd learned of the pickup league through FFindr!, a Frisbee networking website) invited me to join them for some beer and shawarma. Shawarma is this sandwich-like wrap, kind of like a gyro but not quite, with meat and spices and such. Although I'm not quite sure what exactly it was comprised of, it was delicious. I've got to find out where that shawarma place is so I can get some on my own the next time I get a craving... It was really nice hanging out with the group of teachers, chilling and sharing stories. Also, one of the Frisbee players' dog seems to be rather fond of alcohol - it got a taste of someone's beer and went crazy looking for more, which was rather entertaining. All in all, it was a great night.
Today, I got a sense of how great the Frisbee community is. Ultimate might be a growing sport, but it definitely has the best company. As I've once heard it said, "Frisbee is the only sport where you can have the disc in one hand and a beer in the other." Perhaps because of the fact that it is a growing sport, just as fun to play unofficially as officially, I find the game - and along with it, its players - to be surprisingly chill, compared to other sports. And the people are great - competitive but so friendly, and to have a great meal after a few hours of hard playing is one of the most satisfying pleasures of life. Although I only got to play with this particular group of people for one night, and many of the teachers will probably be moving on to other places in the world to teach even if I should return to Oman during their Frisbee season, it feels good knowing that I'll probably run into them again somewhere someday at some tournament on some field, and I can't wait to see them again.
Today after work, I took a cab to the American International School in Bousher, a nearby area of Muscat (I live in Al Ghubrah, Bousher is about 15 mintues or so away). The taxi driver was very kind and friendly - he chatted and even put on classical music on the radio for me. He probably assumed I like classical music since I'm Asian. He also talked about how Oman has been developing over the past 40 years (since the new sultan came into power), and explained how one of the biggest developments in the expansion and construction of highways which make travel easier between towns.
I had been expecting a bunch of high school students hucking discs after school. Instead, I found myself playing Ultimate with a group of adults mostly teachers at AIS or the nearby American-British Academy. We scrimmaged before striking up a game to 10. Needless to say, I was pretty impressed. For people in their 20's and 30's, some having borne children, most only having begun playing Frisbee a few years back, they weren't bad! They were pretty fit too, which made me feel rather out of shape, although I claim jet-lag still... It was a great game, so much fun, and it felt good to play Frisbee again - no matter where you go, where you play, the thrill of the game is something awesome that never changes. I scored the last point of the game - and the season! (since most of the players are teachers, they all leave for the summer and return around September) - which felt good, although I think there were others who wanted (and probably deserved) it more that me. Afterwards, Jeff (through whom I'd learned of the pickup league through FFindr!, a Frisbee networking website) invited me to join them for some beer and shawarma. Shawarma is this sandwich-like wrap, kind of like a gyro but not quite, with meat and spices and such. Although I'm not quite sure what exactly it was comprised of, it was delicious. I've got to find out where that shawarma place is so I can get some on my own the next time I get a craving... It was really nice hanging out with the group of teachers, chilling and sharing stories. Also, one of the Frisbee players' dog seems to be rather fond of alcohol - it got a taste of someone's beer and went crazy looking for more, which was rather entertaining. All in all, it was a great night.
Today, I got a sense of how great the Frisbee community is. Ultimate might be a growing sport, but it definitely has the best company. As I've once heard it said, "Frisbee is the only sport where you can have the disc in one hand and a beer in the other." Perhaps because of the fact that it is a growing sport, just as fun to play unofficially as officially, I find the game - and along with it, its players - to be surprisingly chill, compared to other sports. And the people are great - competitive but so friendly, and to have a great meal after a few hours of hard playing is one of the most satisfying pleasures of life. Although I only got to play with this particular group of people for one night, and many of the teachers will probably be moving on to other places in the world to teach even if I should return to Oman during their Frisbee season, it feels good knowing that I'll probably run into them again somewhere someday at some tournament on some field, and I can't wait to see them again.
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