Day 9 - Emily Schroeder
Dear Fans,
Hello to all our devoted readers. My, what an enthralling day we have all just experienced. We started off early, leaving the hotel at 7:50 a.m., and started our journey to the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation training center. Our ride there was eventful, much like every other bus ride we take. Card games, pleasant conversations, and for some of us, a peaceful nap took up part of our ride. I awoke from my slumber to find a change in scenery. We went from beach and ocean to rolling hills, mountains, and quite a bit of livestock. As we passed the mountains, we began to sing our favorite Sound of Music hits and any other song we could think of (with me doing my famous crescendo at the end of every song.) Our loudness may seem obnoxious to some, but to us it was flawless, adding to our bus concert repertoire. Finally, after our roller coaster ride, I mean bus ride, we arrived at the training center safely.
After taking a look at the gorgeous, deserted beach we were going to visit in a matter of hours, we pulled out our volleyball mindsets that had been peacefully resting for a day. The center was a tiny bit of paradise in this little town. It was equipped with a gym which included many courts, dorm rooms, sand courts, a dining hall, and fantastic landscaping. (Not quite up to the Flower Buds level, but it was close.) After touring the site and photo ops with some of the national players, the girls Junior National coach sat down and spoke to us about his volleyball philosophies. Not only was this chat insightful, but also it made us realize just how much passion the people from Brazil have for their beloved sport. The most memorable thing he spoke about was that attitude and desire undoubtedly rule above technique and skill. It was something that I think we all will remember.
Next stop, THE BEACH! We joked we may not find a spot to sit because of all the people there, when in reality we saw a whopping number of four people today. The waves were dangerously high, and Jeanna, Cristina and I got in trouble for going out to far because of the worry we would get hurt. Oops! I was told that these were great surfing waves, which made me think of my friend Gil, from Miami, who's a surfer girl herself. (You probably could have handled these waves Gil, no doubt.) Situations like these make me miss everyone from home. On the other hand, I think these reminders are there to let me know that everyone is with me here, maybe not physically but in my heart.
We left the training center and beach reluctantly. We were feeling like some American food, so opted for McDonald's instead of meat on sticks, rice and fried bananas. We ended the night with a little dance. Yes, it's true. After being told many times to try and blend in here in Brazil, we realized that being Americans and being the dynamic group of individuals that we are, that idea is pretty much a lost cause. We heard a beat and danced before boarding the bus, sticking out and making a scene without care. Like Gloria Estefan said, the rhythm is gonna get you, and it got us. (That's for you Daddie!)
Miss you Schroeder Family, you're in my thoughts and in my heart.
With Love,
Lucky Number 7
Emily Schroeder
