Adios!

I'm in the dorm, waiting for Joe - he is tying up loose ends with University folks. The college students left a few hours ago - we drove to the airport with them and waved goodbye. I suspect Joe felt an immediate reduction in stress watching them walk away, knowing the trip was complete, no major problems, all went well.

Joe, Bonnie and I are spending one more night in San Juan, at a local hotel, then off tomorrow. I fly through Dalles, they were flying through Pennsylvania but were able to change to a flight through Miami. Phew - they can avoid the East coast snow that is expected.

So, adios to Puerto Rico. It has been amazing in so many ways. Special memories?
1. How absolutely delightful the 14 college students were. I enjoyed each one. I must admit that I found myself studying them, observing behaviors foreign to my college experience (all the selfies, for one thing - what do they do with all those photos? But, does this make me old! I can hear my parents criticizing facets of my own college experience - protest marches, long hair, hippie styles). I enjoyed class discussions and their observations of what they saw around them. And, oh my, were they polite and kind to the 6 of us who were of grandparent age. All of their parents are to be commended for their lovely manners. Being the least able as far as walking goes (new knee issues), they never made me feel bad for slowing the group down. Just truly great kids all the way round.

2. The 2-hour daily class on PR history and culture - it gave us a background to better understand what we were seeing and experiencing here on the island.

3. The contrasts of Puerto Rico - the two cities of Old San Juan and St. German provide a perfect example. Old San Juan is delightful, beautiful, charming - the cobblestones, the palatte of tropical colors used to paint the buildings, the balconies, the iron work - it is Caribbean perfection. It reminds me of Carmel, CA - also perfect in its quaintness. But are either places actually real? Can you buy a hammer or a broom in their downtowns? But does it really matter when they are so much fun to stroll?

That's why I am glad we also got to St. German. It is the second oldest city, founded in the late 1500s. The historic area is amazing in its authenticity. The homes are large, old, gracious - but among the restored ones are those that have seen better days. Some are in an advanced stage of decay. It's a mixture. There are real stores and faded bars and restaurants. The two old churches in the main plaza scream their Spanish heritage - while it remains a functioning city. Wonderful contrast with Old San Juan - the tourist historical vs authentic historical.

4. The friendliness of the local folks - how utterly charming and helpful they were. One of the older members of our group was walking down the street in Old San Juan, wearing a Roberto Clemente baseball shirt, when a car pulled over. The woman passenger rolled down the window and asked him  how he was enjoying Puerto Rico. She wanted to know his connection with Roberto Clemente. When Don told her that he saw Clemente play (he lived in Pittsburgh), the woman began to cry and the man reached over to pat his arm. Ah, Clemente. His spirit lives on.

5. Baseball - it has been such an adventure for me. I have learned so much. I got to see it from the ground up - the baseball academies, the ball parks, speaking with players and watching three games.  Yesterday we visited the town of Carolina and toured the Roberto Clemente ball park. The director showed us though the dugout, the locker rooms and training area. He took us into the room where all the uniforms are stored - and let the college girls try on shirts and hats  - including the #21 shirt that honors Clemente. He gave us baseballs, two bats, and books about the team.

I will never forget the hour that Carlos Delgado spent with us in our classroom, sharing his thoughts about baseball and Puerto Rico. When I asked, "What changes would you make if you were King of baseball?" he smiled and said he liked that idea - and then proceeded to outline how the minor league experience could be so much better.

At the games I got to see in practice what I had learned from all my reading. Two of the three games were rather tame but I will never forget the craziness and drama of the 16-inning first game that I attended.

6. And last, but by no means least, the lushness of Puerto Rico is astounding - from the dripping tropical rainforest to our glorious day of snorkeling in the warm waters off a nearby island. And I had to laugh when a large iguana ran out onto the road in front of the taxi that has arrived to take us to our hotel - what a perfect final interaction!

I will add photos when I get home but be warned, they are the usual horrible (if I took them). Hopefully Bonnie or Beth or Mike will take pity on me and share some of theirs.

