Cultural Difference Part 1: Houses

Every home is different no matter where you live. I grew up in Woodbridge, California (picture on the left of manmade lake) where there are about 5 different models of homes. The housing association was strict and your house had to meet many requirements for the exterior (http://www.wva.org/de-arch.htm). For example, your house couldn't be the same color as your neighbors, if you wanted a basketball hoop on the garage it had to be a certain size and have a clear backboard, etc. But when you went into a friends house that was the same model as yours, it was always different inside. Each person adds their personal touch to making a cloned home their own. Nowhere I've lived before has incorporated what the finnish have in their homes.

The Finnish home:

Here in Finland I'm experiencing new things with homes. For the first time in my life, I have a sauna. The Finnish are the inventors of the sauna and pride themselves for this by throwing sauna parties. Sauna parties can be at your house or at your holiday home by the natural lake.

The tiles of the shower floor are heated and the temperature controller is on the wall outside the shower. Because the shower does not have a base, a squeegee is used to push the collected water down the drain in the middle of the shower room.

This next difference is the most interesting. Sometimes you just have to sit longer on the toilet than other times. When this occurs, you don't need to worry about all the wiping. Just use the water spray to help clean yourself. Simple.

Besides the obvious favorite of having a sauna in my home, my second favorite thing is the rack for drying dishes. No dishwasher here, as is a typical European thing, so I'm back to handwashing all my dishes. My least favorite part when cooking. However, the cool part of drying dishes is the dish rack inside the cupboard above the sink. The water drains straight down onto the stainless steel sink. No mess, no fuss.

When entering the house, there are two doors. By having this second entrance way, the house stays more heated during the -30 degree celcius winters.

The windows are all double pane. Another helpful architectural design in keeping the house warm during the below freezing winter.

I'm more than happy with the added character to my home. I'm relaxed, clean, and warm. Couldn't ask for a better way to live.

Kiitos Suomi!

Finland loves Conan O'Brien

It all started with Conan O'Brien creating a mock Presidential campaign add for the re-election of Finnish President Tarja Halonen, all because he looks like her. Because of his humor and uncanny resemblence, the Present (she was re-elected) met with Conan O'Brien back in 2006. When Conan would mention anything having to do with Finland on his talk show, the media in Finland made sure to cover it. With their support for him over the years, Conan has stayed a strong part of Finnish media culture. When his show was no longer airing in Finland in 2010, fans gathered in Helsinki to protest. Their slogan was “Don’t be like a Finnish tv-network, be WITH COCO!” (Coco is Conan's nickname). With the country backing the comedian, Conan's tv show is now showing in Finland.

I watched an episode last night and felt so proud to be in Finland watching the ginger Irish comedian mock others with his quirky jokes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU6ierlsI0I&feature=player_embedded

Donald Duck is naked in Finland too!

You may or may not have heard about the past history of Donald Duck in Finland. The rumor goes...

Back in the late 1970's Donald Duck comic strips were banned from Finland because Donald Duck didn't wear pants.

The truth is that in 1977 budget cuts were being made in Helsinki during financial trouble. The Parliment believed that the comic strips were not in line with the educational goals for the children in Finland and decided to cut the comics from that years budget. The rumor is still believed by many today.

when in Finland...

...do as the Finnish. Tonight I tried Reindeer for the first time. Looked and tasted like beef, just a little more fatty tasting but still good. We ate it with "smashed" potatoes and puolakka (lingdonberry or cowberry in english).

My week in images (and captions)

Lake Pieksanjarvi, the town lake.

Lance wanted a photo. It's ALL about the bike...

One of few friends I allow to use my computer.

