Thursday February 12^th

First day without being in the basketball team..kind of sad! Oh and I totally freaked out this morning because yesterday after practice, I put my watch and my rings in my pocket, and this morning I couldn't find them anymore! So I left earlier for school, and I walked all over the parking lot to see if it didn't fall somewhere...Nothing. Hopefully, as soon as I arrived at school, Bri told me that she found them in her car! Ouf! In ceramic class, I started to work with real clay. Until now I'd only do projects or take notes. We had to cut a square of clay and once it was all smooth and flat, we drew a picture on it with a knife. I am doing a bee...I hope it will look good! In my other art class, I started my new project, I'm painting an eiffel tower in a bottle...

I also had my first track practice! I was kind of scared, I thought we would run for 2 hours non-stop, that I would be dead after it...We actually started just running 5 minutes in the school (it's too cold to run outside), between the classes, in the hallways... Then we went to the gym where we had to push slides with weights on it. When I saw it I didn't think I was going to be able to make it move...and I actually was able to run with it! I was faster that certain boys!
After that we did the worst part of practice: sprinting! We ran 20 times, go and back in the 80m hallway. It doesn't sound a lot but sprinting non stop 20 times is hard!

We finished by doing abs. A good way to be back in good shape!

Wednesday February 11^th

This morning, I did a speech over the indian tribe I was working on in ceramics class. I had to talk in front of whole class and it was awful because I could here my own GIANT accent! I don't know if the others were able to understand what I was saying! In my other art class, I finally finished my painting, the one I started before christmas break!

It finally was the time of sectionals.

Our hall of fame in the locker room

After eating a snack in subway, we all got ready to leave. But before we left, Coach Conwell came to talk to tereza and I. He told us that he had a bad new...During sectionals, only 12 players can be registered in the team, and we are 14...As Tereza and I are the “worst” players, he decided not to put our names down. Which means that we still can go with the team, but we aren't allowed to dress in the uniforms, to do warm up with the team, and they don't say our names when they announce the team. I have to say that when I learned that, I was really upset, mad and sad. I felt like they were taking my last game away from me. Because when think about it, wearing the jersey and go to the game process is what make you a player and I wasn't able to do it today. And to be totally honest, I didn't really feel like a real part of the team at this moment. The sport bus what all decorated with banners, cheering posters...We even received a little bag full of candy (yummi) with our number on it.

The game was in a neutral high school in Fort Wayne. While everyone was dressing up and getting ready, Tereza and I...filled the water. It was our job for the entire game, bringing waters to our teammates who were playing. I was upset for the beginning of the game, but then I saw my team playing so hard, and I felt useful (for once) bringing the waters! I finished cheering for them. Unfortunately, even if we fought really hard, we lost by 20 points (what, against the best team of Indiana, isn't too bad). When the seniors got out of the game, everyone stood up, the public too, and we all applauded for them. It was their last game too and everyone was sad for them. At this time, all my bitterness was gone!

In the locker room, Conwell gave us a speech about our season. We won 10 games, what hadn't happened in 10 years for the Eastside Girls Basketball Team, we beat Garett (first time in 15 years)... He said how proud of us he was, he thanks the seniors and he also said how happy he was that he had 2 exchange students in his team, that we improved so much and he was proud of us. At this time, I was already crying!

Nice little message when we came in the room!

But it only got worse when Maddy, one of our leader, gave a speech. As a senior, she said that she couldn't believe all we accomplished this year, that she was happy of playing in this team with these teammates, she said that she knew what we were capable to do for the next years and that she was proud to be a Lady Blazer. (sorry Maddy if I didn't tell it perfectly)

After that, every single player was crying, I saw a lot of people crying for the first time. It was just very moving to realize that it was really over this time.

I seriously cried my eyes out tonight!

But once again, I don't regret anything about this season and I think it's the most important thing. I lived it to the fullest and it will stay unforgettable memories forever.

The 4 juniors of the team...I will miss Maria and Casey so much!

Tuesday February 10^th

Only event is that it may be our last practice. Tomorrow we will play sectionals against Canterbury, the team number 1 in state...We will do everything we can to win but if we are realistic. We don't have a big chance. If we lose, it will officially be the end of our season, which means no more practices. So it's with all that in mind that we practiced maybe fore the last time. I gave everything, I played as much as I could, and at the end of practice, I made my free throw..good way to end it!

Saturday February 7^th

We met at the gym at 8.30am for practice..however, we didn't play basketball, we played kickball! It's a game where you have 2 teams, one is in the middle, the other one is kicking the ball. Then you have to run from bases to bases while the other team is running to catch the ball. Kind of a “Balle Brulée”. After that, all the team went to the Butler Broadway Cafe where we had breakfast: eggs, bacon, potatoes and toasts..A real american breakfast! We then went to Maddy's house where she had a party for the team. We actually spent the 4 first hours of the party in her basement, watching a show called “Alaskan Bush People” on TV, a show that tells the story of a family that lives in the woods in Alaska, as prehistoric people, with no modern stuffs, hunting for their food..It was stupid but pretty entertaining! So 4 hours, and a few naps later, we decided to do something and we left to go to Walmart. I had some shopping to do, and then we just walked through the store and have fun with pretty much everything! We also stopped at Dollar Tree where we all bought Tatoos for 50cents, a team “project”!

Very productive party!

Back at Maddy's house, we started the Karaoke...How can I describe it...I understood why people in my team were playing basketball instead of being in the choir! No I'm mean, it wasn't that bad! And I'm not sure that I did so much better! We finally decided to watch a movie called “Talladega Night”, kind of funny. After eating some pizzas, we just hanged out, watch more “Alaskan Bush”. People started to leave around 10.30-11pm, but Reagan, Hannah, Ashley and I stayed there. We watched “Cheaper by the Dozen 2”, this movie is awesome!

I stayed to sleep at Tereza and Maddy's house.

We did face masks during the night...This is how Reagan looked after it!

My fav moment of the night

My (missed) Layup at the game on Friday

you can't seemy little head between the players 42 and 24... Looking to see if this ball was going in !

My last game, Friday February 6th.

Getting on the court for my last game!