Finland's Next Top Model?
I wanted to let you all know that I am planning to run for Finland's Next Top Model. Feel free to have a look at this link to get an idea of what my portfolio would look like:
http://www.nyan.ax/sport/?news_id=32231&news_instance=2
Yes. It's ok to laugh. There are two main newspapers in Aland, and one of the photographers, who had the "privelege" of getting the first picture of the American futbol player, chose that one. Really? Reeeaally? Hold on, sir, I'm not sure you got all my chins in there.
Ok, so maybe it's not that bad, but I think we can all agree (or at least hope) that there could have been a better picture somewhere in that roll of film...? I was actually hoping no one would see these pictures, but as one of you has now called me out as being "Googleable," I thought they might turn up anyways.
Down to Bizz-nas
It's time to tell you what has happened since my initial post. Well...not that much. I have spent most of the time in my apartment. It's been nice, really, having absolutely nothing to do. The majority of it I have spent reading. I luckily purchased Atlas Shrugged before I came here, so it is bound to keep me occupied in all the downtime. Victoria and Matt, I'm ready for a discussion anytime.
I did have my first practice today, and it has totally energized me. I am so happy to be on a team once again. God I love playing this sport. It felt so good to be back at a competative, gritty practice. It was great to run to exhaustion and fire shots at the goal. They're paying me to do this? Well I love my job and I have no question that I am where I am supposed to be.
The team is very good. They all have an excellent first touch and play very smart, composed, 1 and 2 touch soccer. I expected this coming in. I can't say that there are any Parissa Eyorokons or Lauren Masons out there (although there is a field player that is roughly the height and exudes the toughness of Lauren Mason...yeah, win a header against that girl), but there is definite talent. It's not flashy talent, necessarily, but it's quick-and-consistent-decision-making talent. They know what to do with a ball on their feet and they make it happen. They are also very young. Most of the girls on the team are between the ages of 17 and 21. Oh, by the way, I have a 38-year-old teammate. What a baller! I haven't actually had the chance to play with her yet but have been told by everyone that she is incredible. And I guess so, since she played for the Finnish National Team in the '90s. And you thought Brett Favre was impressive. She's still truckin'!
As far as personal performance at practice, I think I did pretty well. My Purdue coach told me before I left to just play the game I always play. Be myself. So I was. The head coach for Aland United is not as proficient in English as the assisstant coach, but he did manage to tell me, "you are quick defender who ees ready for da' fight." Translation? Hmmm...through hand and body gestures I figured out that he was telling me that I close down players readily and perhaps with tenacity? I don't know, but he was complimenting me, and it was nice. Today's practice also made me realize that I still have to work on all the things I have always struggled with in soccer...playing quickly, looking over my shoulder, turning if I have space, etc. Especially in this environment, where the girls excel in each of those things. I look forward to tomorrow's practice. Did I mention that I really love playing soccer again?
Let's Talk Swedish
All of you should know that my brother Aaron has a desire to learn how to say, "The cheese is old and moldy" in every language. Don't judge. We all have hobbies. Of course, A-Rob has already learned how to say it in Swedish in preparation for his visit to Aland (how else is he supposed to get around?). But since all of the people here constantly discuss the difficulty of the Finnish language, I am going to find out how to say "the cheese is old and moldy" in Finnish. Then, A, when you come here, you can reeeaaally impress people. Just picture it:
"Hello. The cheese is old and moldy."
Awe-stricken response:
"Yes, yes it certainly is."
But seriously, I really, really want to learn Swedish. Everyone here does know some basic English but spends most of the time speaking in Swedish. It would be nice to have an idea of what the topic of everyday conversation is. So far I know how to say hello, good-bye, good, tree, tall tree, girl, that girl, and light. It's a slow process. Although, the language barrier does provide for a few funny moments. For example, today our team mom, Monika (who has taken excellent care of me thus far), told me that she would not be at practice tonight because she had a meeting.
