Day 5- Florence and Match #2 vs PONTEDERA

We woke up bright and early and walked to the train station and took the train to Florence. Once we got to Florence we met up with our tour guide, guido. Shoutout to guido for being the best tour guide in the game, everyone should go give him a follow on instagram (@guidotheguide.official). He took us around florence and gave us insight on the history and the beauty behind the Piazza de Duomo. We learned so much about the historical, political, and artistic side of Florence. We saw Giotto’s bell tower and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fliore, saw where the infamous Dante lived, multiple pieces by iconic artists like Michelangelo, and tons more.

​AFTER OUR TOUR, WE HAD SOME FREE TIME TO WONDER AND EXPLORE DEEPER INTO THE CITY OURSELVES. WE ATE LUNCH, SOME OF US SHOPPED, OTHERS WENT TO MUSEUMS TO SEE ART LIKE THE DAVID BY MICHELANGELO AND MANY OTHER PIECES SOME OTHER MONUMENTAL ARTISTS IN HISTORY. SOME OF US EVEN SAW A GLIMPSE OF THE GUCCI MUSEUM. IT WAS SUCH A SURREAL EXPERIENCE BEING ABLE TO WALK AROUND A PLACE THAT YOU WOULD TYPICALLY SEE THROUGH THE INTERNET AND I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. ​

AFTER SPENDING THE FIRST HALF OF THE DAY EXPLORING FLORENCE, WE GOT BACK ON THE BUS AND HEADING BACK TO THE HOTEL TO PREPARE FOR THE MATCH WE HAD LATER THAT NIGHT. HERE THEY PLAY THEIR GAMES LATER AT NIGHT TO HELP WITH THE HEAT. OUR GAME WAS AT 8:45 SO WE HAD SOME DOWNTIME BEFORE WE HEADED OUT TO PLAY. AFTER SOME TIME OFF OUR FEET AND A LITTLE PREGAME MEAL, WE WERE HEADED TO PLAY OUR SECOND MATCH OF THE TRIP AGAINST PONTEDERA. 

ONCE WE GOT TO THE GYM WE QUICKLY CHANGED INTO OUR VOLLEYBALL STUFF AND IT WAS GAME TIME. GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY AT SUCH A HIGH LEVEL AGAINST A FOREIGN TEAM IS BEYOND AMAZING. AS THE GAME GOT GOING WE FELL SHORT IN THE BEGINNING AND DROPPED THE FIRST TWO SETS. WE TOOK OFF STRONG IN THE NEXT SET AND TOOK THE 3RD. WE FOUGHT BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM IN THE FOURTH HOWEVER WE WE FELL SHORT IN THE LONG RUN. DESPITE THE LOSS, IT WAS GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR US TO WORK ON QUICKLY ADJUSTING TO OUR COMPETITION WITHIN THE GAME IN ORDER TO CREATE SUCCESS FOR OUR SIDE. ALSO IT WAS GREAT TO SEE ALL THE FRESHMAN GETTING IN AND CONTINUE TO SEE OUR CHEMISTRY GROW AS A WHOLE. 

AFTER THE GAME WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO EAT DINNER AND HAVE PIZZA WITH THE OTHER TEAM. IT WAS SUPER FUN TO BE ABLE TO CHAT WITH THEM AND LEARN ABOUT AND COMPARE THE DIFFERENT CULTURES. A GOOD BIT OF THEM SPOKE ENGLISH SO IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT JUST ABOUT ANYTHING YOU COULD THINK OF. MY FAVORITE PART IS WHERE WE SING HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL TOGETHER! AS THE NIGHT BEGAN TO DIE DOWN WE SAID OUR GOODBYES TO OUR NEW FOREIGN BESTIES. WE GOT BACK ON THE BUS AND HEADED BACK TO THE HOTEL TO GET SOME REST IN ORDER TO BE CHARGED UP FOR OUR NEXT ADVENTURE!

- ANNETTE BAKER, SOPHOMORE