We all find friendship and friends in common places like in classrooms and in training groups and in the playground. However, unexpected friendships are really special!
I made a friend in the changing room of a club.
This is how it started and this is what happened. There was an uncle who worked as a cleaner in the club. This uncle did not know English and only knew Cantonese. My father and I did not know Cantonese. So, you might be wondering how we became friends with this uncle? Well as he worked at the club, he had watched me play from time to time and every time we saw each other he used to signal good job with a thumbs up sign. We would reply with a signaled thank you and wave. This kept on happening for some time until instead of just using sign language I said “Hi, hello” and “How are you” while also waving. Thinking that if he understood it would be a nice act of friendship as I was inspired by him. He was always smiling, despite the weather or how hard his job was – he was always smiling!
Then after a few weeks suddenly one day after I said “Hi” to him he said “Hi” back. And after that he learnt how to say, “How are you” and a bit more in English. I was so impressed that he was able to and wanted to learn how to communicate with us in English. So that we could build on our friendship. I wanted to address him by his name and so we asked the reception, and we found out his name. And now I can address him by his name, as a friend should be.
Our daily chats strengthened our friendship. One day it was very hot, and I was playing at 2 in the afternoon and as I was walking out of the changing room he saw me and gave me a juice pack from his bag. I was so grateful for his act of kindness and concern.
I look forward to seeing him at the tennis courts and I have found a friend who cares for me and went the extra mile to be my friend. When I am having a tough day and I meet him, I am inspired to do my best and be happy!
