Our last day in Holland!

Today was our last full day in Holland.  This morning we left Valkanswaard to tour the PSV stadium and take in the sites of Eindhoven.  The packing up of the 16-room Luxury Bunk House went off without a hitch.

We also reconnected with the U-14 boys at PSV. The tour of the PSV staduim was very interesting - many facts, history, variation between home/visitor locker rooms and the cost of luxury boxes used by businesses (54,000 Euros for 18 games for a group of 4). We also learned that if you walk on the playing grass you get fined 15,000 Euros and are banned from the stadium for 10 years. After the tour, we visited the PSV Fan Shop.

We also said goodbye to our host Jos (from Valkanswaard).  He was a great host and really showed a sincere interest in the well-being of the girls and their overall experience while in Holland.  As an accountant by day, he also proved to be very adept at playing cards and challenged Wendy and Chrissy for the card championship of the group (he played with us last night until midnight).  Jos (from Maastricht) was the coordinator of the whole trip and did a wonderful job organizing the logistics and always trying to make the experience the best it can be for the girls.  Thank you Jos and Jos!

After Eindhoven, we boarded the bus for Amsterdam.  While the coaches and chaperones tried to sleep, the kids did not lack any energy.  We walked around the museum district of Amsterdam - much nicer than the red light district of the city.


We then returned to the Stayokay in Amsterdam for dinner, 10 pm bed check to be ready to hit the road at 6:30 am tomorrow for our flight home.


It has been an incredible week with your children.  They've learned about soccer, different cultures and communication/being part of a team.  Thank you for giving us this opportunity - we've enjoyed the experience and look forward to seeing you all tomorrow night.  Once landing in Boston, we'll be calling from the road.


We hope the snow is melted!

Friday - Our last day of soccer

Today was our last day of soccer on the trip. We had a wonderful Dutch endurance training session with Behr this morning. The girls played exceptionally well and enjoyed their last session with Behr.

After lunch, we walked into town to participate in the Queensday celebration, including a Harley Davidson rally. We shopped, sat at a café and listened to live music. From the village, we walked to the field for our last match. The match was well played and the girls used many of the skills they learned from Behr this week, winning 10-0.

As has been the case after every match, the two teams gathered after the game to share a drink and a snack and to converse and exchange email addresses with each other.

We then walked to a local Italian restaurant, coordinated by Jos (our host), for a welcomed dinner of cheese pizza. The girls were very happy to be eating American food. They each ate their own pizza-they all have great appetites! The coaches and chaperones treated the girls to dinner. After dinner we walked back to the Stayokay. Many of the girls walking arm and arm with one another.

A big thank you to our host Jos who made several trips from the Stayokay with the girls soccer bags to the pitch in his car. After the game he returned the smelly soccer bags back to the Stayokay. Jos, has also become a card shark, playing Knock Out Wist with Wendy, Keith, Candy, and Chrissy.

The girls are packing their bags tonight for an early departure to the PSV stadium and back to Amsterdam on Saturday.

Thursday - Back to Soccer

We awoke to another sunny and beautiful day – maybe a little too warm for the girls as they returned to double sessions with Behr and a match tonight against the South 1 District team from Holland. Behr continued to teach the girls about building from the back, making pressure and possessing the ball. It may have been a little too sunny for Allie Astor, who despite repeated reminders to apply sunscreen missed a few spots (like both arms and back of legs).

The highlight of the day was playing a match against one of the six district teams from Holland. Holland is a country of over 16 million people and they have six District Teams that then feed into the National team. Prior to our match, their coach gave us a presentation on youth soccer development in Holland and shared that one of the girls from the game (a 14-year old) was already on the National U-15 team. Prior to the match Geneva and Katie Costello continued their week long tradition of braiding their teammates’ hair, Wendy included.

Our girls came out slightly intimidated and fell behind 3-1 in the first half. Nearing the end of the half Kaelyn had an outstanding header on a dangerous cross to save a potential goal. After a motivational halftime speech, the girls came out much more confident for the 2nd half and played the rest of the game to a draw (3-1 final). Heeding her mom’s encouragement, Shannon took out the goalie on a tackle. Most dedicated fan award goes to Linda Norris who flew across the ocean to watch three-quarters of U-14 match in Holland.

