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By Cricket L., YES Abroad 2016-2017, Senegal

Little did I know when I began my adventures here in Senegal that I would be learning a very American sport in a very non-American environment. Prior to arriving in Senegal, I had never really been interested in playing softball or baseball. The closest I’d ever come was playing wiffle ball as a kid with my family. When my friends convinced me to join the SABS Softball Team in early October, I was unsure that I would enjoy it.

Fast forward one month and you find me here, practicing with my team twice a week followed by a game every Saturday morning at the local Ebbets Field. The games are fun and exciting, and although we have some tough competition, the vibe is very positive and makes me smile. In all of our games so far, I have been catcher, and I usually get to bat. I think the most exciting thing for me is seeing progress, both in the development of my own skills and those of the team. It’s amazing to think that just one month ago I barely knew how to catch a softball and now it’s an instinct. I hope that we will become an even better team over the next few months, up until the tournament in February!

One of my favorite things about my exchange thus far is the opportunities that I have had to jump into new situations and try new things, and learning not to let my pride get in the way of taking risks. These are some of the things that I find hardest to do, but they seem to be the most rewarding.