Training, Moving

It's Tuesday night and I've just finished team training.

The way it works now is it's literally fitness training b/c it is still preseason. So my first practice was that horrible practice when I first arrived off the plane. This practice, much better! I guess my body has gotten acclimated to the climate. The past two days I've gotten into somewhat of a routine. Wake up, breakfast, then I run to the gym about a kilometer or so away from where I'm staying (this includes a massive hill). Bloddy hell those hills. They will take some getting used to but I welcome the challenge.
I then come home to eat lunch, have some rest time, and then run back to the grounds for some other activity. Yesterday it was speed training. Rather informal and fun. Only about ten guys were there. Today it was team training.

The team training today was great. I didn’t have any problems with my allergies or asthma and it was a great workout. Lots of running and a few ball skill drills. Today he announced that a team from Sydney will be coming in about 3 weeks. Furthermore, he emphasized that he wanted to choose players from our group to play in the match, so we’d better work hard so he doesn’t have to choose players from the Premier side. The Premier side trains separate from everyone else.

From what I gather, we’ll all train together and play in preseason matches together. After these matches the coaches will have a good idea on how to distribute the players to which team. Like Senior 1’s, Senior 2’s, and Senior 3’s – Senior 1’s being below the Premier squad. They also have U-19’s, U-21’s, and U-23’s as well.

I’m not sure what is going to happen tomorrow. I’m moving into a room above this Irish bar named “Murphy’s Law” in the morning. They chap said it wouldn’t be ready until Monday, but called me up this morning and said it would be all ready to move in tomorrow. So, unfortunately the club will not be able to provide a place to stay rent free, so I’ll have to chip it away myself. This room above the bar will go for $100 a week. It’s a little weird how rent goes by the week over here. There are 5 other room’s which means 5 other roommates, 2 bathrooms, a lounge, and a kitchen. It has a washing machine, but no dryer. Everyone I’ve seen doesn’t seem to have a dryer. Perhaps that is a luxury around these parts. The room has a bed, a closet, and some shelves. The owner, Tomahou (like Tom-a-hoe) assures me I will be able to find a free TV somewhere. I don’t really care, there’s one in the lounge. I’ve just been reading a lot anyway. There is a library not far away and I can rent stuff out for $2 a piece. I will probably take advantage of that.

Now, here is another option. So I’m leaving training tonight and one guy stops me to ask if I’m looking for a flat. He’s looking for a flat mate. I believe there are 2 of them, and I would make three. Of course, these guys are teammates, which would be good to stay with, and the rent would be $90 a week. Unfortunately, he had absolutely no time to discuss this matter further, and says we’ll talk more Thursday. So now, I may move in to the bar tomorrow, and then move out again come Friday. If a bed will be provided I will take it into serious consideration. They said the flat is only 2 minutes away from Murphy’s Law.

I spoke to the owner at the bar I’m looking to work at, and he gave me the go ahead to stop by on Thursday so speak about a job. This bar is only about 100 meters down from the pub so work and my flat is a great location for both. The bar and the flat above the bar is only a 10 minutes walk to the pitch and clubhouse, so great location. I guess I’ll figure out everything by Friday.

So taking this all in, I don’t believe I will have regular access to a computer. I will try to borrow one from somewhere at least once a week, even if I have to walk to the home in which I’m staying at now (which isn’t that far). I really don’t mind the walking and running. Figure it’s just keeping me in shape. I’m not looking forward to actually buying my own groceries and fixing my own food. That aspect, at least, has been great during my stay here. Three nice meals a day and all the food has been great. Also, everything, including groceries are so damn expensive. I’m missing my Wal-Mart about now that’s for sure.

So, it may be a few days until I post again. Depending on how much time I have, I may actually blog on my laptop like a journal, then copy/paste it all accordingly online.

Cheers,
"Kia Kaha Kia Maia"