After the match and dinner, the girls unwound by going to an indoor pool. After paying the one Euro admission, Anna is now down to two Euros. Mia displayed gymnastic ability from the high dive, nailing a Russian Split. A spirited synchronized swimming competition coordinated by Coach Wendy confirmed that the girls are playing the correct sport.

Chaperones of the year award goes to Chrissy and Candy for spending a beautiful spring day doing laundry, grocery shopping, and preparing fruit salad.

Wednesday - Waffles or Bust!

Today was a soccer free day. We started off the day with a women’s run at 7:30 am around the streets of Maastricht – Keith held down the fort while the girls slept. Candy was moving particularly swiftly at the end of the run and had a bounce in her step the rest of the day.

The day was sunny and in the mid-70’s (no snow in Holland this week!). Jos led us on a beautiful walk through the streets of Maastricht on the way to the University of Maastricht. The University was founded in 1980 and has approximately 13,000 students. The girls enjoyed the sites, took many pictures and were happy to be exploring the city. In her new white dress from Amsterdam, Essie was our little angel, while Ashley was our classy and sophisticated dresser.

We then hit the shops and replenished with chocolate filled waffles with Vanilla ice cream – delicious! Lindsay also filled a chicken craving by stopping at KFC. Our shopping then continued with an open air market, clothing and shoe stores. Our best shopper award goes to Caroline Q. who purchased an item at every store. Kaitlin D’s suitcase was already above accepted airline weights leaving Boston, not sure how the shopping will help this?

Had lunch, walked to the foot bridge over the Maas River for final pictures before departing for the American Cemetery. The girls (and adults) were all touched and moved by the experience. To give you some perspective, there are over 8,300 soldiers remembered at this memorial.  Many questions, discussion and reflections – Katie Charland commented on how sad it was.

We then drove the “Three Points.” This is the location of the border of three countries (Belgium, Holland, Germany). Many girls were pleased with the food selection here, including Caroline M. (French Fries) and Emily (Ice Cream).

Next up was the bus ride to Valkanswaard. We met our new host (also Jos). He showed us a new side of the city on the bus drive in – it’s really not in the middle of nowhere! The girls are adjusting to their new lodge-like accommodations. We were fortunate to be able to secure the “Bunk House,” a 20-bed suite that fits the entire team. No worries, Greta is diligently working on completing her homework.

This evening’s entertainment was the Champions League semifinal, Barcelona vs. Inter Milan at the local canteen. The girls coolly found their way to the trash can after the Dutch boys soccer team arrived after practice.

Comments from the girls about their highlights thus far:

• Waffles and ice cream

• Shopping in Maastricht

• Scenery

• Ajax game

• Standing at the Three Points (Belgium, Holland and Germany)

• The American Cemetery (interesting)

• Chocolate during breakfast!!

• Winning our matches

• Hanging out with other teams

• Taking pictures with Holland soccer players

• Learning words in Dutch (ex. Hi, Thanks, Bye, Exit)

• The people

• Food

• Girls with center parts in their hair

• We don’t want to go home!

• Eating barbeque on porch overlooking Maas river

• Walk to Maastricht University (Pretty!)

• Walking to the foot bridge

• Rattails and French braiding

• The fries are delicious

• We visited three countries

• Shopping!

• Aflac ducks

• ITouch (cube runner and doodle jump)

• Crazy bikers yelling at us to move

• Other team swearing at ref in Dutch

• People talking about you in Dutch when you are right there

• Barbeque

• Our “shit” conversation with Leo

• Annoyed little Dutch kids yelling while we fell asleep and waking us up in the morning in Maastricht

• Justin Beiber with Dutch girls from other teams

• Apple juice!

• Egg rolls!

