By Tom Bricks Einhorn
VE Volunteer from Connecticut, USA
Coming from the United States, the sports that people think of as relevant and important do not always reflect the opinion of the rest of the world on the same matter. Here in Chile, they tend to be more in line with the rest of the world, but are not without their quirks.
When someone from another part of the world contemplates what sports are enjoyed in South America, the first thing that comes to mind is obviously football (soccer), which in Chile’s case would be the correct assumption. The children here are indoctrinated from an early age into the all-encompassing world of football, and they couldn’t be happier about that. Some of the best conversations to witness between the children are when, even the youngest of them, argue with fervor about which Santiago-based team is the best. This adoration for their team also translates into how they play the game themselves. The intensity with which they play, and especially celebrate goals and victories, is very similar to what you would see on a professional level. Coupled with this motivation they possess, is an amazing amount of skill. This no doubt stems from playing the game much more than, say, in the United States, and from such an early age.
Aside from their expected love of soccer, they have a lesser-known passion. This passion is for the ancient art of ping-pong. This sport may not seem like the average South American pastime, but it is beloved by children and adults alike in Chile. One of the best things about ping-pong is, if you are tall enough to see above the table, you are able to begin to learn how to play. This results in some talented older children who would give any adult a run for their money.
The children of the VE institutions have an incredible athletic appetite, which is not only limited to the sports with which they are familiar. They are capable and excited about trying many new sports introduced by volunteers such as North American football, which they took to with surprising ease. All in all, the children that VE Global work with love sports, are incredible at picking them up, playing them with skill, and demonstrating how to engage in them with inspiring passion.