Yay!

Tonight I won my first World University Games gold medal in the 200 IM. And it’s a sweet medal too. Really big and heavy. It was a best time and a new Games record. I wanted to go under 2:12 but I was close (2:12.1). So that kicks off my meet well. I will be racing in the finals of the 800 free relay tomorrow night (for us, 14 hour time difference to west coast). Then the following day is the 400 IM, then a day off, and 200 fly last night.

Chad Latourette won our other individual gold in the 800 free and killed his best time. So far we are 2 for 2 golds in our mens and womens 400 free relay. Our team spirit is high and everyone has great attitudes.

Sorry it’s so short and boring, I just wanted to touch base before I head to bed, it’s way past my bed time!!

~KSS~

Share This

Posted in Star Blogs | 1 Comment »

More to be grateful for

So I mentioned earlier that being here makes you appreciate little things from home. Well my list keeps getting longer. I am thankful that we live in a country that doesn’t have the constant smell of (for the lack of a better word) throw up. It’s so stinky here. I appreciate that I can use the water from the sink to brush my teeth and not have to use bottled water (it’s pretty annoying). That we have sheets on our bed (there’s only a blanket on our beds). That I don’t have to share my room with lizards and ants. And that I don’t get eaten alive by mosquitos. And lastly, so far, what I am most grateful for is that we don’t have to use “squatters” for our toilets. These are literally on the floor. Ya, no thanks.

I am thankful to live in the best country in the world that makes me feel spoiled whenever I travel abroad. Ok, that is all for now

~KSS~

Share This

Posted in Star Blogs | 2 Comments »

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~

Share This

Posted in Star Blogs | No Comments »

Checking in…

I want to steal a baby spider monkey and bring it home with me. They are so cute. But I hear they are naughty little things. They were watching our practice today (and trying to break lights of the roof, aren’t they cute?!). In typical tourists fashion everyone whipped out their cameras for the photo opp. (Of course I didn’t have my camera!) So that was my entertainment for the morning. Speaking of animals, we went to the Singapore zoo the other night. We took a night tram ride and saw amazing animals. I have never been to a zoo and have never seen such huge animals so close. It was unreal. To see an elephant right next to us was crazy but my favorite was probably the hippo. It was a fun team activity except it was hot and humid. I was sweating and I wasn’t even doing anything. I don’t care for that too much.

We take off tomorrow for Bangkok. I think everyone is getting anxious to get this meet started. We have been here for awhile now, but it’s good we were because I feel like I am just now getting over the jet lag.

Before we take off we have the traditional rookie skits taking place tonight. Anyone who’s first national team meet is this one has to perform a rookie skit. There is about 23 rookies so we have 5 skits taking place. It should be very entertaining. It’s crazy to think I did my rookie skit in 1999. Ya, my teammates have pointed out how old I am getting. (Thanks guys).

Other than animals and skits, not too much is going on. Pretty low-key here, just preparing to race. My boyfriend Harry Potter and I have been spending a lot of time together. I don’t know what I would do without him.

Next stop, Bangkok!!

Share This

Posted in Star Blogs | No Comments »

Delicious breakfast and spider monkeys!!

So far, everything about Singapore is awesome for us. Our hotel is very posh and I scored with my own room! I can’t even describe how amazing the breakfast is here. Its unreal. They literally have everything. Its like really modern with some techno music playing then just food bars everywhere. Made to order omelettes, pancakes, waffles, sweet rolls, amazing fruits, yogurt of all flavors, juices, noodles, asian food that I have no idea what it is, cereals… Seriously its unreal!

Where we are training is a country club that feels like a tropical resort. Its surrounded by all these lush trees and golf courses. One of the coaches was like look for monkeys and I was like ya right, tease the blonde and sure enough I saw a whole gang of spider monkeys!!! How crazy is that?! Its like Animal Planet outside our bus. So needless to say, the accomadation are amazing.
The 2008 Olympic team is going to be coming here before heading to China, so we are doing a trial run for them. So we totally scored!!

Today we have tea with the Embassador of Singapore. They are very polite and kind to us here. I’m looking forward to doing a little shopping tomorrow during my afternoon off! They are suppose to have amazing shops and get this, its discounted shopping month. Another total score!!

We are to enjoy the luxury while we are here because we are going to be roughing it while in Bangkok. Very small rooms with 3 people in it and no room for luggage. And the food is questionable. Have to live it up here while we can!!

Share This

Posted in Star Blogs | No Comments »

And we’re off….

So we’ll just say my trip didn’t start off too lovely. The day started at 3:30 am east coast time. I had to be at the Detroit airport in time for my 6am flight to Chicago. I passed out pretty quickly and woke up to the girl directly next to me throwing up in her barf bag. Yes, that’s right, throwing up right next to me. This, in return, made me want to throw up. I pushed myself up against the window as much as I could. So I got off my first flight already nauseous. Then my flight to LAX was delayed 45 minutes and I was flying seperate from my CW teammates and coach. So I went to kill time at Starbucks and then they didn’t have my blueberry white tea ice tea I wanted!! So I settled for a non-fat latte.

I met up with some teammates and coaches from Northwestern, one of them being Matt Grevers, whom I enjoy. He always has a good story or something entertaining to say. Heading to LA, this passenger tried to switch me my window seat for her middle seat. Ummm ya, no thanks. So I passed out again after flipping through my fashion magazine.

Fortunately I was lucky enough to upgrade my 11 hour flight to Tokyo. I met an awesome American family who live in Bangkok and the 2 children swim there as well. They were very nice to speak with and told us we would enjoy our visit. I expressed my concern with how bad the humidity was and how my asthma wouldn’t be a good combo but they actually thought it was harder to run outside in the states then it is there. That was great to hear. I watched a movie, ate an interesting meal, and feel asleep for about 7 hours. I finished the flight by indulging in Harry Potter. I’m on the second to last book right now. I know I’m totally behind. I love these books. I wish I could go to Hogwarts!

After our 11 hour fight, we had a short lay over, then a 7 hour flight to Singapore, where we will stay for about 6 days. The plane wasn’t full so I got to take up 3 seats, so I just laid across them and went to sleep again. I swear, I am a sleeping champion! I am so lucky I was able to sleep for the majority of this 46 hour travel.

After getting through customs and retrieving our bags, we got on the road towards the hotel at 12:45 AM. Everyone seems to be in good moods despite the long travel. I actually do not know too many people on this trip, but I look forward to meeting them. I am for sure the veteran/grandma of this team.

We are almost to the hotel. It’s a 5 star hotel that is supposed to be amazing. I’m excited to see it. We have to be up and ready to head to the pool by 7:45, that’s pretty soon!! Better get some more sleep!

~KSS

Share This

Posted in Star Blogs | 2 Comments »