Rene Haynes
Posted February 4, 2008

Hi, my name is Rene Haynes and I play for ProBuild Basketball Club, a team in Holland. I have met some of the nicest people here and this is a great club that consists of very competitive athletes. I live in Amsterdam but my team is located in a suburb called Landsmeer. Amsterdam is a city where apartments are above stores and a city with so many different styles and trends. Before coming to Amsterdam I heard that everything is so wild but in fact, it is very laid back, calm, with low crime rates. People travel mostly by bike or tram, the neighborhoods are quiet and peaceful, the people are friendly, and the diversity is amazing!

It has been a little cold and rainy - it hasn't really been sunny since the beginning of October! It stays around 35 to 45 degrees, which is not that bad when I look at the temperature at home in Ohio (8 degrees!) It also gets light very early and gets dark very late. Therefore, stores close early at around 7 pm and the wonderful markets close at 5pm. I love the markets!! It is so much fun, even if you're not shopping, to just walk and see the different things, fabrics from different countries, food, and be surrounded by so many different languages.

Seeing that this is my first season overseas, I was nervous and scared to be so far away from my family. On arrival here, I felt a little at home. Amsterdam is such a diversified place, with many different types of cultures and religions, and there many trends and fashions. In Amsterdam you can be free, meaning you can be yourself, have your own style, and that includes hairstyles too!! Everyone is nice and very willing to put a hand out to help you. Especially if you are lost or just turned around for a little bit, which I used to do on a regular basis! That's also a plus living in Amsterdam - the majority of anyone you come across speaks English! That has made the adjustment easier than it would be in another country. I have to admit, I am learning some Dutch, but I can't get the accent together just yet - maybe by May I will be able to hold a long conversation in Dutch!!

I am a very picky eater, but the food here is not bad at all. It may need a little more seasoning. :) Here in Amsterdam it seems like everyone eats so healthy and everyone is so fit. I have never walked around so much, or ridden a bike so much. When I first arrived, I thought it was so weird to walk everywhere but now I consider a 10 - 15 minute walk a short one. I really miss the food at home though!!! McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Subway, New York Pizza and Haagen-Dazs ice cream are here, so I think that I am very blessed to have those. I definitely have American food quite often throughout the week. I have become a huge fan of Surinamese food. Living in the city there are so many things to do like bowling, sight seeing, tons of shopping, movies, go to soccer matches, and other basketball games. Since it has much diversity there are places to listen to hip-hop, Brazilian, Latino, Reggae, and lots more. I think everyone should visit Amsterdam at least one time!!!

Basketball is going great except for our team has many injuries. Even though we have not played with the entire team healthy all year, we have managed to pull together and have a 9-3 record! We have stayed together through the tough times, and everyone is contributing even though they are not on the court. In Amsterdam, we do not have 10,000 fans like in college, to pump us up, or the big arena to boost the mood and energy. We do appreciate our wonderful fans though and I think as the season continues more people come every game! It's great!

What we do have is the importance of a team, and all the contributions to the team. Togetherness, encouragement and the idea of playing for each other are very important. It has been so much fun bringing intensity, determination and encouragement for my teammates!! As of the New Year, I have a new coach and assistants. They are very good coaches and really push us to become great players and work hard. I am enjoying myself so much!

And I give thanks to God for the opportunity to come here... it reminds me of a song that my mother sings to me and my siblings... "Every time I turn around, God is blessing me. When I walk, talk, or clap my hands...every time, the Lord is blessing me!"

Me and my dad


Sightseeing with my teammates


ProBuild Team Photo

__________________________________________________________________

Erika Valek
Posted January 28, 2008

Hey everyone, I am new to this blog thing. My name is Erika Valek and I am from Colombia, South America. I went to school at Purdue University and have played in Greece, Turkey and Colombia. Just wanted to share a little about what has been going on with me here in Spain.

I arrived in Spain two weeks ago now:) I live in a small city 2 hours North West of Madrid called Zamora. We are a second division team in Spain who is trying our hardest to make it to playoffs and move up to first division. Since I got here things have been great! I love the fact that I am in a country where I can communicate with everyone (my first language is Spanish) so it has been a lot easier to adjust to things and get to know my teammates.

