GOALLLLLL

Today we went to see both the boys and girls high school soccer teams play in their district games. We started at the girls game which they tied!! The culture shocks, though not as "shocking" are still visible everyday. Today was no exception. We arrived at the field off the highway where the girls would have their match. The goals were just posts, no net. The field had not been mowed in a long time. There were large rocks scattered throughout the field and tire tracks through it which the ball bounced off when it hit. None the less, our girls warmed up and got ready for there match! Their conditions were no surprise to them though they were to us foreigners. Some of the girls on the other team played barefoot and some that started the game with cleats ended up barefoot because they could run better that way. I could NEVER imagine the AYSO for 10 year old let alone my St. Joe's (my high school) girls soccer team playing in such conditions but at the end of the day the game is all the same no matter if you have Nike's or nothing. The importance of the event was that the girls had something to work toward together; winning. They had a sense of pride at the end of the day with their tie, as well they should! After the girls game we went over to the field where the boys were playing. That atmosphere was very different from the first. There were over 300 hundred people watching this game! At the girls venue, we were some of the only viewers. Walking in the venue of the boys game was the first time in my life I have ever walked into a social setting where I was the clear minority. All eyes were on the 5 white kids. We soon realized that people were turning around to see us and who we were with. Vuvulezas stopped making noise, people looked up from the game...all eyes were on us as we made our way to the OLG team. It was one of many first I have faced in Kenya. Both humbling and eye opening. When we reached the team I whispered to one of the players, "Now you will be known as the team with the mazungu friends". (Mazungu means "white person" in Shwahili). He smiled and replied, "then we will be feared". I was surprised at his remark and left it at that. The afternoon was wonderful! We had a great time watching the boys win their first game and celebrate! We joined them for their lunch of bread and soda in between games and cheered them on to a draw in their second match. Another memorable day in Kisumu! (Picture of the OLG Boys High School Team after their victory)