Boston College Athletics
Eagles In Italy
September 02, 2015 | Women's Basketball
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Chestnut Hill, Mass. -
Here are the journals written by the BC women's basketball players on the 10-day trip to Italy. Some of the players were very detailed, some wrote about what inspired them and one player even wrote a poem. Enjoy the read.
Last day of practice at BC
This was the last day of practice before the team heads off to Italy. The gym was filled with a mixture of excitement and sadness. Excitement because we were about to embark on a journey we will remember for the rest of our lives, and sadness because it is the last day working with our strength and conditioning coach Tom Shruhan.
During practice, the team got after each other in three quarters of basketball using FIBA rules. It is critical for our team to scrimmage to help us make connections, work through some kinks and with every minute we play together, we will grow and improve.
After practice we had to say our goodbyes to Tom. We all know it isn't goodbye for good, but that didn't make it any easier. For anyone that has met Tom (Shruhan), they quickly find out he isn't only an amazing strength coach, but an equally amazing person. For our team, he was someone we could go to for advice or for a well-timed sarcastic joke. For me personally, Tom was someone I could talk to about all the struggles I was experiencing and he was always there with open arms. I am forever grateful for every moment I've had with Tom. I'm sure I'm speaking for every member of Boston College Women's Basketball when I say this he will be missed.
After the heart felt goodbyes, the team headed to Connecticut to watch BC alum Carolyn Swords and the New York Liberty play the Connecticut Sun. We packed into four cars and entertained ourselves on the two-hour drive by jamming out to some music, watching some of the PGA Championship, or asking each other questions such as "If you could have dinner with any celebrity who would it be?"
It was great to see some of the girls we played against in college now play professionally. Carolyn recently won a spot in the starting lineup. She is the epitome of a team player. We have talked extensively as a team about knowing your role and bringing your best every day. Carolyn embodies this perfectly. Her role is to bang with the opponents' center, play defense, get blocks, and rebounds, so her teammate and All-Star Tina Charles doesn't waste energy. On this night against the Sun, Carolyn did her job and Tina Charles dropped 30+ and the Liberty won.
After the game Carolyn stopped by to talk with the team. Most people were meeting her for the first time, but a few of the older players (Alexa and I) had already met the famous Carolyn Swords. We were trying to convince her to play for us in Italy -- I mean who wouldn't want a 6-foot-6 post who led the nation in field goal percentage three consecutive seasons?
In likely Coach Johnson fashion, he asked Carolyn to give the team a little advice. She went on to tell us to enjoy every second together and to cherish the time we have because she met some of her best friends on college teams. And this seemed like perfect advice as we embark on this journey to Italy with some of our best friends.
Leaving BC for Italy
As Friday night came to an end, I believe most of us were aware of the long day we had ahead of us. Packing and getting everything moved from our dorms into the locker room doesn't seem like a hard task, unless you actually have that much stuff. Most importantly, we first packed for Italy and then we continued to get everything else together.
Personally, my job was easy compared to others. I mean Ella warned us how much items she owned and was not exaggerating. Ella has added to her collection over her time spent at BC, yet she does use everything she owns. From all the items left by other BC students, she has gained items such as a fridge and fan - some useful and expensive items. Anyways, lugging her clothes, appliances, and everything else was a team effort. Every player and coaching staff members helped one and another with their belongings. We finished up around 2:00-3:00, and at that point we were all exhausted.
However, the job was still not finished. Along with moving everything from our dorms, majority of us had - over money on our BC cards to buy gift cards from a variety of eating options. So, we obviously took advantage of that thanks to Lex and her willingness to drive players to Cleveland Circle
All in all, if one walked into the women's basketball locker room at BC, they would see our lounge area filled with our personal items. Those who were a bit closer and familiar with all of us would eventually realize that half of the room was occupied by Ella alone, while the other half compiled everyone else's belongings.
As we finally were on the road to the airport, my mind was fixated on the sky and its beauty. After the sudden rain in Boston, the sky was painted with shades of blue with peaks of yellow and orange from the sun while being crowded with white clouds of originality.
Sometimes it takes effort to appreciate nature, along with creations built by mankind. Moreover, this trip to Italy gives my teammates and I an opportunity to do so by stepping away from our busy lifestyles. It struck me how fortunate we all are to explore and experience more unseen treasures across the world created by God.
