Sports Meeting 2026

My Experience at the April 2026 Sports Meeting

The sports meeting on April 16 and 17, 2026 was not just a competition — it felt like a big festival of energy, friendship, and new connections. Even though I didn’t join any sports this year (I did participate in 2023),I still had one of my favorite experiences so far. Events like this remind me why I enjoy being around students so much: they are full of life, curiosity, and stories.

My “New Old” Camera

This year, I didn’t compete in any sport like I used to. Instead, I went as an independent picture taker — not part of the university photography team. I brought my “new old” camera, a Canon PowerShot SX60HS. It may be an older model, but it’s new to me, and I love it. The 65x zoom is amazing. I can stand very far away and still take clear, close-up photos. Because of this zoom, many people don’t even notice I’m taking their picture. And honestly, those are the best photos. When people don’t pose, their expressions are natural. You can see real emotions — excitement, focus, joy, surprise. Those moments feel more honest than any planned pose. The best picture of this kind is the one I used at the beginning of this post. The girl in the picture has a contagious smile while holding the trophy. Such a nice picture from a beautiful girl, I am on my way to become a professional photographer, hahahha

Meeting New People

Sports meetings are great places to meet new people and make new friends. I talked to many students during the two days. Some came to chat, some wanted to practice English, and some simply wanted a picture. I took a lot of photos and shared them with anyone who asked. It felt good to help them keep memories of their big moments. I ended up adding many new friends on WeChat. I’m always happy when students want to stay in touch. I even shared some of my English materials with them — including a few paid ones — because I know improving English can help them find better jobs after graduation. Helping students grow is one of my biggest values, and this event gave me many chances to do that.

Unique Photos, Unique Memories

Some students were also taking pictures for the university website. Their photos will be seen by many people. Mine, however, are different. They are independent, personal, and not found anywhere online – well I post them online, but I am sure they will not reach as much people as the university website. I like that. It makes the photos feel more special, like small gifts I can share with the people in them.

Sharing More Than Photos

One of the best parts of the event was connecting with students who want to improve their English. I believe language can open doors. It can help students get better jobs, travel more confidently, and understand the world in a deeper way. So when they asked for help, I didn’t hesitate. I shared materials, answered questions, and encouraged them to keep practicing. Helping others is something I value deeply. The sports meeting reminded me that even small actions — a photo, a conversation, a shared file — can make a difference in someone’s life.

A Funny Little Personal Moment

If I were married, I’m sure I would have had something more “grownup” to do during the sports meeting — like watching the games , maybe arguing about strategies to win competitions, who knows. But life had other plans. Twelve years ago, my “special person” decided I wasn’t so special anymore. I went through a divorce that I tried very hard to avoid, but sometimes life doesn’t listen to us. Fast forward to today: I’m single again, finally happy again, and enjoying life in my own strange ways. So when I saw the cheerleading squad dancing, I thought, “Well, well, well… I’m already here, I have a camera, and I have nothing better to do.” So I asked if we could take pictures together. Not because I was trying to find a girlfriend — absolutely not. It was just for fun, and honestly, that’s how humans meet other humans: by talking, smiling, and not overthinking everything. Over the years in China, many students have asked me for advice on how to get a girlfriend. Even though I would never try to date a student where I am teaching (that would be very unprofessional),the advice is the same for everyone. You have to put yourself out there. You have to talk to people. You have to make friends. And yes, you will get rejected sometimes (maybe a lot of time, hahah). That’s normal. That’s life. Even the best cheerleader can’t win every match. And more important, how can I give this advice to student if I don’t try it myself. My life in China became much better once I stopped being shy. When I first arrived, I wasn´t like I am today. But slowly, I started talking to everyone — students, teachers, workers, strangers at the bus stop. And because of that, I’ve made so many friends. My world became bigger, brighter, and a lot more fun.

Why I Choose to Focus on the Good

When I go back to visit my country, people always ask me the same question: “How can you say so many good things about China? No country is perfect!” And they’re right. No country is perfect. China is not perfect. My home country is not perfect. I could easily make a long list of things I don’t like here. I could complain every day if I wanted to. But guess what — I choose not to. Talking about the bad things doesn’t improve my life. It only makes me more stressed and more depressed. And honestly, I can’t change those things anyway. So instead of spending my energy on the negative, I focus on the good parts. After all, I’m a guest in this country. If I truly hated it here, the logical thing would be to go home, not to stay and complain. So I choose to enjoy the things I do like. And there are many.

A Small Example From the Sports Meeting

I want to share a little moment from the sports event. I won’t say who it was — you can guess — but I heard some people complaining about the event. They didn’t want to be there. They said it was boring, too hot, too long, too whatever. And that’s fine. Everyone has their own feelings. But here’s the funny part: after the opening ceremony, where all the foreign teachers had to show up, I didn’t see them again. Not even for one second. Meanwhile, I stayed for the entire event — two full days — walking around, taking pictures, talking to students, enjoying the atmosphere. Maybe I’m a little unusual, but I always try to make the best of any situation instead of running away from it. Life becomes much more fun when you choose that path. I collected so many memories from this sports meeting — and a huge number of photos too. I’m still trying to organize them all so I can keep them safely. One day, I know I’ll look back at those pictures and remember how good my time in China was, how many people I met, and how much I enjoyed being part of moments like this.

I hope you enjoy the pictures I’m sharing in this post. I had a great time taking them — maybe too great. At one point I felt like a professional photographer… just without the salary, the skills, or the expensive camera. You’ll also see a few photos of me. Don’t worry, I didn’t suddenly learn how to take selfies with a giant zoom camera. Those pictures were taken by other photographers at the event. We traded photos like kids trading Pokémon cards. A few even came from the university website, so if you see me looking serious or heroic, please understand: that was pure accident. I don’t usually look that cool in real life.