Today the trip began in the early morning when everyone gathered for breakfast.  We departed for the airport and got on a two hour flight to Paris.  Everyone slept through most of the flight, but Molly and Meg decided to draw some pictures illustrating some of the adventures we've had so far on the trip.  Feeling a little groggy and hungry, we arrived at our hotel and put our luggage away.  Everyone then prepared to board the train headed for Paris, France for a day that would become memorable for all.

Stepping foot off the train and into the city of Paris on a beautiful, sunny day was totally refreshing.  With the Notre Dame Cathedral in view, we set out to make the most of the day.  Towering, graceful, majestic, triumphant - these are but a few of the adjectives one tends to describe to many of the monuments in Paris.  Our goal was to try to see as many landmarks as we could, and to explore a city where no one had been before.  After going inside the Notre Dame Cathedral, we made our way to the Louvre Museum to marvel at the gorgeous architecture of the massive building.  We then walked through beautiful gardens with the Arc de Triomphe in view.  There, as a group, we walked up the hundreds of stairs to get to the top of one of the most historical places in Paris.  We saw the entire city at sunset, and felt as though we were in one of the coolest places in the world.  The Eiffel Tower in the distance gave everyone extra motivation to continue walking onwards, so we took advantage of the Kodak moment and snapped some pictures that most of us will probably have forever. 

Arriving at the Eiffel Tower was one of the most awe-inspiring moments for everyone.  The enormity and beauty of the monument built in 1889 pretty much took our breath away.  Especially at night, the Eiffel Tower is truly better than all the pictures and scenes seen in the movies.  Then promptly at 10:00, hundreds of white lights flickered sporadically all over the tower to create a sparkle effect for millions of people around Paris to see.  Seeing the Eiffel Tower was a great way to conclude the night and end an even better trip.

This European experience has been enlightening, fun, educational, productive, and truly eye-opening for everyone.  Everything we experienced, from the volleyball to the culture changes to the long, hard travel days, has taught us valuable lessons and even more about ourselves.  The success of the trip isn't necessarily decided by how many wins and losses we had, but by the interactions and unforgettable times that were experienced.  Constantly being around the same people for eleven days can often be a struggle, but there was never a point when we wanted to get away from each other and be alone.  Every member of the 18 Black team, as well as the parents, and the coaches, Eric and Lindsey, contributed so much to the significance of the trip.  It would not have been the same if one person was not a part of this experience.

The pictures, stories, souvenirs, and postcards may all depict what happened on this European adventure, but no one but us will ever truly understand the impact and importance it had on us.  This special opportunity we were given is something that everyone is so thankful for and will never forget.  The laughs, tears, jokes, and even blood spilled were all so crucial in creating such a memorable time.  This trip to Italy, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, and France has changed us as people in a positive way, and as a whole, has changed the dynamic of the word "team".  Fusion 18 Black is no longer a team, but a family.

Arrivederci!  Auf Wiedersehen!  Na shledanou!  Au revoir!  Goodbye!

We will see you all very soon!