the trip to fresno prep school

i woke up at around 7am, and went for the team breakfast at the lobby. but something was different about this day. we were going to do something different, our coach has told us the night before that we would be going to a prep school in Fresno, to meet and discuss about soccer to the kids. i was so excited because i love children, i have always wanted to be a pediatrician. So during the breakfast we all talked about what we were going to do to entertain the kids, so i came up with the idea that we show them some tricks involve in soccer like joggling the ball, heading,and dribbling, so we all agreed to that. So at about 11am we left the hotel to the prep school, it took us about 15mins drive to get to Fresno prep school. So our coach met with a woman , i think its the headmistress and about 5mins later, we saw surrounded by at least 50 to 70 kids of about 5 to 7 years old. it was so nice to see the kids around and seeing the eagerness in their eyes trying to figure out what we are hear to do. So my coach introduced us to them and called out some of us to exhibit some drills and tricks for them. they were so overwhelmed, they felt as if they where in the circus and clapped in amusement to what we were doing. so after we finished with the exercise. we could see in the faces, how eager they wanted to play and kick the ball around. and most especially trying to do what they had seen us do.so our throw some of the ball to them and you can't begin to imagine what happened next.

strange

Something dramatic happened to me today, as i was coming back from class. i live at wynridge apartments which is like 5mins walk from the school. just a few blocks away from my apartment, this car drove pass me. it was a man, Africa American, about 5 11", and should weight about 200lbs. he suddenly stopped and reversed toward me, at first i thought he was a stranger in my neighborhood who wanted to ask for an address but i thought wrong. so he stopped and asked me to come closer, so i did. he asked me if i live around here and i said yes that i lived a couple of blocks away. so he went on saying that we was looking for a apartment, so he decided to drive around to see if he would find one. i told him that i didn't know if there was any apartment available here but i noticed something weird about the way he was looking at me. he was smiling all the time and winking his eyes at me. As i was trying to show him where the leasing office was located, he cut me short from what i was saying by asking me some very weird question like if i lived alone? where i was from? if i would like to hang around sometime with him?. i didn't understand it at first until held my hand and started feeling it. it was the weirdest experience ever. just that very moment i noticed that i was talking to a fagot, a gay and i dragged my hand off and walked away. he continued calling on me but i ignored him and just walked home. i was so pissed.

the first day in california

i woke up at about 7am but it seems as if i have been sleeping the whole day. it was so refreshing, waking up to a sunny and breezy weather of Fresno,California. So i got up, hit the shower and was ready to go experience my first day in California. we had a team meeting by 9am at the lobby, were we had breakfast and talked about the daily activities. firstly we had to practice by 1030am, then go for a lunch around 12noon. There wasn't really a lot to do because our coach restricted us from going out. he says he want us to be focused on what we are here to do and achieve the greatest goal by winning the national tournament. so we returned to the hotel after lunch and just hanged around. i was just moving from room to room trying to find sometime to do. like about 1pm we all decided to go swimming, it was so much fun. we played a lot of games, competing with one another in every event just like we do whatever we play any sport. we were in the pool for like 2 hours, and we all got tired and went back to our respective rooms to grab nab or do some homework. the only important we had to do that day, was going to the opening ceremony of the tournament, a banquet, where all the teams were introduced.

When we landed at San Francisco Airport, California then we boarded a coach to Fresno which was actually our final destination. it was about 4 hour drive from the airport. there was so many things to see, so i barely slept. before we left Atlanta, i was told how beautiful California was so i was so eager to see it my myself. the bus drive was the best ever, because there was a lot to see on the way Fresno. i saw a lot of mountains, stretches of vineyards, corn fields, and i saw even fortunate to see the sun set beyond the mountains. it was the coolest experience ever, i was so beautiful. About 8pm we arrived at the hotel were would be lodging for the next one week. the hotel was so classy it had a swimming pool, hot tub and beautiful interior. So we lodged in; 3 to a room. the rooms were so big that we all felt so comfortable in it. At 9pm we were all settled and ready to hit the bed. so had a team meeting around 930pm and 10pm it was light out.

flying to california

its was 7 am, woke up so tired and excited because i was travelling to California for the National Men's Soccer Tournament. i went to bed late last night because i wanted to sleep all through the flight. Flying to California was a long flight for me, so sleeping would be a good idea considering the fact the i am afraid of flying. i hurriedly hit the shower, because we were supposed to meet at the gym by 730 am to board a bus to the airport. so i dressed up in a blank dress pant, a pink shirt , and a pink tie just as instructed by the head coach. so we got to the airport by 830am , started checking in our luggages it actually took time because we were 24 of us but it was fun all the way. At about 10 am everyone was done with the checking in then our coach called us together and headed everyone 20 dollars to buy food for the entire day. We so happy because it was the first time most of us was actually travelling to California and to make it more better we were flying as a team. it was a remarkable experience. Its 1030am boarding time, so we all boarded and the plane take off by 11am. It was so exciting having in the same plane all your friends and teammates. we made jokes and played game games in flight. The plane had an in flight entertaining system with games, cable tv, and the latest movies installed. Although i was tired because i didn't have enough rest the night before but i was so into the movies that i didn't sleep all through the flight. i saw transformers 2, ups, and ice age 3 and before i knew it, the pilot was announcing for landing. it was a flying experience i would live to remember because for the first time i was so secured.

WEIRD

i have come to understand, how strange things can be when it comes to friends here in the US. Here friend's gives you something and expect to receive something in return. I live in four bedroom apartment with my soccer teammates, and its so weird how they see react to some certain things. We are friends on and off the field so i expect things to be nice and cool with us, but its so ridiculous how they treat and think about me when i ask them for things. for example using their computer, asking them for food. for instance, they say i am rude because i do not excessively say "please" when i ask them for things. i mean that shouldn't be a big deal but they seems to be making a mountain out of a monster seed. In Nigeria where are come from, you can ask from your friend casually or rudely for something and they would gladly give you because you are friends. when you are friends, you are into one another like blood brothers, so the way you ask for things or treat one another should be a big deal. It so difficult to believe how people take friendship here. i have been here for four months now and i have learnt that even if people say you are friends, you still have barriers. I was talking to a friend, who i borrowed some money to last month and he was telling me how people do not borrow you money here without wanting something in return even your so called friends. i was so surprised because in Africa, we borrow and even give money to strangers who are even our friends with ease without thinking about how to to get it back. It better to give than to receive, how i wish my teammates knows this. they should be happy that someone is asking them for help and they can give.

life in the States

Growing up, we were made to believe that the United States looks like heaven. "life is easy there" they say. it was painted in a way that you think money grows on tree, like the clouds are green. so when i was coming to the United states, i had a lot of expectation. i couldn't wait to see with my own eyes the Almighty United states that i have heard and dreamt of all my life. getting to Jackson international airport, i was shocked to notice that life in the US is not different from any other part of the world. thinking that the cloud would be green and its eventually blue says it all. after living here for about 3 months, i can now tell that life isn't as easy as they pronounce it to be. you actually have to hard work to make a living , just like any other part of world. the only difference is the people, culture . economy , infrastructure, and beliefs. life in the states is fun and nice but no place can be like home.