It looks like I needed a good month to decompress after coaching in Bolivia for just over four months. For the first couple of weeks after I said goodbye to the girls, I did my best to not even think too much about synchro, or Bolivia, or all of the things we had just accomplished. I was exhausted, and I didn’t want everyone to get the impression that I was tired and overwhelmed, and didn’t enjoy my time there. I wanted to tell people all the great things that happened, all the things I learnt, all the amazing people I met and who helped me over the months. With a bit of time separating me from the experience I feel like I can now look upon my time in Bolivia with a bit of clarity, and be excited about all that happened over such a short period of time.
Here is a bit of an idea of what my time in Bolivia was like:
The city was small, exceptionally clean and very friendly. I would see the same people most days, and greet them in the streets or in their shops. I could walk everywere within twenty minutes as my hotel was at the very centre of the city. It’s a little too bad I didn’t end up visiting as much of the area as I should have. I constantly felt like there was so much to do at the pool, that missing a practice was out of the question. And often by the time my weekend came around, I was desperate to laze, watch movies and just wander the markets nearby.
From the first day I arrived the hospitality was overwhelming. It makes you wonder what’s wrong with us in Canada, why we don’t welcome strangers with as much warmth as these families did for me? I was met at the airport by swimmers and parents and brothers and sisters, dressed up and smiling and welcoming, and immediately taken out to visit and have tea. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit there was no such reception at the airport in Vancouver when the girls arrived. But what a way to begin a new job in a new country.
Right then and there I had at least twenty new best friends between the ages of 8 and 15. My adult swimmers were probably the ones I owe the most to. Bety, a swimmer, mom, coach, and caretaker of the pool, as well as Silvia who worked at the pool, took me in and were my moms, older sisters, and friends all in one. They fed me tea in the afternoon, they taught me how to wash my clothes, and laughed that I couldn’t get anything clean washing by hand, and were always there to chat and relate to.
Lisa helped keep me sane, and I am happy and grateful for the friendship we formed over those months. I know we will remain in touch, and I’m excited for when she comes back to Canada and we can carry on where we left off. She was my constant source for entertainment and weekend outings, and my only reprieve from Spanish. My being there was supposed to make her life easier, but I’m sure that in the end we created more work for her. I thank her for all the help she willingly and unquestioningly gave me.
On top of everything and everyone else, I spent many evenings and afternoons in meetings with Tarija’s two presidents of sport, who, though very busy people, always made time for me and whatever it was that I needed. I ended up with a place in the office to use the internet, photocopier, scanner and printers. The entire office staff was more than willing to help me out and make me feel welcome.
Though coaching may have been more like teaching the girls how to be taught, how to be athletes, how to take on responsibility and motivate themselves without constant pressure from a coach than it was about coaching synchronized swimming, all the same, the girls improved a ton, routines were created, they finally swam to music, and the interest created in the sport was immense. I don’t think synchro in Canada has ever received as much time on television as it did in four months in Tarija. Little girls who didn’t even know how to swim yet wanted to join. I constantly coached with kids peering over my shoulder and wanting to see what was going on. Such a positive environment to be in. Though the girls were still sometimes slow to get in the pool, still skipped practice when they were tired, and a few continued to arrive late, the improvement was obvious. I think when another coach gets her hands on them, they will be quick to remember the standards we coaches expect of competitive athletes, even if that doesn’t necessarily apply to most sports in Bolivia.
When I decided to head to Bolivia, I was deciding to coach instead of finding a different volunteer opportunity in Ecuador. Part of me thought, it’s too bad I’m now going to have coaching synchronized swimming on my resume, rather than some other international development type volunteer work, but little did I realize all of the work that I would end up doing, and how much bigger it was than just a coaching position. It turned out to be the best experience of my life up to this point. Now that I’m back in Canada and looking for work, it is by far the most interesting thing on my resume, and the experience that taught me the most. Here’s a sample of the job-worthy highlights:
· Fundraised, budgeted and organized a trip for two athletes to attend a training session, coaching clinic, and compete in the 2008 UANA PanAmerican Synchronized Swimming Championships in Calgary, Alberta.
· Created and maintained two websites to stimulate interest and exposure in Canada, successfully receiving 7000 dollars in donations, two CBC radio interviews, a CBC television interview, and an interview with an Albertan newspaper
· Coached and choreographed 5 routines for over 35 swimmers, with new swimmers constantly joining
· Organized and ran Bolivia’s first synchronized swimming clinic, attended by over 80 swimmers and coaches – Received positive reactions from swimmers, coaches and sports officials
· Wrote proposals, reports and letters to the departmental sport association on a daily basis in Spanish
· Effectively communicated and collaborated weekly with Tarija’s president of sports to plan future projects and clinics, and the continuation of competitive swimming in Bolivia
· Consulted on translation and research
· Gave over 10 interviews on live television and radio in Spanish
Little did I know what I was jumping into. All of the other reasons I am glad I went to Bolivia aside, I feel like I got some valid work experience after finishing my degree. A year ago, having spent the last three summers loving my job cutting grass at the golf course, but finishing my degree and thinking I was going to have to look for a “real” job, I was terrified. Not just the fact that I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I also didn’t know if I had the ability to take a position at all relevant to my degree in international economics and development studies. It gave me the confidence to know that I can be given seemingly overwhelming tasks to accomplish and get them done. If a report needs to be written, I can write it just as well as anyone else. If it needs to be done by this afternoon, then it will be done by this afternoon. By the end of my time there, I was used to the fact that everything had to be put down officially and in writing, and I needed to type it up. I was used to a camera man and reporter grabbing me on the way out the door to ask me a few questions. I was used to having three meetings about something that would have been decided and dealt with in one email in Canada. I was used to spending hours at a time waiting at immigration. If my time in Bolivia hasn’t prepared me to communicate effectively, accomplish tasks despite setbacks, adapt and be open-minded about new and different ways of going about getting something done, then I don’t know what could. I am certain that jobs I am now applying for will see what I have done, and give me the credit I think I deserve. For that I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to spend four months living in a different world and experiencing a culture in such a more intimate way than I ever could back-packing.
But OK… not to say that everything was splendid and easy. I was tired and frustrated on many occasions. Speaking another language 24 hours a day can be too much some days. I was incredibly grateful most nights for the three or four English movie channels I had. I was at times homesick, which is something I don’t often experience, but these were some of the struggles I was looking for. Granted, some I could have done without, and some I could never have imagined, but at least they were new and must have taught me a thing or two. An incredible story and memory I’ll have with me forever.
The struggle now is to keep the girls constantly training with a coach, and continue improving, so that the next time I head to South America I can visit and see just how far they’ve come. There is definite talent there, and I can’t wait to see what those girls can achieve. At this point in time we don’t have a coach to replace me, but things are moving, so we are desperate to keep them that way. The city is supportive. Sport in Tarija is supportive, so now is the time. I hope that my next trip isn’t too far off in the future. We will see. Until then, I’m in touch with Lisa, and hoping to be able to help anyway I can from Canada.
For any coach or retired swimmer who has considered traveling in South America and wants a meaningful volunteer project to be a part of, this is an incredible one. You’re not just working for someone as part of a development project, you’re more or less founding and coordinating an entire project yourself. One with actual tangible results on a daily basis. One that makes an impact on young girl’s lives. One that has a thousand lessons to teach.
A country’s culture is too complex to experience without putting down your backpack and staying a while. I am so glad I made the decision to head down to Bolivia.