Arriving in Italy
This is the day we left for Italy! I could hardly wait; we had been preparing and packing for this trip for a while now.
After storing our things in the locker-room, we brought our suitcases and duffle bags to the bus. Before we left, we had a meeting up in the office. We talked about our itinerary and how great this trip would be for our team. Once the meeting was over we got on the bus. We arrived at Logan about half an hour later. We unloaded the bus and waited in line after line. Once we got our boarding passes and passed through security, we went to our gate.
Later, everyone went and got food. Many people on the team got Burger King; I decided to get a sandwich from a different place. After eating, my coaches and teammates did their own thing. They listened to music, walked around, or charged their phones (myself included). It seemed like an eternity until (BC Director of Operations) Chris Brann finally walked towards the gate. That was the sign it was time to go. We boarded the plane and settled in for a long flight.
The flight was pretty good overall, apart from the small amount of legroom. I slept for most of the flight. I would sleep for an hour or 2, wake up, walk around, then go back to sleep. At least they had movies and games for those who were restless. At around 1 in the morning, the flight attendant offered us a meal (lasagna or chicken). It seemed like most of us chose the lasagna. It was pretty good for airplane food. We finally landed in Rome at about 1 in the afternoon (their time obviously).
The time change threw me off, but I got used to it. Once we landed, we took multiple buses and went through another round of security to catch our flight to Milan. The flight to Milan was nothing compared to what we had just flown. I planned on reading my book but my body decided otherwise. I woke up as soon as we landed an hour later.
We took our bus to our hotel in Lake Como. The hotel had an amazing view of the lake. The lake was so beautiful. It was a lot prettier than the 10,000+ lakes back home. Later on in the evening, we walked from our hotel to a restaurant. We ate pizza, pasta, steak and French fries. We also had desert, I don't know the name, but I would describe it as a bread pudding type thing with chocolate in it. Afterwards, we returned to the hotel and went to bed. We had a long trip ahead of us.
Lake Como, Italy
This was our first official day in Como, Italy. We stayed in this beautiful hotel with the best view of the lake and mountains.
The team had a boat tour of the lake planned and it was also game day against TK Hannover, a German Team. The boat tour was fantastic, we experienced the beauty of Lake Como, saw all the mansions, George Clooney's residence, the view was so pretty that we couldn't stop taking pictures.
We stopped at this little town (Bellagio) and explored the streets there for a while. It was also my first of many gelato stops in Italy. It was delicious and I think the feelings were mutual throughout the whole team.
Once we were done the team went back to the hotel and had a pre-game meal.
As a freshman, I felt really nervous but my teammates calmed me down, which I and I really appreciated. We lost this scrimmage due to lack of attention to details, which we actually improved on in the next two games.
It was really nice having this trip because we bonded as teammates and got to see the connections with everyone on and off the court, especially on the court since everyone got the chance to play with everyone.
I believe in this team, even though the competition was not the ACC. We have been together for only two weeks but we have a lot of time to improve and fix our mistakes.
After the game we went and explored outside around the hotel with the team and it was an enjoyable night with a lot of laughs and good vibes. We went to sleep early because the next morning we were off to see Venice.
Lake Como to Venice, Italy
Okay, so it's Tuesday morning and time to say goodbye to George Clooney and the beautiful Lake Como.
Our early morning takes us on a long bus ride into the city of Venice. Okay not actually, it only took us to a port where we were dropped off by our bus driver Romano and loaded on boat taxis to take the team and staff into the city of Venice.
The team all hopped on one together with Marti leading the way. We took a small tour through the main water streets/roads of the city. It was really quite amazing seeing it all up close. A whole city built on water.
When we finally finished we were dropped off and joined with all of the other groups including our parents and coaches. It was time to tour the city on foot. Let me say the best part of this whole trip through Italy was having reservations for everything ... meaning we never waited in any lines and just got to walk right through ... so thanks Chris.
We gathered in St. Mark's Square to begin our tour of the city. Let me first start by telling you the scariest part of walking through Venice are the ruthless oversized rats otherwise known as pigeons that do not care about your personal space one bit.
