May 2, 2013 - Bronx, N.Y. - For the second straight year, the Fordham women's soccer team hosted a free soccer clinic for the South Bronx United Soccer Club this past week on a beautiful day at Murphy Field.
The kids from South Bronx United received one versus one instruction on basic soccer skills, participated in a game on Murphy Field, and were able to ask questions to the college players about their experiences as a student-athlete at Fordham.
This is just one of the many community service projects that Fordham student-athletes have been involved with over the last few weeks, which included the baseball team supporting both the Wounded Warrior Project and the St. Baldrick's Foundation and the football team hosting a "Be A Match" registry event, to help to sign up students to the national bone marrow donation.
CATCHING UP WITH FORDHAM ALUM LAUREN BUSTOS
The Fordham women's soccer team recently chatted with Lauren Bustos (FCRH '09) about her new team, Hércules Femenino A, language barriers and an inside look at the cultural experiences she is going through in Alicante, Spain.
Despite being named A-10 Defensive Player of the Year as a center back, she is taking on a new position in her Spanish league as a Right Midfielder. When asked her about the level of competition she said:
The competition in general is decently skilled and physical. I'd say the play is comparable to level in the A10's, although not quite as fast. Also, I'm playing in the second division, but there's a first division (which the Female Barcelona team plays for) and I from what my roommate tells me (she played on Valencia, which is also in the first div.) the play's a lot quicker. Nonetheless, the second division competition is challenging and definitely not boring.
Bustos on how she has been adjusting to the new lifestyle:
Things in Spain are going well, but I definitely have been having stressful moments. This whole experience is one big learning process, which I knew it would be but I couldn't imagine to what degree. For instance, I'm learning how to play a new position, with a new team that plays a different style of soccer, all in a new language! WHICH, I'm still trying to understand! Por Dios! Haha Although I studied Spanish in college, and practiced speaking it with friends and family, at times it feels like I'm learning it all over again. Not to mention the Latin Spanish I'm used to is considered "incorrect" at times over here, technically the language here is Castilian.
I've come to understand that The Spanish are definitely prideful and content people, but also direct. They do what they like and do it to their fullest potential-- i.e. futbol and fiestas. And they don't "sugar coat" things, as we say in the states. Nope. By my American standards I find them politically incorrect and honest. That's not to say that they are rude or offensive, it's more that they openly state the facts. This type of understanding seems to help unify them, bringing harmony to one culture. Their honesty is refreshing...
I'm starting to catch on more, but it's still a process. Poco a poco as the saying goes...But overall, I'm content with where I'm at.
Alicante, Spain is part of the Valencian Community located in the Southeastern region of Spain. She is playing with Hércules Femenino A, and recently won the Gold medal in the Torneo Torrevieja Cup 2013.
