A Week of Euro Sports

This week we got the chance to experience not just a different sport than we're used to, volleyball, but for me as an American, sports that don't have any real popularity back home.

Sunday was the women's Handball game. I have been to a few of these games in my time in Europe but not very many, and it was Alyssa's first experience. A fast paced game and really fun to watch as the girls throw their bodies at each other and on the floor as they throw and catch the ball. We decided it's a lot like soccer with your hands and a lacrosse type sport.

We had a lot of fun and now are looking forward to going to see the men's team here in Hamburg. We met a few of them at the next Euro sport we took on this week, at the Curling event.

The German Olympic Curling team hosted a tournament for all the different sports in Hamburg, there was us, hockey, handball, soccer to name a few; and we all learned the strategies and techniques of Curling and then played a tournament against one another.

We came in SECOND! It was an absolute blast. I have always just randomly seen Curling when the Olympics are on in passing, but have never paid any real attention to it and always thought it was boring but that was because I never understood it.

Now with the Olympics coming up in the next couple of weeks I will be an avid watcher of the Curling games and obviously cheering on our new German friends on the team :)

After the tournament was over we weren't ready to get off the ice yet and started messing around. We tried spinning (failing miserably after watching the professionals do it with ease). Then decided to add a little volleyball flare to the game with our dives haha

And for all of you who have never tried this sport, I 100 percent recommend it. It's great for all ages, both genders can play against each other evenly and is SO much fun! I hope I have more chances to play and shoot maybe it will be my next sport that will take me to the Olympics ;)

What I've learned in this crazy thing called LIFE..

"I’ve learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them;
I’ve learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back;
I’ve learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.
I’ve learned that you can get by on charm, for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something;
I’ve learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I’ve learned that no matter how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take it’s place.
I’ve learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re downhill are the ones to help you get back up.
I’ve learned that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry.
I’ve learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
I’ve learned that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean that they don’t love you with all they have.
I’ve learned that maturity had more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.
I’ve learned that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while.
I’ve learned that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to forgive yourself.
I’ve learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
I’ve learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I’ve learned that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.
I’ve learned that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.
I’ve learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I’ve learned that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will get hurt in the process.
I’ve learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.
I’ve learned that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings and standing up for what you believe."

"Feeling my way through the darkness
Guided by a beating heart"
#avicii
#hamburgrainydays

My Favorite Way to Travel: with NO agenda.

“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” ― Booker T. Washington

This world is made up of planners and non planners. I am a proud member of the "Go With the Flow" group. My entire life I haven't had a knack for planning, whether it is having a 5 year plan or looking in to the next week. I've always struggled hitting that purchase button on the flight ticket months in advance because I just haven't gotten there yet.

There are some negatives in being a non planner, in the end you probably spend more. The planners get all the deals and good prices where as I am almost always in the category of purchasing when I do not have another choice. 

I was the same in school, procrastination. Always. Why study for a test weeks in advance when you can have the thrill of a couple all nighters right before. Smart? Eh, that's for you to judge, but it always made for a good story and at the end of the day it is ALL about the story haha

The more I travel though, the more I see how my go with the flow attitude has found it's home. The best way to see cities is to go in with no plan. Yep..nilcb, zero, nada. 

I am just coming off of my Christmas/New Year break from season where I spent my time in Slovenia, Holland and Belgium. And the only planning I did for any of the trips was either buying the plane ticket or saying yes let's do it! 

And then the rest unfolds beautifully. Both trips were nothing short of amazing. 

I can always guarantee my time in Slovenia is going to be great, but nevertheless every single time, without fail, I find myself sitting at the airport terminal heading back to my current residence with so much love and food for life to take with me. I am forever grateful for my Slovenia family, they get me through just about everything and spending another Christmas with friends and family that have such a special place in my heart was just what the doctor ordered.

Beauties <3

The last year for this little Christmas tree, but we decorated it well :) #timetoupgrade

Babi and Didi :) 

It doesn't get cuter.

PRESENTS!! 

My special Slovenian friend :) xoxo

Lunches, dinners, coffees, drinks, volleyball games and visiting old stomping grounds, I did just about all of it until my heart was content..enough anyways, I will never be content in that matter which is what will always take me back :)

After returning to Hamburg, 2 of my teammates and I decided to spend the 3 days we had for the New Year at Flora's house in Gouda, Holland. The 3 of us got in the car late night after practice and set off the 4 1/2 hour drive to Holland. The next 2 days consisted of sightseeing Gent, Belgium and Amsterdam, Holland and then ringing in the New Year in Rotterdam. 

Each day we would wake up pick our destination and then let the day unfold. Walking around, shopping, eating, enjoying coffee and tasty Belgium beer. We were never bored and always finding something new to take us to our destination. 

It's always great to travel with teammates, you get to know them in a different light then what you see in the every day of the grind of being in the gym and getting to meet their families and see where and how they grew up is such a treat! 

We came back with tons of pictures, laughs and stories..really great time!

Gent, Belgium.. AWESOME city

Wandering the streets of Gent

Standard dinner happenings haha

Embarrassing pic of the day.. show me your monkey face!

the story of the UGG boots... 

Amsterdammmmmmm 

Vapiano's. crazy girls 

Streets of Amsterdam New Year's Eve

"For every year that goes by there are 365 chances #reasonstobelieve #amsterdam" Bring it on 2014 #makingmemories

So my biggest travel advice from these past weeks: 

**Great things happen when you leave an open mind, you never know who your path will cross with or what you will stumble upon.

**When you learn to let go, and just be; moments and people unfold in front of your eyes all on their own without a lot of effort of trying to control your surroundings.

Hangin with Momma Gravesteijn before Rotterdam New Year's Eve :)

Belgian Beer rocks my socks :) #sotasty