I reached back to my room today at 1030pm. As I am typing this entry, my eyes are half open and my chest is still feeling very uncomfortable. I would explain the reason for my fatigue in a short while. I started off the day with work and work and work but it was rather enjoyable as I was making good progress. During lunch, Mathieu said that they have reserved an indoor soccer court at 815pm tonight and we would leave together around 7pm. I realized that my office is open 24 hrs and with my access card, I can enter anytime I want. Mathieu even come to the lab on Sundays at times. After lunch I spent most of the time typing my report and it is almost done. Around 645pm, me, Mathieu and Vincent left IRISA, with Vincent driving. I chatted with Mathieu about Japanese anime and he too like to watch them. So do Sebestian and Mr. Giant. They too have watched “Full Metal Alchemist” and are watching “Naruto” now. It is Naruto again! A lot of my friends are watching that too now but it is already over a 100 episodes and don’t think I can catch up. Mathieu said I can borrow from Sebestian. I would ask him tomorrow but I am afraid it would be in French.
Soon we arrived at Vincent’s house. It is like those shophouses we see in Chinatown and there is a spiral staircase leading to his apartment. Inside, it is simple and spacious. And I noticed he played the guitar too. He asked if I would want to join them in playing his Xbox later after the soccer game. I said we shall see later. A while later, another Vincent came and he too worked in IRISA but is in another project team. He spoke very good English and said perhaps it is because he just returned from US for a 6 month attachment. Nicholas came later and so the 5 of us squeezed into Vincent’s car and headed to the stadium.
Earlier I was talking to hui on msn and said that it is not possible to get lost in Rennes as it is very small. With a map in hand, I would be able to navigate back to INSA. I was really being naïve. The soccer stadium is located near Rennes airport and it is at a secluded southern part of Rennes. After we passed the city, we were on a highway and it was completely dark with just Vincent’s car headlights. Occasionally, he had to use the high beams to see the sign boards. So if I were to be in this part of Rennes, I don’t think I can go back INSA myself. It took quite a while before we reached the indoor stadium. The stadium looks like those warehouse hidden in some secret place used for illegal boxing. We were early and so waited at the lounge, watching other people play. There were 5 courts altogether with another section for go-cart. French are really good in soccer. Among those people playing, some are quite old, over 35 with pot belly and yet played quite well. Their foot work was good and had some speed.
After a while, the rest of the guys came. Jean-Marie brought his brother along (Julien). So there were 10 of us altogether. Me, 2 x Vincent, 2 x Jean-Marie, 2 x Nicholas, Julien, Mathieu and an unknown guy. It was our turn and everyone was just as excited as me because all of them have not play for a long time. We went down to change and split into 2 teams. I was with Mathieu, 2 x Vincent and Nicholas. Inside the court, it was still quite cold because there was no heater. My team started first and soon we were on the attack. I was running with the ball on the left and when I was near the goal, at the last moment before I was tackled, I passed the ball to Nicholas at the centre and he scored. 1st goal and it looked pretty easy and I had an assist. However, that was my first and last contribution.
After 5 min, I was having difficulty breathing and was experiencing the same discomfort I had while running last Saturday. Only this time it was worse. Tears were welling up my eyes and my vision was blurring. After 10 min, my chest was very painful and phlegm accumulated in my throat. Not to mention that water was running out of my nostrils free-flow. When I had to make a burst with the ball, every breath I sucked in brings aches to my chest. I wanted to give up but told myself to push on. After 20 min, the other guys start to experience tiredness. I was half-dead by then. Before coming with them, I thought I should have the advantage of age and speed. But I lost to them in stamina and skills. I gave away balls unnecessarily and when I switched over as the keeper so that I could rest, I let in goals. My eyes were just too tired and watery to see the ball coming. I have never been good in soccer and my stamina is lousy, but I don’t remember I felt so tired before. The contraction of the lungs makes my head dizzy as I run.
Although I played badly, it was really fun (the French keep saying it is really funny. But it was quite gao xiao at times). There were some spectacular goals like back heel goals, tight corner goals, long drives etc. With less than 15 min left, I suddenly felt better and played better. Perhaps I have accustomed to the cold air and could control my breathing easier. There was a moment when I had the ball in the middle and 2 opponents came towards me. I think I was lucky and managed to dribble pass them and ran towards the goal. However, my ball control was not good and before I could shoot, I sent the ball too fast forward and the keeper picked it up easily. At 915pm, another group came and we left. I was really glad it ended. I noticed Julien played very well with great speed and stamina. I asked him “how old are you?” and he said fine. This is the 2nd time people here mistook my question as “How are you?” So in the end I used French “Quel age as tu?” He was only 20. It is good to be young.
As we gathered outside the stadium, we had to pay Jean-Marie 6 euros each because to book an hour game, it cost 60 euros! Mathieu said they all find that too expensive but still they want to do it every week from now on. I think tomorrow during lunch, I would have to tell him that I can only play once a month because it is too expensive for me. I can better use the 6 euros to buy a train ticket and visit another city during the weekend. I think he would understand because he knows I am paying very high rental here and not getting a lot of allowance. However, if they were to play in campus, I would definitely join them. We left the place and Vincent dropped me at Republique. From there I took the bus back.
