best life.

I just spent five days in Texas.  Technically, my main purpose there was to play soccer.  (I drove down with my team for a tournament in San Antonio.)  But, actually what was more important to me was a visit from my dear friend Allison.  We met last semester in Costa Rica and since she goes to school just a few hours from San Antonio she came to watch my game and hang out.

It was seriously so wonderful.

We picked up right where we left off and talked and talked and talked.  Just like in Costa Rica.  Being with Allison brought a load of memories from Latin American flooding back and it was fun/helpful/hilarious to reminisce.  I don't know if I will ever be done processing and reflecting on what I experienced in Latin America.  I realized that Allison is one of the few people in this world who really understands what I experienced last semester and who knew my thoughts while I was having them.  Does that make sense?  Anyways, my visit with Allison was a Godsend and I am continually blessed by her friendship.

So. I spent an awesome day and a half with Allison and did not take a single picture with her using my camera.  (She took some with her own, of course, because she is a great photographer.)  All I have are these super cute pictures of Joshua and me that Allison took.  I really must get better at actually using my camera. 

 

 

Notice my tippy toes and the Alamo in the background.

And Alyssa, we wished you were there!

Italia.

Every few years my coaches take the women's soccer team on a European soccer tour of sorts.  The goal is that each player will get to go on this trip once during their four years at Greenville.  This summer was my turn!  Through XL Travel, we planned a ten day trip to Italy that included two soccer games against European teams, two practices with Italian coaches and a whole lot of sight seeing.  Our whirlwind trip included visits to seven different Italian cities (Milan, Como, Florence, Rome, Venice, Padua and Verona) and four different countries (Italy, Switzerland, Vatican City and San Marino).

 

 

Highlights: 
1.  Soccer with the Italian girls club team- During our second full day in Italy we led a training session for a group of girls on a club team in Milan.  There was definitely a language barrier, but it was fun to figure out how to communicate and connect through playing soccer.  The Italian girls and the American girls all had a blast.
2.  Rome-I did not expect to like this city so much because I expected it to be super touristy, which I guess it was.  The Colosseum blew my mind.  It was incredible to be in a place with so much history.  The Trevi Fountain was also beautiful and we had tons of time to roam and explore this ancient city.
3.  San Marino- This place is the smallest republic in the world.  We went to the capital, which is also called San Marino.  It is so quaint with an amazing view!  The history of San Marino is fascinating and we even got to climb one of the castle towers.
4.  Bonding with my teammates- I was with the same people for ten days straight, so naturally we had a lot of time to get to know each other better.  I am lucky though, because I have some incredible teammates and was blessed by getting to hang out with only them for so long.  This has also made the soccer season more enjoyable for me so far.  In the past, sometimes soccer has been a struggle because I have felt weird, different and on the outside, but in part because of this trip to Italy I have developed some wonderful friendships with my teammates.
5.  The food- We ate a three course meal at our hotel every night with pasta, a meat course and gelato for dessert.  Oh man, I miss that pasta.  And for the record, cookies was my favorite flavor of gelato.

So that is my trip in a nutshell.  It has been a while since I arrived safely back in the States and I'm missing everything about beautiful Italia.

the one thing I will miss about Germany.

Schweinsteiger.

For those that follow the World Cup, you know that Spain beat Germany today. Although I do like Germany, I like Spain more, so I am please with the outcome. However, I will miss one thing about watching Germany play and that is Schweinsteiger. Just say that name out loud a few times. It's fun, I know. I do it approximately 20 times per game.

So long, Germany. Let's go Spain!

half time.

It's half time of the usa vs. england world cup game. this means:

- I finally got to take a shower. I've been up since 7am because for some odd reason I decided to have a yard sale today. Note to self: never, ever have another yard sale. There were some perks to having the yard sale, however. Like getting to spend the morning with my best friend Niqui and making 90 bucks and getting rid of a lot of stuff I don't need.

-time for blogging. It's possible that I am the worst blogger. ever. But, I will try to be better. And by that I mean blog more than just once a week.

So, here are some things I'm looking forward to:

-being an introvert. I have begun to realize that although I am about in the middle between extrovert and introvert, I tend to lean towards extrovert during the school year and introvert during the summer. I guess it makes sense. During school I am surrounded by friends all the time and I can't go an hour in my room alone without getting on-the-verge-of-tears-lonely. But during the summer I love relaxing, reading, and spending hours alone at my craft desk. Tonight will be a relaxing evening most likely and its' just what I need right now.

-making paper. My friend Erica and I are going to make paper out of old mail tonight of tomorrow, but probably tomorrow. I made some last Sunday and it was amazing watching a pulp mixture of water and paper scraps turn into paper that I can use!

-Seattle. I'm going Tuesday to visit my boyfriend, Josh. It will be my first time in Seattle and my first time flying alone and I'm excited! I'm ready for a vacation, too. I've been working a lot lately and haven't had much time to relax. So hanging out with Josh and not having to work or do homework will be the best.

World cup is back on. gotta go.