Sorry I haven't blogged in a while, I am not the best at this whole thing. But anyway. Last weekend's handball was great....

Callie somehow got Toni and I an in with the U-20 national team's coaches and we got to do a weekend training thing with them. It was 5 practices and then watch a national game. So friday night we had a practices. Basically just played the whole time. They put me at left wing, I actually didn't do half bad down there considering I have never played there before. I scored some really great goals. Had and awesome fast break too, I was excited ;). Then on saturday we had a practice at noon and at 4. Again, we just played and did a few ball handling drills. To my surprise, I was keeping up with these girls fairly well. Then sunday we had an early morning, crack of dawn practice at 9am. You see, 9am on the weekends in Iceland is like 5am back home. It just doesn't fly so well with these people. And because I am basically a local and native (haha ya right) here now, I was a little sluggish to get out of bed too. But, the practice was well worth it. I was put on the second team of four and got a lot of play time in the scrimmages. In the afternoon there was a health speaker at Valur, but they told Toni and I to not come because it was all in Icelandic. But thats ok, it would have been boring cause we would of had no idea what was going on. But at 4 o'clock, all the US kids meet up at Valur for the Women's National game. They played Austria and destroyed them! It was really fun to watch them because we had front row seatings. Callie got us "season" tickets for free because we are representing the US. So we all sat together in the front row with our gray t-shirts on. The cameras were on us all the time. In between all stoppages and stuff. They were going to interview us at half time, but ran out of time so they just talked to Callie about us and she said a little about everyone and what not. It was pretty cool the have the cameras all around us for a little bit, and that wierd feeling that they are on you whenever hte play is stopped... kinda creepy. But cool I guess too. So ya, that was last weekend.... It went really well, opened my eyes to see sort of what I am going to be playing with in Poland hopefully. Looking more and more forward to that as the days count down. Then this past week, I just had soccer fitnes and handball practice monday, soccer kick around and handball practice tuesday, wed we played FH and beat them 28-22... great game. Then thurs until about 2 hours ago Toni and I have been at a summer house with a bunch of kids from Halli's (my host brother) class. They are on winter break and went out into the country for the weekend, we had a lot of fun just hanging out relaxing in the pools and hot tubs. Tomorrow I am playing IR at home. We should win I'm thinking.

Lets see.... what else have I done? Last weekend was really fun outside of handball. I hung out at my house with Ragnar's (host brother) friends friday night and got to go to Airwaves. Airwaves is a huge musical festival that happens once a year for about 8 days or something like that I think. But the tickets were sold out soo fast so I was disappointed I couldn't see any of it, but Raggi is a rapper and played in it one night so he has the ins there, so I got in with him. Really cool, just a bunch of people hanging around listening to really good artists from all around. There were different locations all around town with different people playing at different times all night long. Cool event. Then saturday I had a full day of handball and a relaxing night at home with Halli. He is a pretty cool kid. Then sunday after practice I went to church at Filadelphia. It was such an awesome service. There as this baptist speaker from Britian there. He had a lot of really aweosme powerful stuff to say. Talked a lot about purpose and stuff. He changed his serman for the international service for some reason. But he spoke on how we are all from different nations together in Iceland praising the same God. How cool is that?! We were all brought here for a reason. Somehow we ended up here, and that is not just by coincidence or any unconvience or antyhhig like that, God brought each and every one of us to Iceland for a purpose. IDK guess you sort of had to be in my head to understand what he was saying. But it hit home, it was really cool. Then we prayed for the pastor and his wife and the whole church (which started with 12 or so the first time I went and last week had around 40) had their hands stretched out praying over them. Then the guest pastor spoke about he has been to a lot of countries and preached, but this church had a burning fire and power to it. It was crazy cause that whole thing he was saying about how we are all in Iceland for a reason stuff... well in the back there was this man and his wife. And in hte middle of when he was talking he say them and said, "O there is a God" becuase this man and his wife were two pastors he spoke with in a country in Africa about 2 years ago. He hasn't seen him since, and then there is was the same weekend he was in Iceland... God is good. God is really good. Ok, enough about that service, but just know it was really cool. Then after that I meet up with everyone at Valur and we sat and watched the game I already told you about. That was fun.

Tuesday, Ton Ton and I got to take my families BMW into the country for a little site seeing. I definitely got lost getting out of the city. We went in the wrong direction for sure. But pulled over, asked for help, got laughed at, and then were on our way. We drove about 2 hrs in search for this waterfall called.... idk, somethign cool. The only way we knew where we were going was by google road maps b4 we left, and those were not accurate. ahha. So we just hoped we were doing it right. We were in the middle of the moon and finally came to this 20 person twon and asked if they knew were the waterfall was. To my surprise, we were headed in the right direction and only needed to drive about 15 more min. We did good! The waterfall was crazy beautiful!!! Really cool. I have never really seen anything like the waterfalls here. They are really really cool. Then we drove another 30 past that one to anothe waterfall, even bigger. Man, it blew me away. I can't even discribe these things, and the pictures do no justice to the real beauty or them. Wow. Thats all I can say. But the trip with Toni was really fun. Just ate food, listened to music, and talked. We are becoming bfffffffs. haha!

Then today I just got back from two nights at a cabin with a bunch of kids. That was fun. We left Thursday night and meet up with about 20 kids. Just hung out, played ping pong on a table, watched stars, hot tub, guitar, dance offs, cards, adventures into barns, pools, food, and nientendo. Just hung out. It was really fun. Made good friends with a few of them there. Good times good times.

