Blog Entry entitled: Second Childhood
I've always thought I'd like the game of soccer but growing up on Baseball and lots of Basketball there was never too much time for the game. Now I'm in Aceh and looking for thing to do and not finding much serious Basketball I've been recruited onto the Bule (foreigner) soccer team. The Captian Paul was very persistent this week, (but not in an annoying way) just very enthusiastic. So just as I got started on a report Saturday afternoon I got the call for what I thought was an impromptu kick around.....much to my surprise it was a full came with uniforms kleets and all. Foruntately for me Paul hooked me up with equipment and put me at Right Defense. I felt like I could run with these guys as I have been keeping in shape but the rules and flow of the game is still a little bit of a mystery to me. It was a fun game though and not overly serious......In the second half we gave up our lead (shaky defense) and lost 4-3. I like this second chance to play soccer though!
While at the game I met Andy who surfs a bit and he happen to have an extra board this weekend. I have been wanting to surf since arriving here. I figure on must try surfing when given the chance....Especially in Banda Aceh home to the greatest of all waves. So we were up early this morning giving it a go. It was a tiring feat just to get out to the wave and then more tiring to get carried in with the wave without much of a success in gettting up. I soon began to really respect these waves.... so much so that you were forced to be focused on catching a good wave. Sort of like making a connection with the ocean. I began to realize how surfing can be a way of life for some (well almost). The highlight was when I caught a really good wave then as I was trying to get from my knees to my feet I was flipped of and into a swirl under the wave......I immediately recognized the 'washing machine' that I had been told about. I went limp as recommended to conserve energy and air and soon enough I was able to come up for air smiling ;-)
So this weekend was quite an adventure for me around Banda Aceh! Sorry no pictures this time, I have only sore hamstring from soccer and a sun burned back and jelly arms from surfing to remember it by myself ;-)
bye for now,
nolan