• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

May 28, 2008

Bok from the effulgent coastal town of Pula!

Today was a semi-uneventful day in volleyball world (meaning no matches). We left Zagreb at the lovely hour of 8:00 am (Bridget was not as talkative as I was at the breakfast table) and arrived somewhere around 12:30 pm. Woo-hoo for bus rides. After checking into our new hotel and grabbing a carbo-filled lunch (pasta and bread!) we had a "short and intense" practice before driving another hour and a half to watch the Russian national team practice. Talk about some BIG girls. Unfortunately, they were just wrapping up practice when we arrived. However, it was pretty awesome that we got a chance to watch them play, thanks to Mr. Momic (Coach's dad). Because most of our day consisted of driving through the mountain tunnels of Croatia, I have decided to jot down a few highlights from the trip. Also, randomness is more my style. So here is my top five tidbits from Croatia!

1. Mmmmm Milka and Euro-Creme: Whenever my parents come to visit they always bring me a few dozen cookies from my grandmother. Let me tell you they do things differently in Europe and I am perfectly okay with this cultural difference. Ksenija's parents brought us two dozen Milka (chocolate bars of goodness) and two pails (as in small buckets) of Euro creme (a.k.a. buckets of chocolate spread).

2. Can We Take Your Picture? Yesterday as we were exploring downtown Zagreb, three young Croatian men asked if they could take our picture. Apparently 10 American girls walking around is quite the spectacle. Not wanting to be rude, we all huddled team picture style with the boys for a quick shot. However, we were surprised to find that none of the boys actually had a camera. Apparently they just wanted us to take their picture and email it to them? Hopefully they have Facebook.

3. Cozy Quarters: At our first hotel we had twin beds that were normally spaced but a few inches off the ground. Today when we arrived at our hotel in Pula we found the beds at a normal height but only centimeters a part. Needless the team is definitely getting "closer" on the trip.

4. Mixed-up Times: I am not sure that I should admit this but people would assume nothing less from me. When I travel I usually do not switch my watch to the local time because I like to have a little mathematical fun when I tell time. Thus, in Croatia when someone asks me what time it is I have to add seven hours to what my watch reads. This usually does not pose a problem, however, my little fascination did not work so well at five thirty this morning when I frantically woke Steph and Liz up. I thought it was 7:40 which would have made us ten minutes late to breakfast. Thankfully my math skills aren't quite as sharp at that hour and it was only 5:40 am. Sorry guys. They got to catch up on the Zs on the bus ride.

5. Foreign Families: One of the best things about coming overseas to the beautiful land of Croatia has been meeting the parents of our foreign teammates. After being around Luna, Sara and Ksen's parents for the past few days there is no doubt they are all perfect combinations of their parents. Luna got her mischievous smile from her mom, Sara inherited her dad's obsession with tidiness (he puts plastic wrap around the remote!) and Ksen got her sweet, girly mannerisms from her beautiful mother.

Well it is getting late (12:39 am) and I am technically breaking curfew to blog (I think coach will let it slide), so I will wrap it up. The trip has been quite an experience and I am so grateful for all the hard work the coaches have put into making it possible. TUVB is going to be better both on and off the court because of our Croatian adventure!

Laku Noc (goodnight),

Ashley