Posing like Where's Waldo (or Wally) in front of the Cathedral in Helsinki.

nutrition and performance

I've been here just over a week. I've had volleyball sessions and lifting sessions at all different times throughout the day. The best thing is, we're done by 7pm each night. This is one of my first professional teams I've played on where I don't finish late. Now my eating habits will stay consistent and healthy. It's very important I eat well to keep up my energy and also for recovery. I need a proper balance of carbs and protein before and after each training session. This helps my muscles recover at a faster pace, allowing me to be prepared to go hard the next day again. Usually I will have a small amount of high protein yogurt (like greek yogurt, low in carbs and sugar) and a piece of fruit 1 hour before training. I like to play on a light stomach. After training, I'll have a recovery shake with a ration of 3:1 carbs:protein or if I've just lifted I'll have a protein shake. During training I'll typical snack on a banana to keep my level consistent.

Throughout the day, I try to eat smaller meals. It's in the evening where I pack on my calories. This is only because with 2 training sessions a day, with a few hours to recover in between, the smaller meals won't make me feel full at my next session. Breakfast right now is Wheetabix. Once I'm in my normal living situation, I'll have more protein in the morning such as eggs and toast or greek yogurt. Lunch is typically an omlette with some meat and veg. Dinner is whatever I spend time making. The balance I'll have each night is meat, veg and some carbs. As the season goes on, I'll post my favorite meals (I know you can't wait!)

The part in my nutrition that I feel benefits me most, is eating my protein and carbs before and after each session. I tend to recover well and am less tired. That's not to say I don't get sore and tired, I do!, but my window of recovery is smaller, taking less time to recover.

Feels like a decade ago...

Bogie, my dear friend and former SMC teammate has reminded me that 10 years ago today we were at our first day of training camp at SMC. It's crazy to think it was that long ago. For one, I'm still doing the same thing and two, I don't feel that old. It's amazing the memories that keep coming back to me after thinking more about my freshman year.

1. Being run into the ground every day during training camp.

2. Triple days.

3. Eating my body weight in food after each training session.

4. Meeting other college athletes.

5. Living in the dorms.

6. Our coach saving the last 30 minutes of practice for running (haha)

7. Stretching in lines, seniors in front and freshman in back.

8. Wearing collared jersey's that were too big.

9. Running 300 meters in under 1 minute, 3 times.

10. Ice baths in the large portable pool outside.

Pieksämäki

You know the fun game "spin the globe to see where you will live"? Well I played that game the other day. I spun the globe and when it stopped, my finger landed on Pieksämäki, Finland. A small town in the South East of the country.

I'll be living here for the next 8 months as my preparation for next year's Olympic Games. My International season with Great Britain is now over. It was a more successful summer for the team and a good way to transition into playing in a national league from August to April. I'm fighting for my spot for the Olympic team, so this next year is important for me to continue to improve. So far I've had 2 volleyball sessions and 1 lifting session. I haven't felt that I've needed much a transition to move here and play (it has been only 2 days, so I could feel differently soon). Wherever you are in the world, volleyball is volleyball and it's about delivering your job on court. I've played for 4 teams throughout Europe, this team in Finland being my 5th. I guess moving and playing around the World is now normal for me because I've yet to feel like I'm out of my element.

I don't know the language and it is very unfamiliar to me. I'll learn a word, pronounce it until I say it correctly, and then a few minutes later forget it. It's a little tiring not remembering but I think the more I submerge myself in the language, the more familiar it will sound and the more I will remember. For now, it's important I understand what is going on at training and become as fluent as I can in the Finnish Volleyball language. Which means, I'm starting with numbers...

1	yksi
2	kaksi
3	kolme
4	neljä
5	viisi

The Olympic Venue

Weekend "off" went by fast. Saturday morning/afternoon practice, followed by a regeneration session at the local pool. I'm not a swimmer but the idea of refreshing my muscles with a stretching session in the pool hooked me to go. Well worth smelling like chlorine the rest of the day.

