Getting to know Granada

I've been in Granada now for just over two weeks, and in that time have been keeping myself busy getting to know as many people and getting involved in as many activites as possible. Last Thursday, Chepe (one of the main coaches) and I went to a local public school, Padre Misieri and taught soccer in the sixth grade gym class. Chepe coached the boys and I led a group of 10-12 girls in a couple of different games and then a scrimmage. I held the attention of the girls for almost the entire class until a girl fell and ripped her jeans, and the drama that ensued was much more intersting than me or soccer. Once we finished playing, I talked to the girls about Soccer Without Borders and the different programs and practices we offer throughout the week. Our plan throughout the fall is to visit to at least one school a week, teach soccer in gym class and then recruit the girls to come to our events!

This afternoon, SWB is hosting a community meeting for different organizations throughout Granada that work with youth. Every organization that comes will present their mission and bring information sheets about themselves. The hope is to begin to build relationships with these other organizations, and to be able to partner with them or refer girls to them in the future. I spent two mornings this week walking around to the different organizations, meeting their employees and inviting them to this meeting. It helped me get oriented in the city and also get to know some of the organizations we'll hopefully be working with throughout the year.

For the last two weeks the theme of our office activites (girls night, language night and arts & crafts night) has been music. We've had all sorts of activities: an exercise where the girls changed the lyrics of "Nicaragua, Nicaraguita" (the national anthem) to make their own songs, a presentation of folk music and dance from throughout the world, and the grandes are making themselves a warm-up mix. Tonight is the last night of our music theme and we're concluding with a concert. Cesar is playing guitar and singing and the grandes and pequeñas are each singing a song as well.

I've started to get an idea of what types of activites the girls respond to and also to figure out how to best communicate and work with the coaches and staff. Communication with the staff is fine, but I think it will be a constant challenge throughout the year to integrate everyone's ideas while making sure practices and events are still fun and meaningful for the girls.

Living with the family is going well, I finally got all of the names down and have more or less figured out how everyone is realted. We're in the rainy season right now and almost every night there are huge downpours, along with lightning and thunder that make me think the roof is going to blow off, but so far so good.

Hope everyone is well.