"Have you heard of Da Bread Crust Organization?" she asked.
Hmmm. Well she does like to cook. Should I have heard of The Bread Crust Organization?
"No," I shrugged. "What sort organization is it?"
"We help peeple."
"Oh, like volunteer work?"
"Ya. Bread Crust."
...what an intersting name for a volunteer organization. Then it dawned on me.
"Oh!! Red Cross! The Red Cross Organization!! Yes, yes I've heard of The Red Cross!!"
Go ahead, reader, say "Red Cross" to yourself with your best Swedish accent. You'll hear it, too.
Hej da (good-bye) for now!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
First Impressions: Welcome to Aland
Welcome
Hello, everyone. I'd like to begin my first experience in blogging with the very poignant words of my former teammate and trailblazer Annette Kent:
Now What?
A thick piece of paper--the kind with deep ridges and abrupt edges--says that I have completed the requirements for my Master's degree. A stack of loan confirmations does the same. At this point in time, young people get jobs, sit behind desks, and strap up for the long haul. In essence, they grow up.
Me? I'm still 12 years-old, running around the playgroud, chasing a feeling that can only be described as unapologetic joy.
So, I'll board this plane and put my "career" on hold for this one last time. Because it's important. Not important like life and death. But important like regret and opportunity. I'll play this last season and even if I never score, never do anything noteworthy, I'll sleep better at night. Because nothing haunts you like knowing you could play with the best and didn't.
Okay, so there are some obvious differences between Annette, who played for many seasons in the highest league in Sweden, and me. I don't have my Master's and I'm not sure if I'm playing among the best (I'll let you know after my first practice on Monday). What I do share with Annette is a deep passion for the sport of soccer and the "unapologetic joy" I feel when I strap on my boots and step onto the field. Only those who have lived it can understand how it feels to crack a shot, or sell a defender with a move practiced hundreds of times, or play the perfectly-timed through-ball, or win a header over a taller opponent...
Those of you who have been there understand that the list goes on. That is why I am here, on this small island in the middle of the Bothnian Gulf, where the people speak Swedish and are excited to introduce an American to their culture.
This blog will tell you about my life in Aland. It is not meant to be self-indulgent but simply a way to keep you all updated. Feel free to read it or not read it. I'll try to keep verbosity to a minimum.
Where the hell is Aland?
Since you asked...Aland, which should actually be written with an "Ångström sign" over the 'A' (it's the little circle over the 'A' in the word "Ångström," itself...savvy?), is located off the west coast of Finland. I'll spare you the history lesson but though it is officially a part of Finland, the island is actually closer to Sweden and has the official language of Swedish. Most people here do not even speak Finnish and many have commented on the difficulty of that language. When I previously read about the island before coming here, it was described as a peaceful and beautiful place. My first impression agrees. Though it is cold and windy, the first day was sunny. The island is covered in gently sloping hills where cows and horses graze between evergreen woods. The roads are red and wind into the capital city, Mariehamn, between pastel-colored homes and shops. On the wide sidewalks you'll see bikers, people walking dogs, and many emo teenagers rocking Chuck Taylors, skinny jeans, choppy haircuts, and piercings. Yes, it's so Euro. And, as expected, the people have fine, straight, light-colored hair and blue eyes. Since all the guys back home were wondering, I'll go ahead and confirm that Scandinavian girls are as pretty as their reputation claims.
I am here to play for the local women's professional soccer team, Aland United.
My Arrival
Forgive me if this entry grows too long, but some of you may be interested to hear about my arrival in Aland and what I have done here so far.
