SAISA Baskeball

October 4th, the 2010 Saisa Basketball commenced. After a long time, almost about a 8 months since the last saisa, i really was out of shape. Yes there were times when i played during lunch times, but thats was not enough to keep up with the intense practice. We started with some typical streches and cardio workout. It was not until the last part of practice when we had to run suicides up and down the court did it really started to hammer me down. 3-4 sets of suicides with only about 30 second breaks, It was Intense! Since the start of the basketball season I can personally say that I have improved my skills and fitness. Each day we learn a new plays and setups. Basically each practice is something new. Coach is pretty serious about people who miss practice for that perticuar reason. As of for me, up to now i have not missed a single practice and have been commited throughout the season. As a result, I sucessivly made the team this year.

The Sunflower Project

This Thursday, a local school just outside OSC showed up at the pool for swimming lessons. We couldn't just randomly get in the pool and teach kids we didnt even know their name. So we assembled in Mr. Simms's room for a while to get to know them. We introduced ourselves and got to know know them a little. We asked them to write down their names on a piece of paper so we could remember each of their names.


After that we divided the group of kids into two groups; the ones who have some background in swimming and have previously been to OSC from last years lot. And the other group consisted of the kids who have no idea how to swim. Because we divided the groups into two, we were able to organize what we do. Teru, Yariq, and I were in charge of the kids who couldnt swim with Mr.Stanley giving us instructions on how to get a start.


In some cases, there were kids who have never got in a pool before and this made some of them scared to get in. Seeing the fear of each kid gettting in the pool for the first time, told us that it was going to be a lot of work. And we were right about it.


As of for the programe, it consists of the first half hour or so, us giving them swimming lessons. Then the remaining time we give them freetime. During this time we play water polo as a whole so kids don't end up on their own. This enables us to communicate and interact with the kids better than when were are teaching them. Out of the group there are some prefer to keep working on their swimming skills although it's free time and they are free to do so because it makes it better for us and them.


Untill now, we are able to see visible progress of the kids as they learn new skills every Thursday. About half the porportion  of the kids who couldnt swim previously, are now at least swimming 5 meters. This may not seem as much of a distance but for a kid who was afraid of getting in the water at first, it is a significant progress.