Looking forward to free time!

So far practices have been very tough with multiple two a days throughout the week with no days off! We've also been traveling everywhere with 2 practice games a week. One day when we only had one practice I had time to go to the nearest beach from my apartment which is only 10 mins away. I cannot wait to be able to explore more when or if we get a day off soon! The mountains are so close, and I love to hike. The coastline is also beautiful with fun restaurants and places to explore. Check out the pictures of my mini adventure below....

The beach only 10 mins away from my apartment. 

On the right is the view of the mountains I get to see everyday while driving home. I live in the middle of nowhere by the way. On the left is me in a hurry during a busy day to hang up my clothes because the apartments don't have a dryer only washer! Yea, you should see my room! Haha

Can't wait to come back and hang my hammock up between the poles.

Paris, France!

Within the week that I have been in France, I have traveled from Toulouse, to Saint Sever, to Paris, and Lyon, and back to Perpignan all for 3 different practice games! They call them "friendly matches" because it doesn't count for anything and the home team supplies all the food. After one game we even had salsa dancing in the gym and we ate with the opposing team! I love playing basketball, but I really wish I had time to stop and explore and sight see a little. Driving from place to place in our van has been fun also. The country's landscape is beautiful with mountains and hillsides and old buildings and even castles! Our driver, Andre, only got one ticket while going at least 50 km per hr over the speed limit! haha I hold on tight every time I get in the car! My teammates also definitely make funny of me for being a complete tourist with my camera always in hand, taking random pictures through the window. They've been really helpful and nice with explaining all the places to me and the inside French culture!

 On the way we drove by an area from the tour de france! 

A beautiful castle up on the hillside!!

Even though it was for the kids, I had to try! I just was watching Hunger Games in the car right before and I couldn't help it.

 On the left is a gym we played one of our practice games on. On the right...the night before the game the opposing team fed us and provided fruit bowl from heaven.

 We didn't have time to stop and take pictures, just to drive through so I quickly got a glimpse at some pretty amazing buildings. I have to go back to visit and explore more.

BEAUTIFUL!!

Above is our team van the girls call the "mini bus." We have two of them and we will be spending many hours traveling in them. Also above you see us getting pulled over! The police drive in front of you and not behind you when they pull you over and you follow them to a stop...I would have kept driving off! Haha

Bonjour! Perpignan, France

After a great summer of camps with Aspire Higher Basketball, my next adventure is playing professional basketball for Perpignan, France! Last year I played for Netanya, Israel. I've been blessed to see different parts of the world and experience different cultures. When I arrived the general manager and president of the team picked me up and they both did not speak one word of English! After 10mins of attempting sign language we discovered that google translate is the best way to go. Thank goodness for technology. Next stop was to meet the team, who luckily all spoke English and have been very nice and helpful. They have even helped me learn a little French and they said in 3 months I'll be fluent....HA! We'll see. After three days of being in France and one practice with the team we traveled to a small town about 4 hours away called Saint Sever for a practice game. I love the coaches style of play and philosophy. Always great ball movement and player movement in the offenses, and he constantly tells me to "run and gun." It's a shooter's dream! Can't wait for season to start. 

Below are a number of pictures and descriptions that give a glimpse of some of the experiences I have had so far.

                    

Picture of our home court and the team playing the first day I arrived! Unfortunately I was unable to start playing until I passed the medical test.

 On the left is cow tongue! One of many interesting things I found while grocery shopping with the general manager that doesn't speak english. He helped me to understand with different gestures..for example with this one he pointed at it, then said "moooooo," and then pointed to his tongue! No thank you! On the right is a rice and seafood dish from a restaurant in Barcelona, Spain. Being a fan of the movie Happy Feet 2, I started laughing because Will and Bill were on my plate straight from the ocean eyeballs attached and all! Yikes.

 My own little foreign car! 

 The interesting culture doesn't stop at food! For the jerseys he said I have the choice of shorts, which are more like spandex, or a skirt. Hahaha! Any suggestions?? 

We had time to walk around the small town of Saint Sever after our long car ride and before our practice game.

Perpignan is a very cute city! I haven't had time to explore but on the left is a little alley way and on the right are some mountains. The city is in between the beach and the mountains! Love the area, best of both worlds. 

I will put more pictures up the more I explore but for now....Au revoir!!

End of Challenge Camp Pics

A group photo at the end of camp! What an incredible group of girls with great potential!

And this is what you get when you say "okay now a goofy picture!"

Alicia periodically showing the official scoreboard. During this camp teams got points in a number of ways from encouragement, winning a drill, communication, leadership and more.

Group huddle at the end of camp.

And the winner is.....GREEN TEAM!! Congrats :)