This last week was a very exciting week here in Granada for the Futbol Sin Fronteras team as we had a ton of really great activities happening and some great photos to go along with all of them. On Saturday, week four of our league action continued and man was it a blast. It was extremely hot on Saturday morning and we had a lot planned for the rest of the day, so we decided to break the girls up in to just two teams with subs for the younger age group and three teams for the older girls. The "cage" (the fenced in field where the younger girls play) was as lively as ever because the substitutes doubled as cheerleaders/coaches/band/crowd/futbol fanatics to make a very exciting and LOUD game. I don't know where these guys get all of the energy but I'm going to look into bottling it ASAP.
The older girls had a new, competitive team enter their division who definitely have had a few months of practicing as a team. Tico, a local futboler and coach with quite a few boys teams and one girls team, brought his team to play and they were well prepared, playing very organized futbol. In both games Tico's team went up early, but the Futbol Sin Fronteras teams fought hard to even both games and bring home one victory. It is very rewarding to see new girls teams popping up and joining the league as it proves that not only is there a need for a league and it will definitely have the numbers to carry on in the future, but people have already been working toward this goal on their own. Team sports is such a valuable part of growing leadership skills, responsibility, and self worth. And now these things that I've taken so much for granted in my own life are quickly becoming a reality for the girls here. It is awesome.
PS. I know I shouldn't be commenting on the cuteness of our extremely serious and dedicated futbolers...but come on! How cute are these girls in their jerseys? And how awesome is it that we have full kits for the league games? Again, we can't say enough thanks to all those that have donated gear, money, time, and love to the program. It is truly appreciated.
Oh man, so much more to talk about. After the games we had a Limpieza, which is a big, giant garbage clean up of the fields. It is a very important event here, as trash doesn't always make it in the can. We had the teams compete to fill their garbage sack the fastest. Of course, David (that jokester!) had his team stuff an entire dead palm branch or two into the sack. Which was actually hilarious, despite the fact that I was on the other side of the camera half laughing, half yelling at them that it doesn't count. The coaches are all young youth leaders in the community and are really great kids. They also double as comedians which is clearer day by day as my Spanish is getting better.
Wrapping the day up we all headed back to the office for a party where Boston, Chepe, Jaime, and K (J + K our volunteers over the last two weeks) were preparing a fiesta for 50 plus crazy kids. Man was it a blast! We had the office and half the street ready for hop scotch, dancing, drinks, a balloon toss, and finally, a pinata. Of course the balloon toss turned into a water balloon fight and then just a water fight/dance party which was way more fun. But the true highlight was the pinata. Obviously, we all have an idea of what a pinata is, but you've never seen it unless you've seen it Nica style. The whole office was filled with crazy loud kids, crazy loud music, and a crazy lil' dancing nina blindfolded with a stick. And between swings at the pinata, here in Nicaragua you have to dance. It was so money! After only two girls the Pinata broke, I blinked, and then I saw twenty to thirty kids dive on to a dog pile bigger than Rudy's. It was mayhem! And all emerged with more candy in one hand than I thought was physically possibly. My next Birthday party is going to have a pinata for sure.
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