At least today it was at the Secondary Sports Day. I love these days. Kids don't really do any preparation. There are opportunities for 
rugby, soccer, and basketball matches between the international schools here and those teams have teachers that volunteer as coaches. The older boys (boarding at Moshi) can play on the adult rugby teams or the national team. But most kids play the extracurricular sports if they choose, and there obviously isn't the same level of competition here that you would get in the States with so many more schools and teams. Which is not to say that there aren't some amazing athletes here. Some of the runners here would be serious competitors back home. But like most small schools everywhere (including where Mark and I grew up) you just can't get anything done unless everyone participates. Here all the students from kindergarden through 10th grade are divided into 3 houses and compete throughout the year at different sports events for points and a year-end house cup. And everyone does participate. And everyone cheers each other on. Friends and classmates (each class is small--Cameron only has 15 students in his grade--so everyone is very close) cheer for their own house as well as for each other. It's one of the best things about ISM. Friday night is the talent show and it will be the same thing--seriously talented kids and kids who just perform for the fun of it. No judging, no pressure to be the best--just everyone out and being a part of the school community.
So was Cameron a "serious" competitor? You bet. He got out there and tried his best and did really well. He was 2nd in the junior boys 100 meters and 4th in the long jump. He also competed in the 50 meter, the 4x100 relay, and the 4x400 relay. In both the 100 and the 4x400 he went up against a seriously fast 9th grader (in the top pic it's the kid in the blue shirt on the right) and dug in and gave it his all. We think he may have a bit of his dad in him!
rugby, soccer, and basketball matches between the international schools here and those teams have teachers that volunteer as coaches. The older boys (boarding at Moshi) can play on the adult rugby teams or the national team. But most kids play the extracurricular sports if they choose, and there obviously isn't the same level of competition here that you would get in the States with so many more schools and teams. Which is not to say that there aren't some amazing athletes here. Some of the runners here would be serious competitors back home. But like most small schools everywhere (including where Mark and I grew up) you just can't get anything done unless everyone participates. Here all the students from kindergarden through 10th grade are divided into 3 houses and compete throughout the year at different sports events for points and a year-end house cup. And everyone does participate. And everyone cheers each other on. Friends and classmates (each class is small--Cameron only has 15 students in his grade--so everyone is very close) cheer for their own house as well as for each other. It's one of the best things about ISM. Friday night is the talent show and it will be the same thing--seriously talented kids and kids who just perform for the fun of it. No judging, no pressure to be the best--just everyone out and being a part of the school community.
So was Cameron a "serious" competitor? You bet. He got out there and tried his best and did really well. He was 2nd in the junior boys 100 meters and 4th in the long jump. He also competed in the 50 meter, the 4x100 relay, and the 4x400 relay. In both the 100 and the 4x400 he went up against a seriously fast 9th grader (in the top pic it's the kid in the blue shirt on the right) and dug in and gave it his all. We think he may have a bit of his dad in him!
1 comment:
Yeah, Cameron!!
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