I landed in Stockholm yesterday around 11 am (which is 5 am Indiana time. As of tomorrow, when the time changes here for daylight savings, there will be a 7-hour difference instead of 6). I was picked up by the owner of our team, Mr. Jan-Ove Fellman. He is a very pleasant but quiet man that speaks English quite well. We drove an hour to a port where we could drive the car directly onto the large boat that would take us to Aland. Mr. Fellman took me to meet the captain, which, I discovered, was a privelege that not many are granted. It was very pretty to see Stockholm from the windows in the captain's ward. The boat ride took about 2 1/2 hours. What's hilarious is that apprently the press from Aland was waiting for me on my arrival. Some passengers walk off the boat, while others drive. We were driving, but the press expected me to walk. I later received a call from my coach saying that the press had been waiting and were disappointed not to catch me on my arrival. Really? Thanks, but someone should tell them that my being here is not as exciting as they may think. I guess my presence is interesting to the people of Aland mainly because I am the only American currently living here. Plus, I'm a futboler. That helps.
After the boat ride, Mr. Fellman took me to my apartment. It is on the 4th floor (which is as high as buildings go) and does not have an elevator. This is not a big deal unless you have to lug up two 70-lb suitcases. After we managed to get them to my apartment, I was greeted by my assisstant coach, Ubbe, and Monika, a mother of one of the players. I guess she is considered the "team mom." My apartment is far better than I expected and I am thankful that they are so willing to take care of me. It is a one-bedroom, one-bathroom place with a nice kitchen and sitting room. There is a balcony that extends the length of the apartment, from which I have a fantastc view of the Baltic. Monika decorated place with cute curtains, flowers on the window sill, and a nice welcome-card signed by the team. I have Internet access and about 8 channels on the TV--including channels in English like CNN, Animal Planet, and MTV. So, don't worry, I'll still be able to catch up on the presidential campaign and the tumultuous life of Lauren Conrad. Monika also put a little food in the fridge to hold me over. The food, by the way, seems pretty similar to the type of things we eat. Fresh meat, fish, fruit, cheese, yogurt, and salad--to name a few items. Tomorrow we are going to a Thai restaurant.
After meeting my coach and Monika (both incredibly personable, by the way. Ubbe is excellent in English as he has lived in the US for two short stints in his life), they left me to unpack and get some sleep. I was exhausted!
Day 2
I'll try to keep this short. Three girls from my team met me at 12:45 to take me to lunch and to meet with some reporters. Carro, Sarah, and Becci (ages 18, 21, and 17) were incredibly friendly, just as everyone else I have met so far. Carro is the best with English, though the others do fine. They generally spoke Swedish while I was around but did their best to include me in their conversations. They took me to a crowded cafe where I had an excellent shrimp salad while we waited for the scheduled reporter and photographer to arrive. Once they did, the photographer began snapping pictures of me right there as I sat at the table. Needless to say, I felt a little uncomfortable, espcially when the photographer asked me to stand up, walk away from him, then walk toward him as he snapped pictures. You try doing that with tons of people watching. I am sure that the final product cannot be good.
The girls then took me to our home field. It is a very modest setup with no signs or scoreboard, few bleachers, and a small lockerroom. I don't care, though. I am just happy to have a field again.
A Quick Reflection
So, how do I feel about living in Aland? I'm not sure I could explain all that I am feeling. I am excited to start practice on Monday. Sometimes, I am nervous--with all the attention I am getting as the American player, I am afraid that I will not be able to meet their expectations. Other times, I feel confident and restless, eager to begin. I am also afraid that I may be lonely in Aland. Though the girls do understand a lot of basic English, it may be difficult not to be able to make jokes or have in-depth conversations with people because of the barrier (Kira, this is where you come in). I forgot to mention that the coaches would like to sign me up for classes in Swedish, which I would be more than happy to pursue. I also worry that I may be bored in Aland. There is not much to do besides play soccer for a few hours a day. In the summer there are water sports (yay, I will not be without wakeboarding or water skiing this year!), but this sort of encompassses the activities. Luckily, I brought a lot of books and there is a library on the island with selections in English. I am sure that once I make friends boredom will not be as big of an issue. I also asked the coaches if I should get a second job, and they thought that would be a good idea. They suggested picking fruit. Haha. I'm down.
