I have so much fun with the kids at the Saturday volleyball clinics, but the more I see them play volleyball, the more I want to play "real" beach volleyball with adults! I even shared that with Anderson and Lauren as we ate out that night.
Last night (Sunday), I was taking a walk down the beach road as I often do and was wearing Baylor volleyball clothes. As I was passing one place, a working guy about my age asked if I played volleyball. I kindly said yes, and kept walking because you usually don't want to get caught in a conversation because someone will end up trying to sell you something. Plus, that's a pretty typical question for me! But then, I heard, "Tomorrow? Do you want to play tomorrow?" I weighed my options. Do I keep walking, or do I find out what this is about? Is he being nice or creepy? Considering he was kind of a scrawny brace-faced guy, I decided to turn around and said, "What?" He told me that he would be playing in station one (the resort area) at 4:00 and that I could come if I wanted. I told him I might, and asked how I would know where to go. He said to meet him at 4:00 at that same place on the beach road. I made no promises, but said I would try.
First thing I did when I got back was go to the house to ask the girls' opinion because they've been here the longest and I imagine they have the best creepy-radar. Carla was there (and this is her second year here!), and she said that sounded like fun and that I should go! I figured that would be the case considering we would be in broad daylight and the resorts are obviously on the nicest part of the island.
So after teaching today, I headed home, relaxed and napped, and then met Mark (as I have found out is his name) and followed him to volleyball! The net isn't actually at a resort, but is just on the beach in the resort area. It's one like I use for my clinics that they dig holes for to put in the ground and then take it out when they're done. I really had no idea what to expect, but they were pretty decent! One other Filipina (girl) was playing when I got there and then another played again at the end, but mostly I was playing with/against guys. Not pro status by any means, but they played legitimately by beach volleyball rules and it was fun! Mark had told me we would be playing doubles, but it ended up being three on three which was fine with me.
I'm sure my parents' question would be how I did playing with them, ha (after a warning to be careful). I did okay, but definitely didn't show them up! It was an adjustment for me to play with the volleyball they had. It often rolled off into a puddle area of water on the beach so it was heavy with water, and that made the ball go different places than I intended at times! I also wasn't particularly fond of diving. At the resort end of the island, the sand has less rocks but is hard packed. Advantage: you can jump higher and run faster. But then again so can the opponent. Disadvantage: I don't really want to dive. Maybe I could buy some knee pads to wear out there ;) Just kidding.
Anyway, it was fun! I pretty much had no idea what their conversation was about the whole time because they were always speaking in Tagalog, so that makes it a little less fun, but I'm so happy to have a place to play volleyball when I want! Mark said they pretty much play every day, so it's great to know I have that option. I hadn't even had volleyball in mind when I came here at all, so it's so funny that I'm doing the clinics and now this. Volleyball just finds me!
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