The really good USA team played today dominating the Italians 25-23, 25- 20 and 25-14. We had a ton of stuff blocks!

Everyone played well tonight. For more on the match play check USA volleyball website.

There was a new taste sensation at dinner last night...Beef fried with end of bowel and for those with the more discerning palate you could have Fresh Squid Burn Juice. I can be pretty creative but I couldn't even make these up.

We are staying in the arena a lot to scout the other matches so our cultural experiences are fewer now.

Courtesy of Laurel Iversen Cynthia Barboza wearing the FIVB World Grand Prix Final Round mascot costume. The mascot for the tournament is a dragon and he left his costume unattended before our match today so Cynthia Barboza just couldn't resist. I told Karch yesterday I'd give him a $100 to put it on. He said he would consider it for more money.

Last night I watched an old time Chinese Kung Fu movie in for awhile. The master with the white beard was battling a younger corrupt bad guy with a bunch of his henchmen. It must have been around way before "Crouching tiger, hidden dragon." They were fighting and doing backflips. The sound effects were great as their hands flashed around so fast. Whoosh, whoose, whoose! Whack! The bad guy had these razor discs that he flung at the master, but the master was too fast and knocked them to the ground and stepped on them breaking them to pieces. The bad guy then bowed down to the master but as he was doing so, picked up pieces of the broken razor discs and flung them into the master's face, blinding him. Then he put his hands on his hips and laughed like Santa Claus, "HO HO HO." I got that part without translation. Then he sent his henchman in to attack the blinded master one at a time. BUT, the master fought them off, even blinded, with pieces of razor sticking in his face. The bad guys all ran off but stole something very valuable as they escaped, and the Master's assistant helped him inside the house. Tons of action. It made me laugh. But I didn't see it through to the end. I'm sure the master would prevail. Maybe there's another one tonight!

The Boy bands from the 90s are big here. We here the same tape over and over at all our meals. Now Jamie is whistling one of the tunes all the time.

We play Brazil tomorrow. They look a bit bored, but I'm sure they will be paying attention tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it.

Laurel