28 WWW.CHARLESTONWOMENPODCAST.COM | WWW.READCW.COM | WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/CHARLESTONWOMEN THE MAHJONG MOVEMENT Charleston’s Newest Social Game BY KATIE FINCH Crack. Dot. Bam. The tiles, the racks, the community. It’s all about the game of mahjong, and it’s sweeping across the Lowcountry much like bunco did in our mothers’ days. Mahjong is a tile game traditionally played with four people and 152 tiles, but in this moment, it’s less about the rules and more about the community and the local women entrepreneurs who brought the mahjong craze to Charleston in true Southern fashion. We sat down with some of Charleston’s most influential mahjong women to get the inside scoop. COMMUNITY FOCUS You’re invited! At the heart of mahjong is an invitation to be part of something beyond a girls’ night dinner date (although we love those too). Kristin Gee of Mahjongee! and host of the Mount Pleasant Mahjong Club puts it perfectly: “Everyone is looking for community, hoping for an invitation...to be included. Mahjong provides a unique backdrop for community building—it’s a multigenerational game and allows for connection around a table.” Marlo Catroppa of The Mahjong Line echoes the sentiment. “It’s all about women coming together to laugh, chat and enjoy each other’s company,” she says. “It’s such a fun way to put our phones down and really spend time with family and friends.” In a culture filled with endless to-do lists and tireless scrolling, it was time for something to lift our eyes and engage our minds. Megan Masters, founder of Amahj Line, agrees. “Mahjong is so much more than a game,” she says. “It brings people together and really forces them to disconnect from the everyday hustle, focus on the present and build genuine friendships based on shared interests beyond school, work or family.” INSTRUCTORS If the desire to join the local mahjong community has piqued your interest, it’s time to learn! A game of both strategy and luck, mahjong takes some finesse, and learning to play typically requires lessons. Lucky for us, we have instructors throughout Charleston who make the game accessible, Instagram-worthy and, most importantly, fun. Catroppa shares her insight on learning and teaching the game. “Learning something new— especially later in life—can be so exciting,” she says. “I like to keep the focus on fun right from the start, reminding new players that the first lesson is all about getting exposure, watching and enjoying the game—not about memorizing or mastering everything right away.” There are lots of misconceptions about learning to play, but Gee wants to put your mind at ease. “My children were my first mahjong students,” she adds. “I taught them at ages 5, 7 and 9, so I always encourage new players, ‘If my kindergartener can learn, so can you!’ I think the most important thing is that people feel welcome and comfortable. Mahjong truly is for everyone.” CLUBS After learning the game, you may find yourself itching for some friendly competition or consistent opportunities to play. That’s where mahjong clubs come into play. Holy Mahj and the Mount Pleasant Mahjong Club are a couple of the clubs trending right now. Since this is a game of community, it’s important to find the club that speaks to you—geographic location, format and more. Gee says, of launching the Mount Pleasant Mahjong Club, “The club is an eight-session tournament, meeting bimonthly at Snee Farm Country Club. We have 96 members competing in teams of four, vying for weekly raffles from local business partners and ultimately grand prizes.” Follow her Instagram @ mtpmahjclub for updates on the next season.
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