Day 63 - First day working at Globalteer

I'm a globalteerer!

Day 63 - 25th August

Early start. I'm used to getting up and jumping on a night bus at 4am but getting up to work again is a strange feeling.

I headed to the Globalteer office to meet my coach, DK. He is a 22 year old, joker of the pack. Perfect for me to learn from and assist with coaching sessions. 

For my first week, our normal itinerary was changed because Coaches Across Continents (CAC) was in town for the week - CAC are a program based in the U.S. who coach different groups of people around the world, including children.

Turner (nicknamed Hooch) and his co-coach, Spring were soccer coaches from North Carolina and St Louis respectively. They were coaching the kids and the Cambodian coaches who were learning new techniques to engage with youth trainers and to ensure children taking sports classes received a social message that affects everyday Cambodian life. Specific topics included health and wellbeing, safe sex and HIV, drugs and alcohol, and domestic violence. Powerful stuff but the way in which the coaches approached these issues was great.

We conducted a few drills in a circle before we opened up into heading and passing games. The kids were great, laughing and running around without a worry on their mind. It was amazing to be a part of. I also met another coach I'd be working with - Srey Mom. She was joking around and laughing so I knew we'd be having a giggle at some point in the future.

By the time the three hour session, running from 8 to 11 had finished, I was told by DK I'd have a break until 2:15pm, when we would head out to our afternoon lessons. It was a strange concept to me, taking a break during the middle of a working day but honestly, given the heat, I was glad to get out of the sun!

I headed back to Bou Savy, grabbed some spinach with rice and pork and relaxed for a while. I began my book, Papillon - a true story of Henrì Charriere and his time in French Guiana (if you get a chance, read it or watch the film with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, you won't be disappointed) - and let the hours drift away.

When I headed back out, DK, Srey Mom and I visited two places - we'll called them site A and site B. At site A, the kids were introduced to me as a teacher and I observed as DK took our half of the 30 or so class. Srey Mom took the others to another part of the yard. 

We played the circle games again, asking kids to do funny warm ups and name their favourite kinds of fruits, countries, best friends names etc. once the first fifteen minutes had passed, we set up three teams of 6 and they faced off against each other on their concrete yard complete with goals and basketball hoops. 

Before I knew it, 60 minutes had passed and we were packing up to leave. That was my first real lesson done. A memory I shall never forget.

We headed to site B, a slightly bigger school with a sand volleyball court. Srey Mom wasn't feeling too good so DK introduced me to the class, and they asked me questions - my name, age, birth place, if I had a girlfriend (that was strange from a group of 5 - 16 year olds) - and then DK asked me to take one half of the class, applying the things I'd learned from earlier in the day whilst he took the other.

I was a little nervous but before I knew it, I had all the boys playing football, 6 on 6 in four separate teams. It was good to see them getting a little competitive. DK took the girls to play volleyball on the sand pitch. We tried to get them to mix but they were adamant they wanted to play the sports they had chosen. A challenge we'll have to tackle in the coming weeks.

As I refereed the game, I realised how great kids could be - they were well behaved, letting each team take their turn without interference, even if they were bored and when one kid fell down, another would pick him up and pat him on the back before they continued.

By the time an hour was up, I was wishing for another hour. They boys had been awesome and it just reaffirmed my good decision to take up this project. *Haggling for likes alert* - Check out the Globalteer Sports Page on Facebook and like it. It is such a great and worthy cause, making hundreds of underprivileged kids happy in Cambodia and it could use a bit more exposure! Thanks. 

FOLLOW HERE - https://www.facebook.com/GlobalteerSportsProject

When I returned to Bou Savy, I was told that there was a football game on at an AstroTurf across town. It was my Sport Manager Charlie's team, who wanted to play against Hooch, Spring, me and the other coaches. I've missed competitive football so much so I jumped at the chance.

By 6:30, I was in a Tuk Tuk, suited in my new United shirt and Adidas trainers and headed to the pitch. By 7:15, we were on and Charlie's team gave us a lesson - the score was 11-3 (they play together regularly so our mixed together team did pretty well considering). We were unlucky too and I carry a large share of the blame after missing six or seven great chances - the bloody thing just wouldn't go in, hitting the post, bar, keeper, a gecko on the line and anything else ridiculous you can think of. Next time!!!

Back at Bou Savy, I had a quick dinner then showered and headed to bed. I was finished for the day. 

My first day on the project was successful and if the standard was anything to go by, I knew I was in for a treat!