In Osaka!

OK so I apologize, but things have been real busy here! So I haven’t had much time to write. Time has flown by since I last wrote. This is our last week here! Excited to come home, but have some unfinished business to take care of here first. Our final tournament is this weekend! We are the #1 seed going into the tournament and the 1st game we face the #2 seed, “Ueno’s team” also known as Renesus. Ueno is the Japanese pitcher the USA team faced in the Gold medal game at the Olympics. She is very popular here in Japan, and a really good pitcher, so you know you are going to get a good game when you face her. So we have 2 games, maybe 3 games to win the tournament. If we win the first game we automatically move into the championship game the next day. So send your good vibes towards Japan for us please!!!!

When I last wrote we were on our way to the Japan tournament, something completely separate from the league games. We ended up loosing in the championship game vs. Renesus team (”Ueno’s team”). We played 5 games in 3 days, so I was pretty much drained in every way possible afterwards. So again please accept my apology for not updating=). After we resumed playing league games, our team bounced right back, (beating Renesus the first weekend back) moving into 1st place and never looked back since! So hopefully we continue this right into this weekend!

Jamee,JT,me, Monica at Beyonce concert!

Ok so enough softball……since I last wrote Monica and I have done A LOT of traveling/sightseeing on our off days. This also explains why we have been so busy. We were able to travel to Osaka, to shop, sightsee, and relax, but mainly to see BEYONCE!!!!!! So all of you know my obsession with Beyonce, so it was a real treat to see her on the other side of the world in Japan. It was such an experience seeing her in Japan, 1st of all the fact that the entire audience didn’t really know a lick of English but was still captivated by her was amusing to me. I on the other hand knew EVERY word, to EVERY song, and I’m sure I was more entertainment for the people sitting behind us than Beyonce..lol! This was truly the closes I’ve ever been to her, we were in the floor seats and when she made her way down the center stage that went through the middle of the audience, we were able to push our way through and be right by the stage. In fact, I believe Beyonce and I had a moment. I was THAT girl with her hands in the air, knowing all the words and ummm crying…lol!!!! Beyonce saw me (since I towered over everyone else) she stopped, looked and then smiled at me (or the person behind me)!!! lol!! Oh yes, by the way, Osaka was a nice city too! Monica and I did a lot of shopping!!

We were sooo close!!!

My mom also visited last week for our last week of league games along with my good friend Jessica. It was great to have a chance to share them with my team. I was glad that my Mom was able to see how I have been living for the past 6 months. My team enjoyed them and showed My Mom and Jessica a great time. Showed them a great meal of Shabu Shabu! After we played My Mom, Jessica, Monica and I were able to leave the team and spend a couple days in Tokyo. We tore up the city by shopping in Roppongi, Harajuku, and Shibuya!

My Mom, Jessica and my teammates

Toyota families and team!

Below are some more pictures, but that is pretty much the update. Keep your fingers crossed and I will update on how we do after finals this weekend!
Go Toyota!!!

We met the President of Toyota Japan (between Monica and I)

A home cooked meal by our coaches wife!

Foreigners pic!

Hello Everyone!!
I hope all is going well at home. Things are moving along here in Japan! Since I last wrote so much has happened in a span of a week. As I write we are on a 7 hour bus ride…yes I said 7 hours… very loooonnggg!!!!! We are on our way to a big tournament that is held every year. There are teams from the lower division, higher division and some college teams. It is a single elimination tournament, so we have some big games coming up!
In the last week, we had a loss in one of our league games and now we are in 3rd place. Before the loss, we were in a 3-way tie for 1st, we lost to one of the teams that was in the 3-way tie with us. So now there is a 2-way tie for 1st place, and we move to 3rd place. The loss in my mind was good for us because it kept things in perspective, and keeps us working hard! We will have to face the same team hopefully this weekend in the tournament and maybe at the league championships. We definatley have our work cut out for us between our tournament this weekend and the rest of league.

