It has taken me a while to update the blog since Camp began because things have been so busy! :). The Basket Aventures Camps, owned by Guilluame Planteau Du Maroussem, has been an incredible experience! The Prades camp, week one, was one of those moments you remember forever because of the closeness and love you felt from everyone involved! For me, it was the perfect combination of wonderful people that I will always remember! :). The camp was set in a beautiful, small town in the Pyrenees Mountains in South France! Here is a little of my experience and what I learned!
It was very overwhelming at first being completely immersed into the French language. Although Guillaume did everything possible, and more, to help me understand everything! I still felt overwhelmed (and if there is a word that describes overwhelmed X 1000, then that would describe it better..haha) as I tried to listen to every word everyone was saying...hoping I would find one word that I could understand. The stress grew even more as I struggled to answer in French the questions I didn't even understand. Now, add on top of that the responsibility of trying to teach and coach basketball. It was a challenge to say the least! If you know me, and the stress I put on myself...haha...then you can understand better what I was going through. It seemed like any French I had learned did not compute to what I was hearing (my Texas accent probably contributed a lot to that!)
Words can't describe how amazing the Coaches and Players were to me at the Prades camp!! Each went OUT OF THEIR WAY to help me understand and learn to communicate better. Most even worked to learn some English to make things easier for me! I can't tell you how much the entire group meant to me! Despite the attempts I made to learn parts of the language before I got here, there is really no course that could teach the fluency of French...without being in the culture. It is the most beautiful language I have heard and when they break it into English phrases it sounds almost like a poem. And yes, I will be taking French for my foreign language requirement this year! :)
About day two, I realized I wasn't going to be able to learn to communicate on the level I had hoped. Although I was working hard at camp, I felt lost and frustrated on how to teach others and how to learn and grow as a coach myself, when I couldn't even communicate! I realized I was going to have to find another way. God was gracious to provide others besides Guillaume that understood and spoke some English, like Coach Cedric, Coach Laurent, Coach Pierre and even a player on my team that had grown up in the US and could translate for me! Ironically, there was even a player from Houston who had come on a family vacation to France and wanted to do the camp!! I am so thankful for all of them! I began trying to find other ways to communicate...through demonstrating more,etc..
Along the way, through the kindness and patience of all the coaches and the smiles of players...I began connecting with people and realized that the important things in life don't have to be translated! We communicate more with a smile, hug, action, touch...than with any word. I learned that even though I didn't know the right words...I still could communicate. And even though I didn't understand, I could learn what was meant by watching. I know that probably sounds very simple, but it took me out of my shocked state! Haha
As camp went on, I continued to have one amazing experience after another! I became close with so many great people and learned so much about leadership from Guillaume! I coached an NBA (Older) team called "Team Houston"! They were an awesome group and we ended up winning the most games. :) Because of that, I was selected as an All Star Coach along with Coach Martin! In the All Star game, the team I coached won.
We also went to a water park one day, the coaches played a Prades men team (they usually don't allow women to play..but did this time), had fun activities every night and on the last night we had a great media presentation of the week by Coach Pierre! The camp ended with awards and certificates signed by Orlando Magic (Guillaume is a partner with them and they are featured on the camp uniforms, certificates, and work at some camps). My week ended with a precious little boy who had been by my side all week, asking me to sign his shoe! On the toe, of course! I almost cried!
The organization of basketball is different in Europe than in the US! Players do not get the opportunity to play for their Junior High, High School or College, unless the are fortunate enough to be invited to the US to play. They play on what we know as a "select" type team and the best are ask to play for their National team! After that, there are several levels of Pro type teams for the Men, but very little for the Women. It really makes me realize how lucky I amto get to play the game I love so much!
I am still processing all I learned and the entire experience...I know when I get home and actually have time to think, even more will be learned. But I wanted to share briefly about some incredible people...
Guillaume-One of the most natural leaders I have ever seen at work! Always a smile, always calmly confident, ALWAYS working behind the scenes to make everything PERFECT for the campers!! He never lets the stress show through his emotions, voice or actions! Always professional to the core! He leads so perfectly that it didn't take long for me to realize I wanted to learn EVERYTHING I could from him! I tried to take in as much as I could, but he makes even the most complicated leadership tasks seem like nothing. It is truly a gift he has! The campers are always his top concern!! He wants each one to have the experience they came for and is committed to making that happen no matter what!! A true mentor to me that I hope to continue to learn from!
Coach Laurent-A great, strong man with a true coach's mind! He is very dedicated to the game he loves and committed to helping others excel at it! I joined him and some of the other coaches for early morning runs...and he instantly wanted to know how he could help me get my knee stronger and offered to do extra workouts with me. So kind and full of character. He played European Pro basketball until the age of 38. He loves the game and even has a special pair of Laker basketball shoes with the "pump" he pulls out for special one on one games! :)
Coach Cedric-Extremely organized and efficient coach! He is an excellent instructor and I learned alot from him in that area! He knows how yo break down the skills and drills into organized sections that the players find easier to learn! He always made sure everyone "got it"! He immediately took me under his wing and translated all the French instructions that were coming my way! :) He was very sweet and patient in helping me over my initial shock! Haha.
Coach Simone-Always a step ahead! Sees what is happening on the court and in life...and keeps things running smoothly! He is the ultimate caregiver...always watching to see who might need encouraging or who he can help! Kind and caring the campers surround him all the time!
Coach Titu-A very talented basketball player that would be a great leader on any men's college team in America! But even greater than that is the energy and life he brings to the game!! I have never seen it in anyone, like I see it in him! Basketball greatness that is pure and fun! He reminded me of how much fun it really is to play the game!
Coach Martin-Humbly confident and passionate about others learning the game and developing. Loves to interactive with all the players on a personal level, really getting to know them and their lives! "The Dunk Master", loves to put on a show for the campers! :) Personally, his passion helped me remember how important it is to love and be loved and helped me began to tear down some walls in my life.
Coach Estelle-The most beautiful person, inside and out! Always positive...always helping!!! She is the kind of person you would want to be your best friend!! :) She is wonderful at being assertive and strong..in a loving way...and she is extremely responsible in making sure the campers are taken care of!
Coach Pierre-Encouraging, intelligent and was full of compassion for me as I struggled with the language! A true gentleman and excellent photographer and Media Professional!
Coach Mendrix-A terrific combination of strong basketball knowledge and camp clown! :) His incredible sense of humor guaranteed everyone was always having a great time! On the court, he decisively leads with energy and enthusiasm! Off the court, he keeps everyone smiling!
So as you can see, a perfectly balanced staff that all brought something great to the camp! Once again, Guilluame's great leadership in coordinating people!
I learned so much, the challenge will be to apply it all! :) It was just what I needed, to be surrounded by so much love! I guess I hadn't realized that all the difficult times this year had left my heart kind of low on love. I had taken a lot out, but not alot had been put back in. It was relief in a way to understand that now. And this was just week one!
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