Sunday morning we lifted for 1 1/2 hours, a good session complete with cardio and lifting circuits. By lifting early, it gave us enough time to travel to the center of London to catch our GB men play and also see World #1 and #3, Brazil and USA, battle it out on the Olympic match court for London 2012. The game went to 5 sets, the 5th being close the whole time. Brazil took it in the end, 18-16 (I think). Amazing to watch these two teams play. They are so precise and "text book" in their skills they make volleyball look simple. It's so much better watching these teams play live than on TV. Mainly because the British fans are great at doing the Mexican wave ; ) (If you've ever watched Wimbledon, you know how rowdy the English crowds can get. This is the same at volleyball games in the UK.)

On Monday the 18th and Tuesday the 19th, we, Great Britain Womens Volleyball Team, took to Earls Court to take on Japan and the Netherlands, #3 and #10 in the World. More to follow in my next blog about these incredibly exciting days. The 4 matches we played were the test event for London 2012 in Womens Volleyball.

Saint Mary's College is AMAZING!

Here is an article written by a friend and another journalist at St.Mary's. Thank you!

http://www.smcgaels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=21400&ATCLID=205182992

Why title a blog "The only way is Essex"?

If you ever get bored of American reality TV shows, there are plenty in England to catch up on. Although Hollywood is not here to provide a basis for "The Hills" or New Jersey for "The Jersey Shore", there are places like that in the country. Newcastle in the North of England provides the backdrop for the new reality TV show "Geordie Shore". Subtitles are used regularly because of their accents and their motto is similar to the cast of "Jersey Shore"...Gym, Tan, Laundry.

There is a reality show called "The Only Way is Essex" and it is and truly will always be, the only way. Essex stereotype is girls wearing short mini skirts and high white stilettos, men wearing jeans with a polo shirt tucked in and hair swept to one side. You walk down the main street during the day and people are dressed like they are ready for the night scene (clubbing, dancing, maybe a few drinks). It's a British Award winning reality TV show for a reason. Never watched it? Catch up on youtube or find something more productive to do.

The only way is Essex

Day 2 in Essex done. A morning session of defense and an afternoon session of blocking. An intense day of competing. I love blocking but in order to get there this afternoon, we had to first focus on digging. Oh my! Defense is great an all, digging balls up high for the setter to run the offense, but it tends not to be a middles forte. It's all about the fire and desire to want to get every ball up. So although I may not be technically sound, if I throw my body around enough like our Libero, I'm sure to get something up! Easy enough. ; )

Blocking a ball has to be one of the best feelings in the world. I love just roofing another player, feeling the ball contact my hand at just the perfect place for it to go straight down! Nothing like it. A reaction after a block is clearly natural. Everyone celebrates blocks in different ways...someone might run around in a circle after a block, others throw there hands in the air, etc but no matter what the celebration is, everyone is smiling and celebrating with you. Although I love the feeling of the ball hitting my hand, if my teammate I'm blocking with or just a teammate blocking in general, gets a block, it's so exciting I feel like I celebrate more for them then when I do. Needless to say, I think it's the best part of volleyball.

Many players were challenging each other more at training today. Even if they don't notice they are, I felt like the environment was more competative than previous training sessions. We had trash talking, hitters testing the block wiping off hands, hitting seems, hitting high, etc. All in good nature the trash talking, we are ladies, and it made teammates wanting to block the ball even more. An example? One pair was challenging each other on whoever scored the least amount of points had to wash the dishes after dinner. Others, giving them the stare down through the net. Amazing how much more competition we can bring to drills.

The only way is Essex

7 days left with my GB teammates. We wait all year to be back with each other again, and the time just flies by. Mind you, some times have gone by slowly, but as a whole, we've traveled so many places in a short amount of time that you forget what day it is, the date, sometimes even the month. I found it hard at most places without internet to blog. Just an excuse, I know, but I'm not geeky enough to figure out how to post a blog online without Internet. ; ) With all of our traveling around the South American and also just in the cities we stay, I found little time to write my blogs. If I did, I honestly was too tired to concentrate at 11pm (when we were free) to sit and think.

Currently in Essex, enjoying the dorm life again. This time, the beds are much more comfortable and the room set up is handy. How? Well, the toilet is literally in between (on top of ) the sink and the shower . I'm sure I could come up with a good time saving strategy.

