Feels amazing to be home, but I feel a part of me is still in China. There was a lot of hard work and sweat left in China, and I believe our team has paved the way for other teams to follow. We met a lot of influential people in the volleyball world, including K alums, that allowed us to pick their brains about the Chinese culture, as well as the growing game of volleyball. This experience will definitely up our game and enhance our knowledge about another part of the world that is so beautiful, full of opportunities, and truly different from home. It was amazing how hospitable and kind the Chinese people were to us. The people that were our guides along the way, Teacher Woo and THE William, showed us many interesting and beautiful structures, and shared with us knowledge about their culture that they hoped we would bring back with us. We have a lot to teach, as well as a lot of information to put to use this season.

China was an amazing opportunity that I was glad I got to experience. I am very proud of my teammates that came to China to compete and learn together, as well as to work our way through a few adverse situations :). For those who couldn't come, we know they were back home training and working on opportunities that will benefit their futures. Thank you Cate for all your efforts and thank you to everyone who made this trip possible. This was an opportunity that none of us will ever forget .

Kim Marble, K'10

June 28

Today, Sunday June 28 we awoke to the drum beats and festive atmosphere of the dragon boat races right next to our rooms at the training center. Taking a break from training, we spent the day shopping at both the Chenghuang Temple and Nanjing Road, punctuated by two fantastic meals. Lunch was hosted by Mr. Hua from the training center at the Shanghai Steamed Bun restaurant (so much more than steamed buns). Dinner was overlooking the Bund area and the Huangpu River hosted by K'96 alum Bobby Ireland, who is currently living in Shanghai. Lunch ended up being a farewell to our wondeful travel companion and translator Chris Chen. Thanks for everything Chris!!! Tomorrow we get back in the gym to train with the Shanghai Youth Team (ages 16 and up) and then compete in the afternoon.

From the other side of the world,

Coach

First Day of Training

Today was the first day of playing volleyball in China! This morning we worked on defense and serving. After our work out, we went to the Shanghai Sports Complex’s weight room to lift. It was a tad different than the workout rooms we are familiar with back at home. Different types of machines, different weight measurements (kg instead of pounds), and we saw the Shanghai volleyball team doing different work outs. i.e. running in a loop of a rope being held by a teammate behind them. After working out we went to lunch and then we all took a giant nap -which was much needed for our afternoon practice. At our second practice today we focused on offense, particularly hitting. It was awesome playing next to the Shanghai’s youth volleyball team and senior team…..they are amazing! Each water break you could find our team watching them train in awe. I am excited to play them this upcoming week and am looking forward to our first match tomorrow ☺

Carly Zeitlin, K'12

Shanghai

I got an email from Coach Hess today letting me know that they arrived safely in Shanghai!

Cate

June 23rd

Ok, in China so far for today, June 23, the team has travelled to the Summer Place, a pearl factory, Olympic Village and a silk factory. The Summer Place is a grand and spacious garden created as a birthday gift for the emperor's mother. On one side of the garden there is the mountains and on the other there is a lake. Chinese Feng shui all the way. The team went on a short boat around the lake as well as took a team picture in traditional dynasty chinese garments. Courtney and Colleen were the emperor and emperoress. Within the garden there is the long corridor with over 5000 paintings of traditional stories depicting the history of China. Within the pearl factory, we were educated about the different types of pearls, fresh water and salt water pearl. We were also taught how to identify fake pearls. The silk factory was an open market where you were able to bargain for a your price. The sales people are very aggressive, and they want you to buy their products at their prices but you are always about to lower the price. The Olympic Village was amazing. From an athlete's point of view, you think about the best of the world and how they walked where you were walking at the moment. They were standing in the middle of the Bird's Nest, and you wonder what they thought. In the Olympic Village we visited the Bird's Nest and the Water cube. There were synchronized swimmers practicing. A lot of the comments made by the team were " this is where Michael Philips swam" or "this is were the best of the best dove" and so on. Every member of the team seemed to be wide eyed and amazed by the Olympic Village.

Anna Lau, K'11

Great Wall, etc.