But, overall I am doing well. Missing home of course, but doing well. My host parents have been in FL for 8 days now. I am still holding strong here at the house. I have been cooking and do the laundry. Walking the dog and getting the children to bed ontime as well! Ha, no it has been fun. I have been cooking and doing the dog a lot, but its been fun. Mom is definitely going to be using me to cook more back home I bet now. Thats ok, she needs a break from it. Its a lot of work to cook each night you know!? Well done to all mommies out there, you gals are champions.

Ok, I need ot take a nap ;). Love you all, and I wanna here how you guys are back home so write to me or email. Love love lvoe.

Alright so I have gotten some feedback that I am not being detailed enough... here goes nothing.



So - I have been biking around this lake that is right on the other side of the road that is behind my house. The trail is on the way to my club where I practice, so really close. I have only gone around that three or four times, but its beautiful. I ride my bike around it usually, but I like to get off, leave it on the trial, and hike up the "mountian" next to it. Its fun cause I'm hiking on moss and rough rocks. Feels like the moon with carpet. Love it! I went climbing with Halli and Gunnar the other day. Just went to an indoor facility. My arms are really tired, haven't been climbing like that in a long time...all the walls but one were overhang type things, so it was really hard for me. Need lots and lots of upper body strength to get over the edge, forarms are KILLING me! But it was really fun and cool place.



More handball answers... I'm learning soo much. Each practice just gets better and better. I'm doing much better in defense. Attack is.... eh its getting better. I have been playing center back. Actually that is all I play. I can run a total of 5 plays left and right side. So that is good. Still need to learn more, but coach did give me a few of them on paper so thats good. On a scale from 1-10 i think that I have moved from a 2 to a 6 or so. That is pretty good I'd say. Still need lots of improvement, but definitely getting some things down. Foot work is much much better. League officially starts on sunday. Hoping for maybe 10 min in each half, if I'm lucky. That will probably only be in the easier games though. But watching it up close and personal is just as good to me.



I think it'd be easier if I could CONFIDENTLY say everyone's name correctly. I don't really know the exactly way to pronouce the names, only what I have picked up from hearing them, and let me tell you what... its a HARD LANGO!!! I went for about an hr long walk with Erla (lil sis) and she was teaching me a few things... I bet nearly 20 mins was spent on just one saying...its really hard to pronounce things. They use a totally different type of sound stuff... difficult for me. But I can say lots now.... thanks, sorry, excuse me, good day, good night, hello, my name is holly, light, dark, handball, line, here, there, food....some cool stuff. Few more things. I'm getting personal lessons from Erla. We go on walks together so its been really fun. I also have been knitting with Anna and Erla. I actually picked it up pretty quickly. I was surprised. I have about 6 rows finished on a 40 line. That probably makes no sense but o well.

I have been hanging out with a bunch of peole. Elizabeth has probably been the bestesteset for me. She is really fun and nice, lets me tag along with her a lot. Also, I have been chilling with Fridrik, Steinar, Andri, and Elsa a lot. They are really funny kids... doing stupid stuff all the time. Its a good time.

Ok, well thats enough. :)

More Awesomeness

Sorry for not getting to you this weekend, I had a busy one!

But lets see.... last week's handball was awesome! Monday we lifted and did a few passing drills. Tuesday we practiced with the younger boy's team and scrimaged them the second half of practice. The first half was really fun! We had only 8 girls, so we did this really fun defensive drill. Girls had a group and boys had a group. and there were four girls about 10yrds apart, and one in the center of the circle (like the basketball cirle in middle of court), with the other other defending her. the object was to get the ball to either the hands of the circle runner, or get in placed on on the ground inside he circle. The defenders had to communicate "out" "circle" etc and when the ball was out in front of you, you had to go out and defend. It was god REALLY physical. Great practice. Then on Wed we had a friendly across twon... I got to play half of both halfs. We were losing when I came in first half, and ended the first half 17-13. Had a great goal! I intercepted a pass, took a fast break with 2v2, passed the ball off, and kept running, received it, and scored from he left side a right upper v! awesome goal! My skills are improving dramatically. After the game coach was yelling at the girls ( we tied 22-22) and he kept saying my name. I asked Gurdron what he was saying, she told me that he wasn't impressed with anyone but me. That I was the only one hustling back on D, and had my head in the game. So I think that is great news! We had Thurs off. Friday we sipp (jumprope) and did lunges and things like that, then did a shooting practice. Saturday was a fundraiser day, so he said I didn't need to go t that because I can't exactly pursuade people to buy carrots. So my older brother Halli took Toni and I to the Blue Lagoon on Sat! Really, really cool place!! Sunday we went running outside together, in the snow. Monday was set up for counting the money earned from sat, only a few girls helped so they just did it at lunch at school. So I didnt have practice yesterday. But my home has a tredmill and workout equiptment, so I do that when I dont have practice. Today I have weights and practice... Tomorrow is the first league game. It's against the other club in Hofnarfujordur. The girls told me its going to getu ugly... I'm excited. Not expecting to play, but I will let you know the outcome. I'm guessing it will be a great game! That is pretty much it in nut shell...

Ok, blue lagoon... only about a 35 min drive from Hofnarfujordur. Halli took Toni and I. It was a beautiful day, blue skys from morning to night... So the name is blue lagoon right? I jut thought it was bcause it was catching and what not. O no! It is the most blue I hve ever seen. I mean th water is BLUE! Like blue blue. Its crazy. But its basically this huge hott hott hott tube in the middle of rocks and stuff. Kinda neat. The hot water from the ground and stuff comes up and they mix colder water so it doesn't boil us to death. really enjoyable. Basically a spa outside. Had a cool little waterfall, sanas, mud to rub on your skin. I got out and put that mud over my entire body and let it dry. I was like this white snowball monster! its really only for your face, and all the other tourists only had it on thier faces. So I got pointed and laughed at.... what else is new?

There are just too many stories and things to update you on. But that is kinda a quick short overview of last week I suppose.