By Charlie C
There are just some things that make you feel safe, comfortable and truly at home. For me, that has always been my family and my friends in NY. I had never left this bubble for more than a vacation here and there for summer camp as a child. When I boarded my flight to Tel Aviv to start my gap year abroad, I hadn’t considered the importance of finding that new thing to make me feel at home. Basketball became my comfort, reminding me of home, and creating a community to join and share my love for the sport.
I felt some culture shock when I first arrived in Israel. Fortunately, I was surrounded by other international kids who faced the same challenge. After a few nights of socializing, I found myself yearning for some familiarity. I discovered a pizza place and rode a scooter to a local basketball court where I shot around with my headphones on, forgetting that I was thousands of miles from home. As the days went on, I returned to this court to escape homesickness. I was lucky enough to meet some local players who also loved to hoop at the park. Many were Israelis but some were Americans who had relocated to Israel and, like me, found common ground and a shared camaraderie on the basketball court. Meeting these great guys gave me an opportunity to play basketball but, more importantly, the opportunity to integrate into the community. Even though my time in Israel was cut short, I consider the connections I made on the court very special and a big part of my incredible experience in Tel Aviv.
As my year turned upside down and I left Israel, my yearning for the pickup community did not fade. Although I bounced around from Madrid to Barcelona to Florence, I sought out basketball courts in each city. With an entire section of my gap year now free, my friend Evan and I embarked on a roadtrip across the US. Basketball was a consistent theme along the way, and we played pickup in college towns from Duke to UC Boulder.
As I prepared for my next journey to the Galápagos Islands, however, I assumed there’d be little basketball to be played and resigned myself to a break from the sport. I am happy to report that I was sorely mistaken.
Upon arrival on San Cristobal, island fever was in the air. The weather was beautiful, the sea was blue and the wildlife was abundant. As my volunteer conservation program began, I got closer with locals who organized the work. I enjoyed practicing Spanish with them and the taxi drivers, often asking, “hay partidos de basketball aqui? Donde esta el parque?” Eventually, I stumbled upon Cancha de Alegria on the far east side of town. Every evening at 7 pm, approximately ten players would meet at the court. I showed up regularly, joined the games, and worked on my Spanish skills. Despite the fact that I was not fluent, friendships developed over our shared interests and curiosities, which included conversations about life in NY and the Lebron/Jordan debate. Over time, I felt integrated into the community and even served as referee during some local games between neighborhood rival teams.
My final stop of the year was Ghana for the sole purpose of coaching basketball. Initially, I was concerned I’d have trouble connecting with locals due to overwhelming culture shock. I was very much out of my comfort zone and tasked with teaching a sport that is not nearly as common and popular as soccer. However, the kids showed enormous interest in learning the sport and appreciated my efforts. This formed the foundation for strong relationships and bonds between me and my Ghanian friends. I coached local middle school children in Teshie each afternoon. During practice, I ran fun contests and games to keep the activities competitive but fun. Our time together was full of energy and laughter, and the students’ skills improved massively. After practice, I played pickup with some players from the surrounding areas. Some of my teammates walked almost one hour every day to play on the court. Their dedication to the game was truly inspiring. Through daily pickup games, I formed true friendships with a few players around my age: Prince, Peter and Donald. Off the court, I spent time with them in the markets, watched NBA basketball, and was even invited to their family homes for dinner.
Once again, I credit basketball for helping me integrate into the local community and giving me a sense of belonging. Although my coaching job is over and I am back in NY, my commitment to basketball and the community remains strong. In fact, I am working with a coach in Ghana to build a local youth program in the Teshie neighborhood.
I am thankful that basketball brought me in contact with locals in so many countries I visited and enabled me to build lasting friendships over the course of my gap year.
