Though Mexico is a soccer country, Oaxaca City is a baseball town. Many of you may know that I have been increasingly getting back into an old habit…baseball. The obsession picked up steam last summer when I began taking the kids to A’s games. Then, Gabe played on an undefeated little league team this Spring…Also, my cousin Jennifer has moved to Berkeley for her post doc…She too is an A’s fanatic. This summer was an opportunity to visit various ball parks. Jason, who doesn’t enjoy baseball as much as we do, was busy studying, so the kids and I ventured out. Besides visiting AT & T Park, and the Oakland Coliseum, we went to Dodger stadium to see Marlins v. Dodgers, a Padres game at Petco Park, and a Rockies game in Denver with Jason, Bridget (Jason's brother's wife) and half the Colorado cousins.
When we arrived in Oaxaca a few weeks ago, we explored the city on foot and by taxi. We found lots of wonderful sights and sounds, but longed for the green spaces of California. Where would we play? Where would have room to throw a hardball or kick a soccer ball? We discovered that parks are not plentiful here. However, the day we moved into our new house, we walked toward the kid’s school and saw, to our amazement, a lush green baseball diamond. It was raining that day, but we ventured onto the field and spoke with the caretaker. He informed us that a little league team was to practice on the following Monday. We showed up on that Monday (after the first day of school) and found a team, the Dragones. Gabe is now playing with the 11 and 12 year-old little leaguers in Oaxaca. It’s a bit surreal. We practice on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 4 to 6. On Fridays…they often practice longer. Games are on Saturdays. The practice field is walking distance from our house. Gabe and I usually go early to get a little bit of extra practice in. So, do the math…baseball is essentially a part-time job for Gabe right now. He’s getting in as many as 10 hours per week of playing time. Who would have thought?
My next few entries will record some of what this experience has been like for us.
When we arrived in Oaxaca a few weeks ago, we explored the city on foot and by taxi. We found lots of wonderful sights and sounds, but longed for the green spaces of California. Where would we play? Where would have room to throw a hardball or kick a soccer ball? We discovered that parks are not plentiful here. However, the day we moved into our new house, we walked toward the kid’s school and saw, to our amazement, a lush green baseball diamond. It was raining that day, but we ventured onto the field and spoke with the caretaker. He informed us that a little league team was to practice on the following Monday. We showed up on that Monday (after the first day of school) and found a team, the Dragones. Gabe is now playing with the 11 and 12 year-old little leaguers in Oaxaca. It’s a bit surreal. We practice on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 4 to 6. On Fridays…they often practice longer. Games are on Saturdays. The practice field is walking distance from our house. Gabe and I usually go early to get a little bit of extra practice in. So, do the math…baseball is essentially a part-time job for Gabe right now. He’s getting in as many as 10 hours per week of playing time. Who would have thought?
My next few entries will record some of what this experience has been like for us.
3 comments:
what a wonderful gift for gabe -- and you! glad to hear that all of you are settling in okay down there, and looking forward to seeing how all of this unfolds --
Hi...Who is gr8god?
Yes...this is a great gift for me and for Gabe. I think his closest buddies will come from this experience. I wish you all could see them play...there are a couple of fantastic athletes on this team...they play with that very particular baseball grace that I love.
Phew! That was quite a lot of catch up! It's fantastic to hear about your experiences and was tickled (a couple of posts ago, I suppose) by your description of the morning garbage removal.
I, too, am looking forward to seeing how things play themselves out! Peace. Dana L.
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