I had my first game last Saturday and it was a good one. We won by six and it seemed like we had played with each other for months. It was an exciting game where we played very unselfish. We had 4 or 5 girls in double digits and 2 or 3 that had 8 or 9 points. I have been blessed to be surrounded by players who play together and aren't worried about themselves.

Other than basketball I spend my time here at home with my two other roommates. One of my roommates is from England, her name is Kristi. The other one is from Spain and her name is Aitana. We get along really well and have enjoyed cooking, cleaning, shooting and lifting together.

The most exciting thing that has happened for me since I got here was I have found a Christian Church to attend. I went last Sunday and it was so good to be surrounded by believers who share the same love and passion for Jesus Christ. I enjoyed worshiping in Spanish and enjoyed meeting other people who have no idea about basketball :)

Well everyone, just wanted to share a little about what is going on with me. Hope you all finish having a wonderful season and may God Bless you all!

__________________________________________________________________

Nicole Louden
Posted January 21, 2008

Hey, my name is Nicole Louden and I live in Prague, Czech Republic. I play for Sparta Praha and I'm ecstatic to be a Spartan! I didn't play competitively for a year prior to coming to Prague, and it has been a superb league that has challenged me mentally and physically while helping me become a more productive professional women's basketball player. I knew very little about the Czech league before arriving, but I learned quickly. The players are energetic and extremely competitive! My team is currently 5-5, with a huge victory over the third ranked team in our league to close out 2007. Thus far that win has propelled us to a 2-0 start in 2008, and we're eager to make more "noise" throughout our league as the season progresses.

Prague Castle, Lesser Town, Old Town, Charles Bridge, and Jewish Town are just a handful of the many chivalric sites to admire and appreciate while visiting this magnificent city. Although the Czech Republic is 90% atheist (which is attributed to being a communist country from 1948-1989), they have immaculate cathedrals that are absolutely breathtaking. There is an abundance of rich culture here, and with a population of 1.2 million inhabitants and almost 5 million tourists yearly, people are always teeming about so it isn't difficult to find a new and/or exciting adventure to embark upon!

Czechs pride themselves on being the number one beer drinkers in the world along with their delectable cuisine! Their cuisine is marked by a strong emphasis on meat dishes. Two of their most popular dishes are roast pork with dumplings and cabbage, and carp, which is a type of fish that is served mainly at Christmas. The cabbage is typically prepared two different ways; sweet or sour, which is prepared according to the individual's desired taste. The dumplings can be wheat or potato based and are typically large and cut into thin slices. In Czech culture a Gambrinus or Pilsner Urquell beer pairs well with any dish!

Overall, living in Prague has been an absolute delight. This is a quality league, we have great team camaraderie, I've met extraordinary individuals on and off the court, and entertainment is at your beck and call if boredom ever decides to come knocking at your door!

__________________________________________________________________

Aja Parham
Posted January 14, 2008

Hello my name is Aja Parham. I play in Coimbra, Portugal for club Olivias. This is my first season here in Portugal and I am having a great time so far. A lot of my joy comes from our team currently sitting in first place with a 9-0 record. The people and fans in the town are wonderful. You always feel like the more you win, the nicer people are but I'm sure that's just me. The fans wave a little harder, smile a little longer AND your food comes a little faster.

Many believe the Portuguese league is not the best league from top to bottom but I believe overall it is competitive. It is a perfect place for me to play with this only being my second year in Europe. The club, Olivias, takes great care of their athletes. I can recall when I first arrived in Portugal, not familiar with the language and food my coaches and teammates helping me order food and also making sure my living situation was comfortable. Although this is a professional team, it's always easier to play for a coach and team that care about more than just the athlete.

The town of Coimbra is a college town built around one of the oldest Universities in the world. Although I haven't had too much time to sightsee, I am enjoying seeing the history that surrounds me. With that said the night life is not as strong as one would expect but it is good enough. Many of the surrounding towns come here to hang out and party at the "discos". I thought because they called it a disco I would not have fun but surprisingly I was thoroughly entertained the entire night. I've learned its not so much where you are, but the people you are with. My teammates keep me laughing and having fun and so far I'm having a great experience.