Back At College

There are 20 of us here in San Juan, living in the dorms. 14 college students (Whittier College, "Fear The Poets!"). 12 young women - smart, savvy in all things baseball, and lovely. 2 young men - taller but just as smart and savvy - and (don't tell them) so sweet. 6 adults came along for the ride. Each morning we meet for a 2-hour Puerto Rican history and culture class taught by a charming and knowledgable teacher from the college - Universidad del Sagrado Corazon. His name is Juan and he has strong feelings about the history and status of Puerto Rico. We now use the Puerto Rican status to measure things. The political phrase is that Puerto Ricans are "part of but not of" the US. A commonwealth, not a state. Citizens, but can't vote for president. Representation in Congress, but this "Commissioner" has no voting rights. They don't pay federal taxes (they pay state taxes) but are eligible for military service.

"So," we asked, "Are the 6 adults in the group the Puerto Ricans to the Whittier College students? Aren't we part of the group but not really of it, given that we don't have any official status with Whittier, we don't get any course credit but we also don't have to do the assignments?"  "No," he said, "Not unless Whittier also dictates what you can and can't do in your life here in San Juan beyond the classroom. Right now you can do anything the kids do."  Hmmmm. We keep searching but have not found an equivalent.

Just like Whittier, Sagrado (as the college is known) has a long break between Christmas and mid January. Our course is part of the January term at Whittier but here at Sagrado, there are few students around. When we arrived 10 days ago, we were the only residents in the dorms. Students are now just starting to trickle back in. Classes start next week (we leave Friday morning). Faculty have also begun appearing. The cafeteria serves maybe 30 other people beyond our group.

When in session, there are about 5,000 students; most  are commuters. The 2 existing dorms are enough to house those whose homes are farther away. It is a relatively small campus - 2 large classroom buildings with up-to-date facilities, an historic (and gorgeous) administrative building, a large gym, beautiful outdoor Olympic-sized pool and many other small support buildings scattered around the campus. The grounds are lovely.

What is unusual? The fauna! We have watched iguanas tussle (and scamper up trees - beware the tail, we are told.) There are also lots of small chickens - and cheeky roosters - and cats meandering around campus, often seen together. The cats are well fed and petted. The best sound? The chirping noises that come from the small green frogs called coqui. They make a lot of noise (charming - I will miss it) for their diminutive size!

The former Econ teacher in me is fascinated by prices here. If the product is grown or made here on the island it is inexpensive but if it is imported from the mainland, that is not the case. Given that 90% of products (and that includes most food items) are imported, you can see the problem. Breakfast in the cafeteria is a good example. A large plate of  2-3 eggs (prepared as you like), with ham and island toast is $2.00 and this includes a small cup of the best coffee imagineable. If, instead, I want a small carton of Danon yogurt OR a small prepackaged container of very hard melon chunks and grapes plus a cup of the wonderful coffee it is about $3.25. I think one of the big surprises is the relative rarity of fruits and veggies offered in the cafeteria - they are all imported and, therefore, expensive.

We still have several  days of classes, another baseball game, a farewell dinner and chances to see a bit more of Puerto Rico. However, 4 of the 6 adults (including me) are skipping class tomorrow to go snorkeling on the northeast coast of the island. Thank goodness we aren't among the young college students responsible for all those classes and assignments!

Testing My Mettle

I almost tripped on my way to dinner. I saved myself, no problem, the new knee is fine, but the irony wasn't lost on me. After what I physically survived today, a little bump on the way to dinner shouldn't have been a challenge. You see, today was our outing to El Yunque - the tropical rainforest (and national park) about an hour outside of San Juan.

Being clueless on oh so many things, I had noted it on the schedule, grabbed my purse and a bottle of water, put on my walking shoes and, thank all the gods above me, brought my cane. I envisioned a hike like the ones I do at Yosemite. I'd walk along a beautiful trail until it got too challenging. Then I'd find a bench or, better yet, a place where I could get some coffee, and shop a bit while waiting for the others to finish.

