As I mentioned in my last post about 2 weeks ago, we are in the play-outs with PAOK with our division 1 standing on the line. We won the first game of the playouts by 17 and we played an all around really solid game. I had what was maybe my most complete game of the season in terms of offense, defense, rebounding, steals, assists, etc. It felt great to play such a solid game and for our team to win on the road at their gym. After that win, we had a week before playing them again at our gym. We got off to a slow start and could never really recover. We made an admirable comeback in the 4th quarter but couldn't get the win. The refs were a little questionable with consistency of fouls calls but I've come to expect sketchy reffing since being here. I'm sure this is something a lot of Americns players abroad can attest to!
So that brings me to today, Tuesday April 1st. We are heading back to Thessaloniki for the 5th game. If we win this game, we stay in the first division and we continue playing with a game on Sunday against Elliniko. If we lose the game tomorrow, our season is over and the team will drop to a lower division next year. It's do or die time for our team!! I really think we can win this game and I fully believe that we deserve to stay in the division.
While all of this basketball is going on, I'm also only 5 days away from coming home! My flight back to the states is on Monday and I'm pretty excited. It's crazy to think how quickly things will change for me upon leaving Athens and returning back to the states. I'll be working basketball camps and miscellaneous basketball events this summer while also trying to get a more reliable job.
Less than a week after landing back home, my cousin Maggy and I will be taking off for a 2 week adventure driving from Missouri to California and back. Our moms are meeting us in Las Vegas after a week to drive back with us. We will be driving along Route 66 and making stops in some famous small towns on our way to California for the Coachella music festival. After Coachella, Maggy and I will head to Vegas for a night of gambling and debauchery before meeting up with our moms and continuing with the road trip. Once we've conquered Vegas, we're heading to the Grand Canyon for some site seeing and then the remainder of the trip is to be determined. We aren't sure which route we will drive back to Columbia due to possible weather restrictions in Colorado.
I'm really looking forward to this two-part road trip for multiple reasons. First, I love my cousin dearly and am really excited to spend quality time with her in the car and at Coachella. We decided on a whim to go on this trip and I think it'll be a really great experience. When we were younger, our two families along with our other cousins spent a lot of time together and since my cousin and I are so close in age (she's only 8 months younger than me) we were extremely close and played together all the time. Secondly, I haven't been on a road trip like this in probably 10 years. I love the time spent on the road seeing things you wouldn't otherwise see, like small towns and local restaurants, stores, hotels, etc. It will be a great experience to see the Grand Canyon and go to Vegas when it's not a basketball 'business' trip! Thirdly, Coachella is going to be a blast! I went to Lollapalooza in Chicago a couple of years ago with my brother and had the time of my life. I know this is going to be similar, if not more fun!
I've been trying to keep up with both the men's and women's NCAA Tournaments although the time difference proves to be challenging when you have to stay up till 4 just so you can watch your beloved DePaul Lady Blue Demons in the Sweet 16! I honestly don't know why I bothered spending an hour looking up teams records and watching highlights in order to help me fill out my men's bracket because it was ruined the first day (thanks a lot Mercer!!). But I love to see the excitement and joy on the players faces when they manage to pull an upset win or move to the next round! In my opinion, March Madness is the best time of the year!! I'm looking forward to the Final Four games this weekend!
While I'm really excited to be back in the states with my family and friends and the familiarity of my 'home' life, it's going to be hard to leave Athens and all of the people here. I'm not going to sugarcoat this and tell you that I never had problems or tough days that made me want to give up and come home, but I also met some really amazing people and have had some incredible experiences.
Win or lose tomorrow, I'll be leaving in 5 days. I have 5 days to spend with my team and to appreciate their culture and lifestyle. I have 5 days to pack my apartment (!!). I have 5 days left being a pseudo-citizen of Greece. I've come a loooooong way since arriving in Athens on September 20th. I've made a lot of personal growth and done some things I will be proud to say I did. I traveled to some major European cities by myself and managed to figure out living alone for the first time, much less in a foreign country! I learned some Greek and was fully exposed to a new culture and lifestyle. And I did this all while being fortunate enough to play basketball.
I've got 5 days to really make this experience count! Now, it's time for me to get to the back of the bus and continue my Greek lessons from my teammates ;)
See you all very soon!
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