July 19, 2007 Jessica O'Shoney

It’s the American Invasion. I’ve really appreciated the weird sidelong glances we’ve gotten the past 2 days while walking down the streets. Today was the first day I’ve felt like we fit in here. After not having our alarm go off the past 2 days, Emily Cheek, Michelle, and I rushed downstairs after being awoken by the knock of Emily Danks on our door. We hurried down to the sand courts outside of our cute little hotel here in Bled where we practiced beach until 8:30. After beach we came inside and ate possibly the best meal we’ve had here so far it consisted of cereal, Cocoa Puffs, Rice Krispies, and Frosted Flakes. I just realized that cereal is a universal food, and I’m so appreciative for it. There was also eggs, sausage and croissants; it was like IHOP it felt like home. Next we headed down to the “beach” which was pretty much grass that dropped off into the most beautiful clear water you have ever seen. The girls alternated between lying in the grass and talking and standing in the water to cool off. We were taking pictures in front of a beautiful church on an island when a group of Slovenian boys started taking pictures of us. Apparently they’d asked Sara and Brandi if we were from Russia; obviously speaking in English didn’t give them the hint that we were not from around here. I never thought in my wildest dreams that we’d be mistaken for European natives. Walking back to town we took a scenic path around the lake that led us to the Bled Casino where we met up with our Radovan (the tour guide) and our bus driver. We were then driven back to the hotel for lunch and about an hour and a half break before practice. Our first European practice was 4-6 pm and we were all relieved when we walked into the gym and felt AC for the first time so far on the trip. However, after 2 hours, no amount of AC could have helped out with the profuse amount of sweat dripping all over our bodies. We were all relieved to come back to the hotel and shower and eat dinner. The one thing I’m looking forward to most when I get home is food, good American food. Weiner Schnitzel is not my thing.