Being from Denver, Colorado and Los Angeles, California, we are not used to torrential downpour in the middle of the summer. So, it was to our surprise when one morning while we were coaching both baseball and basketball, the skies instantly transformed from bright and blue to dark and stormy, followed by heavy rain. Everyone took shelter immediately. The once crowded courtyard of children was now empty. Everyone was confused as to what to do next. The sports period was cut short and the children had sad looks on their faces because they could no longer play and had to return to their classrooms earlier than expected. In an instant, some of the coaches dashed into the rain. Quickly to follow, the kids did not miss a beat.
“No one worried about soaking their clothes; no one worried about what lessons needed to be taught in the classroom; and no one worried about what was going to be for dinner that day. Rather, everyone was present and enjoying this little respite together.”
Ten minutes after the initial downpour, the courtyard quickly filled to about 40 school children and coaches. Basketballs were brought out and thrown haphazardly at the basketball hoops. Kids were playing tag and chasing after each other. Puddles were splashing and all clothes were completely soaked. Despite this seemingly chaotic scene, there was something beautiful about it. For a moment, everyone let go and decided to amuse themselves in the rain.
No one worried about soaking their clothes; no one worried about what lessons needed to be taught in the classroom; and no one worried about what was going to be for dinner that day. Rather, everyone was present and enjoying this little respite together. We thoroughly enjoyed how this moment of entertainment lead to everyone in the camp being more comfortable with each other. One by one, Vietnamese children surrounded an American coach, hoisted him up, and tried to throw him into a puddle; causing an uproar of laughter from everyone.
“It was pure and genuine. We can recall a time in our childhoods when we did not care about being soaked by the rain, we welcomed it. This was a moment that reminded everyone to live in the moment and enjoy the shared experience together.”
Week 2 of the camp was an extremely important week. Whereas Week 1 of the camp felt like a warmup, as we had just met the children and they were slowly warming up to us, Week 2 was the week that ultimately brought everyone together. Along with a sharing session in which coaches sat down individually with students and spoke about life experiences, the random rain dance was an experience we will never forget.
A moment in time that was priceless, not only for us, but for all involved. It was pure and genuine. We can recall a time in our childhoods when we did not care about being soaked by the rain, we welcomed it. This was a moment that reminded everyone to live in the moment and enjoy the shared experience together.