Krysta's MPI life!: Rumiñahui Women's Soccer Team lives on!

Though we finished our soccer league last year without a winning record, in fact, without winning a single game, we still will never regret playing. We had an amazing time and some of the funniest memories of our time here happened on that soccer field from Haley picking up the soccer ball in the middle of the game to our crazy coach Pati smoking as we are warming up to play. Our team has in fact decided to join another league, a harder league that doesn't restrict semi-professional women from playing (pray for us!).

We had our first game 2 weeks ago with our usual outcome of a tie, 1-1. To our benefit though, the team was really good and we were without some of our best players. As well as we played in our first game of this season, I can't say so much for our second in which we gravely lost 14-2. But, we had strangers in the stands rooting for us because the other team was well, nicely put very mean and unnecessarily rude....all because we were 'gringos'. Rough day to say the least. Usually sports is where we can find a common ground here in Ecuador and "fit in" but apparently not always. It was definitely a hard moment for all of us to really be discriminated against during a friendly sporting event, a place we have normally felt welcomed.

Well, now that I have loaded with you with not so happy stories, let me spill some more sad news. My Ecuadorian soccer career has sadly come to an end (well, maybe more like a little pause). During the first game 2 weeks ago, I kicked the ball apparently a little to aggressively and at an odd angel that I ended up hurting my knee. I found out this week that I have a partially torn ligament in my knee and have been banded from even walking places, let alone playing soccer. So I will forever be benched and the team cheerleader/heckler. It's upsetting news, yes, but against my mom's wishes, I will not be giving up physical sports. This is just a set back down here in Ecuador. Perhaps maybe I'll return for a league that is starting up in May, we shall see. But I won't be pushing it as being able to go hiking and explore Ecuador are more important to me than playing soccer. Vamos a ver!

Hope everything is going well with everyone and that no one has been sidelined like me!

And because blogs are boring without pictures, here is one of happier times in Tena exploring some sweet caves. Also because headlamps are the best thing since sliced bread....