This is not what happened. Instead, our bus pulled up, we got out, and followed our lovely Sagredo University person to the top of the trail and started down. There was no discussion of options as the 14 young college students started leaping from rock to trail. I barely had a chance to look at the trail map but did note it was ranked as Moderate. I hesitated. Seven weeks out of surgery. Should I go? Okay, an Easy path would be better but Moderate was probably okay. The decision was made for me when I saw the back of our bus pull away.  Okay, the trail it is.

Oh my. The first half (down to the spectacular waterfall and swimming hole at the bottom) was straight down, or so it seemed. Steeply down. Down is really tough on a new knee. I minced my way around the many twists and turns of the wet cement path, avoiding mud, wet clumps of leaves, patches of water flowing across the path - basically anything I thought would start me sliding. If there was a drop-off on the side of the trail there might be a railing (and I clung!), but not always. The cement path varied from 10 inches to 2 feet wide. When it became too steep to be anything but a slide, stairs appeared but usually without a railing. Carefully, carefully I worked my way down, listening to hear the sound of the waterfall ahead. We MUST be almost there.

Where were the college students? They flew down the trail and were enjoying the swimming hole for at least 45 minutes before I finally got there. It was fun to watch them and I was grateful that I had made it in one piece. Then I discovered something horrifying - the bus wasn't waiting for us at the waterfall - no, I had to keep going and climb back up to the road along another trail. Really, how stupid could I be?

So, onwards and upwards with emphasis on UPwards.  If it was steep on the way down, it was equally chock full of twisting and treacherous muddy rises and stairs of irregular height (usually from 4-6 inches but there were those occasional doozies that were over a foot tall - really hard for me) all the way up. I was grateful anytime anyone approached us from either direction - it was an excuse to stop to rest while I waved them by - but no, here is where my cane became a problem. When other hikers saw the cane, they inevitably, and thoughtfully, stepped out of the path and waved me on! Nooooooo. I need the rest. Thankfully the other adults with me were supportive of all my rest stops which grew in frequency on the way up.

About 15 minutes from the top we passed a sign warning us that the path was dangerous (it showed a person slipping on his butt). Really? Who knew? But when I finally got to the top and looked at the trail map, I saw that this second trail was ranked Challenging. Not Moderate like the first trail we did, but Challenging. I must admit, I whispered, "Thanks!" To all those gods above and then walked to the bus with a bit of a swagger. I did it!

And that's why it would have really stunk to trip and fall over a speed bump on the way to dinner!

Finally, 50 Years Later, I See A Ballgame!

In seeking truth, I need to be completely clear (or transparent, as they now say) about my inability to judge the worth of a ballgame. Until today I had seen only one baseball game in my life - a Giants game at Candlestick Park - when I was in high school. I never saw a Little League game, never attended a softball game, never watched a whole game on TV. If a baseball game was on TV when I was in the room, I ignored it. Until a month ago, before I started madly reading everything baseball, all I knew was 9 innings per game, three outs per side per inning. So I can't judge BUT all of you baseball lovers out there - you can. You tell me. Was the experience I am about to describe normal, run-of-the-mill?

Here goes (and I will try to remain unemotional and neutral):

1. 4:00 pm - We arrive at the minor league ball field. Puerto Rico does not have Major League teams.  This league has 6 teams that play winter ball; it's the beginning of the playoffs.

2. 4:10 pm - Team personnel (the Criollos de Caguas) greet our group and take us to an office where the college students are star-struck by the lovely, smiling man sitting there. I am confused, being baseball-clueless. When I whisper, "Who is he?" one whispers back, "Carlos Delgado" (I am pleased to say in a tone that does not overtly scream DUH). Of course, it means nothing to me. However, I can say he is a lovely, lovely man who assures us he will speak with us tomorrow in our classroom at the university.

3. 4:30 pm - Team personnel take us down to the field to watch the Criollos warm up - female college students are completely star-struck, taking photos of them and finageling shots with them. Team personnel take lots of photos of us.