__________________________________________________________________

Jordan Wilson
Posted December 24, 2007

I live and play in Galdakao, Spain, a small town outside of Bilbao. Bilbao, home of the Guggenheim Museum, is in the Basque region of Spain, which is unique in that it fiercely resists being part of Spain. Very few speak English, so I have had to learn Castillian Spanish; the residents speak their own language of Euskara as well. I've welcomed the opportunity to learn the language and attend free classes taught by non-English-speaking professors. My teammates are generous with their time and instruction, which is one of the reasons I decided to return here after playing half a season with Team Ibaizabal last year. My coach speaks no English at all, so before learning the language I was lucky enough to have one English-speaking teammate to translate for me last season.. With the help of my teammates and classes, I now can communicate really well and am having fun getting to know everyone on another level.

Spain is a Catholic country, and it seems that nearly every week there is a fiesta celebrating a particular saint's birthday or other holiday. These include outdoor markets, music and Spanish dancers, lots of food and wine. All residents are off work. On regular days stores are closed from about 2pm-5pm for siesta, but on fiesta days ALL stores are closed for consecutive days, which can make shopping for food or anything else challenging (a far cry from the 24-hour stores and restaurants in the US).

Coming from a suburb of Chicago, I am a city girl, and Bilbao has become my home away from home. The surrounding mountains adjacent to the ocean, combined with the lure of the retail shops, create an astonishing environment in which to live. Surprisingly, I thrive on the public transportation system of buses and walking. I recall grandparents' stories of walking miles to school; walking miles each day has become status quo for me.

I never thought I would become domesticated, since I had relied on my mom for laundry and cleaning, yet I now find myself sweeping the house, doing laundry, hanging clothes outside on the line - yes, no dryers -- and cooking a variety of American and Spanish meals. My assistant coach took the time to come over to my apartment a few times to teach me to make typical Spanish meals - now I have a cookbook full!

The "rain in Spain" is not a misconception, but coming from Chicago, I am relieved not to deal with snow. When the weather is nice, we spend our free time sightseeing in the mountains, visiting one of the many beautiful Atlantic beaches, or taking a bus ride to the gorgeous resort of San Sebastian. San Sebastian is famous for its pintxos (tapas), which are creative combos, usually of seafood, jamon, pate. Daily, people go from bar to bar trying different pintxos and washing them down with kalimotxo (cheap red wine mixed with Coke). The combination of food and drink is a religion in the Basque region, and our proximity to the ocean provides us with incredible seafood. Aside from the typical, many look a little suspect, but I've learned not to judge anything by sight or smell; usually it turns out to be muy rico (delicious). Normally, we cook at home, but eating out is always an experience - these Spaniards can eat...three courses! These meals always include free bread, wine, and always end with chocolate and cafe.

So far this year, we remain undefeated. The competition is not particularly difficult, but our goal is to move up a division. We use every game and practice as an opportunity to improve as a team and recognize each others' strengths, so that we will peak at the right time - playoffs in May. I thank God (and High Five) for providing me with the opportunity to play the game I love in a such a beautiful place inhabited by such wonderful people.

Bilbao bridge.


A beach near Bilbao.


...with my roommates...


and with my teammates.

__________________________________________________________________

Leah Rush
Posted December 17, 2007

It's funny really, how each culture has something special and different that separates them from the next. From the way people say their words, to the foods they eat, to the customs they practice, to the values they uphold, each culture is so uniquely built over years and years by people just trying to figure out what works best for them. Here in Lulea, Sweden, I've been able to experience a different way of life and I am certainly enjoying the experience. Let me give you a few examples of this Swedish culture I live in:

-Thursday is pea soup and pancakes. In America, it's pizza on Friday. (Or was that just my family? I'm not entirely sure.) They include the pancakes with the pea soup because the kids don't usually like the soup too much. So the pancakes are a bargaining tactic parents use. "Johnny," (wait, too American...) "Now Elias, you eat 4 more bites of pea soup and you can have some pancakes." Pancakes here are thin, chewy, and almost like crepes. And they're eaten with cream and jam. I'm pretty sure the Swedes decided to concoct a recipe that would allow dessert for breakfast. (Doughnuts anyone?)

-I come from West Texas, probably one of the most friendly places on earth so I can't help but to smile and say 'hi' in passing and if I run into somebody accidentally, I am most certainly going to say, "Excuse me." Don't get me wrong, the Swedes have been wonderfully nice people. But from the looks of it, they don't think they have any reason to smile...at strangers or otherwise. I've gotten more confused glares in return for my friendly grin on the street. I understand, it is dark 22 hours out of the day, and it's cold...really cold. But really, it is ok to smile just for the sake of smiling.

