Indiana University Athletics
Pollom in France - April 7
4/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
"Salut tout le monde (Hi everyone!)
This past weekend, I took a break from traveling and stayed in Aix. I did spend quite a bit of time at the end of last week, this weekend and a couple days this week with the African Dance Company. Like I wrote last week, I met the guy from the Congo who is starting the first African Dance Company here in Aix, and he introduced me to the rest of the group. I have had the opportunity to learn a lot from their drummer, Diego, who practices many hours a day on his African and Indian drums. I've also learned many traditional African dances from Senegal, Guinea, and the Congo. All of the dancers are extremely kind and welcoming, and they are fun to hang out with. Aside from drumming and dancing this week, I have been preparing for my spring break vacation! I just had my last class of the week, and I leave tomorrow for Paris. I am so excited to visit the city for the first time. Many of the people in my program have already been, so I've gotten some good tips. My two-week vacation is going to consist of Paris, Rome, Nice, and Oslo (Norway). It's a lot crammed into two weeks, but I enjoy traveling and am looking forward to seeing many new places. Rome is particularly exciting during this historical period. The only downside is that I will be in the midst of four million other tourists and pilgrims flocking to the Eternal City for the pope's funeral, so I hope I will be able to see all of the sights.
Last week, I came across something very bizarre as I was walking through the hall of the FAC (our school). While I was passing by the Bureau du Sport (sports office) with two friends, I noticed a poster, and I stopped dead in my tracks while I took a double take. The poster was some sort of advertisement for sports at our school, and there were three pictures: one of a basketball player, one of a soccer player, and one of a volleyball player. However, to my surprise, the volleyball player was ME, and it was a picture from my 2003 season at IU. I recognized the picture right away and pointed it out to my friends who of course were curious what that picture was doing on the wall of the school in Aix! Well, I have no idea why they used that picture or who even made the poster. I have since seen a few others hanging around, but the irony is so bizarre! I have never played volleyball in France, yet they have the school emblem over my picture as if it is a volleyball player from Aix! One of my friends took one of the posters off the wall so I could have it as a keepsake. I showed it to my host mom after telling her the story. She couldn't believe it either. Actually, she asked if I was sure it wasn't someone who just looked like me! I assured her, it's my red hair and IU uniform! Needless to say, the people in my program have gotten a kick out of this story!
Well, that is all of the excitement from this week. I will be on vacation for the next two weeks, so I will write at my next opportunity. Take care everyone!
Love,
Katie"
Players Mentioned
