Back from Italy I am, reclining once again on the familiar red couch of Esra’s living room. Three loads of laundry strewn over various racks with the white paper floor lamp giving the room a soft glow. As I’m plodding my unmanicured fingers all over this keyboard, my roomie is cleaned and covered in her room kneeling and lifting her hands for “namas,” or Muslim prayer. When she’s done we plan to make popcorn together. She’s going to show me (I mean, remind me?) how to do it the ole’ fashioned way with just oil in a hot pan. I like it here.
So there is much to say about Italy, of course. We did finish fourth in the European Champions League this past weekend. Though we didn’t play our best team volleyball in Perugia, we did reach our goal to be top four, ahead of a lot of other great teams in the world. There is much for us to learn from our mistakes, from the great talent and confidence of the top two teams (Bergamo and Dinamo), and from the challenges of critics. Losses are always great opportunities to grow, and it is important that we take hold of that chance to do so because now we have the playoffs to focus on. More on that later.
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Ha!….I revisit this blog draft almost a week later. *SIGH* It would be a lie to say I have lacked the free time, as of course I could have traded watching that movie or going for that walk to posting an update. I have simply lacked the fortitude. Plus, the fact that I can’t use my own computer to post anything (i.e. its hormonal internet connection) makes the process more laborsome, and that never jives well with lethargy.
I have half an hour before I need to finish packing for Ankara. We advanced passed Besiktas in the first round of play-offs, and now comes the real test. The semi-final series (best of 3 matches) versus Turk Telecom (Jenny Lang Ping’s team) begins tomorrow night! I am fired up and hope I get a chance to join the battle this round. I didn’t suit up against the Besiktas matches. Beppe said he wanted to give others some game reps—this included the middle returning from the injury and our Turkish right side hitter (Nancy suited but didn’t play). So even though Beppe said that I’m not finished and he wants to use me when he can, I know anything can happen.
So regardless of his decisions, it feels great to say that I’ve been kicking butt in practice and am entering into each day feeling good about what I’ve been doing with what I can control. I am so thankful that the connection with Naz is improving a lot, that my body feels healthy and strong, and that all payments are coming in on time (most other players I know overseas aren’t so fortunate). Most of all, I am thankful to know that I am where I should be and that this—all of this—is truly God’s thing…and I am but a willing player.
Oh, and another thing I am thankful for: Mom’s TOFFEE! That’s right folks. Everyone reading this should be insanely jealous that I opened a package from my mother to find bags and bags of homemade toffee—one of her many, many mouth watering specialties. I wanted so much to share with the people in my Istanbul sphere a taste of my home, especially since they have been so generous to me in theirs. I finally handed it out after our win on Monday night to all staff and teammates, and the expected “Mmmmm” and “Wow!” did follow every bite! “Thank you! Please tell your mom THANK YOU!!” So there ya go, mom—your toffee is now an international wonder! J
On that note, this entry must close as my unorganized roller bag beckons. I will aim to update sooner rather than later this time. If you have any suggestions or questions, holla my way so I can answer them in the next blog. Again, your support and prayers are definitely felt way out here in this city that spans two continents—so thank you, too.
On with the journey…….
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