8 Weeks

8 weeks down and 4 to go.  2 months down and 1 to go.  No matter how I look at it, I still can not believe that it is September 16 already.  There was once a time when I did not think I would be in Africa to see September.  But here I am! 

It seems like every time I write a blog I go on and on about all of the obstacles I have overcome and how its frustrating but I learned a valuable lesson and I had written a whole long blog for today that I realized after did more of the same.  I have instead decided to focus this blog on something different.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings I work at 2 schools here in Limbe.  On Monday and Wednesday I am at the all girls school in New Town called Saker Baptist College.  On Friday I am at the Ibolyka Szasbo Foundation. And of course Monday - Friday I train the AVFAL kids at 4, after school.  I am very busy.  ALSO, I met a guy last week at the Delegation for Sport and Physical Education (where I made these school connections) who has offered to be my personal trainer for my final month here and make me "sexy".  It should be exciting. 

I have been trying very hard to develop as a coach and I think I have accomplished that.  Learning new drills and all about the sport of football itself is obviously a very important aspect to the field of sport for development because when implementing a program football is usually the sport used....  Working with new people from different cultures is a great way to learn because everyone comes with their own experiences and ideas.  Coaching and development should be a collaboration of ideas and cultures to move forward with sustainable change.  It does not always happen that way which is why it is very important to surround yourself with people that you know and trust and who share similar goals as you. 

It is inevitable that you will need to work with some people throughout your career that seem to make accomplishing your goals difficult but they too have valuable experience and knowlege and all you can do is learn what you can and move onto the next life experience. 

With 4 weeks left and the other volunteers already gone, there is a lot of emphasis on my coaching ability now.  There will be a lot of times when my presence is the only one at the field and it can be intimidating coaching a group of 15 teenagers who are clearly better footballers than you, but this trip has been about overcoming mountainous (literally) obstacles and teaching what you can while learning what you can. 

One of the valuable coaching AND life lessons that I have learned while I have been here is that sometimes you need to adapt to what you have and learn to work with whatever resources you have available to you.  You won't always have the personnel you want, you won't always have the necessary equipment and you won't always have the space to maneuver the way in which you might need to ... but things can always be accomplished with what is there and the way I see it, it's impossible to TRY and fail. 

Off now to say goodbye to Domenqiue who is heading out of town for school .. sad to say goodbye but it has been really awesome coaching him!  He is a great kid!  On that note, I just received another message from Leonel who is doing his best and loving school! 

Cheers and love to all! 

Josh