Playing Mejenga
In the states they’re called, “pick-up games”. In Costa Rica they’re called, mejenga (meh-han-ga).
They happen when someone comes along with a softball and a bat, or a football, or a basketball, or a volleyball, or a soccer ball.
In Costa Rica, a futbol. One just has to show up in a field or a court with the necessary piece of equipment and suddenly your number begins to multiply like cell mitosis.
Out of thin air you have two teams. Here in Costa Rica people of all shapes and sizes, but mostly males, appear with or without shoes, often in flip-flops but many barefooted to play their beloved futbol. It seems they kick better without shoes.
My grandson recently joined a youth soccer team in the town where we’re building our boutique hotel. We haven’t moved there yet, so he hasn’t had the opportunity to really get to know his teammates.
My husband, Liam and his sister Janice, his adult cousin, Pato (who is in his twenties and on a soccer team), and I traveled the twenty minute ride up the mountain to start a mejenga, soccer ball at the ready.
We hoped that it would draw the kids out so Liam would get the chance to make friends. He’s not shy. Unfortunately, unlike most days, no one was around except one tiny six year old who actually is on Liam’s team.
The mejenga consisted of Liam, Dillonito (“Little Dillon and yes! The little guy), Pato, and my husband, Michael. Talk about a rag-tag team!
Dillonito told me he was “studying” to be a goalie, so naturally he was the goalie. He insisted. I admire determination.
Pato of course was the only one who truly knew what he was doing.
Dillonito came in second, Liam third and Michael……………………… he was “tripped”, perhaps by a duende (a mischievous little fairy), but like any good athlete he managed to tuck and roll his way out of it without injury except to his pride.
Today, three days later, it’s not just his pride that hurts.
So, our mejenga was a bust. We’ll try again another day even if NaNa has to get out on the field… Not a chance!
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Written by VIP Member Paula Gilmour who was born and raised in Massachusetts and who has spent most of her life on Cape Cod. Paula is married to Michael and together they have three children. The family moved to Costa Rica in February 2013 after vacationing here for the past twelve years.
Paula and Michael’s daughter Jamie married a young Tico and together they are building a small boutique hotel and spa in the “sweet village of La Florida (the flowered) in Guanacaste. Paula’s articles will give us “little snippets of what life is like in Costa Rica and the trials and tribulations in a land where we don’t speak the language (but are learning), and are trying to construct a building, a business, and a new way of life.”
Playing Mejenga
Article/Property ID Number 4367
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Andrew Makarik
to@welovecostarica.comAndrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.
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