On the bus, my head was spinning and I feel like throwing up. Maybe because I didn’t have dinner before the game. Once I reached my room, I quickly make myself a hot mushroom soup and is feeling much better now. I think I would sleep till 930am tomorrow. Anyway it is time to pay my rent again and the office only opens at 10am. I also have to send my bedsheets for laundry.
Soon we arrived at Vincent’s house. It is like those shophouses we see in Chinatown and there is a spiral staircase leading to his apartment. Inside, it is simple and spacious. And I noticed he played the guitar too. He asked if I would want to join them in playing his Xbox later after the soccer game. I said we shall see later. A while later, another Vincent came and he too worked in IRISA but is in another project team. He spoke very good English and said perhaps it is because he just returned from US for a 6 month attachment. Nicholas came later and so the 5 of us squeezed into Vincent’s car and headed to the stadium.
Earlier I was talking to hui on msn and said that it is not possible to get lost in Rennes as it is very small. With a map in hand, I would be able to navigate back to INSA. I was really being naïve. The soccer stadium is located near Rennes airport and it is at a secluded southern part of Rennes. After we passed the city, we were on a highway and it was completely dark with just Vincent’s car headlights. Occasionally, he had to use the high beams to see the sign boards. So if I were to be in this part of Rennes, I don’t think I can go back INSA myself. It took quite a while before we reached the indoor stadium. The stadium looks like those warehouse hidden in some secret place used for illegal boxing. We were early and so waited at the lounge, watching other people play. There were 5 courts altogether with another section for go-cart. French are really good in soccer. Among those people playing, some are quite old, over 35 with pot belly and yet played quite well. Their foot work was good and had some speed.
After a while, the rest of the guys came. Jean-Marie brought his brother along (Julien). So there were 10 of us altogether. Me, 2 x Vincent, 2 x Jean-Marie, 2 x Nicholas, Julien, Mathieu and an unknown guy. It was our turn and everyone was just as excited as me because all of them have not play for a long time. We went down to change and split into 2 teams. I was with Mathieu, 2 x Vincent and Nicholas. Inside the court, it was still quite cold because there was no heater. My team started first and soon we were on the attack. I was running with the ball on the left and when I was near the goal, at the last moment before I was tackled, I passed the ball to Nicholas at the centre and he scored. 1st goal and it looked pretty easy and I had an assist. However, that was my first and last contribution.
After 5 min, I was having difficulty breathing and was experiencing the same discomfort I had while running last Saturday. Only this time it was worse. Tears were welling up my eyes and my vision was blurring. After 10 min, my chest was very painful and phlegm accumulated in my throat. Not to mention that water was running out of my nostrils free-flow. When I had to make a burst with the ball, every breath I sucked in brings aches to my chest. I wanted to give up but told myself to push on. After 20 min, the other guys start to experience tiredness. I was half-dead by then. Before coming with them, I thought I should have the advantage of age and speed. But I lost to them in stamina and skills. I gave away balls unnecessarily and when I switched over as the keeper so that I could rest, I let in goals. My eyes were just too tired and watery to see the ball coming. I have never been good in soccer and my stamina is lousy, but I don’t remember I felt so tired before. The contraction of the lungs makes my head dizzy as I run.
Although I played badly, it was really fun (the French keep saying it is really funny. But it was quite gao xiao at times). There were some spectacular goals like back heel goals, tight corner goals, long drives etc. With less than 15 min left, I suddenly felt better and played better. Perhaps I have accustomed to the cold air and could control my breathing easier. There was a moment when I had the ball in the middle and 2 opponents came towards me. I think I was lucky and managed to dribble pass them and ran towards the goal. However, my ball control was not good and before I could shoot, I sent the ball too fast forward and the keeper picked it up easily. At 915pm, another group came and we left. I was really glad it ended. I noticed Julien played very well with great speed and stamina. I asked him “how old are you?” and he said fine. This is the 2nd time people here mistook my question as “How are you?” So in the end I used French “Quel age as tu?” He was only 20. It is good to be young.
As we gathered outside the stadium, we had to pay Jean-Marie 6 euros each because to book an hour game, it cost 60 euros! Mathieu said they all find that too expensive but still they want to do it every week from now on. I think tomorrow during lunch, I would have to tell him that I can only play once a month because it is too expensive for me. I can better use the 6 euros to buy a train ticket and visit another city during the weekend. I think he would understand because he knows I am paying very high rental here and not getting a lot of allowance. However, if they were to play in campus, I would definitely join them. We left the place and Vincent dropped me at Republique. From there I took the bus back.
On the bus, my head was spinning and I feel like throwing up. Maybe because I didn’t have dinner before the game. Once I reached my room, I quickly make myself a hot mushroom soup and is feeling much better now. I think I would sleep till 930am tomorrow. Anyway it is time to pay my rent again and the office only opens at 10am. I also have to send my bedsheets for laundry.
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