Banana Boat!

Ring, ring, ring...Banana Boat!

A Quick Definition

Football Club: a cross-community project that brings Protestant and Catholic boys together to play football. Brought to you by the 174 Trust.

Okay, on to the blog.

As my team briefly sat out during a rotation game at football club, one of the boys leaned over to me and asked "Are you going on the Banana Boat?"

I was positive that I had misinterpreted his Irish accent, but I hadn't. He was talking about a Banana Boat, an inflatable banana-shaped transportation/fun device that up to 10 people can ride on at a time as it is pulled by a motorboat. If my definition was too rambly for you, it's pictured above.

My response to the kid was something to the degree of "Uh...what?" I didn't hear anything about this trip because I was elsewhere when the club had discussed it, so I was unprepared. I didn't know anything about banana boats. When I did learn what a banana boat was I realized that it was cold outside and we'd be getting into freezing water. So no, initially I did not think I was going to go on the Banana Boat.

The kids had other ideas and wanted me to go. I was grateful for that and felt flattered, so I went along. I didn't have a swimsuit with me, though. Or old shoes. Or a towel. Like I said, I had no idea I was going banana boating so I was completely unprepared. It didn't matter, though. The boys helped me out with all of that. I felt very blessed. The kids I work with are truly something.

The Banana Boat was a blast. Lots of whooping and hollering and banana boats being airborne. But once I got home after all the fun, I took a step back and realized how far Belfast had come. From the 70's all the way to the early 90's, this probably would not have happened. Catholics and Protestant kids would not have associated together over football or a banana boat. Parents wouldn't have let them and the kids wouldn't have felt safe doing it. But now Belfast communities are taking steps forward, and though they have a ways to go (just like every country ever), I think its important to honor the progress that has been made.