China has taught us a lesson.
We were looking forward to the match against China, even though we knew it would be difficult. The home team surprised us a bit with a rowdy crowd that responded with applause whenever we failed to do something and boisterous, joyful and shrill screams when the Chinese placed a stone in the circle or knocked our stone out. We made a few mistakes at important moments, and although our opponent was not 100 percent, it was enough for China to win in seven ends. For the record, this is the complete Chinese team that won silver medals at the last Women's World Championships, losing narrowly in the final to Canada, whom they had beaten twice before. Canada, Russia, Poland and Britain won the other lanes. The evening's practice assured us that tomorrow's set of stones - against the Brits - was fine, unlike the one against China (two stones spun more than a foot differently), and that we got the draw and take out pretty much right. Our attaché has been talking and we are still learning new things about the local population and also new expressions in Mandarin Chinese.
rnCzech women pictured with Chinese women.