Being here alone is a bit scary, but Annette was right. It's about regret and opporunity. One thing I know for sure is that this is going to be the experience of a lifetime. I traveled alone to live on a small island in the Baltic Sea as the only American where they speak Swedish to play professional soccer and pick fruit...
Not bad.
Hello, everyone. I'd like to begin my first experience in blogging with the very poignant words of my former teammate and trailblazer Annette Kent:
Now What?
A thick piece of paper--the kind with deep ridges and abrupt edges--says that I have completed the requirements for my Master's degree. A stack of loan confirmations does the same. At this point in time, young people get jobs, sit behind desks, and strap up for the long haul. In essence, they grow up.
Me? I'm still 12 years-old, running around the playgroud, chasing a feeling that can only be described as unapologetic joy.
So, I'll board this plane and put my "career" on hold for this one last time. Because it's important. Not important like life and death. But important like regret and opportunity. I'll play this last season and even if I never score, never do anything noteworthy, I'll sleep better at night. Because nothing haunts you like knowing you could play with the best and didn't.
Okay, so there are some obvious differences between Annette, who played for many seasons in the highest league in Sweden, and me. I don't have my Master's and I'm not sure if I'm playing among the best (I'll let you know after my first practice on Monday). What I do share with Annette is a deep passion for the sport of soccer and the "unapologetic joy" I feel when I strap on my boots and step onto the field. Only those who have lived it can understand how it feels to crack a shot, or sell a defender with a move practiced hundreds of times, or play the perfectly-timed through-ball, or win a header over a taller opponent...
Those of you who have been there understand that the list goes on. That is why I am here, on this small island in the middle of the Bothnian Gulf, where the people speak Swedish and are excited to introduce an American to their culture.
This blog will tell you about my life in Aland. It is not meant to be self-indulgent but simply a way to keep you all updated. Feel free to read it or not read it. I'll try to keep verbosity to a minimum.
Where the hell is Aland?
Since you asked...Aland, which should actually be written with an "Ångström sign" over the 'A' (it's the little circle over the 'A' in the word "Ångström," itself...savvy?), is located off the west coast of Finland. I'll spare you the history lesson but though it is officially a part of Finland, the island is actually closer to Sweden and has the official language of Swedish. Most people here do not even speak Finnish and many have commented on the difficulty of that language. When I previously read about the island before coming here, it was described as a peaceful and beautiful place. My first impression agrees. Though it is cold and windy, the first day was sunny. The island is covered in gently sloping hills where cows and horses graze between evergreen woods. The roads are red and wind into the capital city, Mariehamn, between pastel-colored homes and shops. On the wide sidewalks you'll see bikers, people walking dogs, and many emo teenagers rocking Chuck Taylors, skinny jeans, choppy haircuts, and piercings. Yes, it's so Euro. And, as expected, the people have fine, straight, light-colored hair and blue eyes. Since all the guys back home were wondering, I'll go ahead and confirm that Scandinavian girls are as pretty as their reputation claims.
I am here to play for the local women's professional soccer team, Aland United.
My Arrival
Forgive me if this entry grows too long, but some of you may be interested to hear about my arrival in Aland and what I have done here so far.
I landed in Stockholm yesterday around 11 am (which is 5 am Indiana time. As of tomorrow, when the time changes here for daylight savings, there will be a 7-hour difference instead of 6). I was picked up by the owner of our team, Mr. Jan-Ove Fellman. He is a very pleasant but quiet man that speaks English quite well. We drove an hour to a port where we could drive the car directly onto the large boat that would take us to Aland. Mr. Fellman took me to meet the captain, which, I discovered, was a privelege that not many are granted. It was very pretty to see Stockholm from the windows in the captain's ward. The boat ride took about 2 1/2 hours. What's hilarious is that apprently the press from Aland was waiting for me on my arrival. Some passengers walk off the boat, while others drive. We were driving, but the press expected me to walk. I later received a call from my coach saying that the press had been waiting and were disappointed not to catch me on my arrival. Really? Thanks, but someone should tell them that my being here is not as exciting as they may think. I guess my presence is interesting to the people of Aland mainly because I am the only American currently living here. Plus, I'm a futboler. That helps.