4. 5:15 pm - Team personnel take us down to the dugout where we talk with some players.

5. 5:30 pm - Team personnel take us to the Club House where they serve us a delicious dinner. We are amazed at how inexpensive the drinks are - and take advantage of it.

6. 6:55 pm - Team personnel take us back down to the field where Joe (my cousin Bonnie's husband and one of the college professors of the course) is asked to sing the National anthem (he has sung it in ballparks in 41 states so now adds a territory).  I am surprised and moved.

7. 7:15pm - Joe is then asked to throw out the first pitch. We, standing on the field, cheer.

8. 7:20 pm - We take seats behind home plate.

9. First 6 innings are scoreless - hits and bases on both sides but no runs.

10. 7th inning - Opponents (Indios de Mayaquez) score two runs.

11. 8th inning - We score 1 run.

12. 9:50 pm - 9th inning - We score another.  Game tied at end of 9th, 2 all.

13. Innings 10-12 - no runs (again, hits but none score)

14. All the photos the team personnel took of our group earlier in the evening appear on the big screen/scoreboard. I am quite surprised.

15. Midnight - 13th inning - all hell breaks lose. Whoops - I will try to remain neutral. The Indios have a runner on 2nd and 3rd, no outs. The batter hits a line drive to the shortstop. The runner on 2nd jumps over the ball and blocks the space between the second baseman and the catcher while the man on 3rd runs to home and scores. Score? 3 to 2 (Indios). The second baseman hits the roof, screams at the umpire and is ejected. The Indios manager comes out, screaming and waving in the ump's face, stomps back to the dugout, not ejected. All 4 umps now huddle. They break and announce Offensive Interference on the 2nd base runner. Not only is he out but they negate the winning run scored by the runner on third - now 2 outs. Score? Back to 2 all. The entire Indios dugout empties onto the field, surrounding the ump, while the home team fans go wild and the Indios fans are furious. Eventually the team returns to the dugout.

But there is much more to come. The Indios score on a line drive followed by a double - they are now vindicated and up 5 to 2.

The Indios pitcher (by the way, there were no changes in pitching during the first 7 innings but from 8th on it is a revolving door for both teams -  with all the related warm up times. The game slows down) walks the first 2 Criollos players and hits the third in the foot - bases loaded. No outs. The next batter hits and 2 players cross the plate. Score: 5-4 (Indios) with runners on second and third. The next batter hits, hits hard. The player on third scores and the winning run is almost at the plate when the runner collides HARD with the catcher. Both crash to the ground. Is the runner safe?  Both dugouts empty; all fans are up and screaming. No, the runner is out. The score? 5 to 5. Next 2 batters strike out and, finally,  the inning is over.

16.12:55 am - Inning 14. No score. It's late. We have class in 8 hours; our Puerto Rican history teacher (from Universidad del Sagrado Corazon) is with us - we need to leave. We start toward our bus but the students beg, "One more inning, PLEASE!"  Joe agrees, one more. We dive back to our seats. No, another scoreless inning.

17. 1:20 am - We pull out of the parking lot with the game on the radio.  No score  in the 15th inning. By the time we get home we are out of range of the station and go to bed not knowing who won. We get the news this morning. The Indios won in the 16th - 6-5.

Phew.

So I ask you - for my first game experience in 50 years - was this whole experience typical?  I have 2 more games to go (this Friday and next Wednesday) and don't know if my heart can stand it.

Actually, I can't wait!

Girls and Boys Come Out To Play

Ah, the wonders of chemistry between young men and women! I had to laugh as I witnessed it on display at our visit to the Puerto Rican Baseball Academy High School, about a half hour outside of San Juan. This time we had more contact with the male students and they had more contact with the long-legged, hair-flowing, shorts and baseball-hat wearing college girls from Southern California (henceforth known as LLHFS&BHW). It was like in the movies when a teenage boy suddenly spots a beautiful girl, gulps and swallows his gum. They were adorable in their deer-in-the-headlight responses. They clearly had no idea the girls were coming. What was even funnier was how quickly they lost interest when the mature (meaning grandparent-age) members of our group - there are 6 of us - entered the room!

