The kids had a soccer competition on Wednesday. It was the first time I’d ever gone….they practice every day on site, but this was the first competition I had seen since coming here. They don’t have that many chances to compete. Cindy asked me on my first day if I could coach the young kids soccer. Boy oh boy am I glad I didn't agree to that because that would have been really embarrassing. Because those guys are incredible. They're short, have thighs of steel and can river dance around a soccer ball like no one else I know. I won't even play with the kids under 10 because they're still way more coordinated than I am. I'm happy to watch, thanks.
What sortof killed me on Wednesday was watching our team go onto the field wearing the stock jerseys with holes in them when the government school kids came out wearing immaculate glossy blue uniforms. Dayk 's sole fell out from under his shoe in the middle of the game. He panicked, quickly untied his laces and and shouted to his friends in the bleachers, "Quick! Throw me your shoes!" It felt so uncomfortable to watch. Then a staff member turned to me and asked me about how we could raise money for the kids' uniforms. It might be a new project of sorts to get the kids to sell expensive candy on the streets of Mae Sai. Just like inner city kids in the subways of new york. Maybe.