May 15, 2007
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam -
Hi Everybody!
So today is our sixth day here in Vietnam and we played our
fourth match of the tournament this afternoon. Our match
wasn’t until 4 p.m., so we had all morning just to hang around the
hotel, which of course I spent sleeping. Dr. Le wore us out
last night with the most amazing massage ever and a little karaoke.
It was nice to be able to sleep in.
We played Sri Lanka today and I played middle for most of the
match. It is a new position for me and I’m still getting used
to it. But it was a fun match. Something that I am really enjoying
about playing in this international tournament is getting a chance
to watch the different playing styles of the other countries. They
dive for the ball different, the length of their spandex is
different and the way they celebrate after a point is definitely
different.
After we got back from our much needed western dinner of pizza
and ribs, Liz [Austin], Casie [Brooks], Ruisa [Scheffel] and I went
to get manicures and pedicures in the hotel spa. The ladies that
worked there did not speak English and we kind of had a hard time
understanding what they wanted us to do. We were taken to a type of
locker room where they gave us a towel and motioned toward the
shower. Since we were only getting our nails done, we were a
bit confused. So we pointed to our nails. They smiled, gave us silk
robes and motioned towards the shower again. So even though we
couldn’t understand why we were supposed to change clothes to get
our nails done, we did anyway and then they walked us upstairs to a
lounge. There was food and several TVs. They sat us down in
reclining chairs and brought us drinks and fruit. It was very
different from a manicure and pedicure in the United States because
they didn’t even paint our nails. It was just another new
experience here in Vietnam and it only cost $4 USD.
Well, it’s getting late and we have another important match
tomorrow, so I’m off to sleep. Before I go, I want to say hi
to my mom, my dad, my sister Makena and my little brother Riley. I
love you all and can’t wait see you!!
We still have over a week left here so I am really excited for
everything else that’s been planned. This really is the experience
of a life time and we are all really enjoying ourselves and soaking
it all in.
Good night!
Alanna Rutan #19