This school is older than the one we visited the day before (15 years to its 3) and the school reflects it. The facilities are older but, I think, better suited for classroom use. I wish my good friend, Jeff Wright (Coach Wright as our students knew him), had been with me to assess of the quality of the rehab and training facilities at both academies. That is somewhat lost on me.  

This school's greater age means it has more alumni and the results were prominently displayed. One stairway showed team photos of alums who made it to the minor league (I'm guessing 60 or more photos on the wall, out of about 50 graduates per year). Their most impressive poster showed 4 alums who made it to the Majors. Okay - problem here. I took a photo of the poster (if you have read this blog for long you know I am a horrible photographer) and can't read the names on my photo! I think they are: Reynaldo Navarro, Hiram Burgess, C Velasquez - can't read his first name - and Carlos Correa. Apparently Carlos is big right now. I know, give me a break - I AM really late to appreciation of all things baseball.

Two seniors spoke to our group and answered questions. They were charming. As a former high school teacher I was most interested in college placement issues. Their director spoke of the challenge of SAT scores (and difficulties their students face with English as their second language) and how the role community college vs 4-year college can play in opportunities for being spotted by minor league scouts. Both boys have already received college acceptances but, like students everywhere in the US, are waiting to see what the final packages (re tuition etc.) look like.

Word quickly spread around campus that the LLHFS&BHW were here. Boys came out of the woodwork as we wandered down hallways. As we waved goodbye, many were near the doorway for a final look.  

We next drove to the ballpark to see our first ball game where the tables were turned. Now the LLHFS&BHW were the ones flirting with the ball players. You gotta love it!

Slip Sliding Away

I am back in a dorm room after almost 50 years. Bonnie and I lucked out. Because her husband is one of the professors teaching the course we got the RA's room - she's not here right now. It's a small living room/kitchen, bath and bedroom with 2 twin beds. Joe is bunked in the boys' dorm across the way (this is a private, Catholic school). It is old and a bit worn but more than adequate and we are grateful - although I wasn't very full of gratitude at 4 in the morning of my first overnight.

The problem? The bed's mattress and box springs are encased in plastic sheeting; not the kind you can unzip but the kind that is permanently sealed. I didn't realize the problem until I tried to turn over. My turning made one corner of the thin sheet pop off and start working its way toward the middle. Then, when I moved the pillow under my leg (I had my second knee replacement surgery 6 weeks ago and still need to support the new knee on a pillow), it popped the opposite corner of the sheet off the bed. Soon I was sliding around on sheet and plastic casing and moving toward the edge of the bed and sure disaster with the new knee. So up I got and remade the bed. And then it happened again. And again. And again. Each time I fell asleep and tried to turn I was almost on the floor. At four in the morning I was desperate. What could I do?

I checked the next morning with other members of the group. About two thirds had plastic cases on their mattresses and bed springs, one third did not. That gave me hope. I approached the woman at the residence hall desk and explained my problem. She spoke little English and looked a bit confused. When I ased, "May I cut the casing off?", she looked very confused but nodded her head. It was tentative, definitely tenative. I, however, took it at face value and had that cover off in less than 5 minutes.

I am happy to report that I am no longer slip sliding away!

Baseball - Easing In

Today I stood on a pitcher's mound. The first pitcher's mound of my life. Yep, there was that rectangle of rubber the pitcher touches with his foot when he winds up to pitch. I didn't know that thing existed until I read my rule book a few weeks ago. It was smaller than I thought it would be.

Where was I? Not on a professional field. No, it was on the infield practice field at the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in Florida, Puerto Rico (about an hour outside of San Juan). Talk about the perfect start for my baseball introduction - at a high school. Something I know a bit about. Well, except I have never been to one like this. It is only 3 years old and has only grades 10, 11 and 12  (it will add 9th next year). The building is one vast space broken down into classrooms, lunchroom and all things baseball - lockers, showers, weight room, sports medicine rehab and offices. The nicest office belongs to Carlos Beltran.  Outside we toured batting practice areas, the practice infield and the pool. We also saw the overgrown meadow they hope to turn into a complete baseball field someday. "Hmmmmm," I thought, "Build it and they will come." 