These next 7 days are important to the development of the team. Although we don't have any big matches to look forward to, we have found motivation within ourselves and each other to continue to work hard and towards goals. It should be an intense training period before we head out to our clubs for the next 8 months.

26-30th May

GBR or according to the Peruvians we should write it GRB, has kick started our season with a our first tournament in the Latina Cup. The Tournament started Friday and finishes today, Monday, with playoffs. We will play Chile at 4:30pm (2:30pm PST).

Thursday was a day off from matches and our first day with some down time. Enough time to nap and get addicted to the new Real World Las Vegas. Quality TV. The day was full of 1 training session and meetings.

Here is a run down to my schedule the past few days:

Friday 27 May, GB vs. Thailand

7:30am Breakfast

8:15am Leave for training

9-11am Training

12:30pm Lunch

1:15pm Video

2:30pm Leave for Match

4:30pm Match scheduled

8:30pm Dinner

Our Match was scheduled for 4:30pm. However, when we showed up, the floor was still being laid down, the net still being put up, etc. There was no prep for us to start at 4:30pm. I believe our game started around 5pm and we played on a net that was definitely not the right height. I can safely say that in Peru they are not as precise about things as we are in England.

We lost in 4 to the quick playing Thailand.

Saturday, 28 May vs. Chile

7:45am Breakfast

8:30am Leave for training

9-10:30am Training

11:45am Lunch

1:30pm Video

2:30pm Snack

3pm Leave for Game

5pm Game time!

8:30pm Dinner

We beat Chile in 3!

Sunday, 29 May vs. Peru

8:30am Breakfast

9:15am Leave for training

10-11:30am Training at game venue!

12:30pm Lunch

3:15pm Snack

3:30pm Video

4pm Leave for game

6pm Game vs. Peru

9pm Dinner

We lost in a tough game to Peru in 3. We fought and it was close but we couldn't pull it out in the end.

Monday (today), 30 May vs. Chile

Playoff day!

9:30am Breakfast

10-11:40 Pack

11:50 Video

12:30pm Lunch

2:30pm Leave for Match

4:30pm Match

I've been here in Lima since Wednesday, going on 6 days in one place! It's been nice to feel settled for a few days. I can't say I really unpacked or was organised, that would be silly. At least my roommate is ok with my organised mess. We leave tonight for a flight at 11pm for Argentina and arrive in Buenos Aires around 5 or 6am. Our time in Argentina will be similar to Peru. We will be having a tour of matches around the country, which means back to living in planes and buses. I love it but my hip flexers don't. Sitting takes a lot out of you!

I'm starting to prepare for tonights match by...relaxing. I have some good music and I'm reading Chelsea Handler's new book "Lies that Chelsea Handler Told Me". It's hilarious the stories that people tell about practical jokes Chelsea Handler pulls on them. She's so incredible smart and funny!

And just so you don't worry, I'm catching up on Modern Family tonight. The episodes downloaded and ready to watch. I've missed my American TV shows.

I'll try and post an update on the game but if not, check out faceboook and our gbwomesvolleyball.co.uk website.

Peace.

Day 6, 7, 8...23-25 May

With little down time, I’ve been using what valuable time we have between traveling and matches to sleep. Just the thought of writing a blog was too much effort. And besides traveling and playing, I’ve little else to tell. Or maybe you’d like to hear about the food we eat, the food poisoning people have gotten (knock on wood, I haven’t been sick yet), our traveling conditions, etc.

Since I just heard you all say yes you’d love to hear all my random stories, I’m going to ramble on for a few paragraphs.

