Ethiopia Feb. 2023 – Soccer is Fun!

Written By: Arya Adhami

Man. what an incredible experience. Today was so so full of joy, bliss and even some sweat. We started the day with breakfast as always, then we moved to Dans church where we packed 175 bags of Salt(iodized), chicken food, hats, 2 pencils with books, and also some hair oil. We then began the process of moving the 175 bags of supplies for the Ethiopians to the hotel which was quite stressful and kinda exhausting but still fun. We then went back to the church we met our translators! they will be helping us in the village so they are important. After that we went outside and after some talking with the crew and asking Mesfin how to say “epic gamer moment” in Amharic, we participated in a coffee ceremony, (btw the coffee is mad bussin) and even had some really good bread. Before ending the ceremony, the team and me got the most beautiful chance to get gifted a handmade ethiopian scarf, and I can Confidently say that was the most honoring experience of the entire trip. After the ceremony, we got the chance to meet the director of the school/church, he looked decently young and when asked to describe the school in one word, he said “The school itself is always improving” (David). After the tour, the real fun began. Fun fact, when i was younger, (around grade 7 or so) i got the chance to play on a older soccer club team, The Poway Vergos, this is important. We got the chance after the tour to play soccer with the Ethiopian kids, and man. 2 things, one, i got to redeem and renew my old soccer skills that were around 4 years old or so, and 2, That was the most fun soccer game i’ve ever played, even if we lost by 3. I genuinely have never had that much fun playing soccer and I firmly believe that was the most fun I’ve ever had playing soccer. We finally finished the day by eating food with Mesfin’s family and Tigist’s family. So far, Ethiopia has been such a experience, it has already made life long memories, and is so amazing that I can’t even find words to describe it. Although I miss everyone back home, I am looking forward to the next 6 days to see what god has for me.