We arrived in Mallorca yesterday afternoon to spend a few days with our good friends from New York Donna and Michael, and their two children, Ella and Simon, who are living there at the moment.
Donna had signed the kids up for Saturday morning sports camp so the guys could go climbing. Sounded like a great idea to me. D&M had pointed out the campo du futball was right across the street from their house the night before. (Parker was entranced by the stadium-like seating from our bedroom window). And of course the volume of cheers coming from the field should have clued me into how seriously these Mallorcans take their sports. But it didn't really register until the next day, when I saw how the 5-year-olds play soccer.
There were four sports rotations for the kids: soccer, biking, tennis and basketball.
The kids were encouraged to race around a circle in a pack, (the front wheel of the kid in back nearly always touched the rear wheel of the kid in front), and then leap off the ramp.
Every single eye and muscle was trained on the ball. I scan the field for the kid who is off in the distance thinking about Lego transporters, but he's not in the game.
Look at that hustle. These kids have been playing since they were in diapers, no doubt.
I run off to wrangle Parker, who is intent on pushing a stray stroller into the bike ring. Meanwhile Donna deposits Peter and Simon with the Catalan-speaking soccer coach.
Peter and Simon put on a brave face. Simon has limited Catalan and some soccer. Peter doesn't speak any Catalan or any Spanish. As for soccer, his last experience was last spring in Brooklyn when he'd yell "I'm open Izzy, I'm open," nevermind the fact that Izzy wasn't on his team.
Donna and I watch from a distance with her new Mallorcan friends.
Ella is now on Parker duty. Phew.
"Look Mama, de Brooklyn Bridge!" Oh I love these Mallorcans.
Peter, Ella and Simon now line up for basketball with the rest of their team.
It's time for dribble practice.
Peter is instructed in Catalan to dribble through these hula-hoops. Now there's a good sport.
Ella and Peter enjoy a time out.
Whoops, Ella accidentally whacks Peter's right eye with the plastic racket.
But all is forgiven.
It's Simon's turn at the net.
It's team photo time! Camp dismissed!
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