But moving on with the tour, we weaved our way in an out of the beautiful city with our tour guide who had brilliance about him. By far he was my favorite tour guide of the whole trip, besides Marti's dad of course. He was extremely witty and made the history of Venice into a hilarious script of underlying jokes and puns along the way. I think the highlight for a lot of people was the glass house we visited. We started by watching the glass blowing process done right before us by the glass maker who had been doing it for years. In a matter of seconds we witnessed him make a beautiful glass horse. It is an incredible craft that takes years of experience.
After that we continued our tour to another highlight, St. Mark's Basilica. It is a cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice. It is located in St. Mark's Square which is the social, political, and religious center of Venice.
As we entered the church, the detailed designs took our breath away. Made from local glass, murals on the ceilings and walls of different saints told biblical stories. After we snapped a couple pictures, it was back into the square where we finished off the tour by walking through the streets of Venice. When the tour was finished we were allowed a couple hours of free time to explore the city. First on my list was an old book store Lex and I knew of from friends, Tumbler, and Pinterest of course. Thank goodness we had Marti leading the way or I don't think we would have ever found it. It was a small shop tucked into the corner of a side street right on the water. In the very back we found a staircase made out of old books which made for great pictures. Each of us found a couples books we purchased and then it was off to lunch.
As I sat outside enjoying my caprese salad, I watched young Italian boys play soccer against the wall in the small square. All I kept thinking was how it felt exactly like a movie. As time passed, it was time to head back to St. Mark's Square to meet with the rest of the team and hop on a big boat taxi to where our bus dropped us off. Finally, the day in Venice was over and we loaded back on the bus to head back to the hotel. This topped off an incredible in an unbelievable city.
Trieste, Italy (Marti Mosetti's hometown)
Today was definitely a great day for a bunch of different reasons.
First off, it's my birthday ... Woohoo!
What a better way to spend my 21st birthday than getting the opportunity to see the beautiful country of Italy - needless to say, I'm incredibly thankful.
We actually had a long day full of traveling and playing. We woke up and drove for a few hours to a city called Trieste, the home of our very own Marti Mosetti. When we arrived we were all greeted by Marti's family members, who are some of the sweetest and warmest people ever.
Marti's dad -- Andreas -- led us through the streets of Trieste and gave us some historical information. It was awesome to see how excited the family was to have us and how welcomed they made us all feel.
After getting a good background of the town, we had some free time, a.k.a shopping or gelato time. (Yes, the gelato is as amazing as everyone thinks it is).
Marti's family then had a light lunch for everyone at a local café. Small prosciutto sandwiches, pesto and ham with a mustard sauce made the menu. Marti's family was even generous enough to provide two homemade cakes and sing happy birthday. Definitely is going to be one of the most memorable birthdays I have. After getting lunch and cake, saying our goodbyes and thank you, we were headed off to our second game of the trip.
Another long bus ride later, and it was game time. We faced the team named Basket Montecchio Maggiore. We played very well and really started to click as a team. We experienced great success on the court, winning the game. I definitely cannot wait for the rest of the season to begin. And finally, time for our last bus ride of the day, which led us back to the hotel for some celebratory pizza--my absolute favorite.
Overall, today was a great day. We got to meet the Mosetti's and get a little taste as to what their life is like, all while being treated like we were a part of her family. It was awesome to be welcomed so nicely and treated so well.
Travel day to San Marino
It was another long, yet breathe-taking day. We started our day with the hotel's continental breakfast (my favorite). This isn't just any joe-smo buffet, but the breakfast of all breakfasts. I don't know what it is about these Italians, but they sure know how to prepare food. They make the scrambled eggs runny, so it eliminates the need for any sauces (a.k.a. extra calories). And man the CROISSANTS have given life to my taste buds.
At 9:15 a.m. sharp, we were all boarded the bus ready to begin our next adventure. I take that back, 9:20 is probably a more accurate time, seeing as I always make a run to the restroom after I hear how long we'll be driving. I digress.
Our first stop was the American military base. Our host was an African-American man named Robert. He had a southern accent which I found pretty amusing when he said certain words. We toured the shopping headquarters for the soldiers that included American fast food chains such as: Subway, Burger King, and Popeye's. We signed basketball jerseys and shorts as well as basketballs. Employees of the military congregated around the team and took pictures smiling from ear to ear. Some teenage boys joined in on a few pictures. I had a the epiphany that "life is bigger than basketball" and I should use it as a means to better others' lives.
