Ping-pong is the most popular ball game in my country, and it is deeply situated in people’s hearts. China is a developing country, and the economic conditions of the people are not good. Ping-pong is a sport, which does not cost too much to play. It is good for my country and good for all the people no matter if you are rich or poor. In China, people can see the ping-pong tables everywhere---in schools, public squares, and even in people’s houses. They are made from wood, cement or other materials. When I was still in China, I played ping-pong every weekend in a public square. In the public square, people can play with a person from the age of seven to seventy years old. Once, an elder invited me to play ping-pong when I was so angry with my friends. I played it as a wild animal. I did not know what I was doing; I was so mad. Then the elder shouted at me: “what are you doing to our national ball game.” “Whatever”, I said nonchalantly. “Put down your rackets and get out of here. You do not have qualification to play our national ball game.” He was yelling. In America, people like to play basketball. If people want to play basketball, they have to have a team first. A team must have three people or more. Basketball is unlike ping-pong. When people play ping-pong, they just need one opponent; otherwise, there are a lot of team sports in America, they need a few people to play. I do not enjoy those of team sports, so I miss my ping-pong game every day that I am here.
In addition, Ping-pong has done a lot for my country. After I was shouted by that elder, I searched for some information online. I found out ping-pong is so important for our country, not only the honor but also the diplomatic relationships. My country did not compete in any world champion before 1949. We had gotten into three times Olympic Games; however, we did not have any triumphs. The foreigners used to laugh at us. But later on, ping-pong was developed in our country, and it became stronger and stronger. In 1959, we won the first world champion of our country in ping-pong. In the later Olympic Games, we got all the gold medals from the ping-pong matches. People around the world cannot laugh at us anymore. We were the champions. For that reason, we had built diplomatic relationships with so many countries. No one can ignore us. Ping-pong is one of the most important emblems in our country. We cannot live without it in our daily life. As soon as I came to America, ping-pong went out of my daily life. I could not play every day, nor could I find anything connected to ping-pong in America.
Furthermore, I felt so mad when I was the only ping-pong fan since I came to the United States. Ping-pong had seeped in my life for twenty years; and suddenly, it had gone away from me. I lived in such a different world since I came to the United States. The people who live here play soccer, baseball or basketball, but many knew what ping-pong is. There were no tables for the ping-pong in the squares. There were no real ping-pong rackets for sale. The only thing that made me better was watching ping-pong games and the ping-pong news on the TV or internet. When I was young, I would call my friends to play ping-pong every day. We would spend twenty hours playing ping-pong per week at least. However, there is no more ping-pong for me now. In the United States ping-pong is not popular at all, and there is nothing that can develop ping-pong in the cities. Like Chicago, people can play soccer, baseball, and basketball, but not ping-pong. It makes me miss ping-pong even more.
Today, I miss ping-pong deeply. I am settling into an entirely different environment. Similar to the way I immigrated to the U.S., ping-pong has lost in my life. One day, I hope ping-pong can be more popular in the U.S. Actually I would like ping-pong to be more international, not only just the international matches, but also popular with people from every country. Then my skills can emerge in the foreign countries. I especially want ping-pong to be deep in the lives of Americans as much as in the Chinese lives. Then I can do the same as in China, I can play pang-ping with a person from the age of seven to seventy years old. At this time, I will not shout at anyone. As my wish builds, my life in America will become wonderful.
Ping-pong is a very odd activity in U.S. Even though it's not a national sport game, you may still enjoy it here. There has a small organization for people who love to play Ping-pong in Chinatown. This is one thing that I learned living in this country - lower down your expectation and life still goes well. Of course, it doesn't mean you don't work hard to achieve your goal.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. You are the only fan here. Lol
ReplyDeleteI also like playing ping-pong! I play ping-pong many years in China, although I didn't play well, but I like it. I often played with friends when we have time before. Maybe we can play ping-pong someday if you like. By the way, I added you on QQ, but I was refused. I don't know why.
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