After the boat ride, Mr. Fellman took me to my apartment. It is on the 4th floor (which is as high as buildings go) and does not have an elevator. This is not a big deal unless you have to lug up two 70-lb suitcases. After we managed to get them to my apartment, I was greeted by my assisstant coach, Ubbe, and Monika, a mother of one of the players. I guess she is considered the "team mom." My apartment is far better than I expected and I am thankful that they are so willing to take care of me. It is a one-bedroom, one-bathroom place with a nice kitchen and sitting room. There is a balcony that extends the length of the apartment, from which I have a fantastc view of the Baltic. Monika decorated place with cute curtains, flowers on the window sill, and a nice welcome-card signed by the team. I have Internet access and about 8 channels on the TV--including channels in English like CNN, Animal Planet, and MTV. So, don't worry, I'll still be able to catch up on the presidential campaign and the tumultuous life of Lauren Conrad. Monika also put a little food in the fridge to hold me over. The food, by the way, seems pretty similar to the type of things we eat. Fresh meat, fish, fruit, cheese, yogurt, and salad--to name a few items. Tomorrow we are going to a Thai restaurant.
After meeting my coach and Monika (both incredibly personable, by the way. Ubbe is excellent in English as he has lived in the US for two short stints in his life), they left me to unpack and get some sleep. I was exhausted!
Day 2
I'll try to keep this short. Three girls from my team met me at 12:45 to take me to lunch and to meet with some reporters. Carro, Sarah, and Becci (ages 18, 21, and 17) were incredibly friendly, just as everyone else I have met so far. Carro is the best with English, though the others do fine. They generally spoke Swedish while I was around but did their best to include me in their conversations. They took me to a crowded cafe where I had an excellent shrimp salad while we waited for the scheduled reporter and photographer to arrive. Once they did, the photographer began snapping pictures of me right there as I sat at the table. Needless to say, I felt a little uncomfortable, espcially when the photographer asked me to stand up, walk away from him, then walk toward him as he snapped pictures. You try doing that with tons of people watching. I am sure that the final product cannot be good.
The girls then took me to our home field. It is a very modest setup with no signs or scoreboard, few bleachers, and a small lockerroom. I don't care, though. I am just happy to have a field again.
A Quick Reflection
So, how do I feel about living in Aland? I'm not sure I could explain all that I am feeling. I am excited to start practice on Monday. Sometimes, I am nervous--with all the attention I am getting as the American player, I am afraid that I will not be able to meet their expectations. Other times, I feel confident and restless, eager to begin. I am also afraid that I may be lonely in Aland. Though the girls do understand a lot of basic English, it may be difficult not to be able to make jokes or have in-depth conversations with people because of the barrier (Kira, this is where you come in). I forgot to mention that the coaches would like to sign me up for classes in Swedish, which I would be more than happy to pursue. I also worry that I may be bored in Aland. There is not much to do besides play soccer for a few hours a day. In the summer there are water sports (yay, I will not be without wakeboarding or water skiing this year!), but this sort of encompassses the activities. Luckily, I brought a lot of books and there is a library on the island with selections in English. I am sure that once I make friends boredom will not be as big of an issue. I also asked the coaches if I should get a second job, and they thought that would be a good idea. They suggested picking fruit. Haha. I'm down.
Being here alone is a bit scary, but Annette was right. It's about regret and opporunity. One thing I know for sure is that this is going to be the experience of a lifetime. I traveled alone to live on a small island in the Baltic Sea as the only American where they speak Swedish to play professional soccer and pick fruit...
Not bad.
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