One month!

Hola!

So it is officially one month until I get to come home for Christmas break, and I am so anxious!  The past two weeks my mom has been here – she leaves tomorrow actually.  It was nice to have her here and spend some time with her and show her around Vilnius a little bit.  There isn't too much to do here but we covered a lot of different things.  We climbed the hill with the three crosses, went to Trakai Castle, walked around Old Town, visited the National Museum of Lithuania and went to the mall almost everyday.  The mall is like the place to go here, especially because the grocery stores are inside the mall.  She also got to see four of my basketball games.  Three Lithuanian League and one Euro-League. I have gotten used to her being here, and it’s nice to have a familiar face around.  The ten days she was here went by very fast, but it was a great visit! I am going to miss her, but I keep reminding myself one more month until I am home!!!!! It’s literally on repeat in my mind.

Also, for the two weeks my mom has been here she has made friends with people in our apartment building.  The first day she arrived in Lithuania my mom waited in our apartment for Sophie and I to be finished practice. When we returned there was a pile of cigarette buds all over our front door mat.  My mom told me that the people in our apartment building thought that WE were smoking in the building.  She approached a lady walking down the stairs to ask why someone would do this, and that is what the lady explained to my mom.  So my mom had to explain to her that we were basketball players and smoking is the last thing we would be doing.  We found out later that our neighbor had a visitor who was smoking in the staircase, but considering we are new, I guess we are easy targets.  But we have been here for over a month already, so why would we all of the sudden start smoking? Beats me…moral of the story, get to know your neighbors, or just don't smoke.  

My mom also met another girl, Lina, who lives above us who is my age and is studying to be a doctor.  Later that week she brought us down a homemade Lithuanian cake as a welcoming gift.  Lina and her mother also stopped by our apartment last night and brought us many Lithuanian desserts.  One of the desserts was what they call "apple cheese."  All it is basically is chopped up apples with sugar and the texture is almost like a gelatin.  AMAZING!  Lithuania knows how to do dessert, that's for sure.  

On the basketball side of things, in the past three Lithuanian league games we have scored 100 points against the other teams and we are currently undefeated in the league as well. The funny part is that in the three games we scored 100 points, I have scored the 100th point on a three pointer in all three games.  The third game I was sitting on the bench at the end of the game and there were 97 points on the board and my teammates were like "Coach, you need to put Hollie in."  So she put me in the game and I passed the ball three different times for one of my teammates to score the 100th point, and finally the next possession down the trainer for our team yelled just shoot the ball Hollie, so I did, and again I scored the 100th point.  It was very comical.  The best part is, I was like 2-10 from the three-point line…go figure.  

Wednesday we played our second Euro-League game against Spain.  I was so excited for them to come just so I could speak the VERY little spanish that I know, but its more than the Lithuanian I know.  All I got to say was Hola though...We won our second Euro-League game which is huge.  We are now ranked as a top 10 team in Europe and also beat the team who was Euro-League champs in 2011 and have two WNBA players.  One of the girls actually is represented by the same agent as me and we recognized each other and spoke after the game.  She has been playing professionally for six years and also plays for Chicago Sky.  As a team we are playing very well together, and obviously winning is fun.  When I first got here I was struggling a little bit, but I am doing better and better with each game.  The more comfortable and experienced I get, the more I am able to contribute on the floor.  We were underdogs going into the Euro-League and now we are the talk of the league because of how well we are doing! 

Our next Euro-League game is next week in Croatia.  I get excited to travel because I get to go to countries I have never been before, and probably would have never gone to if it wasn't for basketball.  There are links to watch the game, so I will post it on my Facebook for the next game. 

I am trying to find things to do to keep me busy.  Sophie and I usually go to Impulse, which is equivalent to a YMCA in America, and workout.  There is a hip-hop class that they teach every Tuesday and Thursday nights with a professional male dancer who is great ;) !!!! The class is actually more of a dance class than it is a workout. Don't get me wrong, you still get a workout in, but the focus is more on doing the moves of the dance properly.  By the end of the class the instructor has choreographed an entire dance for us to perform at the end.  It is a lot of fun.  Although I am not the greatest dancer, I love to dance so I am going to pick this up as my new hobby in Lithuania.  It's something to do that isn’t basketball.  It's nice because I don't have to understand what the instructor is saying because I can follow the moves visually, and he also counts out the steps and I understand Lithuanian numbers.  

