Aug. 9, 2005
(Editor’s note: The following diary entry was provided courtesy of USA Basketball. For more information on the USA World University Games Team, please consult the USA Basketball web site.)
Meerhaba (Hello) from Turkey!
The past three days in Turkey have absolutely flown by. We have spent most of our time here in Izmir adapting to the language, culture and food. The easiest way to explain the World University Games is that it is the Olympics for college kids. The U.S. and the rest of the countries have been staying in a village just outside Izmir. The village is built right into the mountain and all of the apartments look as if they are going to fall right down the mountains. For all of you back home who watch Real World on MTV, our living conditions are very similar. We have 14 people in one apartment that consists of three bathrooms and five bedrooms. Let’s just say that we have gotten very close in the past few days!
Obviously our main reason for being in Turkey is to bring home the gold medal for the United States, but since we don’t start competition until Wednesday, we have spent some of our time exploring the city. On Monday, we took the city bus to downtown Izmir. The waves of the Aegean Sea splash no less than a few hundred yards from the heart of downtown. There was no question that we looked like tourists and Americans. We must have taken a hundred pictures of anything from Izmir’s clock tower to a two hundred-twenty five year old Islamic mosque. Even the city pigeons were an attraction for us. We serpentined around the shopping areas looking for more ethnic looking items. The most popular purchases were the lucky Turkish evil eye stones, handmade rugs, Turkish blouses and purses. After walking around and taking in the culture, our eyes lit up at the site of a Burger King in Turkey. We honestly were trying to adapt to the food here but I guess we cheated by eating a Whopper. The entire team agreed that it was the best burger that we have ever tasted!
Our final tune-up before our first game on Wednesday was a scrimmage against the United States Air Force stationed in Izmir. They were amazing people and could also hold their own on the court. After a quick scrimmage, we had the opportunity to see the base at which the team is stationed. We got to hear their stories about all the places that they had traveled around the world.
Despite being stationed in Turkey, the base in Izmir was very similar to home. They had their own grocery store with American food and things to entertain themselves. The complex had an enormous outdoor lap pool, baseball diamond and putt-putt golf course. For as much as these men and women do for us, it was reassuring to see that someone was taking care of them and keeping them as comfortable as possible outside the battle lines.
Well, it is nap time for me. The quest for gold starts tomorrow, and I cannot wait to represent the red, white and blue. A special hi and I love you goes out to my mom, dad, Laddie and the rest of the family. Oh, and of, course a special shout out to my team. I miss you guys. Keep working hard!
Megan
— ND —