Something Foreign
I was minding my own business one day when James, one of the team guys, called me and invited me to go watch camel wrestling. I was all about it.
One Sunday we all loaded up in a van and headed out of town to find the camels. When we came to the site, we saw a big field filled to the brim with people while smoke and music wafted up from the crowds. I've never been to a NASCAR race, but I'm guessing it feels a lot like a camel wrestling festival. People were lined up on both sides of the road selling sandwiches, fruit, beer, trinkets, and just about anything else. Everyone was milling about and having a good time. Random drummers and flutists were wandering through the crowd playing music.
All the action was taking place in a round dirt ring fenced off with spectators all around. 2 camels wrestled at a time, while their owners and other men (I'm not sure who they were or how they got there) ran around them in the ring. The camels tried to pin each other by placing their necks on top of the other camels' necks and pushing them to the ground. The camels would run into each other, push each other, and try to get their necks on the others' necks. All in all, it was pretty fun to watch. None of the camels got seriously hurt, though one did get a bloody nose.
We walked around and watched the camels for 4 hours or so, then hopped back in the van and headed home. I love my country.