The airports are interesting in the fact that our boarding cards always say the departing time about 45 minutes earlier than we actually need to be at the gate. We’ve yet to take off on time, either traffic or one time there was a helicopter accident at the airport we were to be traveling to. This doesn’t help with our strict schedule since we travel the day we play. On Monday, our game was changed from 6pm to 8pm which meant that the 1,500 fans waiting 2 hours for us to show up. They were more than welcoming when arrived. Last night, Tuesday, our game was changed from 7pm to 8pm. It’s amazing that they can just change the time of the game, especially when the whole town of Moquegua was waiting to watch us. Total of 3,000 or so fans last night.

Moquegua is a city north of Tacna about 3 hours by bus. We drove through desert and more desert to get to a desert town full of green landscape surrounded by sandy mountains. Buildings are all mud/stone looking and don’t look nice outside but inside they all seem very modern. The city is provided water by a nearby river and is know for growing avocados and grapes. Fact of the day, tell your friends.

Tacna is the most patriotic city in Peru, located in the southern most part of the country 40 km from Chile. Also a desert city but not as desolate as Moquegua. I was able to sneak a photo (I should be a spy) of a Peruvian cowboy sitting drinking a beer with his sunglasses and cowboy hat on. It was exciting.

We’re heading back to Lima now. I’m sat again waiting for our flight at Tacna airport. I’ve had a great time so far being in South America, playing for Great Britain, and experiencing memories I will never forget.

To be continued...

21-22 May Calca, Peru

Our bus, hotel and the breathtaking beauty of Calca, Peru.

A peaceful view of the Sacred River behind our hotel...Q'awana Boutique Lodge

Pre game

The mob of fans to get from the gym to the bus.

Day 5: Sunday 22 May travel and training day

I’m currently writing this blog looking down at the Andes from my window seat on Air Peru. Aisle seat is always awkward to try and look out the window. I always feel like the person sitting at the window seat feels I’m staring at them. I’m not.

Flying today from Calca back to Lima, our original city of stay in Peru. I think the current count is 7 flights in 5 days. I’ve never considered an airplane or airport my second home but I may have to on this trip. Usually it’s the volleyball gym as my second home. We’ve played 2 matches and will have had 3 training sessions in 5 days. I’ve never traveled so much in such a short period of time.

Totally worth all the traveling to see the sights we saw today and yesterday (and to play in the presense of the Peru fans). We arrived in Cusco yesterday lunchtime and then had a 1 ½ bus journey through the Andes, on a narrow dirt road, to get to Calca. The views were amazing. We passed through the Sacred Valley and many other little towns with houses built from what looks like mud. Each town had a significant purpose. I don’t know the names but I do remember that one town harvested the largest corn, another breeded pidgeons, and one was home to wild life including llamas.

We arrived in Calca in the early afternoon, not giving us much time before our game at 6pm. However, our new home for the night was a rustic cottage like hotel at the base of some of the most gorgeous mountains. The Sacred River ran through the back of the hotel which provided the only noise in the area. Can’t complain about the sound of rushing water! Oh wait, I did here some sheep baaaing but that’s besides the point. Only nature surrounded us.

Our match was moved to 6:30pm due to our (us and the Peru NT) late arrival to the capital of Calca region.

We arrived at the gym to be once again greeted by mobs of Peru fans. There was even a Union Jack being held by some fans! 5,000+ fans cheering the whole match. Our tiredness wore off on our arrival to such an impressive turnout of fans in desolate mountain town.

We lost. It wasn’t our GB performance and we are more than pumped to play Peru again tomorrow night in another city. That means….another flight tomorrow. Maybe I can rack up some air miles to come back??? We were only 100km away from Machu Piccu while in Calca...

Day 4, Saturday 21 May…Travel day and GAME DAY

Currently sitting at Arequipa airport waiting for our flight to Cusco, a city 246 miles North East of here. Our second game against Peru is tonight at 6pm.

Last nights game was a good start to our 2011 season. We lost in 3 but it was close and we came out and played well. Peru is currently ranked 15^th in the World.

