On the bus to Nortinger
By: Cayley Thurlby (Team Captain)
Our day began with practice, a practice that began only twelve hours after leaving the gym from the night before. One of the best parts of playing here in Argentina is discovering the different styles of life. We left the gym the night before at around 11:30 with an escort of local children packed three deep on bikes. Upon arriving at the gym at 11:00 am we found the familiar faces of children who were crying the night before as we parted ways and said goodnight. The Eye opening experience that each and every girl has experienced thus far is the incredible opportunities to play volleyball that we take for granted every day in the United States. We ate a lunch of salad and very pleasing beef stroganoff gneoki pasta, I know it does not sound very appetizing but it was probably one of the most enjoyable meals thus far. For desert we enjoyed a new version of flan, and had our second cup of coffee for the day. After lunch we boarded the bus and headed for our next tour destination Noetinger, a “Pueblo” with a population off 5,000.
Upon our arrival we were welcomed with a police escort, food (of course), and a very willing group of male interpreters. The interpreters jumped at the opportunity to use their English and looked at us with a glint in their eye that made me wonder if they had ever seen blond hair blue eyed girls in their lives. We walked six blocks to the gym while receiving a tour of the town, yes the town was small enough to be toured in a matter off minutes.
The gym was a new establishment with rod iron gates in the front accompanied with a small brick-built ticket window. To our surprise the gym was packed with hundreds of people over an hour before the game was supposed to stars, we were probably a part of one of the biggest sporting events to take place in the city this year.
If you ask anyone on our team what their favorite memory of the game was you will probably have a hard time getting them to decide on just one event. There was the moment in warm –ups when we heard our national anthem for the first time since the trip began, and our hearts filled with pride as we represented the USA. Or it could have been the moment that a young group of girl presented us with flowers before the game with a look of nervous content that they were experiencing a moment in their life that they may never forget. It might have been the moment
that we celebrated as a team after an earth shattering block or kill with fists raised in the air.
VIDEO: ARG QUICK ATTACK
By the end of the night exhaustion overwhelmed our team, but there was still much to celebrate; we had lost but fought to five games and continue to improve every night. Our hosts had prepared a meal fit for kings of salad, chicken, steak and our favorite “postre” thus far, bonbon ice cream. This town was treating us with the greatest
appreciation, but little do they know that our young group was getting an experience of a lifetime.
As I sit here on the bus realizing that the trip is half over I am realizing that I want to take more time out of my day to smell the roses. This may be the only opportunity in my life to be a leader of a team of elite players in representation of my country. Despite that fact our team only met a few days ago there is still an overwhelming sense of comrodery that comes from being Team USA even if it only for a few more days. Each an every one of us is living in a moment, a taste of something that is larger than live and beyond our wildest dreams.
EDITOR's NOTE: The travel has been taxing on the girls. After a four hour bus ride which lasted from 1:30am to 5:30am, we arrived safely at our four star hotel in Villa Carlos Paz. After a few hours sleeping (in a bed), we will take an excursion to a local mountain pueblo. Day 6 should serve as a much needed, relaxing and volleyball-free day...
Link to Official Argentinean FEVA Page
