Final Thoughts

Belize was one of the most beautiful and diverse places I have come to know. Most of my time was lived in the northern district of Corozal, where English, Spanish, Creole, and Mayan are the common languages. Switching from language to language makes conversations somewhat confusing. Wiley Mayan grandpas embraced this advantage in their quest for kicks. Suddenly, humility and cultural sensitivity were transformed into a convenient foundation for abundant burns dealt by crass old men. I must admit that it is awkward to be unsure if the village elder is making fun of you. Just smile and nod.

My favorite moments were found in pick-up games and the few soccer matches we played. Although the unfamiliar labor of athletic movement never gave way to the flightful freedom I recall from games past, my veil of pride was lifted to see the game in a new light. It was a medium for conversation between cultures, a language spoken by all men. In this context I was a living, breathing ice breaker; the ability to set strangers at ease is a useful commodity in a strange land.

Off the pitch, hours dwindled in the completion of seemingly menial tasks, basic errands in preparation for camps. Most days also provided us the audience of local leadership, teachers and politicians, who openly acknowledged the void of discipline and character development in local futbol. Of course, some meetings were more fruitful than others. I remember one morning we sat with the disheveled Minister of Rural Development in his livingroom. In spite of his sleep-deprived bed head, there was still an air of command in his presence. Only a few hours were elapsed since he left Monterey on the heals of a crushing 7-0 defeat to Mexico in a World Cup qualifier. Fortunately for us, Mr. Martinez's temperament was not severely damaged by the previous night. He boastfully shared pictures of the skybox he shared with Sven-Goran Erickson, Mexico's new national team coach, before addressing his hope to use Sports Servants programs as a platform for community service and development in several villages. Once the model is tested, it may be used across the country.

While in Belize I learned much about my abilities, and lack thereof. As a coach and instructor I am greatly lacking. Many thanks to the resilience and natural ability of Coach Richard Klausner and Brad Lawrence for teaching me valuable lessons in this area. Coach K is truly one of the great men I know. Although I enjoyed the friendly faces of SS and time for reflection it was obvious that my heart was searching elsewhere; thus, I returned earlier than I might have expected to search out the places where I will be fully invested in each passing moment.