I may possibly be a living meme. The one’s that are about lying
on your resume and getting into a job you’re unqualified for. Except I didn’t
lie, which kind of makes this more embarrassing. So here I am volunteer “coach”
for the soccer training club my host family owns “I played for 8 years!”. After Monday’s practice Yoshi said “Maybe we
can find something for you to help Kana with; the kids or housework”
The soccer kids are dribbling circles around me..KIDS. Like 5-6
years old. I actually have to sit out when the 10-13 year old play... Last week
wasn’t so bad or at least I thought, maybe it looked worse.
The weekly schedule is:
Monday & Tuesday- indoor 3 classes
Tuesday- same
Wednesday- After school scrimmage and a 2nd class
outdoor
Thursday- outdoor 2 classes
Tuesday’s last class has a selected group of kids, I watch
them and literally drool. The footwork is unbelievable. Wednesday’s class is like a group of crazy kids who just run and complain. Being involved with totally
opposite skill levelled kids, I realised I must have been “playing soccer for 8
years” at some level in between.
Last weekend a family of 3 couch surfed here and at dinner we started talking about the club and how we got this volunteer
position. Then they started talking heavy sports. I mean like heavy..for example:
“Oh yeah Yates (because they use players last names right)
injury last season is healing well.”
“Mhmm yeah he didn’t pull the insert knowledgeable knee related
injury terms. So it’s healing really really well.”
“Wellington had a similar injury in his day right? When he
played for Au.”
COMPLETELY OVER MY HEAD.
We were finished dinner so I got up from the table and the
Dad of the other family said
“oh sorry, too much football talk.”
My stomach curdled and I wanted to vomit up a necklace or an
origami box and sing “ HA YEAH I HAVE SKILLS
TO JUST NOT SPORTS SLKJFBHSD FNFRS” I just laughed awkwardly and said “I
have steered a bit more towards the arts since I stopped playing soccer, I
guess I didn’t realise how far..”
So Monday was when I completely made a fool of myself and
since have been repairing the hole in my self esteem. Basically this kid (5 or
6 years old) who is the best of the bunch, always make it to goal with the ball.
I was goalie. He scored on me 5 times in an EMBARRASSING ROW. Yoshi switched and
went in net and Yaree said “You have to actually try to challenge or it’s not
even training for these kids.”
IT’S A CHALLENEGE FOR ME HONESTLY.. SHIT.
I spent the rest of the night wallowing in ; why am I even
here. I am eating 3 meals a day. Using wifi, showering, sleeping and
contributing absolutely nothing? Rightfully wallowing I think. Because this is
the reason I’m here. To give my time and energy to this training club, for the
kids to have a fresh face. So they can go to school and tell their
friends they have friends from Canada and Netherlands (Yaree) now!
I bought some peanuts and ate the whole bag. I didn’t find
the cure for over thinking at the bottom either. BUT I reasoned with myself to be
upfront with my feeling useless and try to talk with Yoshi about specifically
what else I could do. I asked about his website/Facebook and if he needs any
new photos to be taken or videos. He doesn’t use Facebook so he gave me the url
to his website to check it out. It’s excellent.... Then he bounced back the idea,
how about I make some Canadian food or stuff to share with the parents while
they’re watching their kids!
YAS. Tuesday I stayed at home with Kana and worked on making
a little recipe book. I used Google to translate it into Japanese and just kept
the names of the dishes in English.
#1 Meatloaf. #2 Scalloped Potatoes #3 Stuffed Peppers. And then
I brought boiled eggs, mayonnaise, onion and other supplies to make “Deviled
Eggs” with them to eat and share with the kids after. I also tried to write
down some Japanese things for me to say, mostly they just laughed and we
communicated with charades. At the end of it all though it went really well!
One mom knows a bit of English and we talked to last week, this
week she brought me a recipe for Japanese Omelet!! The secret is roll towards you. So today I’m going to bring supplies to make ice cream! Like in a ziplock bag. Thats cool. ha ha literally.
As for next week.. It’s my last week here!!!!!!!!!!
And I want it to be worthwhile.
Being as it all of ours first time using work
away, I think I got a bit of a break. But I don’t want to be the sad story they
tell to their next volunteers. Not that I think they will actually we get along
really well. I’m helping a bit with English too and the kids! Tsubasa wants me
to take her to the potty now and when I say something sort if harmonious she tries
to repeat, like “okay thank yooou” or “where did it goo” it’s so cute!
Kana and Yoshi are absolutely amazing human beings. Their
lifestyle is quaint, organic, groovy and full of love. It is a blessing x
infinity to live here with them. I hope they can see I’m trying, I’m in love
and I’m so great full. I’m going to put together a practice book for Kana to
practice English and hopefully I can keep doing some things (probably other
than soccer...) to contribute to the household.
There is
so much goodness here. I’m not going to let my depleting soccer skills be the
last thing I leave behind.
Please send me knowledge and ideas fam <3 <3
Untill next time. :)
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