high school soccer competition and bolivian reputations

Well last week, I taught all of 5 periods at school. Monday and Tuesday were holidays. Tuesday was also the high school track competition. We had 7 or so girls, and a few guys. Our girls dominated everything that they entered it, taking 1, 2, 3rd place in long jump and 100m, 1st in javelin, shotput.. and some others that I can't remember. Boys were respectable, but only a one will be moving on to the next level of competition. Wednesday through Saturday were spent at the high school soccer competition. I am the assistant coach for the girls team, or else I wouldn't have been there quite so much! (I just taught a few classes on Friday because our game was in the afternoon.)

3 games in regular play, 2 wins and 1 tie. Won semis, and won finals. That is the farthest this school has EVER gotten, everyone is beyond excited. This was the equivalent of zones in Manitoba, like a district/municipality. It was called Plurinacionales. The next level, where we go away for a week, is regionals. Then provincials, then nationals. We have lots of time to practice before then, I think that's in August.

Something that I think is different than in North America.. here your reputation and the respect you get in the community is based on accomplishments and belongs. And status is very important. What this means for soccer is: coaches will do almost whatever it takes to win. To lose a game is not necessarily a reflection on the players, but the coach must be a cheap, lazy bum. We had high school coaches getting into actual fistfights. Bribery is a possibility. One of my students told me "if you pay the ref 100bs we'll win the game." When you WIN a game, those players are celebrities. Everyone wants a picture with the players (seriously people were treating them like celebrities). I did a radio interview, through a translator. Now the head coach of our team, who is known in the community from athletic events over the years, is a very respected man. Also, there were no female coaches, in the 30 plus teams there, except for me. Apparently as soon as anything gets competitive, there are no females. I am white, blond (ish), yelling in English, AND female. So I was a weird one.

Another interesting thing I observed was how EMOTIONAL everyone is. Yes I guess it's Latin America culture, but it still caught me by surprise. When we won semis (in a shootout, one shooter more than the starting 5!), the girls looked like they lost. They were bawling, and not happy/laughing. It was weird. My North American colleague was asked if she cried, and she was like.. ummm no? Why? Ha so there's that.

 We're yellow and blue and red. Go Villa Nueva

 In addition to track and soccer this week, there was also pingpong and chess competitions. The two boys in red and white stripes are from Villa Nueva as well. Made it to semis.

After winning semis in a shootout. I wish you could see the tears!

 Playing in finals, on a much bigger field. (This one would be regular size at home)

 Our audience at the beginning. By the end it was jam packed.

 Winning finals.

 The team

 One of our team member's mom and grandma owns a bakery and had us over cake. Bolivians don't make naturally 'moist' cakes here, they're all dry. So they bake them, pour sugar water over them (for moisture), and then freeze them. So the moistness is... interesting. But they were beautiful and delicious.