Bronze, Birthdays & Brats

This week has been quite the eventful one...

To start it off this was my last week of practice and the final week of play. We played Fredericksburg last Wednesday and beat them 3-1. With that in mind we knew going into our match Wednesday they'd put up a fight and we'd have to be on the top of our game for a W. Leading up to Wednesday we had a hard practice Monday afternoon and Tuesday brought my birthday! 

I woke up to a little Funfetti cake made by Bets, birthday buns made by Mie and a few presents on the table. We sat and chatted over coffee and buns and enjoyed a fun meal knowing we wouldn't have many more together. After a light serve and pass practice we piled in the van and drove to our adopted Danish parents home where they had a delicious dinner of Smørrebrød waiting. I'm so thankful for Mies parents. They have been such a blessing to us Americans over the past few months. Our time there was spent talking about random facts, trips to the states and future plans. It was a great way to spend my birthday here in the Den. I missed home tremendously but I was surrounded and reminded of the family I have made here. 

Wednesday came quickly and soon we were in the van driving to Copenhagen. Warm ups began and the whistle blew for the Bronze Medal match to start. The bronze match is best out of 2 games with a golden set if teams split so because we had won the week before we only had to beat this team in 3. The first set we came out strong and easily took the win, but the rest of the game was a back and forth battle with them winning the second, us taking the third and them taking the fourth. After 2 hours of playing they closed out the win in the fifth set and sent us into a Golden Set. Knowing this was the last match we'd every play as this specific team we came out with one thing in mind... to win. After six sets and nearly three hours of volleyball we did it. We took third in Denmark! I'm so proud of my team and so glad we were able to bring a medal to Fortuna for the 10th year in a row. We celebrated the ride home singing as loud as possible in the van, eating McDonald's, laughing and wearing our medals around our necks. 

Bronze medals & named Player of the Match

 The next morning was an early one with a trip to Hamburg, Germany. After some consideration Betsy and I decided the price was worth it and got our tickets and hotel and headed out. It was a short trip of 2 days but long enough for us to walk around the city and enjoy dinner German style. It was colder than expected but worth the trip! 

German lovin

 beer&german soul food

So cold on our walking tour

Chile house
(buliding with the sharpest point in Germany)

Where the gas was made in WWII to kill the Jews

German Brats

last shebang with this lady

My days as a European are coming to an end. The official countdown is 3... wow that's crazy to write... 3! The next few days are to be enjoyed with friends and more memories to be made just like the last months have brought. 

xoxo