I was going to post this last night but I was soooo exhausted, I just fell asleep when I hit the bed. It was a long day of training. We moved our practice earlier so it wouldn't be as hot as it was during the time we used to practice in. I had a goalkeeper session with the boys goalkeepers so I had a great practice! I felt pretty good about myself afterward.

In the second practice, we scrimmaged against the boys and we did soooo much better than we did last time. The team, coaches, and I believe we got some much better after the meeting we had other night. We got our hearts in it now so I'm pretty happy about that. 

After dinner, we had a girls' night in our captain's room, just hanging out and playing games. It was really needed because now I think we all know each other even more and got along pretty good, that's a good thing since we need to get along on and off the field. 

I just realized, I don't really have much news at the moment but I'm sure there will be alot to say in the next post, =)

The first thing I want to say is...I LOVE MY TEAM SO MUCH!!! I'll explain why I say that, just bear with me...

Today was a little rougher than yesterday. We had practice same time this morning and we did a lot better than yesterday. Afterward, we went to lunch at a food court below the hotel and went back to the hotel to relax for an hour and half before the next practice, scrimmage with the boys again. But unfortunately, we had another bad thunderstorm with lightening and it wouldn't let up so we had to train inside. It took us a while to find a place to train inside since the gym was already taken by the men and women basketball team and the volleyball team. Finally our coach got lucky and found a room that look like a ballerina room because there were mirrors on the wall the entire room so we had to be extra careful with passing the balls around. We didn't want to break the mirror and pay for it!! Since it was a small room, we had to have two session, one for boys and one for girls. So the men got the first session and we went out in the hall to play ping-pong, there were several tables, we had fun!!!

After practice and dinner, our coach decided to have a meeting with the team, just girls. He had some concerns about the team and thought it would be the time to have a meeting where we all can talk about it and let it out even if it was about another player on the team. It took an hour and I thought it went very well. Several girls talked about their feelings about the team, complaints, what can we do to make it better, and even shed few tears. This meeting made me realized something. I'm truly lucky and honored to be playing for the Deaflympics with these girls and for the coaches. Everybody is absolutely amazing. I have a feeling that tomorrow we will be stronger and more positive as a team. Now, you can see why I says, "I LOVE MY TEAM SO MUCH!!!"

So we just had our first day of training!!! We had our first one at 10:30 in the morning at Chung Cheng University. From what I saw on the bus around through the campus toward to the soccer field, it's very beautiful campus. There was a small bridge that went over a pond, we saw some black swan-like in the pond. Everything there looks really old, I thought that was pretty cool to see something that people didn't bother to upgrade or try to build cool-looking building like some college does in USA.

Practice was good, just a little rough with the heat, it was VERY hot and humid!!! We had a very few that almost passed out from the heat but I think we all will be able to overcome the heat and get stronger in a day or two. I believe in the team =). We are making sure we all drink plenty of water, on the funnier side we are having a competition tomorrow of how many time you go to the bathroom, haha. 

We had a second practice and it was definitely somewhat better than the first practice since we had a nice quick thunderstorm with lightening and ended with rain shower. By better, I meant we had a scrimmage against the boys in the rain after of course the lightening was gone. It was so much cooler and not humid at all. So I'm hoping we somehow get lucky and get rain shower for the next couple days, probably not, haha. The scrimmage against the boys was alrite, not our best but it was helpful for us so we now know what we need to work on. I know I have some stuff to work on to make myself ready for the competition in a week. 

Couple things about Taiwan, there are very many moped and bicycles!!! Everywhere we go, they are all over! I think moped is the top transportation here. Some of the girls and I were wondering why we didn't get moped instead of the bus. But I thought about it some more and think that riding the bus is much safer =). 

I gotta get ready for some sleep. Got another training day tomorrow. YAY! 

I'm finally in Taiwan!!! It only took us about 36 hours of waiting, flying, and riding the bus before we got to the hotel in Chiayi City!!! You all probably sleeping right now since it's afternoon here and middle of night in USA. 

I have met sooooo many awesome people in the last 36 hours. Everybody is friendly and extremely excited about Deaflympics. We all have the same goal which is to win the GOLD!!! YEA!!!

Taiwan is really, really different from USA. I can't really describe what the environment look like but there are several big hill or mountain-like. I couldn't really see them well since from what I heard, there's volcano smoke going on and clogging the air. Part of nature, I guess. On the way from the airport to the hotel, I saw a really big shiny gold Buddha. I thought that was really cool to see it with my own eyes after seeing it in the newspaper or T.V. 

Food here is really hard to order and learn about since everyone who make the food doesn't even speak English. So we can't really tell what is what. Oh well, we always will figure it out since we saw McDonald's!!! =) And no, I'm not going to eat McDonald's everyday since I really want to stay healthy and good shape that I have worked really hard on in the last 7-8 months. 

Well, I have to get ready for a meeting with the team and coach to hopefully to figure our schedule for the next 7 days of training before our big day comes. Can't wait!!!

I started this blog because I thought that would be the best way to updates all of my friends and family about the Deaflympics in Tapei, Taiwan.

I'm leaving for Detroit Airport at like 4:30 tomorrow morning (Aug 26th). Pretty early but got a flight out to LA at 7:05, wouldn't want to miss it!!! When I get to LA, I will be getting together with the both women's and men's soccer team to receive our bags and uniform and eat dinner before we get on the 17 hours flight to Taiwan at 1:30 in the morning on August 27. Yea, it's going to be a very long flight but at least there will be plenty of team bonding!

I'm pretty excited about this experience, you only get this kind of experience once a lifetime! 

Anyway, for those you who want to know the game schedule ahead of the time since the whole 12 hours difference is a little confusing (I know, I'm still a little confused!), you can watch them on the internet at this site. http://www.deaflympics.tv/

1st Game is Sept 5 at 9:30 am=Sept 4 at 9:30 pm in USA

2nd Game is Sept 7 at 9:30 am =Sept 6 at 9:30 pm in USA

I will add the rest of the game schedule in the next blog when I find out.