ETA Gordon “Peter” Bensen was invited by three fellow teachers at MAN 1 Kota Payakumbuh to watch their team play in a football friendly. In reality, “watching” the game, turned into Peter starting the game as the right wing, proceeding to rip through the far too small pair of cleats a teammate let him borrow, and finally officiating the second half. Nevertheless, Peter was invited back and is now a regular member of the team.

Furthermore, the event sparked interest from the sport teacher at MAN 1 who invited Peter to come help out at the Boys’ High School soccer practices on Mondays and Wednesdays. The first practice Peter attended, he taught American football. What ensued was material for an incredible sitcom episode as Peter desperately tried to explain the rules of an entirely foreign sport in the most broken Indonesian anyone has ever heard. The result? A slightly controlled game of “Kill the Carrier.” The terms “two-hand touch” and “one pass per play” clearly did not register with the boys as they stormed down the field throwing the ball in every direction, smashed into each other, and burst out in laughter every ten seconds. At a certain point, Peter gave up attempting to explain anything in order to fully embrace the mayhem – it was WAY more fun. As Peter biked home, he couldn’t help but think how although language barriers and things “getting lost in translation” can be/have been incredibly frustrating, they can also provide some of the greatest experiences.

Gordon “Peter” Bensen is currently teaching at MAN 1 Payakumbuh, West Sumatra