Now to some fun stuff…so this past week we had a break in between our last league games and the tournament. So we were able to have some days off and sometime for fun!!
One evening 2 of our teammates took Monica and I into Nagoya for a nice steak dinner at Outback!!! Awesome!!! It was definitley needed to get away and have a FAMILIAR meal! Then we finished a perfect meal with a trip to Starbucks, I couldn’t have asked for a better evening. It was our teammates first time to Outback, so it was neat to show them what we eat!
Starbucks!
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Me, Sacchi, and Monica goofing aroud in the hat shop

Outback display of food outside restaurant..weird =)
This past weekend we had the longest 48 hours! We did more in two days than we have done the entire time we have been here. On Saturday, we had an early morning because we had a doubleheader practice game. Then after the game our whole team went to team toyotas Rugby game. Which was an experience for Monica and I because we had never been, or seen a rugby game played. I have no idea how the rules work, even after watching the game, but I do know Toyota won!! (interesting sport) Then as soon as we returned home from the rugby game, we decided to take an adventure to Nagoya since we had Sunday off. We decided to figure out the train system to Nagoya since every time we have been it has been by car and then we planned on spending the night there so that we could wake up and spend the day in Nagoya. So you all know how I feel about adventure, if you remember our bike ride story, so this time I let Monica do all of figuring out of how the train system worked. She did great! She knew better than to let me lead, because last time I led, I led us to a 2 hour bike ride!
Upon our arrival to Nagoya safely and easily, we wanted to experience the night life! So by this time we were already exhausted but figure “you only live once”. It wasn’t long before we decided we had seen enough and went back to the hotel to get some rest. The next day after we woke up in Nagoya, we had the chance to experience a Japanese professional baseball game at the Nagoya dome. Luckily, I have a friend that plays for the Yokohoma Bay stars, that left tickets for us. It was the Nagoya Dragons vs. Yokohoma Bay Stars. That game was definitley a different experience! Japanese fans are much quieter compared to american fans. They were so calm the entire game. I’m used to rowdy fans yelling and screaming the entire game. All in all we had the busiest 48 hours, but had a great time!

view from our hotel room in Nagoya

They had cheerleaders at a baseball game…crazy!!!
That’s the update here in Japan. Please wish us luck this next weekend in our tournament! talk to you all soon. Go Toyota!!!
Natasha

Hello All!!
As most of you know I’m back in Japan. I have been back for almost two weeks now and already the time has flown by and feels like we have been here for a month. Not sure if that’s a good thing or bad thing. But nonetheless I have been having a blast. It was great to be reunited with all the girls on the team, and get back on the field with them, after a long summer away. The season is split into 2 halfs, so we are in the same season. Before we left for the summer we were in a 3-way tie for 1st place.  And after our first weekend of league play we are still in a 3 way tie!!!

Our team had a great weekend, winning 2 games in DRAMATIC fashion. Our first game we came from behind to beat a team (that beat us last half) 8-3! Our second game went 9 innings!! we ending up winning 4-1!!! So keep wishing us luck!! Next up is another big weekend against Toyota Shoikki, which is where my old USA teammate Jenny Topping and current USA teammate Katie Burkhart play for!

Also upon our return, the girls threw us a welcome back park where we ate yakitori, which is chicken on a stick!!! Oishi!!that means delicious!!! Also our coach took us out to eat to Yakiniku, which is also delicious!

When  I was home I tried to describe to a few people how we pray to the field everyday. Basically they all line up on the foul line, and thank the softball gods for the opportunity to play, then we bow to the field, then it’s time to play! Wo do this EVERYDAY!!! It’s something that I have grown to appreciate to get to pause time and be thankful for everything. I think  one of the things I admire the most about the Japanese culture is that they are ssoooo appreciative of everything!!!!

That’s it for now!!! Hope everyone enjoyed their Holiday weekend! Wish us luck!!
Go Toyota!!!

Natasha

Ohiyo..Good Morning!

Man this trip flew by! We already return home tomorrow!
Today is the gold medal game versus Japan. Yesterday was a long day. We had a doubleheader vs Chinese Taipei and Japan. We won both games with scores of 9-2 (vs. Taipei) and 6-1 (vs. Japan). With the playoff rounds we are match to meet Japan again, so today should be a great game. We always have a great match up between Japan.

We have been having a great time here. Jennie (Finch) is my roommate, so it’s been fun hanging out with her. We are easily entertained, so we are constantly laughing at something!!!

Hope all is well at home. Wishing our other halves good luck in Venezuela at the Pan-American qualifier!!! We miss them mucho!!!!
Go USA
#29

Day 1 down, 2 more to go!!! We had a great win against Australia today! Tomorrow will be a long day for us. We have a doubleheader against Chinese Taipei and Japan. Going to get a good nights rest since I had an early morning today.  I woke up at 4am this morning, so I have been up for a long time today =)

Go USA!