Rugby and Discotheques

Last night was very fun. That is a very boring way to start out my description of the night but I really had a great time, 100%, nothing went wrong, no weasels on my roof, great.

As some americans (very few) may know, the Rugby world cup is this year. Here is a brief little lesson for all of you who don't know anything about Rugby:

Two teams, 15 or 13 players (depending on the league), trying to score goals by kicking the ball through goal posts similar to those in football or scoring the equivalent of a touchdown. The ball barely ever stops moving. When a player goes down, he can get right back up again, or throw the ball to someone else, or someone can take it from him. You cannot throw the ball forward, only backwards but you can punt it forwards. A "touchdown" gives you 5 points. Kicking a goal after the touchdown gives you 2 points. Kicking the goal without having scored a touchdown gives you 3 points. Okay, those are the bare basics. The most important part about this game is that the DON'T wear any pads and these guys are E-NORM-OUS. Like, pumped up steroided men who are three times my size. There is a man on the French National team who has long brown hair and is a beast....literally, he LOOKS like The Beast in Beauty and the Beast (which also takes place in France. Coincidence???). Anyway, they are vicious. They bleed a lot and do you know what the medics do? Spray the wound with freezing spray and send the players on their way. C'est tout. It is a beastly beastly game that I find much more intense that American Football.

Well, Rugby is pretty big over here. Knowing that the "Cup Mondial" was going to be taking place IN FRANCE this year, Me, Meg and about 8 other students decided to go to a bar where we could watch the game the way Europeans do. So our new friend James found this Irish Pub called The James Joyce(he probably liked it cuz of the name) and we decided to go there. It was PACKED. James, being the great friend and rich friend that he is, bought meg and I a pint of Guinness each to get into the spirit. Anyway, the game started and it was so hardcore. As it progressed, we began to socialize with the others around us. Apparently, Lyon is hosing some games and Australia is playing Japan today. I know, JAPAN? RUGBY? Whhhhaa???

ANYWAY...there were a lot of aussis there who had come to France for the game and such so we all started chatting it up about accents, vegemite, walk-a-bouts, and Steve Irwin and decided that we would all be friends for the night.

After France lost the match....merde...we hung around the James Joyce for a while and then decided that we should all try to find some "discotheques". After walking around for a while (there were like, 12 of us) we finally found one that a) actually had people in it b) was free for girls to get into and c) was playing decent music so we took the plunge.

GLAD WE DID! I was a dance machine guys. Meg and I GOT DOWN. I really don't think that these Europeans were ready for our non-stop dancefloor magic. We were the last people there and my feet STILL hurt this morning. We lost the aussis on the way and as we were heading home, we passed a boulangerie (bakery) that was just taking some croissants out of the oven. We asked if we could be the first customers of the day and I really think that may have been the best .60 euros I have ever spent and maybe will ever spend in my life.

Anyway, it was a great time. I suggest everyone to start watching Rugby. Its especially exciting for Americans because were so used to the rules football. When the players go down in rugby, they just get right back up again and it kind of startles you because we're used to whistles, flags, beer ads and bimbos for 1 minute before the players get back out on the field. It makes it more exciting.

Well, if my mind doesnt deceive me, Oregon plays Michigan today. Please, someone keep me updated. I am beginning to feel the loss of the football season. I want to know details, I want to know scores, I want to know about upsets and Lindsay Walsh, if you read this:

PLEASE EAT AN AUTZEN PARK HOT DOG FOR ME AT THE NEXT HOME GAME!!!

Love you all,
Ruby