photos from Thursday & Friday

After our game on Friday evening, we had a chance to meet one of the parents of the kids we were playing. Willem (his son was 13) had been following our progress on this blog. Go figure...we have international fans!

Willem had downloaded one of our team photos from day 1 at Ajax Stadium and he had printed and laminated the photo for us!! What a great gift! There is a photo of Jim and Willem attached--thanks Willem!

Saturday--Today we spent the day walking around Eindhoven, which was a great diversion after a big week of training and games. We met up with the girls at 2 pm and then had a chance to watch the PSV U-18 team play a very exciting match against Sparta Rotterdam. These kids were unbelievably good and we were able to watch the game right from the sidelines.

We also had a chance to meet up with Matt Sulva (CVU student) who took the train over from Bruges in Belgium where he is spending the year as a AFS student. He looks great, and he now actually speaks English with a Dutch accent! He had a great time catching up with all of our kids--he knows most of the older siblings from CVU and from Far Post.

Lastly, the girls coach tells me that his team won (again) by a score of 1 - 0 (again) and the winning goal was scored by Emily Alyward (again).

See you tomorrow!

Dr. Charlie and Jim

Saturday morning

I just tried to upload some photos, but this computer is still fighting me. Sorry.
Yesterday (Friday) the boys had their final training sessions with Leo. The kids played great, and we gave Leo some Far Post gifts.

In the evening we went to play our last opponent. It is the RKSV Schijndel, the regional Catholic Soccer Club. Our opponents were ages 13 -15. The stadium at this place was better than most college soccer stadiums. They had at least 6 soccer fields, and one field (inside the stadium) had covered bleachers, lights, press area.... We got to play on that premiere field. The kids were psyched!

Coaches decided to move Brendan to midfield, and he played great! Early in the game our opponents controlled the ball. But in the first half Chad made a great run at the goal and scored. Our kids went wild. After that goal, it seemed like all momentum changed. Just a few minutes later Charlie Vallee stole the limelight by scoring. Coaches Phil and Chris were not satisfied with a 2 goal lead, and they kept encouraging the boys to play hard. Toward the end of the second half Chad decided it was time to end the tension, so he put a great shot into the goal again! Final score 3 - 0.

We got back to the Stayoaky at at 9:30 pm. The kids had sandwiches and ice cream cones.

Today we are going into the city of Eindhoven to be tourists. Hopefully I will get photos on later.

Bye,

Jim

Thursday fotos from Someren

Here are some fotos of the boys celebrating their loss to Someren. They were a very skilled club, both on the pitch and singing victory songs in the kantina after the game. Someren has about 1200 kids (mostly boys) of all ages. Their fields are set in between huge greenhouses where they grow tomatos, peppers, cucumbers and other vegetables. All of the clubs we have visited have a kantina for their victory celebrations and where the parents can sit and drink if their team is losing.

The boys have decided they need a victory song and are vacilliating between "We are the Champions" or YMCA" by the Village People. The coaches are mute on the subject.

After this celebration Chad, Thomas and Andrew L came up to the chaperones and said, "We just had our first cigarette!" You can imagine how shocked we were--but don't worry, it turns out that the opposing coach was simply chatting with them while exhaling clouds of smoke in their faces! Jim and I were madly dashing around trying to catch a shot of them trying not to inhale!!

See you all soon.

Charlie

It's Friday

It's 10:30 am on Friday, and the computer at the hostel won't let me download any photos. I'll try again later today to post photos.

Yesterday the boys had double sessions, and then a game against Someran Football Club last night. Some of our boys are looking a bit tired, but when I ask them how their legs are feeling, most of the boys say "OK". I think this part of the week (the last 2 days) is where the kids need to dig deep for a bit of energy. The weather on Thursday was perfect: 72 degees and sunny.

The game last night went OK first the first 7 or 8 seconds, then our opponents scored on a beautiful cross and header. Aproximately 3 minutes later the Dutch scored again on a miraculus free kick from 30 yards out. Jack T. was in the goal the first half but there was nothing anyone could have done to stop those first few goals. Chad was our goalie for the second half and he played great, but we lost 5 - 0.

On the brighter side, the boys have goten MUCH better at passing and moving the ball slowly down the field. Leo tells the boys they need to "build a house" and they need to start in the backfield and slowly pass the ball up. The kids are learning when to move to open space, and (when a teammate has the ball) how you sometimes need to move AWAY from the ball to take pressure off the ball. Leo is very good with the boys, he's funny and precise at the same time.

