Category: Wow, that was a fast Term.
It seems only yesterday when we started FinAcc not knowing anything, but now it’s over and life just seems so empty. I would otherwise be at Costa Coffee contemplating on what else the world has to offer, but thankfully FedEx called me up and said I have a 9lb package waiting for me at the corner of Beijing Lu and Datian Lu.
Decision Models and, one of my all-time favorites, Microeconomics for Term 2! Ace!
Before anything else though, just a short U-turn back to one of Prof Cummings’ readings in ManEff: Cult-like Cultures. The take-away from this article really hit hard yesterday, as I realized that this would be the first time in 5 years that I wouldn’t be able to play for Shanghai. I’m part of this club, see, the Shanghai Gaelic Football Club, and it’s been my family here, since I got here.
Now, I know some of you might be asking “What the hell is Gaelic Football?” Well, best way I can describe it is that it’s a combination of soccer, basketball, and ultimate fighting – but perhaps this other video might provide better insight.
Anyway, back to the subject at hand: Every year the Team flies down to some exotic Asian locale and gives a good run for the top prize of the Asian Gaelic Games: the O’Brady Cup. We’ve never won it, ever – but, my god, do we have fun trying. On the pitch, we’re probably 3rd in Asia, but off the pitch is where the real action is, and I guess that’s what has people come back year after year.
The folks here in Shanghai, we like our craic, and we like lots of it. Beer, check. Naked dancing, check. Creedence Clearwater Revival, check. Fit birds, check. Interesting lads, check.
However, if you hang out with the same people and do the same things with them each and every weekend, it will eventually get old and stale. We’ve had problems with recruiting new players because we tend to be extremely cliquey, and only mingle and mix with other people of “our sort”. So much so that some people have referred to us as the “Shanghai Gaelic Football Cult”.
I can understand, Shanghai’s quite a transient city – it changes a lot, and the people in it get churned along. Few people stay more than 2 years and those that do have to find something to keep them sane. To be part of this Club, you really need to buy in, drink the Kool-Aid, and really believe that you’re part of something bigger. And this year I missed it. And my life just seems incomplete.
I guess that’s how you develop cult-like cultures. You need to make people feel involved and active in some way. Even if they’re just drinking and cheering from the sidelines. You need to make them feel like they’re part of something bigger.
Like the Borg.
But there’s nothing wrong with that really – like the ME article said, either you’re that kind of person or you’re not. So yeah, if you’re that kind of person, I highly suggest that you look for your local cult.
We’ve got chapters in India, Korea, and all over the US. Even one in DC.
Go. Go be part of the Borg.
How do those words sound? Whatever you do to get ready for the games is your business!
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