So it's been a month since I have arrived here in Lausanne and to be honest it has flown by. Starting off at a very slow pace things have picked up momentum and really starting to feel very comfortable here. Never knew so much could change in a month but it certainly has been a roller coaster ride and I don't expect it to be anything less over the next 7 months.
My room mate has moved in, Pierre from Paris. A nice bloke who speaks pretty good english for a frenchy. He's studying at the local uni but doesn't seem like the bloke to have fun on the weekends like yours truly as he said he will go back to Paris most weekends to see family etc.
Had an interesting skype with Mark and Josh the other night after they put a few too many down the hatch, was hilarious to see two blokes argue on skype. It was mostly talking about Mark and I's trip next year over the European summer. Mark put the suggestion of a cheeky month in South America before tearing up Europe, it was later corrected that it was more the bourbon talking and was way out of our price range. It's safe to say I'm more excited to explore Europe for 3 months with a best mate than play volleyball. Being over here has put things in perspective, but I'm not taking anything away from this opportunity, definitely going hard at training and games.
I've definitely learned a lot about myself and the way to approach the game. I've always thought its 90% mental and I'll stand by that. Started to find some form last week at training with some consistency and got some confidence back finding my feet in a new team, new venue and everyone speaking a totally different language. Last night we had a photo shoot before training which went for an hour and a bit. Individual photo's in our new uniforms with about 50 different poses with and without the ball. We then did fitness work for the first hour of training, then there was serve receive for the pass hitters and then blocking for the middles. Only for the last 20 minutes did I even properly get involved in training with myself and the other setter doing the most gruelling drill I've done in my life. For 5 minutes straight free balls are knocked over to our libero with 3 middles, and the outsides hitting. The other setter went first setting D's and middles then I went setting Blacks and quicks, but then had to back it up straight away setting Reds and quicks. So I essentially set for 10 minutes straight jump setting every ball.
Afterwards I was very frustrated with myself as I wasn't prepared enough as the drill kind of came out of the blue and I didn't perform at my best. The previous trainings I had rocked up a bit early and prepared myself mentally so I was ready. I'll definitely learn from that and always be ready and firing to go no matter what the situation is.
We have our Pre Season Cup (Supercup) on the 22/23 and the season starts after that on the 29th so it has come up fast. Exciting times ahead and plenty of challenges for myself to play at my best.
Next update will be after the Supercup
Peace out
Ruggers
