Basketball

The smell of wood and sweat mix with popcorn from the concession stand. A mix of cheers emit from the stand. The swish of the net as a basket is made. This is W&L basketball, a sport I know nothing about. Watching the W&L mens basketball game last night was an experience I will not forget. While knowing near to nothing about basketball made following the game a little hard to watch at some points, by the end I feel like I was able to figure out the point system, some of the gestures that the referees made, and even that the number on each jersey has no particular meaning.  I noticed little ticks that certain players had, like how one player would wipe his hands on the bottom of his shoes right before each 35 second block started. I remember noticing how all the players would smack each other on the butt, coaches included, gave whacks of encouragement with their clipboards. Meanwhile I was thinking, "Is this a guy thing? Girls sports teams don't do this..." Despite these random observations, I feel like the side conversations happening in the stand made the game for me. Sitting behind me was an old man teaching his grandson about the game. Behind and to my left was a cluster of men making comments on the players' stats and hometowns. I couldn't quite figure out of they were alums or locals but their conversation is what captivated me the most. Yelling in loud, raspy voices, they encouraged the Generals to make baskets, to throw the ball to certain players, etc. They were also making comments about which players should be playing better and what their stats were. It was entertaining listening in on their conversations and I probably learned more about basketball from them than simply watching the game.

Travel

Today I found out that I would be spending spring break in Buenos Aires, Argentina with my best friend Jen. This will be my first excursion in to South America and I am truly excited! There is nothing better than traveling to a new city or country. I love to explore the new sights, sounds, smells, and even tastes of a new place and really immersing myself in the culture.  One of my favorite memories of travel was when I spent three months in Amsterdam in the third grade. While January through March proved to be pretty chilly and gray, I loved the beautiful vibrantly colored tulips. Red, butter yellow, blushing shades of pink all added color to the cold cobblestone streets and gloomy green-blue canals. More than the flowers and ambiance, I loved the food. One of my all time favorite treats was Stroopwafel, a delicious little waffle shaped cookie dipped in caramel that can be served warm or cold. One night we went to an amazing restaurant called d'Vijff Vlieghen, or, The Five Flies. Filled with history, the restaurant was in the heart of medieval Amsterdam, set in a 17th century townhouse that had been beautifully restored. While I love exploring and seeing new places, my eight year-old self was not ready to get lost in the Red Light District. On our way to lunch with a few business clients of my father's, my family and I ended up taking a wrong turn and ended up in Amsterdam's famous Red Light District. It was day time and I was so confused as to why there were women in windows in their underwear.I remember asking my mom "Why are those ladies in their underwear?" and her replying with something along the lines that they were warm and trying to cool off.




Despite the possibility of ending up in a Red Light District, I truly love getting lost in a new city or country and stumbling upon little restaurants with delicious cuisine, old buildings with lots of history, and even encountering some new sights, sounds, and smells.