I’ve never heard of Curling before I came to Canada … and it is a sport (yes, it’s also in the Winter Olympic! Go Team Canada!). I didn’t really get it the first few time I watched it on TV. But after a while, my curiousity took over me, and last year I joined my company’s curling club (after years of just thinking of joining a club somewhere). 
Got an hour crash course on how the game works .. and they just threw me into some games (nuts!) .. hehe .. but I like it so far, although I’m still not used to walking on ice, sliding and throwing a 44 lbs rock while trying to keep my balance. And the sweeping .. OH!!
It’s interesting to find out how the sweeping requires a lot of energy (not at all like that household chore we’re all familiar with) .. especially when they’re yelling “Hard!”, “Sweep!”, “YEEESSS!!”, “HURRY!!” .. and in my mind I go “Trying! Trying!!”, good thing that they sometimes come over and help. And after a while, people actually start talking to the stone while sweeping “C’mon baby, curl!” or “Just a little bit more” or “Whoa .. stop!” (although most of the time, the rock just kept going and didn’t stop .. hehe).
It is also a game of strategy .. the direction where to throw the rock, how hard to throw it and the spin to make it curl, whether the ice is “fast” or “slow”. Crazy stuff! Those professional curlers really make it looks so easy on TV! They’re very good! I guess that’s why they make it on TV .. hehe. I got bruises on my knee the first few weeks, then actually hurt my knee and ankle a bit … hmmm … but hey, what’s a sport without some injuries here and there, no? 