-Like some other countries, when you enter a house, you take off your shoes in Sweden. (This makes sense here because of the weather. If you don't take your shoes off, you carry all kinds of water and snow all over the house.) I learned this little rule after going to a team get together and not removing my shoes. (It was nice weather though, so that's understandable, right?) I didn't think anything of it, until my teammates began laughing and making sure I heard their sarcastic "Ugh, stupid Americans" whispers. I have been a faithful barefooted American since.

-Living here in Sweden is very expensive. After a few weeks here, I've only dared venture into a few stores, outside of my grocery store Willy's, of course. I tend to get really frustrated when I stumble into some obscure little shop, wander in to find some of the most interesting, unique, fun little items and then see the price tag, which reads a little something like "way too much" or "you don't really need this" or "this would be $100 less in the States" and all of these tags haunt me in my dreams. So I choose to avoid (by avoid, I mean I only go into a couple every day) these shops.

-Pre-made sandwiches have butter on them. Sparkling bubbly tonic water stuff is everywhere. And everything has less sugar. Even the candy isn't nearly as sweet as candy at home. They are really conscious about the 'whole wheat craze.' They love potatoes more than any civilized culture should. So long beef jerky, hello 'dried reindeer'. They really know about hot drinks. (With the exception of apple cider. While asking about it in the store the other day, I had to laugh when I was given the directions to the liquor store. Cider is a favorite drink here I guess.) I've enjoyed grocery shopping and buying my one or two items each time that I have absolutely no idea what it is. I've had about a 94% success rate on finding some good stuff. So this culture is a little different than that of the good ole USA, but isn't that what makes this so much fun?

After a poor start, the team is really starting to click and play well. We're in the middle of the league right now, but I anticipate a great finish. There are a few girls at the ripe old age of 19 on my team and a handful that is under 21, so we're pretty young, which allows for lots of learning opportunities on the court. (Speaking of age, in our last game, we played a girl, or perhaps woman is more accurate, who is 42.) I've had to work on my patience a little bit at some points, but I suppose I'll be better for it. I love my teammates and feel lucky to have quality girls on the team.

Life is good and I daily think what a neat opportunity I have, to live in a new country, play a game I love, meet new people, experience new things and call it a 'job.' I've heard that if you love what you do, you won't ever have to work a day in your life. And so far in my first post-collegiate season, I can certainly say, I haven't had to work at all.

My backyard.


In the airport headed to a game with my teammates.


Santa by a Christmas market.


Me in the light room
(a room that is really bright and supposed to be good for you since it's always dark here)

__________________________________________________________________

Kristen O'Neill
Posted December 10, 2007

After playing in Madrid last season, and living in a city for most of my life, I was looking forward to experiencing life in a small town. Bienvenido a Burgos! In case you are wondering where that is, it is about a 2.5 hour drive north of Madrid. When my GM first picked me up at the airport and we began our road-trip through the scenic countryside, I found myself growing more and more excited to be back in Spain. I never would have thought that living in a foreign country could actually feel familiar. It felt good to be back.

So far, my favorite part about living in a small town is that there is hardly ever traffic. It's great! I can get just about anywhere I need to be in less than 10 minutes. However, I should mention that driving through the tiny, one-way streets is no easy task. There are some kamikaze pedestrians here, folks! The concept of looking both ways before crossing has yet to catch on. I knew my Mario Kart skills would pay off some day.

Basketball has had its ups and downs. We have been working through an ever-changing roster, injuries, and the recent firing of our coach. We are a talented team and I am still hopeful that we will be able to turn the season around. It sounds cliché, but basketball can be such a great teaching tool for some of life's most important lessons. Many of you probably feel the same. It is so necessary to try and establish balance in order to keep a healthy perspective and see the bigger picture. I am learning to appreciate the importance of 'getting away' and drawing a line between basketball and the rest of my life.

To anyone who may be feeling the same way, I would encourage you to really dive into the culture around you! It is such a blessing that we have the opportunity to play the game we love and experience a different culture. Live it up!!

Best wishes to finish strong as we head into the Christmas break!! Have a wonderful Christmas season and blessed New Year. :)

Beautiful Burgos! We do our team conditioning by this river.... brrrrrr!


