What a wonderful weekend I had swimming in my first international swim meet! I really felt like part of the team, but was still surprised at how different our cultures are even at something as regulated as a swim meet. It began with a procession of all the 15 or so teams from across the country into the pool area. This large parade was led by military personel, a professional-looking band, and a giant chicken mascot dancing to merengue as the cheerleaders lined the side of the pool.
The warm up and start of the meet was a little lax each day and there is no way to predict when you will swim like the programs back at home that had it nearly down to the minute. Here you´ll swim in a little while whenever the next couple events end... it is much more relaxed. However, the competition is just as intense; if not more intense because almost the only thing they care about is your time- What'd you go?! But not to worry- all went well and my years of practicing paid off. So while the roosters where crowing on the fence of the pool I jumped into a couple top places.
I got second in the 100 breaststroke and 4th in the 50. I also placed top ten in the 100 and 50 fly as well as the 100 IM. For all my swims I made the cut (sometimes by less than a second) to swim in their end of the season international meet where there will be over a dozen countries represented. The thought of competing against one US team as we swim with the Dominican colors made us laugh! BG, another girl in my program is also swimming on the team with me and as less than 1 percent of the Dominican swimmers are girls, she won an overall 3rd place trophy (out of 6 girls) but will also be competing in the Capital, Santo Domingo at the end of the season. There was a huge fancy banquet for everyone involved in the meet with a buffet and a trophy ceremony. The most exciting part was that the coach, Freddy, told us he will be paying for everything for us to travel and stay down in the capital for the competition at the end of November!
It was a really great experience, combining two of my greatest loves- the flavor of the latino culture and swimming as reggaeton, salsa and merengue blasted throughout the whole weekend. My host family came to watch one day and I met so many new wonderful Dominicans and had no lack of practicing my spanish! Some parent was commenting on how great it was I was willing to talk with everyone whether I knew them or not because that was the best way to learn- by putting yourself out there.
After a few hot afternoons of sitting under the sun at the pool, we were tired but had made many new friends and had a good time stirring up the Dominican competition in the pool!
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