The teams of Jake Patton/Eihab Khan and Layne Turci/Catherine White both brought home 4-2 records from the Cal Berkeley Invitational. Congratulations to both teams!
Over the course of our five-day trip, we spent two solid days debating on the Berkeley campus. "The campus was beautiful!" said Catherine White, reflecting on the many hours spent traversing Berkeley's wooded walkways and exploring its many eclectic buildings in search of rounds. The enormous Life Sciences building and picturesque tower became guide posts as we attempted to find our way around the sprawling campus in the rain. Thank goodness for paperless! I witnessed many a "tub tumble" as other teams' evidence-laden carts tipped over into muddy puddles along the winding pathways.
Note to girls: wearing comfortable, waterproof walking/hiking shoes is a definite plus, so forget fashion and pack those pumps in the backpack to change into once you get to your rounds!
Our two teams debated against teams from all over the country. All in all, they never lost on affirmative, which is pretty awesome. In one memorable round, Eihab's exceptional skills in the 2AR succeeded in convincing the judge that their perm was not, in fact, severance, and that the aff should win the round on a number of carefully enumerated points. Way to go, Eihab and Jake. For the girls, Layne and Catherine continued to perfect their skills in outweighing on at least seven extinction scenarios per round. We also touched base occasionally with Heritage Hall's team, whose top team made it to the out rounds and then lost in a split decision in double octas.
Between rounds, we found our way to some of the colorful eating establishments on and around Telegraph street, including the renowned Thai Basil in the "Asian Ghetto," and the always jam-packed Blondie's Pizza. Jake almost bought a shirt that said "The People's Republic of Berkeley" and boasted the iconic hammer and sickle, but passing up that option, forgot to buy much of anything, while the girls and I (mostly I) ended up with so many shopping bags we had trouble packing for the trip home!
Much of this shopping took place after the tournament on our sight-seeing day in San Francisco. We took the BART train into the city, then caught a bus and then a cable car over to Pier 39, where we shopped to our hearts' content, took pictures of the cute sea lions, devoured crepes, and got lost in a hall of mirrors. We then made our way up to Ghiradelli Square, where we indulged in some chocolate before catching another bus up to the Haight-Ashbury District. While on the bus, Layne and I got to practice our French conversational skills with a gregarious little French girl who gave us big hugs before disembarking with her mama and petit frere. While we were in the hippie district, the sun warmed us as we foraged through vintage clothing stores and explored art galleries. For the record, Jake never met an art gallery docent with whom he could not strike up a conversation replete with references to a wide range of literary works. The Dali versions of Dore's Dante etchings prompted one such lengthy exchange, the result of which was that, while waiting for Jake, Layne and I spent even more money in the neighboring Asian gift shop. We deserved to indulge ourselves, though, after racing one another up at least two of San Francisco's infamous hilly streets, in boots.
All in all, it was a journey full of challenges and memories. Hopefully we will be able to make the trip again next year.
No comments:
Post a Comment