Sitting in front of the gorgeous Burgos Cathedral
(Fun fact: the tomb of El Cid, is buried under the alter).


Taking an evening walk with some teammates in Gran Canarias.

__________________________________________________________________

Two years ago, High Five was initially founded as an Agency only representing female athletes. As the business has grown, we've been given additional opportunities to work with male athletes as well.

Ryan Rourke is a local athlete from Seattle that played at Cornell University. He came highly recommended from our trainer, Mike Lawson, as well as one of our current athletes.

Ryan has been a pleasure to work with and you can read about his experience in Portugal this season below.

Ryan Rourke
Posted December 3, 2007

Living out of a hotel for 5 weeks has its benefits and detriments. I was getting three solid meals plus taking some of the best yogurt in the world from breakfast to snack on later. (Terceira Island makes between 80-90 percent of Portugal's dairy products, just to give you an idea of how good it is.) Due to the fact that my club, Lusitania, just started to piece their team together the week they signed me, we had two-a-days and I was well in need of all the calories. I didn't have to make my bed or do my own laundry! And luckily I had a good roommate from Alaska. I was living as if having a weekend away game, but for a much extended period of time...

The club has been going through some major reconstruction and I tried to be patient with them, but I quickly grew tired of not having my own time, space, money, or life. And to top it off, I was losing my socks to either the laundry service and/or my own teammates!!! I won't mention any names ;)

To spare you all the details of what appears to be like an episode of "Lost", I have moved into a cozy apartment for one and hope that the club is moving in a positive direction.

There are three other Americans on my team who are from Alaska, Louisiana, and the Virgin Islands. Until recently, Portugal used to have colonies around the world including Guinea and Angola. We have two players from Angola and one from Guinea and the rest from the Portuguese mainland.
We are 1-5 and even though it doesn't show right now, I really do believe that we have the potential to be a strong team toward the end of the season.

As we continue our careers abroad and have the opportunity to experience these trials and tribulations, I am grateful to share mine with you and to be able to say that you will never be given more than you can handle.

Even when things aren't going as you planned and you are losing your socks; socks I tell you!!! Don't lose your head. Separate the business from the basketball and continue to enjoy the experience. I have made basketball my sanctuary to exert my love, passion, and enthusiasm toward this once in a lifetime opportunity.

STAY HEALTHY.

__________________________________________________________________

Kesha Watson
Posted November 26, 2007

Gusty winds. Geysirs. Rain. High Prices. Blue Lagoon. Rain. Friendly people. Those words sum up where I'm playing for my second season.

Hey High Fivers, I'm coming to you all the way from Keflavik, Iceland. This is my second season playing here and I'm enjoying it just like last year. Our team is currently 8-0 so far and we plan on having that continue throughout the year.

Iceland is definitely home away from home. The people here are great, friendly, respectful (sometimes) lol, and outgoing. The food here is great as well. I love my teammates like they're my own siblings. The culture here to me seems like America. Everyone speaks very good English, all the restaurants and movie theatres are also in English. The only huge difference that seperates this country from America is the high prices. Yeah you read correctly. America is so cheap compared to Iceland, I learned the hard way. I was going to the store to buy some Blistex. Blistex in Walmart back home costs about $1.00 maybe a little bit more, anyway I got to the register to pay and she told me 348 Krona which is $6 US. Wow I couldn't believe it! If I didn't really need it I would have put it back lol.

Iceland is the only country that has the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is Iceland's most unique and popular attraction. Blue Lagoon is a huge geothermal sea water that helps the skin. People from all over the world come to Iceland just to visit the Blue Lagoon.

That's it for now...I hope that gave you a little bit of insight on my home away from home. I'm very blessed to have this opportunity to play overseas again - not many people get to travel the world doing what they love to do best. I wish everyone a blessed season and happy holidays to all.

When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I would have not a single bit of talent left and could say, 'I used everything You gave me.'

__________________________________________________________________

Tyler McIlwraith
Posted November 19, 2007

Holland. Amsterdam to Utrecht. Canals. Rain. Wind. Rain. Cold weather. Windmills.

A little bit different than Nadja's blog. Or maybe its a lot
different than Nadja's blog. I haven't seen the sun in a few weeks.
But rain, if you like rain, we have that! Despite the need for a
rain jacket every time I leave the house, I love life in Holland.

