The End of Maribor?

This morning I resolved to have a better practice. I decided I was going to prove to the coaches that I am a middle even if the sets are all over the place. So I ate an incredible breakfast of sweet milky oatmeal, blueberry muffin, yogurt, and fruit. I even had a kiwi. That's what surprised me the most. It's been a couple years since I have had one of those. 

Then we headed down the hill to practice. I am so glad I made room for my softball because it has been a necessary component to my shoulder health. And to the health of many other sore muscles on the team. 

Then practice began once again. My team was the first team to be off the court for half an hour. We sat and watched and I rolled out my hamstrings. Then we started playing. The Croatian/Slovenian/German/Swiss (not American) coach gave us instructions. "Seven girls one side. Three girls at net. Hit ball, three girls back row. Setter in 3. Ball stays own side. Ready?" He said each statement as if he were making up the drill, but we recognized the drill from the last group that had just been on the court minutes ago.  We copied them and I guess it worked out fine because he didn't stop us, but I don't think he would have otherwise. 

This practice seemed to go a little better than the last. We were more comfortable with each other and played better with each other. I still felt like I was struggling at times. But I did get one good hit in. The pass was perfect. The set was perfect and all the way to the antennae. When I saw that line open, I just took my hammer out and gave their setter/day a good one about three feet in front of her. I cannot tell you how good it felt to finally swing at a ball. 

We did a couple more drills and then we had a 25 minute break. At the end of the 25 minute break, nick ptachinsky pulled me aside and told me that the Hungarian team was looking at me and wanted me in their team. Holy smokes. I didn't know what to think. So I went out and played for a half hour. Evidently, the Hungarian coach told the coach on our court that he wanted to see me do more slides, more hits off one foot. Then the coach told my setter and the setter fed me the ball. I definitely have played better, but it didn't matter. After practice, the Hungarian coach, along with the president of the club told me they were impressed with my slides and offered me their middle position.  

I had an hour after lunch to pack and then I was leaving to békéscsaba with my two new friends. They are giving me a 3-4 day tour of their city and team and then I will decide if I want to stay till May.

These are probably my two favorite people from the tour. Hey have the been such great friends to me and I couldn't have asked for a better experience

Leaving the hotel I had to snap a picture. When I took the picture, the car pulling out in front of me stalked their BMW. Super embarassing for them.

Her is me and my two new friends: mishi on the right and Adam on the left.

Two hours into the trip, we pi stopped at a gas station to fill up and mishi had me try this delicious Hungarian dessert. It is made with poppy seeds. I'm grateful I'm not in the states where I could probably fail a drug test.

This is a failed attempt at a picture of all the sunflowers. There are so many fields of sunflowers everywhere. It is beautifull how all their heads point the same way. 

Here's what I had for dinner. Adam introduced me to a "speedy tortilla" it was really greasy. But oh so good. Then he dropped me off at the hostel with some food for the morning.