It was great to see Skip and Denise Vallee at the game last night. Their smiles warmed the pub ater the game. Oh, I forgot to mention, the pub. After the game all the players (and their supporters) go to a "cantina" that is located wthin a few steps of the field. There everyone drinks (kids drink soda). Last night all our boys mixed in with the Dutch players and the Dutch kids were very welcoming. After Jack W. talked to a few of the Dutch kids, the Dutch boys started to chant JACK, JACK, JACk, JACK...." This went on for over a minute. Jack had the biggest smile on his face! It was awesome!! Charlie got a great photo.

Tonight is our last game. We play against the local U13 Regional Select Team. Apparently there are several 11 and 12 year olds on this Select Team, so hope springs eternal!!

Well, I have to go.

Talk to you soon.

Jim

More photos from Wednesday!

Here are some more photos that I took yesterday (Wednesday). It was HOT and sunny all day long. But Dr. Charlie made sure all the kids had sunscreen on.

As you can see from the top 2 photos of Eric, Leo has been making the boys work hard. Here Leo was teaching the boys to jump for a header without pushing the person in front of them. Eric, a hockey player, got some extra attention from Leo.

Then there's a photo of Siad (sp?) jumping over Peter without touching him. The photo at the bottom is a shot of Jack T in goal yesterday afternoon in the street soccer tournament. Jack had some amazing saves!

The last photo shows Chris C. diving for a save during a practice. Leo saw this save and immediately offered Chris a position as goalie on the Dutch National Team. Eat your heart out Joe W!!!

I was right when I told you yesterday that the girls won their last match 1 - 0. The winning goal in that game came from a resident of East Montpelier, Emily Alyward! Atta girl, Emily!

Right now (Thursday, 10 am) the boys are at their new practice field here in Eindhoven. They will practice from 10 - noon, eat lunch, and then practice again 2 - 4 pm. Then we have a match this evening against a local team.

I went around to several of the boys at breafast this morning and asked how their legs were feeling, wondering if they were exhausted. I was glad to hear them say that their legs were "OK". I think they are glad to know that they have practices and games today and tomorrow, and then their legs can rest for a few days. On Saturday evening the boys and girls wil be gathering together again to watch another professional match. Then Sunday we fly home.

Why did I think that we flew home on Monday? Can I blame that on my wfe? Or my son(s)? Probably not. Just a brain cramp. Yes, we arrive home Sunday night! Just 3 days!!

I am here at the hostel today doing some laundry for the boys. (Some of the boys' socks had become real smelly.) I hope to get some photos of the boys this evening during their match, so Ill try to post them later today.

Talk to you soon.

Jim

Wednesday "Street Soccer", then the girls return!

On Wednesday the boys went for a walk around Maastricht in the morning. We saw a bridge that was built by the Romans, and the numerus churches all over the ancient city. The they has practice wth Leo from 10 am - noon.

This afternoon we were in a street soccer tournament in Maastricht. It proved to be a bit "more physical" than we envisioned. (See photo above of Chad, who was quite proud of his blood.) Apparenly the ref had swallowed his whistle. Chris and Phil took prompt and apropriate action to pull the whistle out of the ref's throat so he could blow it a few times. Dr Charlie helped with the surgery and referred to the procedure as a "whistlectomy". Dr Charlie also collected a $25 co-pay!

The girls rejoined us just as the street soccer was ending. Right now (6:00 pm) we are all eating dinner together at the Stayokay hostel in Maastricht. After dinner the girls will go into Belgium (about 5 miles away) to see the Dutch National Womens team play against the Belgium women. Should be fun for the girls. The boys however are hopping on the bus after dinner and headng north to Eindhoven. We will stay up there till Saturday.

By the way, the girls tell me they won their match last night. I believe it was 1 - 0.

I really want to say thank you to EVERY person who helped out financially so these kids could go on this great trip. These kids are seeing a part of the world that I had never seen. And they are learning about another culture (and testing themselves) in a way that will stay with them for many years. So THANK YOU to every parent, every uncle/aunt, and every neighbor who helped pay for this trip. You have helped to make a very special event happen for these young men. And I think it will help these guys in many ways in the years to come, even if they never play soccer after hgh school.

You would be VERY proud of these guys. We haven't had one incident (yet) where a boy acted inapproprately. They have been great ambassadors of Vermont and the United States.

Well, I gotta go. I have lots more photos, but no time left.

Talk to you tomorrow.

Jim

Photos from Wednesday morning

Res Ipsa Loquitor (that's latin)

While in the Ajax Museum, someone gets caught red (er...white) handed!

more photos from day 1 in Amsterdam

Team photos from Holland

Finally I have some photos to share with you. This computer at this hostel has been fighting both Dr. Charlie and I for over 2 hours. It wouldn't let us publish any photos. But we won.