The gym we played at was only down the street from our hostel but they had us take a police escorted van to the game and for good reason. The crowd of Peru fans surrounded the outside of the gym, leaving us little room to enter. We had to stay close together and hold our bags in front of us. Once in the gym, we were greeted by a cheer of 2,000+ crazy Peru fans. They cheered as we walked down the steps, across the court, and into our changing room. Ba ba Americano was also blasting as we walked in making it so incredibly loud!

Throughout the game the fans were consistent in their noise level, making it hard to hear each other. When the game was over, the fans rushed the court and we were mobbed for photos and autographs. Think we’ve learned from the Peru team that as soon as the game is over, to go straight to our changing room.

The Peru National Team here are celebrities. It was even more difficult for them to leave the gym. They have an incredible fan base and I loved playing last night in this environment. Such a great way to start the season!

We head back tomorrow morning to Lima. I’m not sure how long we will be there until we are off again on our tour of Peru with the Peru National Team. No time for sightseeing but the experience so far of playing and traveling in Peru is magical! ; )

Day 3, Friday 20 May...GAME DAY!

Hola!

It’s GAME DAY! We just had our last training session before our match later tonight. We got down and dirty at training this morning. It was definitely an interesting court to play on. Besides the net sagging and having no antennas, the floor was dirrrrttyy. Not to worry, we cleaned it. Our first drill was defense, so my white kneepads are not so white anymore and my navy blue shirt “looked like I’d just been dragged out of a chimney” (to quote my teammate LB).

We have to deal with a lot of “what ifs” while traveling and competing. Although this gym wasn’t ideal to practice in, we worked on staying focused on our play and preparing for tonights game.

Lunch was interesting as well. Original time for lunch was 12pm, which then was pushed back to 12:30pm and when we were sitting there waiting patiently, the food didn’t come out until 1pm. Soup with a chicken drumstick, a piece of potato, a giant section of corn on the cob, pumpkin, pasta, and oil made up our starter. Followed by rice, some sort of meat and sauce, veggies and a potato. Not something I would normally eat on a game day but I’ll make do.

Below are some pics taken today in the van on the way to training:

Former snow-capped volcano El Misti

The beauty of Arequipa, Peru.

Morning practice gym. This is not the same gym we are playing in tonight.

Day 2, Thursday 19 May

Another travel day...

Our day was a typical training day. Breakfast at 8am, practice 10-12pm, and lunch 1pm. The only difference was now that we had to pack a bag for the next 3 days. A task more difficult than it should have been. Not knowing what to expect as far as weather and food, I tend to over pack. Because we were treated so well at our hotel in Lima, it was hard to think we wouldn't get the same thing in our new city of Arequipa.

Arequipa is 476 miles from Lima. A short flight away.

Ok, so that's what we did until we left at 3:30pm for the airport...packed and hung out. My legs are still adjusting to all this traveling. They ache and I couldn't imagine how much more they would have ached if I didn't wear my skins to travel in.

Our drive to the airport was interesting. Great people watching as we passed by roadside flee markets people walking up and down the stopped traffic selling newspapers, candy, maps, etc. and unfortunately a few of us saw a road side accident that was a little morbid. I couldn't imagine how many accidents there are here with crazy driving and people walking and weaving in and out of traffic looking all but unaware of the machines built of metal next to them.

Now at the airport, we recieved our boarding passes that could easily be mistaken for a receipt. Also, the highlight of our day (no the highlight was not jumping onto another plane) was being given a voucher for a free coffee and donut at Dunkin Donuts. Maybe we were a little overexcited for something free. To make a long story short we thought the Dunkin Donuts was past security but it wasn't. So a teammate went out and back through security with 17 donuts and coffees. We were last on the plane but at least we were happy. It's the little things that count.

Once we arrived in Arequipa the coldness of the Alps hit us. Since it was dark, all we could see was the moon and the flashes from the cameras of paparatise. Well, it was more like just a few press cameras. Escorted by police, we arrived at our hostel just after 9pm. Yep, this hotel is a little different from the one in Lima. With heavy sheets on the bed, little walking space in the room, bars on the windows, and a tv positioned on the wall at an angle I'm convinced is about to fall on my bed, makes it harder to settle in.

