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Volunteers' Diaries

Paddy Quaid reporting from Special Olympics Shanghai

Visited the equestrian on Saturday 6th after work .This centre currently has 60 race horses from Hong Cong, 8 jumping horses from Australia,6 domestic horses and 12 Ponies .There are plans to bring several horses from Europe this year. Before the athletes compete they visited the centre and are matched with a horse that is suitable to their needs. It was wonderful to see the ability of the riders and the success of Kieran Buckley from Kanturk and Mary Henry from Westport Mayo securing Gold. Also Ann OBrien from Donegal and Sarah Kate Jordan from carlow both won silver.

There area approximately 350 Irish people working in Shanghai. The volunteers of TEAM 2007 were invited to a challenge GAA match sponsored by Glanbia at the Hairy Crabs Shanghai Rugby Club. The ladies played 2 matches and won both. The men were brutal and lost theirs fairly decisively. The referee at half time mentioned they would need a miracle to survive the second half.

We were then special guests at a barbecue following the match and watch the Australian v England match in the rugby club and everyone went home "happy" after the match.

Did you know that:

The population of Shanghai is 18million but the real estimate is 25million including illegal immigrants.
You have to pay to park your bicycle
It is tradition that the boy`s family buy the ring bracelet and house for the newly weds
On National Holidays, group ceremonies are held for multiple weddings
Bridesmaid's dresses are hired on the spot
It is not customary to tip – it is considered an insult
Police are called to more bicycle accidents than any other mode of transport
100,000 people are killed each year in road traffic accidents in Shanghai
In 10 years 15,000 apartments Blocks were built in Shanghai
All traffic lights count down from 15 to 0 before they change
Boy child is more favourable than the girl child. When the boy marries, his wife takes care of the boy's parents.
There is no minimum age for drinking alcohol. You can drink at any age.
Most popular sport is basketball
Pedestrians do not have right of way at pedestrian