The team photo (on the left) was taken inside the Ajax Stadium on day 1. The picture above shows several of our young men hanging out on the veranda enjoying a few pecious moments today (April 22nd) after lunch. As you can see, they are truly roughing it!

I will try to get more photos on the web soon. But it is 11:50 pm, so I have to get to bed. Busy day tomorrow.

Jim

April 22, 2008

Today was a great day. We had training in the morning with Leo and he worked the boys pretty hard. They are really learning a lot about spacing, passing, showing hard for the ball. Jack T's dad would be very impressed.

This afternoon we went to see the man-made caves of Maastricht. They are over a thousand years old, and have been excavated from limestone in order to build the city. During WWII they were a haven and an exit from Holland to Belguim for excaping refugees. They cover over 150 miles.

This evening we played another match against a local club (the RC club). We had a great match, putting all of Leo's great instruction into game play. We lost to them 1-nil, and we had several great chances. Game balls went to Jack T and T Dunks for each playing an outstanding half in the goal.

Tomorrow we are off in early am for a walking tour of Maastrich, then to practice, the an afternoon street soccer outing, then we transfer up north to Eindhoven.

We are half-way throught the trip--it's hard to believe. All the kids are doing great, staying hydrated, and well fed.

See you soon.

Jim

Monday night

OK, it's 10:40 pm. The coaches and chaperones have just finished hydrating after a long exhausting day. So please bear with any typos.

The boys had a great breakfast then went to the local (turf) soccer field to meet their infamous trainer, Leo. Turns out, the kids REALLY like him. He's blunt AND he's funny. They trained with him from 10 am - noon. Then came back to the hostel for lunch. Then they went back and had their second training from 2 - 4 pm. Leo apparently went easy on them in the afternoon.

Mostly Leo worked on passing. For those of you who care (OK, mabe its just Joe and Mary...) Leo did alot of 5 v 2 and 7 v 3 drills in small areas. It made the boys work on making good passes in a confined area. He is quick to note when a kid messes up, but he is even quicker to praise a kid. I chatted with Leo at lunch (yes, he ate lunch with us) and he told me he was a phys ed teacher here for 38 years. He quit because the Dutch kids didn't want to work hard or even try. He LOVES the American kids. I tried to tell Leo that not all American kids are like our kids. But apparently he likes Far Post kids. And he told Phil nd Chris that REALLY likes this group.

The kids had grilled cheese for a snack at 4 pm. Then at 5 pm we were back on the bus for our away game. We went a whole 4 miles., to play against Jekerdal. I'l try to get the correct spelling tomorrow when I become "unhydrated". Well, the game started at 6 pm. Christopher volunteerd for goalie frst, so he played goal the 1st half. Five minutes into the game, they scored. But a few minutes later Jack W. made an amazing header to tie the game up 1 - 1.

It stayed that score for while, then slowly the Dutch team outpowered us. I think the final score was 7 or 8 to 1. But our kids played their hearts out. The Dutch kids have clearly been on fields much more than us lately. (Well, they've been on since November.) They had great passing. Our passing and defense was a bit rusty. But we played with all our might. After the game all of the players (even our oppnent's goalie...who is a tall Dutch girl) got together for drinks. Most of the kids had soda, but we allowed Jack W to have anything he wanted, since he scored our only goal. Jack ordered a Bolldy Mary, which stunned most of us. ALL the rest of the kids shared soda and laughed A LOT! I espeacioally noted Peter Rinkema roaring with laughter while passing time with the Dutch kids. I heard him later say on the bus, "Well, you know I'm part Dutch!" He certainly was relaxed and having a blast after the game. And so were the Dutch kids. I believe Chad has a date with their goalie. But Eric says he's taller and he wants her.

It should be noted that this tem we played were all kids born in 1993. So they were a little bit older than some of our boys. Tomorrow we have another game and (I think) we play against a team of kids born in 1994.

I do want to say thank you to Henk, the chairman of the Jekerdal soccer club who hosted us today. His players were true gentlemen (and gentlewoman) and their refreshments after the match really hit the spot! Thank you Henk!

Tonight, at 8 pm, the kids had dinner. They had homemade pizza or pasta. There was also Minnestrone soup, salad, rice, barbeque chicken.... Lots of choices.

I have a small admission. Dr. Charlie and I skipped practice this afternoon in order to scout out the city of Maastricht. It's a beautiful city. The river flow thru the center of the city. The city has 120,000 people, and a large University (which recently signed a contract with the University of Vt to share facilities and teachers). Charlie took about 200 pictures today. We discovered lots of placed that the kids might want to visit.

