In Morrito, we are currently about 4 weeks into our female volleyball season. I am playing on the oldest team in the league of 3 teams, and unlike my soccer team, I am almost the youngest person. Even though the women on my team may be way closer to my age than I think, but since most of them have kids and/or are married, I think of them as much older women. I am also about half a foot taller than any other player. We play volleyball on the concrete basketball court, across the street from the town park. Unfortunately most of the women and girls don’t have sneakers, but play in their close-toed flats without complaint. An evening of volleyball usually starts with the first 2 teams sweeping water off the court (remember, I live in the rainiest department of Nicaragua). This is a much more difficult task than it initially seams because somehow the concrete of the court has started to sink in the center, thus collecting all of the rain water. Today was a nice change of court preparation, instead of sweeping water we had to sweep off the remains of rice stalks that were left out to dry by some townsfolk in the midday sun. While the type of volleyball played in Morrito isn’t quite like the sport my intramural team played at Villanova, it is really great to see the town rallying around the young women and cheering them on.
Thankfully, soccer season has now ended. For a while some of my teammates and I were playing both sports in 1 day, and the hot sun did not make this so fun. My soccer team, Real Morrito, won the female league. The girls on my team -and they were girls, the oldest besides me having just turned 18- we very proud about the win and I am going to open my house up for our celebration party. And they all want to thank Maryanne, my sister, for helping us buy our uniforms. The nice light blue color was a nice reminder of my alma mater.
I have already been recruited to a softball team for next January. So if anyone has an extra mitt lying around, mail it to my parents J. I’ll be home for Christmas to get it.