I am in my first season playing overseas and having a great time.
We are 3-1 and have a game against fellow rookie High Fiver Rene Haynes
next week. It's a lot more physical than what I am used to but
I like it. Rugby style.

I don't know what it's like in other European cities, but I believe Holland to have the most bikes of any country in the world. It is unreal. And the things they can do while riding their bikes are amazing. I passed a mother last week on her bike with groceries in one hand and three kids also on board- one kid on the back, one on the front and one in backpack. They use them as cars... 'oh yeah, I'll pick you up in 15 minutes.' By that they mean, 'I will be by your house and you can jump on the back of my bike.'

This may sound easy, but I have a terrible time mounting the back of the bike once its in motion. I don't know if its because my backside is too big or I am
just uncoordinated but I cannot get situated correctly. Up until last
week I was able to just hold on tightly to make it to our destination. Well a little speed bump ended my record. I was on the back of my assistant coach's bike on the way to practice when we went over a little bump. We both went down. Hard. I'm talking skin to the pavement, bike falling on top of you, chain grease on the clothing kind of hard. "In 30 years, I have never fallen off my bike with someone else." Great response coach. So I guess it was my fault.
Let's just say I have not gotten back on.

Recently, two of my teammates and I decided to create our own holiday in hopes of brightening the days of some other people. Every day we pass a bus and tram stop called '24 Oktoberplein.' This got us thinking...what is so special about October 24th? No one had an answer. Its not an official holiday but we decided to make it one. We set up at the tram stop and as people got off they were greeted with noise makers, balloons and cookies. Happy 24 Oktoberplein Day! Anyway, we met some interesting people and had some good conversations. Hopefully it made the usual commute to work a little happier.

The theme for basketball in Holland this year amongst all ages is
'Basketball Unites.' And it does. I live with an American, a Dutch
girl and a Nigerian girl. The four of us could not be any different
yet we are similar in our love for basketball. Basketball has given
us a great opportunity to meet people from other cultures and
backgrounds. It's brought us together. Now its our job to make the
most of it. (On Saturday, Sinterklaas is arriving in Holland by
steamboat with his helper, Zwarte Piet. In the spirit of learning
about other traditions, I must see his arrival. Is a steamboat really
more effective then a sleigh?)

__________________________________________________________________

Nadja Morgan
Posted November 12, 2007

Location, Location, Location

Southern France. The French Riviera. St. Tropez to Monaco/Monte Carlo. The Mediterranean Sea. Sunshine. Warm weather. Beach. Palm Trees. Wine. Cheese. Baguettes. Croissants.

If basketball is my first love, the southern France might be a close second.

I've been here since early August. This is my 6th season overseas, and I've never been so excited to return to Europe as I was when I arrived here. This is the first season that I've come back to the same country, and the same club. My team. My friends (more like my family now). My apartment. Woo hoo! I'm constantly reminded how much I owe the game of basketball.

Don't get me wrong. I've played in some very, let's say...interesting places. Last year I wrote my blog from Krasnoyarsk, Siberia. Shortly after that, I took the job in Nice.

Like any big city, Nice has its lackluster qualities too. I've stepped in dog sh*t three times since I've been here. People let their dogs go anywhere...and when you step in it? They say it's good luck. I'm still hoping!! Quality of life is high, but the prices are even higher. Traffic and parking is a nightmare in the city. People are indifferent at times...if not arrogant.

Sometimes it's tough love. But this is home away from home, and it's love all the same.

Nice isn't paradise, but it seems close to it when we are winning. Two weeks ago we lost our first game. Last weekend, we lost our second. This week, players are down. There's tension in practice. We are at the top of the league, but you wouldn't know it by our faces, by our body language, by our attitudes. As a captain, as the foreigner, I have to find a way to get us ready for this Saturday.

For you younger HighFivers...here are some things to think about for the
2007-2008 season:

SMILE. Laugh really hard. Stay positive. Be optimistic. Have a good attitude. Work hard. Stay healthy. Stay up. Say thank you. Learn a new language.

Try different foods. If a teammate or coach or asks you to go somewhere, GO!!! Take your camera everywhere. See everything. Fear nothing.

Enjoy the experience. Make the best of your situation.

And above all, fight like hell to win basketball games.

Because when you are a basketball player, no matter where you are... Korea, China, Russia, Spain, France, or anywhere else across the globe, life is just so much better when you are winning.