Soccer

There is a group that gets together on Sundays to kick the ball around in a park in Sendai. Today I joined for the first time. Just as we're dividing ourselves into teams for a game, a group of junior high girls and their coach come by and ask to play with us.

Our hodge-podge group had never played all together before. Most of the group had minimal (if any) soccer skills. On the other hand, this was an actual team that we were playing against. Japanese junior high students are hardcore about their sports, practicing every day all year long. They had excellent ball skills. We had one single advantage--size. We're full-grown adults and on top of that, we're foreign and therefore taller than the average Japanese. Surprisingly, we won! Though if we'd played on a larger field, they definitely would have killed us. (During half-time, we had some debate as to whether we should let them win so they avoid the possibility of the coach's wrath).

Eventually the coach told us that the kids had to go home. So we ended the game and shook hands with them as is the custom at the end of Western sports competitions and then lined up across from our opponents, bowed, and thanked them in unison, as is the custom at the end of Japanese sports competitions.

After the girls left, we decided to play another short game just amongst ourselves, although most of us had very little energy left. After we'd been playing a few minutes, two little boys (elementary school age probably) came up and asked us to join. So one kid joined each team, and we played on.

I'm exhausted from all that running around. I'm going to sleep really well tonight. And probably won't be able to move in the morning.

I can't wait till next Sunday.

P.S. When did I go back to calling it soccer?