By 10pm we were done with our dinner and beyond tired. Another day down in Peru.

The second gym we trained at in Lima. Open sides on the venue allowed birds to fly in and out.

The team at Lima airport in our new Animal gear. Animal surf wear provided us with kit for the summer.

Day 1, Tuesday 18th May

Alive and all is well in Peru!

We arrived to the smell of fish. Not being cooked or barbequed but rather the smell of the little guys swimming around in the ocean. Our hotel is about 30min from the airport, and yes, it also smells like fish over here. On the bus over to Kingdom Hotel, we escaped the crazy driving of the locals. Well it may not be crazy and chaotic to them but I’m not used to seeing small vans packed with people and cars not using the lanes to stay in. Safe to say, the horns work on everyone’s cars.

Our hotel is 5 star…Internet, tv, beds that are comfy, good food, etc. we are spoiled right now. Who knows what is to come at the next city but at least here in Lima we are being looked after like the Queen’s we are!

The rest of our day looked a little something like this:

9am breakfast

Nap until lunch at 1pm

2:30pm meeting

4:30pm massage session

5:30pm snack

6:40pm depart for gym

7-9pm training

9:30pm dinner

10pm shower, internet, bed!

Travel Day, 17th-18th May

Sometimes things don’t go as planned. But as we say on our team “planning is for fools." Schedules always change and therefore we have learned over the years not to plan to do something because most likely you won’t get to do it. Our day began like this:

As a team, we met at 1:15am to pack full our rental cars with bags and people. Departed on time 15 minutes later. With a quick coffee break at 3am, we were at the airport by 4:30am. Our original flight was scheduled for 7:20am, so we were good on time. With a few minutes to hang out, we stocked up on meal deals from Boots (sandwich, yogurt and a drink) and fueled up with some coffee and fruit toast from Starbucks.

All aboard our flight for Madrid, we sat in the airplane for 2 hours while the engineer had look at the breaks. Too broken to fix in a short time, we then returned to the gate and unloaded the plane. Went to baggage claim, picked up our bags and returned to the same Terminal. Stranded, we waited until we knew when we could get out next flight.

In the meantime, a few of us decided a game of rugby would entertain us. 4 v 4, we played an intense game outside Terminal 3 at Heathrow airport. People loved us as they tried to walk by. Now sweating, it was finally time to check in for our hopeful flight to Lima via Madrid.

By 5:50pm we were on our way to South America! Only 12 hours after arriving in London. A quick 2 ½ hour flight later, we were once again hanging out in an airport before our final 12 hour flight to Lima, Peru. We’ve mastered as a team the stages of no sleep and travel. First you eat from boredom, then you try to nap, with no success, you eat some more, and then come up with random games to play like rugby, charades, etc. The second to last stage, the last being just so exhausted you could fall asleep anywhere, is delirium. I’ve taken some great photos with photo booth, none my teammates would want me to share, but it entertained us for a good 45 minutes.

The flight to Lima actually went by really fast. 12 hours later we arrived to the smell of the ocean and a stray dog that followed us to our bus.

It was one heck of a travel day, one my legs are still recovering from. With my best friends the foam roller, hydration packs and my skins, I will hopefully be ready for training in 4 hours time.

Total players: 13

Total staff: 4

Total bags: 25

Total hours flying: 15

Total hours sitting on a grounded plane: 2

Total hours wasting time in Heathrow: 12 1/2

Total hours hanging around Madrid airport: 4

Total calories consumed: a lot

Total hours to get from Sheffield, England to Lima, Peru: 36

Total showers: 0

Even with everything happening the way it did, I’m still so excited to be in South America (this is my first time here!) and can’t wait for our first match vs. Peru on Friday the 20^th.

Waiting to check in for the second time, this was base camp for the morning/afternoon.

