Training Camp

The past three days of my life have been some of the longest ever. It's so strange not having a cell phone or very convenient internet access. I have been trying to use the internet twice a day (facebook, email,etc...) since it really is my only form of communication at this point. I swear sometimes I can feel my cell phone vibrating in my pocket. Then I realize that I have had my cell phone off since I got here AND that I have no pockets to begin with.

The camp is amazing. It's located in a small town called Mattighofen in Upper Austria (Oberösterreich), not even an hour from the German border. Everyone has been very nice and understanding to the fact that Michelle and I do not speak much (any) German and we have been having multiple practices a day, sometimes with the boys team. Right now, the camp is very small and consists of 4 players from our team, 5 players from the boys U18 team, and a number of U13 players. Next Monday we will be joined by the rest of our team. There will be 15 players total.

The practices are interesting...the coach will say something in German, Michelle and I will look around frantically, and one of the players will translate quickly as we are running to our positions. The level of basketball is pretty decent from what I have seen. I enjoy practicing with the guys. It's great being back in the full swing of things. We basically live basketball here at the camp. When we aren't actually practicing we are thinking about the next practice that day, or we are doing some other sort of exercising. The program has a well rounded staff and we have done things I have never experienced before in terms of working out.

Technically we have been to Vienna, but only because that is where the airport is. From there we were picked up by Bodo and driven about an hour to his alternate home. We then spent the next day trying to compensate for our jet lag, and finally left for camp Monday at 8 am. The ride was incredible. We drove past Linz, one of the larger cities in Austria. We worked out twice the first day. The first workout was with the coach of the U13 boys team, who is pretty awesome. The second was with Bodo and the blder boys team.

Today we also went swimming. Each town in Austria has a community pool...and everyone goes there in the summer. PLUS they all have waterslides. Yes, slides, plural. I took the opportunity to behave like a 12 year old and push all the little kids out of the way to have my turn...or eight. The club today also had a whirlpool and two diving boards...not to mention multiple levels of grass noles and a hell of a snack bar. We walked there from the school through the town about a mile so we also had the opportunity to see some stores.
After we returned, we attempted to use the magicjack, which is SUCKING right now and then went to possibly one of the most epic bbqs ever. We had some of the best veggies and sausages I have ever had and there was a sour cream based sauce for the baked potatoes which was amazing. Following another 2 hours of attempted magicjack use and fifa on the playstation, the five of us girls went on a 45 minute jog through the countryside. I was tempted to bring my camera, but figured I have over a week to compile some pictures. During our jog we had a miniature German lesson in which I learned how to be a sarcastic a-hole in a second language. All in all, today was fabulous and I can't wait for our weekend off and a promised trip to Salzburg. Sound of Music, anyone?
Lastly, Michelle and I spent our first Euros yesterday. I purchased some hair products and candy, and of course, a large package of Manner treats, or wafers with chocolate. Gut!