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!!!!
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