Well, I will be home in no time!!! For a solid seven days.  I am working on getting a couple extra days home even its just a day more.  Can't wait!!! See ya soon!

Byee!!!

Just traveling Country to Country. Nbd

Cześć (hi in polish) 

So this has been a crazy week with a lot of traveling!  We left for Poland on Monday morning at 8am and arrived at 10pm! It was a 14-hour bus trip, but we stopped every two hours for at least 5-10 minutes.  Poland is a very large country so it made no sense to fly because the airport we would have landed in was still eight hours away from our destination.  When we arrived in Poland we had one free day before our game so we were able to walk around the town of Polkowice a bit.  The town was small, but very cute. 

 

On Wednesday we had our first Euro-League game! It was very exciting, and the gym was packed!  We played against a Polish team who had Janel McCarville, who is  WNBA All Star and champion for the Minnesota Lynx.  We upset them which was the best part.  This is a top team in the Euro-League.  We were up by double digits the entire game until the last quarter.  They started to come back, but we hung on to our lead and finished with a victory.  The fans here really get into the game which I love.  After the game the fans were congratulating us, and some waited after to get our autographs.  I always find it amusing when fans of the other team do that.  What I like most about my team is that we are very team oriented.  We play team basketball, share the ball, look for the best shot possible in an offensive possession.  Our defense is strong as well, but we are still working on communicating better.  After the game we went back to our hotel, ate, then loaded the bus for another 14-hour trip back home.  We arrived in Lithuania at 12pm, and then I slept for the rest of the day.  I am a sleep-aholic, I am very good at sleeping haha. 

 

The same day we arrived home, Sophie and I went to our men’s game later that night.  They are also in the Euro-League.  They played a team from Israel.  Sophie knew one of the guys on the Israeli team because he played at the same college as her.  He also played for Conestoga High School which is right by my house at home.  I did not know who he was, but when I told my mom who I was going to watch play she told me that we went to the same pre-school and were friends when we were younger.  Such a small world let me tell you. 

 

The day after we got back from Poland, we had a three-hour bus trip to another part in Lithuania to play a game, which we won (we scored more than 100 points).  Then we had a three-hour drive back home and did not get in until 11:30pm.  So if you total the amount of hours I spent on a bus this week, 34 hours=Insane. I think I listened to every song on my iPhone three times in one trip.  I also read a lot.  I am reading a new book called Blink.  It's about the power of thinking without actually thinking. 

 

The most exciting part of my week is about to begin.  MY MOM COMES TOMORROW!!!!! She is on her flight at this moment, and arrives Sunday at 1:40pm and I will be picking her up in my new whip, Camry Prius, VIP style.  I respect the Prius, nice and roomie inside, and the gas mileage is AMAZING.  I only have to pay for gas like once every two months.  Anyway, she is coming, and she is leaving on the 22nd, right before Thanksgiving, ughhh.  But the day she leaves marks one month till I get to come HOME!  Open house party, all are invited-hahaha.  Always wanted to have one of those.  

 

Ok well, I don't think there is anything else left to say.  I have two games this week, and another Euro-League game the following week against a team from Spain I believe – guess I need to check that.  Still missing home, and still missing everyone back in America, but I like to think I am tough, so I am going to "keep on, keepin' on."  

 

OOO and congrats to my DREXEL BALLER DRAGONS on beating Toledo- you guys are simply amazing, what a great way to start off the season with a solid win!!! So proud of you girlies.  Shout out to Foners (Fiona) with a career high of 19 points!!!!!!  If you are reading this and you do not attend Drexel Women's Basketball games, shame on you :) haha it's worth your time I promise!!! They take on nova today at 12pm so tune in!!!

 Pożegnanie! (goodbye in polish)

One month!