I most enjoyed watching the boys at batting practice. We watched the fastball practice - machines spit out the balls at an incredible speed and they hit most of them. Some practiced bunting. What most intrigued me (and made my shoulder tremble in solidarity with the boys) was watching them swing bats at huge tires hanging from the ceiling. The sound of each hit reverberated through the room. The coach said it was an old fashioned technique but one that has made their players stronger. After watching a Puerto Rican boy demonstrate the technique the coach asked if either of the young men in our group wanted to try. Nathan, a senior, stepped forward. He missed hitting the sweet spot on the tire on his first tries and then their coach stepped in. It was the look on the coach's face that stays in my memory. The intentness of his teaching, passing on how to best swing the bat, no matter who the player was - Puerto Rican or Californian. It was love of baseball, pure and simple. Nathan improved.

The Puerto Rican boys were pleased to show off in front of our 12 California girls.  The girls, baseball lovers all, were equally pleased to run the bases on the practice infield, take photos on the pitcher's mound and enjoy the stares of the boys.

Tomorrow?  My first game. Can't wait.

I'm Off

 I have mentioned before that I am not known for my athleticism. Yes, I am the best in pool volleyball at the OFH but only because I am the youngest on the team by a decade.  However, I am completely ignorant of the rules of the games of soccer, baseball, rugby, boxing, basketball,  anything nuanced about football and so on. No, wait, there has been a change. A MAJOR change.  A seismic change in my knowledge of one sport - and it is all because of my next trip.  Get ready. This one is hard to believe.  In 3 hours I am getting on a plane to join a college course (Whittier College 16 students, 6 adults) on Baseball: A Caribbean Religion.  And guess where it is taught?  In San Juan, Puerto Rico!  I am off to San Juan.

Since signing up for the class I have been reading everything baseball.  I started with the professor's book - Rounding The Bases.  Now, there is a connection here. The professor (and author), Joe Price, is my cousin Bonnie's husband. I travelled with them to Kentucky last May. The book is all about baseball and religion and I really enjoyed it.  That led me to 2 novels discussed in the book (Shoeless Joe Jackson - on which the movie Field of Dreams is based - and The Brothers K )  Loved both. Then I read Watching Baseball Smarter (I think that was the title) and I was hooked. I had no idea of the strategy of baseball.  I just saw it as the slowest game on the planet.  Now I get it. And I wanted MORE.

So then I took on The Field Guide to Baseball - yep, a discussion and analysis of the rules of the game. And I loved it. I only allowed myself one short chapter a day as I read with a mixture of awe, amusement, and incredulity at the width and depth and breadth of the rules. I love the examples - "a runner going from second to third purposely shoves the shortstop" - what?  Why would he shove a shortstop?  Or the pickiness - if a fielder, when catching a ball, falls into the dugout . . . And then it goes onto describe where his feet have to be to have it count (they better not be in the dugout).  It is
all quite amazing.

The problem is that I am reading all these books with a very limited knowledge of the actual game. I attended a Giants game in Candlestick Park when I was in high school but, must admit,  I was bored throughout - I couldn't figure out what was going on. I have been in the room when baseball was on TV but pretty much ignored it. Now I can't wait to get to San Juan and get out to the ballpark. We will be attending 4 games - the winter season in Puerto Rico ends in January.

I have packed the Field Guide and intend to study it on the plane. I am ready. Bonnie, Joe and I are flying in 2 days early. We will meet the students on Friday and then off to the dorms.  Two weeks of college life, 4 baseball games, and tours around the island. I have one baseball cap packed (kindness of Joe) but will buy my own when there.

By the time I get home in late January, direct any questions you have about the sport (and how it relates to religion) to me. I will be an expert. A baseball cap-wearing expert.

Ah the things you learn in retirement!!!