No, I'm not taking salsa lessons. Neither was I moshing in some superpopular concert. I must reveal... I love to play fútbol. Soccer. In the rain. For hours.
So now, of course, I'm suffering through the day with a bit of a limp. However, due to the dictates of fashion, I'm still sporting a pair of cute black wedge sandals. If I must suffer, why must my style? Shaki needs a good long bubble bath, as we all do once in a while... I'm sure even Figo indulges occasionally, don't you think? That's the great thing about being a female fútbolista... we get to play rough, but we don't shy away from pampering ourselves afterwards -- something that the *guys* don't (or don't admit that they) do.
I asked some of my male teammates last night what they did to recuperate. You can imagine the responses:
"Recuperate from what?" (This same guy needed a massive calambre, or 'charlie horse,' massaged out of his leg. Almost kept him out of the last half-hour of the game. Phoned me later that night to tell me it was still alive and kicking. I felt his pain.)
"Just keep going. Stomp the ground with that injured foot. Come on, you've got to really stomp it hard, with your talón, drive that heel in!" (After I twisted my ankle, I listened to this guy. So I stomped my freshly injured footsie into the ground. Then I was promptly told by another teammate that one should never do that. Just ice and elevation, the usual stuff. Thanks, and where were you just a few minutes ago, my friend?)
"In China, we just go home, take a shower, have a beer and fall into bed!" (Actually, that one sounded like the best answer to me, out of the three.)
Still, i prefer my Green Tea soak. Followed by Raspberry Delight bubble bath. Followed by a good rubdown. Maybe not beer, but a Banana Strawberry soy smoothie to top it off. And, of course, my left leg propped up on some pillows, with an ice pack wrapped around my foot, pobrecito. Then off to Dreamland, planning my next moves.
I must admit, one of the great things about fútbol is that it's FREE. Ok, ok, i bought a keg-sized Gatorade. But other than that, I had some free fun and exercise! The longer you play, you'll find that your fútbol playing group grows. I think we had 6 teams playing at once on three fields side-by-side. The more the merrier! I highly recommend it to anyone trying to stay within their budget, and make new friends.
Shaki's PS: just don't get hurt. Stretch out, wear the right shoes, don't sacrifice more than you have to win a gol. Winning is fun, but ending up in the doctor's office -- NOT cool. And NOT frugal. And my little smashed piggies are all nodding their heads in agreement at this moment. Ow, ow, ow...
I'll recover. But... I honestly, a girl's got to wonder what Figo's doing right now?
tu Shaki ;)
