Worlds

is one huge blur that I feel I haven't even had a second to sit and think about yet. While I LOVED my post-worlds roadtrip (which I'll write about in a later post), going straight from worlds to roadtripping meant that I had very little time to decompress from 8 intense days of ultimate, a lot of quality time with fury, a lot of ridiculousness with the whole Netherlands team, and general socializing that made me so happy.
In some ways, I feel like I really took advantage of this worlds much more so than I did in Perth. I feel like I met a lot of people from all over, got to watch a lot more ultimate than I remember watching in Perth,and just generally enjoyed all the uniqueness of being at a tournament where so many countries are represented.
Initially I was pretty annoyed that Fury had decided to stay off-campus and to not participate in the meal plan that most other teams participated in, but, in hindsight, I feel like i got the best of both worlds. For me to maintain sanity at a tournament, I need to be able to leave my team, get away from the women who I have spent all day with, and hang out with other folks. BUT I also need to have qt with my teammates and not be distracted by all the other lovely people that are around that I want to talk to. With us being offcampus, I felt like I could actually hang out and talk with my teammates when I was at the house without really wondering what other folks/teams are doing (because, in my frantic mind, I would otherwise probably be thinking, "what other fun things are going on? and am i going to miss out? i hate missing out. but fun is here. but probably there too. aaahhh!!") so it was nice to have the dividing line.
I still don't know how I feel about tournaments that last 8 days but only have 1-2 games per day. I remember thinking in the semis that I was FINALLY sprinting like I hadn't done in a long time, so, in some ways, it was less exhausting for my body than even a really hard 2 day tournament. BUT, in other ways, I feel like it is exhausting mentally. It is hard to keep your mind focused on winning, playing your best, etc that many days in a row. I had a particularly bad game against the Italians - bidding for stuff that I knew I wasn't going to get, not getting into the correct positions, etc. I talked to Matt a bit about it afterwards, and I remember telling him that it was unlike most of my ultimate experience, bc my legs felt fine, but my mind was moving at a slower pace and couldn't ever seem to catch up. That was definitely more difficult than I had prepared for.
Honestly, I don't know what to write about in this post because so much of me hasn't decompressed. it was SUCH a sweet feeling to beat the Japanese finally!!! WHOO WHOO!!! I love playing with a group of women who go into a game and just know that they are going to win. It is pretty amazing. And I LOVE playing with a team who has an incredible strategy team who scouts out another team, breaks down their game, and comes in totally prepared to shut down what that team does best. I was SO mad about losing to the Japanese in Australia and Japan (and also in pool play), so it felt great to be in control during that game and play with a lot of confidence.
I feel like this would be a good point to start talking about ultimate as one huge metaphor for life, and what that victory meant, etc., but I am not sure I have the energy to do it. Or that I have any clue what I would say. It is there, waiting to be said though.
Other highlights: Seeing Britt Caldwell, a dear friend from Atlanta. I started crying DURING our game when she came up and surprised me. I had forgotten how important our friendship was to me, and it was great to see her, feel comfortable, and know that she is someone who was really there for me when I needed a wonderful teammate/roommate. It was also pretty cute to meet Susan Yates - a good friend of my mom's, who was there watching her son. She was adorable and made me miss Chattanooga!
Other things I loved - when the Dutch team showed up at our sideline with a big sign that said, "go wilson," or when Gwen knew the rules well enough to make sure that a D I made during the semis actually counted and didn't get sent back (guess I should have read those?), dancing all night long Saturday night after winning with Casey and Alex in their onesies!!! another highlight was one night when I just sat outside in the Snyder's backyard, chatting with Dea, JF, Stacey, and other Furies. It made me super sad that Stacey,JF, and Dea won't be on the team anymore, as I love them a lot. I think a highlight that I will also remember and laugh about forever is being on the far sideline right after winning andright after trading apparel with the Japanese team. Listening to country music and dancing around in my ridiculous japanese tights with JF and Alicia Barr was a wonderful moment.
Wow - i think that just writing about it a bit is helping me to remember and appreciate how special worlds was. I will never get to be in a moment like that again with those amazing women. i have learned so much over the last year and a half from them, and it is so cool to be around them, laugh with them, take a step back from them when i get overwhelmed, and then know i can step back in and still be part of the fury family. i can't imagine having made any other choice but to come to the bay and play for this team. it is pretty sick. the medal definitely helps the experience, but, even if it wasn't a team full of such incredible athletes, it would still be a worthwhile experience. definitely difficult in a lot of ways. but very worthwhile and unique. (which, of course now that i am thinking about them and the experience makes methink, "yes - i AM going to apply for jobs in the bay!" hahaha!)
ok - off to go shower and get moving. it's almost 11 a.m. more soon about post-worlds happiness.