With our hip flexors and calf muscles are almost back to normal after walking from DC to Baltimore, we’re on to completing some more challenges. We were challenged to “Fold an Origami Dragon before your competitors do.” Last night, we initiated our Origami Dragon Folding Competition. Our competitors are Rola and Fadi—the people who have oh so kindly rented us a home in DC for these last days in May.
At the beginning of the competition, we were all feeling pretty confident. Amanda had practiced some mountain and valley folds earlier in the afternoon, and Fadi claimed to be a master of the origami crane (see video below).
Rola rolled a die to choose which of the five dragon patterns we would use—and then it was just the sound of giant sheets of paper rustling against the floor.
However, by the end of two hours the challenge was no longer to be the first to complete the dragon. We were four of us working together in hopes of completing the dragon at all ALL. Or even something that looked remotely dragonesq (like an alligator…or even a flamingo). Here is what our creature looks like so far:
Surely it's obvious...but just in case not, the bulbous thing on the left is the head. The two triangular things are wings.
Think it can’t be that hard? You say you’ve made cranes? You’ve made 1,000 cranes? THAT WILL NOT HELP YOU HERE.
Some facts–
- Instructions for a crane fit on half a sheet of paper. Instructions for a dragon take EIGHT.
- Instructions for a crane: “Fold top of model downward and crease.” Instructions for a dragon: “Release the hidden flap, like undoing an open sink.”
If you’re still thinking it can’t be that bad, here are the instructions we used. And if you figure out how to get to step “33-bis”…please, please, help us.
Challenge is ongoing. Watch out, paper, we will master you.
Difficult Things 