Amazed my pants didn't fall down catching this ball. Rules were like netball, you couldn't run once you caught the ball and had to touch the post with the ball for a point.

Resting before our flight to Lima and teammates showing off our new compression socks! Rock on!

From the golden state to city of steel

It's been an intense time in Sheffield with tryouts. 2 weeks of players leaving and GB players coming back from their respective clubs in Europe. We had a total of 24 loyal Brits fighting for a spot on the Great Britain National Team. This is more than we've had in the past. With the Olympics just over a year away (438 days!) our preparation as a team is so important. Reality is setting in as teammates are being cut that have been part of the program since 2006/07. Everyone is vital part of our success as a team. Each person has sacrificed everything they can to take part in developing the GB team. We don't have funding, we're not being payed to play (we had in the past but this was just enough to get by), well to put it simply, our National team has so much heart and determination to be our best by 2012, that we are doing whatever we can to support each other and find ways around the things we don't have. So those teammates and friends that have left the team, are still and always will be a huge part of our success.

This past week, we've had training twice a day (2 hour sessions), lifting, and testing. Testing included jump tests, sprints, and the yo-yo test. If you ever want a fun workout, do the yo-yo test. The test starts of with a run then turns into a sprint, and you are done when you physically cannot run anymore. As volleyball players, we love this test! We finished our weeks of tryouts with a 5 hour meeting covering information for the summer and future. Sunday and today have been wonderful days off. Lots of coffee dates, relaxing and a great Sunday roast.

I'm traveling in a few hours to South America. For 3 weeks I will be in Lima, Peru and Buenos Aires, Argentina. We will be playing against Peru, Argentina, Thailand, Chile and another team tbc. You can follow the team on our website:

www.gbwomensvolleyball.co.uk

and like us on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/GBWomensVolleyballTeam

Adios!

May 7th

Well I’ve made it back to Sheffield, my second home. Since 2007 our team has been center based here. The familiarity makes things simple to settle back into. I arrived here on Thursday, Cinco de Mayo. I was able to take a quick cat nap and head to my first training session with GB since July 2010. My tiredness was masked by my overall excitement to be with my teammates again and playing. I think people probably thought I was weird, as I sat on the train from Manchester airport to Sheffield with a smile on my face listening to my iPod. It was the thought of seeing my team again that kept that smile on my face.

So I’ve had two training sessions with the team. Using both to loosen my legs, get a feeling of playing again, and getting used to our system of play. I’d forgotten what we called a quick set (FYI it’s an “A” not a “1”, “quick”, “einze”, or “fix”). I’m back into it, wasn’t hard to remember after a play or two.

I’ve been lucky this week; since I’ve arrived we’ve only had one session a day. Giving me time to sleep and get used to the sun shining until 11pm. We start two days again on Monday, May 10^th. I’m currently living in student accommodation with 8 other girls. I’m not going to complain about free housing but I will describe my bed for you to make your own judgments. I won’t describe the smell of the halls because if you’re eating right now, it may put you off your food. If you like sleeping on a “mattress” that when you roll over, the springs push into your body, you’d love it here. I’m not bony, I’ve got some meat on my bones (no fatty comments), but I feel like I’m boney when I roll over and the springs push against my rib cage. I might gain a few fat pounds just so I have some cushioning when I sleep in this bed. The food is healthy enough for me to gain weight in no time: Fish n’chips, Cadbury chocolate, sausages…yummy!

Lunch is provided for us at the local private hospital. This is also where I had my shoulder surgery back in January 2009. Always good to revisit a hospital where I had great memories. The food is actually very good. We are treated well and it’s my best meal of the day. I love my porridge in the morning, nothing will ever beat that, but we’re given full course meals at the Claremont (I’m omitting hospital in the name because it sounds better. Don’t confuse it with the spa/hotel in Berkeley).

I miss California and speaking with everyone on a daily basis. So, I’m listening to country, watching Arrested Development and looking at pictures, to make me miss you all even more.

May the 8^th be with you.