Blog 17: Emani

Dear Soccer,

Thank you for being a source of joy on this trip. While basketball will always have the #1 spot in my heart for my favorite sport, I appreciate you for reminding me of the joy sports bring, and the importance of play. In many cases, kids will often pick one sport or activity to pursue as they grow up. While that one extracurricular is rooted in love and commitment, it can be easy to get caught up in the intense training schedules and high-stake competitions. While my competitive nature still comes out during scrimmages, my lack of soccer expertise keeps me from getting frustrated over small mistakes (though, not to discredit my 10 years of CYO soccer in elementary school). Most importantly, it is impossible to not have fun when you realize you are playing soccer under the Moroccan sun, with your host siblings, Lakesiders, and newfound village friends. From drill to drill, there are lots of high-fives and loud cheers after team and individual successes. The camps have also given us the opportunity to practice our leadership and organization skills. Before each day of camp, we plan out the drills we run, who leads them, and how to best explain the drill with a language barrier. Our leadership team has extended to two of our host brothers, Brahim and Ashraff, and it has been amazing to collaborate with them and lead the camp all together. Even with creating a practice plan the day before, we have been able to practice flexibility, by smoothly altering the plan and going with the flow. We end each day of camp with refreshing soda and juice, playing card games and pool, singing and dancing to music, and just enjoying each other’s company.


Soccer, thank you for being a huge point of connection for us and the community. It is truly special being able to see how universal sports are, and their ability to bring together people in an active, competitive, and fun environment. I’m excited to see as we all grow our soccer abilities, leadership skills, and friendships in these next few days of camp. Recognizing the joy of sports is something I want to continue for the rest of this trip, and when we go back home. See you on the field!


Sincerely,

Emani

Popular posts from this blog

Blog 9: Natalie

Image
Flowing out of our neighborhood of homestay houses in a desert trail leading into more rural country and farm houses. It passes by cascading sandy hills and groupings of cacti and shrubs. Almost every day we have spent here, our GSL group has trekked this trail right before sunset. Our group is never alone, as we are always accompanied by village kids of all age ranges for our 1-2 hour excursion. These are kids we all teach during the day, however I feel we are able to make the most impact during these daily walks. On numerous occasions, I have walked and talked with different kids, trying to use phrases taught in English class or learn more Darija through the timeless game of pointing around at things. As I hold hands with these kids, sharing my huge sunglasses or sips of my sun-boiled water, I have been able to learn the immense patience these kids have when speaking to us. The walks are a safe space where we can form bonds that are difficult in a classroom setting, and they are also...
Read more

Blog 34: Ellie

Image
Dear Souk al Hed (or at least our little L-shaped corner of it), Thank you for having us– it feels like just yesterday when we first stepped off the bus, but already we will soon be saying our goodbyes and getting back on the bus for Rabat– and then Seattle. Getting to know you has taken a lot less time than I expected, for you welcomed us immediately into your home, but still, even on T-minus 1 day until our departure– I am still meeting new people and learning new things about you: the most effective way to cat whisper (pspsps), how Moroccan pizza is made, how to weave palm leaves into the shape of a flip flop… It’s really true that the more you know, the more you don’t know– I am definitely coming out of this experience with more questions than answers. I will miss your warm smiles, abundance of cats, and beautiful sunsets…our evening walks together, soccer on the roof, and listening to you at all times of the day– your crickets chirping at night, your pigeons cooing in the morning,...
Read more

Blog 33: Syndiely

Image
Dear Future GSL Student, Now that I have completed (almost) a full GSL trip, I wanted to write this letter so that anyone preparing to go on a GSL trip would be ready for anything. Preparing to leave your home for a month can be scary. With or without preparation you may still feel scared, nervous, or homesick. But, going on this trip is something I will never regret and I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did.  Tip #1: Be open. The thing scaring you the most right now might be the fact that you don’t speak the native language there. Guess what? That’s okay! As long as you are open to trying new things you will build such a powerful and strong connection. I was lucky enough to find connection primarily in joy and laughter. Our family loves Uno, so playing and laughing with them is how I have best gotten to know them. Tip #2: Be aware. While this trip will and should be fun, that’s not necessarily the primary goal. As you wake up every morning and head out to do service, remember ...
Read more