Lost in Translation

Made it to Bangkok!! Well, its different… Being here really makes you appreciate some little things I take for granted at home; like air conditioning. Luckily we have air in our rooms (except I woke up to ours dripping water all over my stuff last night), but not in the halls, common rooms, or athlete lounges. There is like no breeze here. It’s just hot and humid. I keep waiting for some wind to blow and it just doesn’t. There’s been a constant mist of rain in the evenings and the sun doesn’t shine. It’s for sure not California!

Transportation is very tricky. No one speaks english too well to help us get around and there are so many different trollies and buses going in every direction that it makes it difficult to get to the pool. And when we do locate a bus to the pool, it’s just a free fall with no organized order to get on board. The elbows come out! There are roughly 1200 people in the village to get an idea with what we’re working with (and who knows how many languages). It’s trips like these that make me wonder why people say Americans are the rude ones. We are like the only ones who make and stand in lines. And don’t just walk in front of people and cut in line. I don’t know, maybe I’m missing something.

The food isn’t too bad. Luckily I’m a big fan of white sticky rice. I usually grab that with some meat and veggies. They have some great fruit and yummy chocolate milk.

The team is bonding really well and everyone is getting excited to swim. The pool is awesome. It’s outside, but covered. The water is a little on the warm side but hopefully they will cool it down to “race temperature”. But some say it’s just too hot out to cool it.

Each night, outside the dining hall, they have cultural dances and ceremonies taking place. Lots of music, dancing, bright colors, and exotic props. It’s pretty neat to check out. And within the village they set up a little Thai Market. I haven’t checked it out yet, but some of my teammates purchased some goods already for great prices.

I was elected captain and was part of the vote that picked our flag bearer at opening ceremonies. It’s a member of the men’s volleyball team who is deaf. He has to play with hearing aides which he can still only hear 70% and when he starts sweating he has to take them out and sometimes plays without them. Which would be very difficult in a sport that requires communication. The volleyball team is so tall and makes even Matt Grevers look small. It was crazy because I met a guy that went to a high school right down the street from mine. Ohh the OC bubble! It’s cool getting to meet other athletes from the US. We are staying in the dorms with the Men’s volleyball team, gymanastics, men’s and women’s basketball and taekwondo. And some of the Swiss team but not sure what sport.

So ya, the meet starts in 2 days and I start in 3. I will be racing a lot with the 200 IM first, then hopefully 800 free relay, 400 IM then the last day 200 fly (I got added in it because the girl in it dropped out). Almost time to get this party started!!

Oh, and how could I forget… Instead of monkeys here, they have huge frogs. I surprisingly think they are so cute. But not enough to try to catch one.

~KSS~