We visited the Great Wall of China this morning. It was about an hour and a half from Beijing. On the trip there, there were completely breath-taking views with the terrain becoming more and more mountainous (something we are not used to in Kalamazoo). When we finally got to the Great Wall it was an incredible experience to see something so famous that it is one of the wonders of the world. The pictures we have seen in books do it no justice. Thinking of the history of the wall just blows our mind and imagining all the millions of people who have visited before us. The team opted to climb the more challenging side and it was quite challenging, but less crowded. While "climbing" we had to be careful of the uneven steps and many breaks were needed due to the VERY steep incline. Sometimes it was hard the reach the railing because it was intended for shorter people. Overall the climb was really fun and the pay off was a gorgeous view from a tower on the wall. Colleen, Sandrine, Anna, Courtney, Monique and Linda chose to continue climbing the wall and just wanted to say that they climbed the farthest :) Along the way there were some vendors selling "I climbed to Great Wall" souvenirs. Walking down the wall was kind of terrifying due to the steep incline and at some points it looked like it was just a drop off, but we all made it safely!
After the Great Wall we had a nice lunch and we were surprised to see french fries! Next we went to the Dingling Tombs of the Ming Dynasty. It was super cool and temperature was cool also which was a nice change from the hot sun at the Great Wall. We learned a lot of interesting history about the Ming Dynasty. After that we went to the restaurant to eat dinner. Next we had to go shopping, because unfortunately half of the group do not have luggage yet and are going on the fourth day of wearing the same clothes. So they bought some underwear and a couple other necessities. Then we hurried to the Flying Acrobat Show. The feats that those acrobats could do was unbelievable. Some highlights: the "hamster wheel contraption" (two guys flipping around in a huge two-sided hamster wheel, even masked at one point) and girls doing tricks on bicycles (at the end having twelve girls on one bike). Finally we returned to the hotel to get some much needed sleep. So far the trip has been amazing we hope the luggage will arrive soon because we are leaving for Shanghai in two days. Thank you all for reading and thank you for your support!

Sandrine Zilikana '12 and Colleen Leonard '12

Day 1

I got an email from Coach Hess today, asking me to update everyong that they are all safe and doing well. The team spent today touring the Temple of Heaven, Tianamen Square, and the Forbidden City. They had a great dinner at a peking duck restaurant, and met up with K'07 alum Kimi Juwong. Tomorrow they are going to the Great Wall, and we can expect to hear some stories from some of my team mates about their experiences after tomorrow.

Cate Skirving, K'10

When I talked to Coach Hess yesterday afternoon, the team was stuck in the Grand Rapids airport after being delayed several hours due to storms. As they were waiting for their turn to load up and take off, Coach tells me that they continued to chant "we're number 1!" and were in generally good spirits. Although I haven't heard from any of them yet, I can tell from the uploaded Facebook pictures that they did arrive safely and I will post an update as soon as I hear anything.

Cate Skirving, K'10.

Wow. I cannot believe that in a less than 12 hours we will be on a bus at 5am to start our journey to China (followed by a 13 hour plane flight, of course). Being a senior, I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to graduate, plan for next year, say bye to some amazing people and best friends, and spend time with my family who came a long way to see me. So, while leaving, planning, and packing are a little crazy for me right now, I could not be more thriled that I get to spend more time with my team and embark on a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience. I know this trip is going to do so much for the team next year and I am so glad as a senior that I can still be involved and try to impart any last wisdom and knowledge to my favorite girls :). Anyways, I have to go pack, but I am so so excited for all there is to explore and discover in China. Bring it on! Cory

Corydon Graves, K'09

Almost there!

China is three days away and I am really excited! I keep checking the weather on the internet and I can tell it is going to be hot hot hot 8) <---smiley face rocking sun glasses (obviously!). But I guess I'll take China's hot summer over Kalamazoo winters ANY DAY. Well, i have to finish packing! I can't wait to see everyone!.....and to see China of course. <3 Carly

Carly Zeitlin, K'12

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” ~Lao Tzu, Chinese Philosopher

It’s an adventure to be sure, and we have already taken several steps! We’ve all heard stories of traveling teams but none of us has ever yet had the opportunity to compete in a foreign country. This will be a first in Kalamazoo College Volleyball history and in all of our own personal histories. As I write from my office at Kalamazoo College, I have a Chinese calligraphy print on the wall which means Crisis and Opportunity. I also have calligraphy on my back which means “Believe”. This particular journey of fifteen-thousand miles is the result of much belief blended into amazing opportunity.

In one week, the Hornets and our fellow travelers will be in the air en route to Beijing. Please follow along as we update our blog on a daily basis with adventures and pictures of the day. Our gratitude goes out to all who have helped us reach our fundraising goals throughout this past year; to everyone who helped us host the visitors from The Shanghai Volleyball Association in September 2008, and to anyone who has helped us prepare for this journey. Thank you from the bottom of our little Hornet Hearts.

To all the incoming Hornets and those who could not make the trip, use this space to stay connected with us as we create stories that will propel us into our 2009 season. And finally, you may think that it was Green Day who said “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end” when in fact it was Seneca, the Roman philosopher, who wrote it down first. So to Megan and Cory, our seniors who will graduate this Sunday: while this is the end of your journey with the Hornets, let this trip be an adventure to propel you into the next phase of your lives.

Let’s go!

Jeanne Hess
June 12, 2009
Kalamazoo, Michigan