ArOuNDtH3WorLd...

After a busy 4 days in Slovenia I am finally getting the chance to experience the true European way…sitting at an outdoor cafe drinking coffee and reading a good book all afternoon with the element of time being the last thing on my mind.

Sundays here everything is closed by noon with the exception cafes and restaurants. The opposite of America where everyone on the weekends would-be found at the malls or supermarkets, but not here.

We had a day off today so I took the opportunity to walk in towards the city. My apartment is just outside of the main city of Maribor and everything is much closer than I anticipated. After following the main street I came up on a very familiar area.

Three years ago when I came on the 2 week tour with A&M we came to the city of Maribor and I am now sitting at the exact spot where a group of girls and I had coffee one morning, it is all coming back to me how familiar it all is and why when I left the city 3 years ago it was obvious that I could see myself playing here.

Although it is not set in writing that I am staying yet, hopefully this week more will be finalized..I am still in the tryout phase of things.

But, the girls are really nice and I like the style of the coaches a lot. We proactive twice a day right now and should get in to more of a set schedule this upcoming week.

I am living with 3 other girls, 2 Slovenians and 1 Croatian. One of which does not speak any English but overall the girls can communicate well. The living situations will probably change as players will come and go in this next week and the team becomes more finalized.

The worst thing that has happened to me is the lock on the outside of our apartment door is extremely tricky and I have yet to find the trick to opening it with ease, it takes me a good 15 min or someone communing in or out to get in. The Croatian girl also struggles with it so that makes me feel better about it, hopefully Ill catch on soon though!! Haha

Overall the country is pretty Americanized but the language is absolutely near to impossible to learn, it is very hard. So far the only word I have been able to record to memory is “hvala” which means thank you. The girls try and teach me other ones but I would have to ask them 100 times over again in order to remember so I am close to giving up on that one lol

One thing I have learned is that it is very rude to put your feet on furniture and tables in public here. Americans are so lazy and rude!! Haha

Life is very low key and relaxed outside the volleyball court, I am excited for the brosky to get here! He flys into the country today and hopefully I will get to see him soon :)

Love from sLOVEnia ;)