We said our goodbyes and boarded the bus for yet another long bus ride to the Ferrari Museum. (I slept the whole way there so time flew by for me) We saw so many cars, I cannot recall the names, but one car in particular stood out to me. It was made in 2015 and part of it was made out of clay or wood or something cool. Here's a picture below. Too bad I didn't take a picture of the plaque.
All in all, we learned that the original Ferrari's were failures. Not in the sense of speed, but because the majority of the driver's died. Coach Hawk test drove a Ferrari with Coach Faulkner as her passenger. Coach Faulkner got whip lash ... haha. Hawk was just cheesin'.
Next up was another two hour ride to the beautiful mountains of San Marino. By far the most gorgeous city we visited. We got back to the hotel in the evening so it was time for dinner. We took a nifty little Choo-Choo train with plastic translucent windows up the road to a dimly lit restaurant.
It was Bob Brann's ( Chris Brann's Father) 70th birthday. All I could think is WOW ... for one that's a long time to be alive and two, I hope I can be that full of energy and spunk when I'm his age. We all sang happy birthday and he went to every table and thanked us. His wife Jackie snapped photos throughout the night. We got aboard the train to retreat back down the hill to our cozy hotel. I slept like new born baby that night.
ALEXA COULOMBE
A Day In San Marino
On our free day in San Marino we got to explore the city. It was personally one of my favorite spots on the trip. The small town sits on the very tippy top of a mountain; with winding roads that we took our bus half way up then had a guided walking tour of the history of the town.
We learned that San Marino is actually a different country than Italy. The tour lasted for about an hour--it was filled with amazing views and lots of hills to climb up.
Everything about San Marino is picturesque so therefore our team was able to overflow Instagram with pictures of the views from up above, the winding stone-streets, and the amazing espresso we found in small cafes.
We had free time within the city and split apart to explore the streets, museums, shops, and cafes.
Kailey and I stumbled into an organic bath shop and bought some of the most accurately scent described perfumes I have ever found--the green tea perfume really smells just like green tea.
After our free time was up we hoped back on the bus to drive back to our hotel before our last game of the trip against the Adriatic Sea Sirens.
We had a pre-game meal that was consistent with our other meals during our time in Italy: pasta and whatever insanely good desert they were making that day. After, we loaded up the bus and started out on our hour drive to the stadium. We drove through fields of sunflowers and ended up in a small town two hours before our game.
While in the locker room, we tried to get Marti to explain one more time why whenever we go to dribble it is considered a travel in Italy. The game was a perfect way to cap off our basketball portion of Italy. It was a fast paced game with lots of scoring (on our part) and teamwork. We won the game, 99-40.
After the game we headed back to the hotel for a quick post game meal and had to get to bed because we had an early wake up call for our long bus ride to Roma.
The Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Ancient ruins still standing,
Rocks cemented in the past, but yet stand on through present times.
An ethereal line that divides
Two worlds,
So far apart, but yet
Able to touch and feel
The history that encompasses a country.
What you thought could only be seen in movies,
Brought to reality before your eyes,
A stone colosseum
With columns towering above,
All the while envisioning visions of
A gladiator
Suited in armor from head to toe.
A fierceness rests upon his brow,
Following the sound of a lions roar from its pit below.
Townspeople seated from row to row
Lined for the spectacle
That will pacify their wants and needs.
A blaring trumpet sound
Resounding in a magical scene.
And as the show comes to an end
The people file out of the stone arena
With chit chatter and gay laughter,
Walking along a cobbled stone road
Past tall churches
And the emperors mansion.
Royalty peers out from a protruding balcony Surveying the satisfied crowd beneath.
He remains safely guarded by bronze doors
Which are presently wearing with age but still strong all the same.
Remnants of the past still living strong in the future
Buildings containing ancestry
Stone roads holding legacies
All in ever-lasting Rome.
SIERRA BOBONI
Amazing Race BC Style in Rome
On the morning of August 23 everyone had breakfast and met in the lobby. The players were divided into small groups to play a game of Amazing Race around Rome. The teams had to go to five destinations and take pictures at each. One destination was the Pantheon where the groups had to take a picture of a team member eating gelato in the plaza. Another challenge was to have two members of the team take a picture with an artist in the Piazza Navona.