Labas! So I have official been here in Lithuania for one month!!! I arrived on September 26, which I could never forget because it was my birthday.  Crazy, who would have thought! Everything has been going well so far.  We had our first three official games in the Lithuanian League.   Our first game was against a team that played in dresses…We won, don’t worry.  The day I lose to a team who wears dresses will be the end of my career, haha kidding! The second game we won by about 30 points, and the third game we also won, but we started out the game down by 20 points.  Fortunately we turned things around in the second half and ended up winning by at least that much. We are still in the midst of building chemistry with one another and with each game I think it’s developing more and more so when Euroleague games start we should be ready.  

The Euroleague is going to be very tough.  We actually played a “friendly” game against a team in Russia, and they recently signed Diana Taurasi and Candace Parker to their roster.  They were not on the team when we played them though, yet they were still amazing.  If you do not know who these women are, they are the top players in the WNBA.  So, that is the type of competition we will be going against.  No biggie… I am excited for those games to start though, competitive games are always more exciting.  Some of the teams we play are teams from Russia, Spain, Poland, Croatia, Turkey and Czech Republic. Our first Euroleague game is next week in Poland.  We play on Wednesday, November 6th.  We leave on Monday, and the team we are playing is 14 hours away. I was told it was four but just found out. And the best part is that we ate taking a bus!!!!!!! So stoked let me tell ya. If there is a website to watch Euroleague games I will post it on my Facebook, if interested.

 

I have not done a lot of exploring lately.  We usually have two practices a day, or a practice and lift.  We also started to play games and soon we will be playing 2-3 games a week.  Basketball keeps me busy, and when I have time to myself I watch Scandal, haha.  Great show, so I am trying to catch up.  

 

I went to one of the men’s games. They lost to a Russian team, but it was a good game and they are fun to watch. The stadium gets very loud, and here they are allowed to have those loud, very annoying horns.  They actually bring them to our games too, and I am not sure if I’m a fan of it. After the game Sophie and I went to the mall searching for some store to fix my iPad.  On the way I was reading the name of the store off the paper, or attempted to, and some guy turned around that was walking in front of me to see who was speaking.  By the look on his face I obviously was not pronouncing it right and I am pretty sure he thought I was illiterate.  I was tempted to tell him I was American but I couldn’t stop laughing.  I didn’t really care, I was laughing at myself before he could even turn around to look at me. 

My mom is coming to visit on November 10th for about a week and a half! I am very excited for her visit and to take her around the city!  It will be nice to have her here.  But then she has to leave so she can get home to prepare for Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday). :(

 

I still miss home, but I get a Christmas break and my flight home is December 22nd! The day the Eagles play ‘da’ Bears aka Corey Wootton!! Honestly though, I do not know what I’d do without technology because the constant contact back home helps me so much! Also if anyone is curious about anything, like questions about the country or the basketball I can add them in my next blog!

 

Sudie Pasiilgau! (bye, miss you all)

 

Still in Lithuania

Labas,

So Sophie and I moved into our apartment finally. Our apartment is nice, it is two floors and three bedrooms.  I took the room with the childish mouse wallpaper, naturally. We were left without Internet for about a week, which was terrible!! So everyday for a week we would go to the mall once or twice for a couple of hours just to connect with the world back home.  We were regulars at a mall and would sit at the Coffee Inn and skype and what not, it was pretty funny.  The mall we go to has a movie theater, bowling ally and ice skating rink, it is intense. Sophie and I are also sharing a car but it's stick shift.  While my dad was here he taught me the basics of driving.  In my head I understand how to drive it but I struggle to remember to push the clutch in while changing the gear, so the car staled multiple times, whoops.  I will get it eventually..

The driving here is a tad more agressive and I feel like they make up their own driving rules.  The other day my teammate and I were driving to practice and there was rush hour, but it was moving along.  We soon realized that we were driving in the middle of two lanes.  I guess here in Lithuania when there is traffic they create an extra lane on a 2 lane highway.  One thing is for sure, I am bringing that move back to American because I hate traffic.  So don't be surprised if all the sudden you are driving in the middle of a highway because I will be setting the trend soon enough.  Also, there was a highway biker riding in between the cars...Oh, and since I have been here I have seen ONE stop sign.

