Soccer

A big change I have made from the time I have left the U.S. until now is the lack of physical activity. I know they told us to continue our interest however I felt I needed a break from lifting and that I want to see this as a time of relaxing. However Karabo did bring back a passion from my childhood when he asked us to play football the second night we were here. The first time we played I was very rusty, I couldn’t shoot, dribble or pass very well. I notice every time I play more I begin getting my skill back. Now I can actually steal the ball from Karabo, dribble through defenders and can aim with accuracy. I forgot how much I loved the sport growing up and how good I was at it. Growing up it was my favorite sport and I was better at it than any other I played. I quit playing when began junior high and I remember almost trying out for the team my senior year of high school but I quickly through out the possibility when I heard rumor that the head coach would not start anyone who hasn’t played the previous year. Looking back I regret this decision and I should have faced the obstacle. When we play football here there is usually ten or twelve people from our study abroad group that play along with many other students around campus. I’ve met people from UK, Sweden, Norway, Finland, U.S. (even Ohio), Zimbabwe and locals from Botswana.

I find this very fascinating because the sport is so popular everywhere but the United States. I think this has to do with the large variety of sports in our country and that we believe in sports being linked to a season. Last night we experienced history as we watched the U.S. play Brazil in the Confederation Cup final. I was disappointed that we were unable to go seeing as how it was an epic event for us to even be playing in it for the first time. The U.S. which is ranked 14^th in the world upset Egypt and then Spain (#1 team in the world) to advance to the final. The U.S. was up 2-0 at half time but could not hold off the five time world champs to take home the glory. All morning people have talked to me about the game because they know I am from the States and they acknowledge how amazing their effort was. Our group enjoys getting out and doing something active so I can definitely see us playing a lot more soccer throughout our stay here.