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| Instructional Mah Jong for Beginners
Day and Time: Saturday, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Instructor: Debbie Barnett
Contact Information: debbie717@gmail.com
Cost: Members – $95 Non-members – $12
Syllabus:
Week One: Introduction to the game, rules, identifying the tiles, learning how to read the card and maybe some play.
Week Two: Quick review of week one and then playtime.
Week Three: Introduction of more advanced strategies both defensive and offensive and then playtime.
Week Four: Introduction to more advanced strategies both defensive and offensive and then playtime.
Week Five through Week Ten: Playtime while coaching players on improving their skills and strategic play.
Bio: Debbie Barnett moved from CT to South Florida in 1988. As a young girl, Debbie has been a lover of games that required not just luck but also strategy. Some of her favorite memories were of playing the game Stretego, Rummy Q, Scrabble just to name a few. Her mom was an avid Bridge, Canasta and Mah Jong player and quit often when Debbie got out of elementary school she would watch as the ladies play.
In her early 20’s, she decided to join the ranks by asking the woman who were typically in their 40’s or older if she could join them. She said that she really felt she would be a “quick study”. Sure enough, she was and before long she was a regular in several games a week.
When Debbie moved to Florida in 1988 she found it hard to find others of the same age who played. Typically older woman were known to play. Once in a great while she would find a game but rarely did the groups have the commitment she longed for. She really missed the game, and at one point thought she would have to give up the thought of playing until she was well into her 40’s. With the advancement in technology, sites such as meetup were created and lo and behold, Debbie created her first meetup group to find advanced players such as herself. Before long, she was once again in regular games and YES, all of the woman she plays with are still at least 10 years her senior.
Along with the advancement of technology and games available to play on line, younger people started to find an interest in Mah Jong. Although the on line game is very different than playing with people, the interest started to increase tremendously. So, she decided to create another Meetup site called Beginner Mah Jong Class and once again, she was amazed at the response. For almost two years now, she has been teaching private groups from the response through Meetup.
A few of the nice things about Mah Jong today, according to Debbie, is that the interest is not just from older folks but from young alike and it is not just woman who play it is men as well.
Debbie continues to enjoy her regular weekly games and because of her love for the game, has committed to teaching others.