When I have free time to myself I try to practice my Lithuanian. I can count to twenty, name all the body parts, a few foods and some every day words (please, thank you, yes, no ect).  It's funny because when my coach is speaking in Lithuanian to the team I stand there paying attention like I actually understand what is being said. Some of the girls call me out and tell me to stop nodding my head pretending like I know what she is saying.  I do try to see if I can make out any words, but it is a struggle.  Usually one of the girls on the team stands next to me and translates everything that is being said.  The coach translates in English unless she is yelling at us.  I guess that works in my favor..

 Also on my free time I have been able to sightsee a bit.  I climbed a pretty steep mountain that overlooked the city of Vilnius.  At the top of the mountain was also "The Three Crosses," which were built to honor monks martyred in the 14th century.  The original crosses that were built were removed by the Soviets, but then were rebuilt in 1989.  We also visited The Castle in Trakai Lithuania which was very cool.  The Castle sits on an island on a lake. The town the Castle was in was small, but very cute, and looked like a vacation town.  

Practices have been going well.  We have had a couple two-a-days, but nothing I am not used to.  The mens arena is connected to ours and they usually practice right after us.  I am assuming they are a big deal, considering that when I left the gym all of their cars were parked outside with their name and number printed on the side of the car. I guess in case they forget which car is theirs...I don't know.  Anyways, our first game is Friday, for the Lithuanian League and our Euro-league games start in November I believe. 

I am still enjoying myself, but I am missing home which is normal I guess.  I mean I missed home at times even when I was 30 minutes away, but now I don't have the comfort of being able to just go home when I want. Oh well...
Alrighty, well I miss you all and until next time..

Tootles!!!! 

I made it!

Hello!
So I have made it a full week here in Lithuania, which is a good sign, I think.  The flight over here was not that bad.  I flew to Frankfort, Germany and then to Lithuania.  My second flight was quite interesting because I put my bag in an overhead compartment, sat down, and then some man came and took my bag out and threw it on the floor and started yelling at me in German.  The lady behind me realized I did not speak the language so she began to yell back at him so he took my bag and put it back.  I was completely confused but I just sat there and pretended it didn't happen, haha.

When I arrived in Vilnius on my birthday, the guy who picked me up had bought me flowers and chocolate which was very sweet. He then took me to a nice birthday dinner.  The next day I woke up and met the entire team and had a short practice where they taught me all the plays.  I am playing point guard for this team so they had one day to teach me the plays before my first game the following day.  All the girls were very helpful and made sure I understood what was going on.  Everyone on the team speaks English, even the coach, so that is certainly helpful.  I arrived on Thursday, practiced on Friday, and Saturday we left for five days for a tournament in Druskininkai, Lithuania.  We played five "friendly" games against Russian teams. We did pretty well – not as well as we should have, but towards the end everyone was very tired. Throughout the trip the girls helped me learn Lithuanian words, and on the last day I was finally able to remember and pronounce every name on the team.  There is also one other American on the team, she is from New York and played at Davidson.  It helps a lot that there is another American!!!!

Being new and playing point guard is a little overwhelming at times because you have the ball in your hands the majority of the time and you must make quick decisions considering the shot clock is now 24 seconds.  It’s overwhelming, because I am getting used to the style of play, and I still need to build chemistry with my teammates and understand the type of players they are and what they like to do on the court.  But I am catching on.  The basketball here is a lot faster and more physical, which I love.  They tell me that basketball in Lithuania is like a religion for most people.  Our guys’ basketball team is very good, too. They just played in European Championship and won silver, so that is pretty cool. 