The next location was the famous Spanish Steps. The team was instructed to take a video of one member counting the steps. The Piazza Venezia was the next stop where we needed a photo in front of the white monument known as the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II. The Coliseum was the last destination. To complete the race the teams needed a photo of the group in front of the Coliseum. There was no transportation limit set. The teams were then set lose upon Rome to complete the five tasks.
Two teams decide to get golf carts as their mode of transportation; however, they got confused about which road they could go on. This caused the teams to take longer routes and time in completing the race. Two other teams used cabs to get from place to place sometimes along with walking. Just one group did the whole race on foot.
The team of graduate assistants Emi Smith, Stefanie Murphy and Coach Erik Johnson's daughters -- Avery and Daly -- won the race. Nicole, Ella, Steph and Katie lost by three minutes. Third place went to Ashely, Kelly, and Sierra arrived at the hotel 48 minutes after the winning team. Alexa, Marti and Rachel placed fourth while Emilee, Kailey and Mariella finished fifth. They took so long that almost everyone had left to go back to their rooms to relax after traveling all over Rome.
After the race everyone did their own thing some people stayed in the hotel, some left to get food, others went shopping. The team met up again for dinner in the Piazza Novena. As usual, after dinner everyone headed for gelato.
Vatican City
Yes, I am Italian and yes, I've never been to Rome. I've studied a year in the U.S. but I've never walked around Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter's square). How is that possible? I don't know, but I'm glad that my first visit to the capital and, in particular, to St. Peter's Basilica happens to be now that I'm 20 years old. Sometimes you have to be enough mature in order to enjoy a particular experience. For example, give a 6-years-old kid Declaration of Independence and then tell me what he understands.
It's Monday 24th and our trip in Italy is almost over, I can't believe it. These 10 days have flown by too quickly. However, I'm not sad because I've being waiting for this day since we landed. I think visiting the Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica at the end of the tour is just perfect. It is a good way to thank the Lord and offer Him the amazing time we had. Moreover, I've heard and studied about it for almost my entire school career and I'm curious to see how it feels to be there.
We have an early morning wake up and meet in the lobby at 7.45 am. During the past days I've probably slept 4 hours average per night, so when we get on the bus, drive to our destination, meet the tour guide Flavia and walk into the new country I barely realize where I am. When we get into the first garden, however, I suddenly wake up. There is a particular atmosphere, a mixture between ancient and new. In the same place coexist together a huge dark sculpture of a pinecone and a modern bronze sculpture, called Pomodoro (Tomato). "This place holds centuries of history", I think, "I won't be able to catch its entire beauty in a single morning."
When the tour starts, my thoughts turn out to be right; we go from room to room, through stairs and arches. Every area has statues, mosaics, paintings, fresco and sculptures. We also see Laocoon and His Sons, one of my favorites statues. The beauty and perfection of its lines are simply amazing. Then we walk through a hallway in which are depicted all the Italian regions and I can even find my city, Trieste, pictured in the wall. The Sistine Chapel is at its end.
According to what Flavia said, Michelangelo worked for 10 years in order to complete the ceiling and the main fresco, Il Giudizio Universale (Last Judgement). People are not allowed to talk, but the chapel is so crowded that the whispers create a laud, hypnotic noise. Coach G, Ella and I argue about the role of women in a painting on the ceiling. It's Adam and Eve in the Garden, and the snake is depicted with female features. I'm sure Michelangelo had a hard time finding a girlfriend. However, the artworks are marvelous. There are too many tourists in order to get the holiness of the place, but it's just amazing to see how talent and hard work came together on these walls.
Finally we visit the chef-d'oeuvre of the day, St. Peter's Basilica. Flavia says it took 150 years to complete it, and when we walk in I understand why. It's breathtaking, and enormous. In fact, it is the biggest church in the world. Pope Julius wanted to build the greatest building in Christendom and Bramante was the author of the first scheme, but many other men worked to create what we can see now. Michelangelo was the last one to design it, harmonizing more than 100 years of different art styles. Every corner of the Basilica is precious: the statue of the "Pieta" by Michelangelo, the bronze statue of Saint Peter holding the keys of Heaven, the 39-feet-tall Baldacchino designed by Bernini (the largest piece of bronze in the world).