OK, tomorrow's itineary: We wake up at 7:30 am. Have breakfast at 8 am. Have our first soccer training wth Leo at 10 am. Have lunch at noon. Have our 2nd soccer training at 2 pm. (But it's a short one.) Then at 3 pm we go to the nearby caves. These are caves the locals used 2,000 years ago to defend against opposing armies. The kids are excited. Then we have another match tomorrow at 6 pm. Then diner at 8 pm, followed by bed. As you can expect, the boys are pretty tired by the end of the day, but no one has fallen asleep in his dinner yet.

I know I promised you that Charlie and I would try to upload photos of the boys for you today. And I know that Dr. Susan and Dr. Harriott want to perform emergency surgery on me if I don't upload photos soon. the reaso I haven't doen it yet is..., er... Dr. Charlie hasn't helped n yet. (See how easily I pinned this on someone else?!!!) So I will try to get Dr. Charlie to upload his photos tomorrow am.

Well, it's almost 11 pm. Gotta get to bed.

I hope all of you are having fun. And for Mary and Joe, I have already purchased the clogs to wear to the games this spring.

Bye,

Jim

Monday morning

Monday was great! After breakfast we (boys and girls) took our team bus into the center of Amsterdam. From there we split up; the girls went to Ann Frank's house and the boys headed into the bowels of the city. The girls did not actually make it into Ann Franks home, but they saw the outside. Then the girls went to see a "haunted house".

After that we all headed to Ajax soccer stadium. This stadium is enormous! All 52,000 seats were filled with screaming fans. Ajax was playing against Heracles. It was a great game. Ajax scored just 3 minutes into the game. And it was really interesting to watch the fights that broke out in the stands (I never thought Coach Chris could throw a punch like that!)

The final score was 5 -1, Ajax. All the kids were excited. After the game there were fireworks in the stadium. Cooool! Unfortunately this other team (PSV) won their game, so Ajax ended up in 2nd place, and PSV won the championship. So we all headed back to our bus and headed south for our next destination. The bus was going to drop the ladies off in Eindhoven, while the boys continued south to Maastricht.

As our bus was headed south, we saw a huge line of buses ahead of us. We ended up passing these buses and saw they were filed with PSV fanatics. There must have been 30 of these huge buses in a convoy. We could see people drinking and dancing in the buses. Some of our boys took their Ajax scarves and hats and pressesd them against our bus windows. When the PSV fans saw our Ajax stuff, they immediately smiled and pointed up with their middle fingers. All our kids roared!!!

We dropped the girls off in Eindhoven at 6:30 pm, then continued to Maastrcht. We got there about 8 pm. The hostel kept its cafetreia open late to accomodate us. And, I have to be honest, this was the best meal so far! They had patsa and red sauce, and lots of chicken dishes, which was a big hit with the kids. And this hostel is a lot newer than the Amsterdam one. And this one is located on the edge of the river. It's beautiful. Dr. Charlie and I are roomates and our room overlooks the river. Phil and Chris are a bit jealous.

Its almost 9 am. Today we have practice from 9:30 - 11:30 and again from 2 - 4 pm. Then our first game is tonight. The boys are a bit nervous (a) to meet the Dutch trainer Leo, and (b) about tonight's game. Phil and Chris have a meeting wth all the boys every night, right before bed, and the message they gave the boys last night was "Don't worry about how good the other team is, just play your best." Sage advice!

The weather? Its 55 degrees and overcast.

I brought my movie camera and I plan to fim the game tonight.

Dr Charlie and I have taken many photos so far. The reason I haven't put any on the blog yet is I simply don't know how! But Charlie and I plan on attacking that challenge this evening, so hopefully you will have some pictures of your critters soon!

All the kids are healthy.

You should be VERY proud of your sons!

Jim

Sunday morning

The kids were all in bed by 9:30 pm. But Todd had us all up at 6:45 am fo a 2 mile jog. All the kids made it. Most of the coaches went, too.

It's 9:00 am now. We plan on leaving this hostel by 10:00 am and then taking the bus to the center of Amsterdam. The girls plan on going to Ann Frank's house. The boys plan on simply walking around. Then we will all meet up again at 1:00 pm, and drive to the soccer stadium. The soccer match (Ajax vs ??) starts at 2:30 and we want to get there in time.

After the match the boys will separate from the girls, and the boys head south to Maastricht. I think the "Mountain Dew Syndrome" will disappear once the ladies are gone. I believe tomorrow the boys start soccer training in earnest. Many of them are nervous about Leo, their Dutch trainer. Todd and Phil tell me that Leo is a wonderful man, but he can be a bit frank.

The weather today is 55 degrees and overcast. They tell us that its a good thing we weren't here last week cause it rained all week.

Bye,

Jim