My team is currently in Russia.  They left the day after we got back from the tournament. I was unable to attend because my visa is not ready and you need a visa for Russia.  With them away I have been able to explore the city a bit.  Some of the buildings are different, but overall it doesn't look that much different than home.  When I went to Italy with Drexel two years ago, it looked nothing like home.  Everything was different, but here in Vilnius there are similarities.  One thing that is confusing, especially for people visiting, are the street signs.  The street signs are on the side of the buildings, so you almost have to search for them.  Also, there are no stop signs, and people park with their bumper sticking out in the road.  There seems to be no rules about park jobs here.

The food is different.  They love crepes, and I love them too!!! For every meal they have a salad, soup, and then the main dish. Some of the main dishes are unique, but very good.  It is still hard for me to explain.  Also, they have the best candy and sweets of all time!  They have this chocolate called "Milka" that is dangerous.  I will bring home a bunch at Christmas.  All of the food here is amazing.  I cannot complain one bit, and I love to eat so it kind of works out perfectly :). 

It is funny though, if you are an American living here, everyone knows.  They can sense that you are a foreigner and continue to stare at you.  The language barrier is not too bad, though, since most people here grew up learning the English language.  Overall everyone has been extremely friendly and helpful, and my experiences the last seven days have been good ones (knock on wood).  I am happy.  It is still a little weird that I am living in another country (I guess it has not hit me yet) but I am slowly adjusting.  I do miss home though every day, but the constant contact with everyone back home has certainly helped me along the way. 

So far so good!
Sudie! (goodbye)

Happy birthday to me!

Labas, Labas (hi,hi)! So it is official, and although it has taken a while to sign with a team I am happy to say that I will continue to play basketball with The Euroleague team of Vici-Kibirkstis in Lithuania, Vilnius! (Don’t ask me how to pronounce that, I have no clue)  I will be playing in the Euroleague which is the most competitive league over there, so I will certainly have my work cut out for me. 

I am going through many emotions, but I am very excited that I have the opportunity to continue my career. I was very hesitant to leave the country and start a new journey but at this point I honestly feel like this is what I should be doing. Change freaks me out, big time, but at least at the end of the day I know that this is a challenge I am up for. 

This is the website of the team that I will be playing for..

http://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/Kibirkstis-Tiche-IKI_Vilnius/14580?Women=1

I will be leaving on Wednesday, tomorrow, a day before my birthday...Naturally, that would happen :). 

Also if you don't think you can go 5 months without talking to me get the app Viber or Tango or Whatsapp or facebook. Don't worry I have all four on my phone just in case someone seriously needs to reach me. And if its urgent you can always hit me up on all four at the same time. I'm pretty sure ill get the picture.. And anyone who wants to COME WITH ME, my answer is YES!

Considering the 160+ hits I got on the first blog, I will continue to write while I am over in Europe.  Well, 100 of the hits may have been from myself, but 60 is still pretty good ;) 

As for now, it's not a bye, it's I'll see ya later! And if I get a chance to say “see ya” in person before I go, I would love that! <3

Well, it has been real America! See ya soon!

Is in fact Europe a Country?

Hey Hey!!! For those of you who do not know, I have decided to leave all my family and friends and go to Europe for  6-8 months to play basketball professionally, shocking I know...the furthest I have lived from home was 35minutes, and that was at Drexel..Now I am going to some country (Europe)..Kinda of a huge difference in distance.  I just graduated from Drexel where I played basketball and it was the best four years of my life so far..Playing overseas is something I went back and forth with so many times but I look at this way, in 10 years when I look back on my life do I want to possibly regret not taking this opportunity? Obvi, no!!!! (Obvi=Obvious) I am not sure where I am headed, hopefully somewhere that will accept really cool people, which is not me of course, but I wanted to create this blog for family and friends and whoever else is lucky enough to stumble upon this blog to share my experiences along the way.  Anyways, hopefully I find out where I am playing soon and I will post it when I know..so if you think you will really miss me you should probably start hanging out with me NOW.. :) ...or not...

FYI...I know Europe is not a country, its a continent..I was trying to create a title that showed that even though I am growing up, I still don't know everything...well much. (laugh here) and Kudos to Abby Redick for the blog title idea!

 and for those who do not know me I am very sarcastic so I would 100% recommend not taking my jokes literally, but they are funny so feel free to laugh!