My school is famous for
quite a few things; one of its main claims to fame is its superb athletics
team. Here athletics is the sport we call track & field. Myself being a 3
season runner in high school, thought it was imperative that I join this team.
I was never that fast, one of the key factors that lead me to focus on long
distance running, and have no qualms about admitting I am not that good but I'm
not sure I was prepared for the complete mortification that occurs every time I
run on that track.
Coming to Ghana has one
effect on a majority of females: you get fat. The carb-based diet, ginormous
portions, and an "eat-all" cultural mandate, coupled with my lack of
exercise has led to my ever increasing waist size and dissipating muscles. I
was so set on running before I came but the idea of exercising on the streets
in plain view of the annoyingly sexist, cat-calling men here, paired with my
first experience running ending in two extremely bloody knees & laughing
onlookers made me stop the practice.
Due to this disturbing
change in my physic and physical ability, it is very laughable that the fat
obruni wants to run. Yet, I have been waking up at 4:30 in the morning in order
to be on time for before school training and attending the second 2 hour training
period after school. I am no sprinter and am the first to admit that I am slow.
Yet, as I completely mortify myself running my hardest about 100 meters behind
everyone else, at the beginning putting up with the unhelpful catcalls and
plain laughing in my face (there is no such thing as laughing behind ones back
in Ghana, people are extremely upfront about it), I could not be happier, I am
back in my element. Somehow, the team has not only accepted the fat obruni-ba
(white lady) onto the team, they actually really like me. Through my daily
mortification, I believe that they have come to respect me. Respect the fact
that while I am no hardcore athlete, I'm trying. I cannot even begin to express
how grateful I am to all the people on the team. All the made of 100% muscle
African boys and girls who make succeeding on the track their life. I have no
place in their ranks, they are all amazing national winners, yet they let me
join and actually like me. This extremely kind and humbling gesture has melted
my heart and filled me with such gratitude. I will be forever grateful to every
member of the Amass athletic team. Being part of a team, exercising and
sweating with others, definitely has to be one of my favorite things in the
world and one I hoped to do as an exchange student.
These athletes are phenomenal,
proving the stereotype true a hundred times over. Just as I, sadly, proved the stereotype
true that white chicks can't run. I apologize to all those out there that defy
that stereotype, I do not have the ability to refute it. These athletes train
everyday 2 hours before school & 2 hours after it. They dedicate their
lives to the sport. I am not exaggerating at all when I say running literally
is their life. Many of them don't even come to classes and it is not like in
the states where one has to be a student athlete, here there is the choice
between being an athlete or student during the running season. All these
runners dedicate their life to sport, and most of them say their goal is to get
a scholarship to run in the US for a college team. Some of them tell me their
goal in life is to run for America. There is such a love and desire for the
United States here that permeates everywhere and in the world of sport, it is
understandable. Here these kids are for sure talented enough to be completely
boss at college athletics in America and hope to go to a place where they can
continue to base their life and lively hood on being an athlete.
I'm by no means a professional athlete, I'm just an exchange student who
wants to get back in shape and be on a team. Not only has the team welcomed me
with undeserved open arms, they have let me come back to the sports dorm with
them in order to use their bath house and change into my uniform before I go to
classes, a kindness that is greatly appreciated.
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| The Baba Yara Sports Stadium which is across from my school and is the location of our daily practices. It is a pretty awesome location for practice, though I do really miss GNG's Libby Hill Trail System. |
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| Isha, my "Sports Mother". Since day one, she has taken me under her wing and making sure I feel accepted . I will forever be grateful to her. |
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| These are the two fastest girls on the team in their Anniversary wear. Watch out for these two in the Olympics, I believe that the girl on the right is the fastest girl in Ghana if the rumors I heard are true. Seeing her run, I don't doubt it. |