Looking at all the amazing artworks, I question myself on the reasons that pushed these men to use so much time and energies to build the Basilica. Were they just political? Did the Popes want to show their power? Or artists their greatness? At the beginning it is hard for me to find God's message in this place full of gold and splendor. Where is the austerity of Jesus and the Saints? We finish our tour and stop in Piazza San Pietro; we have some free time to shop before heading back to the hotel.
I find the answers to my questions in the afternoon, walking around Rome with my uncle, who came to visit me. The aim of St. Peter Basilica is to inspire and create that feeling that I experienced when I crossed the church's main door: amazement. It is the same sensation that people should feel when in front of God. During those 150 years some of the best artists and architects used their abilities and offered them to the Lord. They used their talents and shaped the best artworks they could, just like we do when we step on the court. In fact, there are different ways through which people can show Him their gratitude, and the majestic beauty of St. Peter's Basilica is one of them.
If I have any doubt, my uncle is the best person to talk to. After having reorganized my thoughts, I enjoy even more the morning visit at the Vatican City. I had the possibility to spend 10 days in my country, play basketball and visit places with my American team. I opened up and show my culture and habits, they listened and accepted my world. I didn't know what to expect before this trip, know the only thing I can think about is how much grateful I am for this experience. Even if I ended on being a "third guide", I received a lot more than what I gave.
That is why on Monday evening, after saying bye to my uncle and before reaching my team at the restaurant, I stop in a corner and thank Him one more time. The trip was amazing; we are ready to go back home.
Rome, Italy
Rome was such an amazing experience for me. I was able to spend some time alone to appreciate what a wonderful opportunity I have with this group of people. We had a wonderful stay in Italy but visiting Rome was the best part. We had a tour of Saint Peter's Basilica which was an incredible experience for me being able to see firsthand all the beautiful art works including the beautiful painting in the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo.
The day could not have ended in a better way but with an emotional last dinner at a restaurant close to our hotel. We walked to the restaurant with teammates, friends and family. It was emotional because you could feel the love in the room. It was our last dinner in Rome but there was this feeling that nobody wanted it to be the last. It summed up the end of a wonderful trip. We heard some appreciation speeches by Coach Johnson, Coach Hawk and our captains Alexa and Nicole. After dinner we walked around Rome for a little bit then went back to the hotel to pack our bags.
Leaving Italy
Ciao from America! The Eagles landed back in Boston around on Tuesday night, concluding our ten-day Italian tour. The day started with breakfast in the hotel followed by last-minute packing before we loaded the bus at 11:15 to head to Aeroporti di Roma.
Some of us visited the Borghese Gallery, an old Roman villa converted into a museum, while others caught up on sleep in anticipation of the time change we'd be experiencing. Those who went to the Borghese Gallery had the chance to see Bernini's David, a different interpretation of Michelangelo's original masterpiece that is a must-see in Florence.
As we unloaded our bags at the airport, we said goodbye to our tour guides Elena and Mike and bus driver Romano who made our trip as easy and exciting as possible. We then set off for Gate 05, our last Italian destination of the trip. Many of us spent time browsing through the duty-free shop stocking up on last minute souvenirs for family and friends. Italian chocolates were by far the biggest hit. Others grabbed a bite to eat in preparation of our eight-hour flight.
From the boat tour through Venice to the visit to Marti's hometown of Trieste to the BCWBB version of the Amazing Race through Rome, everyone has a favorite memory of this amazing trip. The homemade pastas, gelatos, and pizzas will surely be missed, but luckily we can relive the experience in our own North End.
A huge thank you goes out to Brad Bates, Jody Mooradian, and Boston College Athletics for making this all possible. Words cannot express how lucky and thankful we are to be able to experience the culture, sights, food, and of course, basketball, Italy had to offer. Thank you for providing us with the trip of a lifetime.
With six days left until classes officially start, some of us will head home to enjoy the last days of summer with family and friends while others will move into their dorms early and enjoy the somewhat empty campus before the rush of arriving students.
Catching up on sleep, shopping for last-minute dorm accessories, and stocking up on school supplies will be at the top of our list. We are excited to get back to Conte and continue working towards a memorable season. See you November 13th, Eagle fans!