• Wii

• Walking around the streets of Maastricht shopping

• Rooming with friends

• Winning games in Holland

• Taking pictures of scenery

• Meeting with other team after matches

• The Ajax game

• Talking to Dutch people

• Having Leo and Behr coach us

• Ajax game – two goals in first seven minutes

• Canals everywhere, houses on the canals

• Lots of cows

• Beautiful cities

• Airplanes. Long, only one hour of sleep

P.S. - Here's the photo from our match on Tuesday.  The folks at VV Scharn were very welcoming and gracious hosts.  It was a wonderful experience getting to know the club staff (Anita, Chris and Yolanda) as well as the team.

Day 4 Tuesday

We are just going to give highlights tonight...As the adults are going to bed early...RIGHT???
Today the girls got to meet a new trainer, Behr.  He is very a very knowledgable teacher, the girls should learn lots.  Dutch philosphy is in full swing.

• Double training session 2 hrs AM 2 hrs PM
• Won match  4-1 against VV Scharn, very good match...picture will be posted on Day 5 Blog
• After match we all enjoyed a cookout at the hostel, hamburgers, sausage, chicken, pork, lots of salads.
• Beautiful weather 70 degrees sunny!!! NO Snow!!!
• Looking forward to exploring  Maastricht in the AM
• Off to Valkenswaard in the afternoon
• Sad to leave this beautiful city with such wonderful people!
• Girls are all doing great.  Everyone healthy, having fun and really bonding with one another!

Stay tuned for Wednesday's updates..sure to be full of good stuff...and pictures!
Girls were quick to bed tonight, its amazing what a threat of running at 7AM can do...
Goodnight!!

Day 3 - Monday with Leo

Welcome to Maastricht! We began our soccer leg of the trip and it was love at first site with Leo, our 68-year young grandfatherly trainer. The girls were very nervous but he soon put them at ease. Some of his lines from the day:



• How was your communication? SHIT. IT WAS SHIT COMMUNICATION!
• Soccer players are either smart or lazy – that was not smart….
• You girls pass like you are color blind.
• Regarding formation and goalies not being included – What’s the matter? Don’t you like them?
• After Candy missed trapping ball – SUB!
• You will be playing against 24-year olds, blind with wooden legs (Mia believed)
• Seeing Keith carrying all of the equipment – He’s a donkey

Leo and Coen (our guide) were both extremely impressed with the skills and abilities of our team – “they can play soccer!” Our two 2-hour training sessions emphasized possession, playing simple and opening their hips to see the field.

We replenished the girls with a pre-game feast of fruit salad and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches a la Chef Wendy, Candy and Chrissy.

The girls from Vermont then travelled to play the local club Polaris and won 8-0. We were assisted by some "home town officiating" with our volunteer flag person.  After the game, the two teams bonded at the Club Canteen.

Off to bed – two more trainings and a match tomorrow night. The competition is promised to be stiffer in the next 3 matches.

Day 2 - Sunday in Amsterdam

Got up early after being awake for 36 hours (what a night of sleep!). Slave drivers Wendy and Keith had the girls gather at 8:00 am for another tortuous run through the streets of Amsterdam. All the while, hard-working chaperones Candy and Chrissy were sleeping soundly in the comfort of their penthouse accommodations in the StayOkay.




After the gourmet breakfast, we proceeded to the Gray Line Boat Tour through the man-made canals of Amsterdam. Most of us saw several historical sites dating back to the 15th century (some of the girls kept their eyes focused on the U-14 boys next to them rather than the history in the streets.

A little taste of Americana followed as we stopped at the Al’s French Fry’s of Amsterdam. Shopping followed and Chrissy’s group held up the bus and led to brutal tongue lashing of the girls on responsibility later in the day.

This was all a prelude to the day’s highlight – the match of Ajax versus Feynoord in Game 1 of the Dutch League Championship. Fabulous seats (thank you local congressmen for the strings pulled by the Embassy). An exciting game as Ajax scored twice within 43 seconds of the first half and held on for a 2-0 victory. Our kids got their first training in How to become a hooligan.

Then, the bus ride. A multiple hour drive from the stadium to drop off the U-14 boys in Valkenswaard (what a relief!) and to arrive at our destination in Maastricht near midnight. Our dedicated chaperones pumped up the soccer balls until 2:00 am using nothing but a hand pump (they both complained in the morning of sore wrists).