Como se dice...?

Now that my first day is a thing of the past and I can no longer use "jetlag" or "travel day woes" as an excuse, it's time to get serious. No more accidentally flushing toilet paper, complaining about the layer of sweat that covers every inch of my body the second I dry off from a shower, or revealing a look of shock and disgust when I see goats, stray dogs, or horses scattered in the streets. Yesterday I was taken to the field for the first time, as every Wednesday we hold a technical clinic for the girls in the program. When I say field, I use the term loosely because the space we use would hardly be recognized as a field of play back in the States. Covered in unruly, high-growing weeds and random patches of dirt, this field takes on multiple roles as not just a site for young girls to play, but also as a source of grazing for wild horses. 

For those of you who are familiar with my travels in South Africa for almost 6 months during my junior year of college, you would know that this site came as little surprise to me and that I have done work for similar organizations before. The use of soccer as a method for positive change in a vulnerable community is a concept that I am very passionate about. As a sport that has been a part of so many people's lives for many of years, soccer serves as a universal language that unites all sorts of various cultures. People of all different nationalities, ages, socioeconomic statuses, literacy abilities, and more have been able to connect through the passion that comes from bringing their foot to a ball. In the United States, we are lucky enough to have fields, equipment, and the opportunity to play competitively at our disposal. However, this is very much not the case worldwide, especially for young women. Soccer has served as an outlet for people living in times of struggle and despair. It has helped create an identity and a role for people who feel as though they have no other reason to get up each morning. It has been a source of freedom for prisoners, who find comfort and peace through the sport during their time served. And soccer has been a source of hope and promise for young women who, even if they must play privately in their own backyards, hidden from public knowledge, have dreams of playing in a place and at a level where their talents are valued. The sport of soccer takes on so many different roles in people's lives and represents far more than a game. It has the ability to truly change people's lives and save them in times where nothing else could. It is through this philosophy that I hope to learn down here in Nicaragua, as I did in South Africa, and take back my experiences to those that I coach back in the States. 

While in South Africa it was easy to learn and develop relationships with the players and staff members that I worked with. We all spoke the same language and shared many goals and philosophies. We learned from one another in a reciprocal relationship and equally benefited from my time in the program. However, my time in Nicaragua presents a different set of challenges, the language barrier being at the forefront. In my first couple of days I have realized how much of my experience and my influence is going to be reliant on the aforementioned impact of soccer and using the sport as a tool to connect with those that I meet down here. I am looking forward to the challenges of living in a community in which the people speak Spanish, and hope to develop my own abilities speaking in the language. I look forward to these next 6 weeks and seeing how what type of impact I can have, as well as what I can learn from the people of this country.