Has it really been 2 weeks since my last post? Honestly where has the time gone because it's flew by in no time.
This past week has been my most enjoyable week since I've been here. I'm staying with a really nice family who are laid back and the kids are good fun. It's a big difference when the family socialize with you as I do with them. I've also continued my running and have managed to up my distance to 3 miles which I'm running without stopping. Today i was only 40 seconds off my 3 mile outdoor record, to reach that in such little time is superb. My fitness has improved a lot the past 2-3 weeks since I've been running and playing soccer, it's been much needed.
Today I finished all my coaching obligations and that's me finally finished. Overall the last 4 years with this company has been really enjoyable, I've met some great families who I now call friends and more importantly I met Michelle. The future for me looks great and I'm so happy, honored and privileged that I get to spend it with Michelle who I love with all my heart. Despite all thats happened this year in terms of work I wouldn't change it for anything. It's put me on this exciting path and I'm looking forward to the future. Obviously I'd love to get these 8 weeks back I've been away from Michelle but we have coped, made us stronger and I'm so excited to go back to Michelle. Next week is going to be super exciting thats for sure.
I love coaching I really do and I've booked onto sit the E license course, my first crack at the American coaching pathway. I'm looking forward to getting back and begin coaching a team, a comp team at that. Everything looking forward is looking bright.
In 5 days I'll be on my way back to Utah, SLC airport, Tooele and more importantly Michelle. I really can't wait now and it's just round the corner.
5 days.......
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Thursday, October 10, 2013
19 days.......part 2
So I then ended up in Cincinnati, Ohio for the fall which I was really reluctant to take as I would be away from Michelle for 8 weeks but due to financial reasons I had to take it. Now heres my next 'coincidence' My boss here tells me the host families are worried I'm not socializing enough with them which baffles me. I'll admit my first week I kept to myself, didn't want to be here and hated being away from Michelle that I was an absolute state emotionally that week. Now remember I work evenings witht the clubs. Week 2 I'm staying with a family, the mum works all day and the Dad works from home, always in his office with the door shut so I rarely see them, then I work evenings. I seen the baby sitter more than the host family. First night there they go out to the Baseball game leaving me on my own. 3rd week I'm staying with a family who are up and out the house for 8.30 every morning, workers in the house too, hosts sometimes come back for 10mins then out again so I chill out then work evenings. Sometimes the kids and dad are away to boy scouts in the evenings, by the time I finish coaching they've ate dinner so I eat on my own. Still I'm the one not socializing. So barely a week after that I call my next host to see whan they want me to arrive to suddenly be told 'we got an email saying Challenger had moved you host and you wouldn't be staying here' the co ordinator no longer sorting my host situation out now. Then I arrive at my next host, a single dad and no kids, works all daya nd coaches evening (coincidence) I'm staying in the basement area which really isn't healthy at all. Garbage bins full with garbage, cigarettes and all sorts, turns out the basement where I'm staying is the 'designated smoking area' hence the stench of cigarette smell everywhere. Dust all over the place, cobwebs in the corners of every wall, shower doesn't run cold watera and I'm sharing this basement with crickets which tops it all off. I ask my boss for my next host information to be told 'you're staying there for the rest of your time here' never in my 4 years have I complained about a host or asked to be moved but for health reasons I'm well within my right to be asked to get moved as this isn't living conditions. I then get told 'we are working all evening and weekends plus dealing with visa stuff so we can try find you a new host but It'll take time' seems my health isn't a priority here, I even say 'can't the co ordinator sort it out then like she was meant to be doing' turns out thats no longer an option 'while she still sorts the other coach out with hosts' why is the co ordinator no longer involved in my housing? Why is it being done by them now?
I'm beyond annoyed and frustrated now, I really hope this is all coincidence but a part of me thinks otherwise after whats went on. I need to be done here now, my last few weeks with this company is ending on a worse note which I'm disappointed with. I have 19 days to see this out and I'm done.
I'm beyond annoyed and frustrated now, I really hope this is all coincidence but a part of me thinks otherwise after whats went on. I need to be done here now, my last few weeks with this company is ending on a worse note which I'm disappointed with. I have 19 days to see this out and I'm done.
19 days.......part 1
Do you ever get that feeling like everyone is against you? You can do no right? Well, thats the way I'm feeling right now and like Michelle said to me, along these lines 'you should blog to air your feelings and you'll feel much better' I'm deciding to blog today and air my grievances.
4 years I've been with this company, I've worked so hard, a lot harder than others I may add. I even got 'coach of the year' for the work I done in 2011 which was a highlight of my coaching career but the summer of 2012 was amongst the worst I've had in terms of coaches I worked with, the quality and attitude of coaches also. 2013 never improved at all and it seems this company are employing people to simply 'make up the numbers' despite their obvious lack of coaching experience and more worrying knowledge and qualifications. It's just as well parents who send their kids to the camps dont know much about coaching ability otherwise things would go downhill much faster. For me this 'job' is all about the lifestyle to around 75% of the people employed, some even using it as a holiday. I pride myself in being in that 25% bracket who's here for the job, to coach kids and make a difference.
Today I had a real think about things and what follows might just be coincidence or it might just be that everyone is against me.
Spring 2013, I'm doing my work in SLC which I loved despite the fact it was 90% pre school work. One school which I was at was a nightmare from day 1, kids behaviour was dreadful, never listened, parents sat there and done nothing, even witnessed a kid defying one parents repeated warnings to stop doing something but was ignored. How could I get the kids to listen if they don't want to? Parents do nothing? Teachers do nothing? I went down the route of sitting them out but to no avail, so I persevered as I have patients. It got to the stage where I had enough and had a word with the head teacher of the school. I told her about the kids behaviour, parents doing nothing. 2 kids were the instigators while their parents done nothing to help. It was around a day or 2 later I get an email from my boss telling me the school aren't happy with me (coincidence?', that I don't discipline kids and they want improvement. Not once was I asked about my side or anything, just took the schools word for it. Turns out one of the kids who messed around and who's parent done nothing was a teacher at the school. No doubt they took that as offence that I'm saying the parent (teacher) isn't helping control her kid. Not once was I asked about things. That kids sat there and threw sticks at me, never listened, never paid attention, called me names, one actually callled me an idiot. But I had patients and shrugged it off. But yet I'm the bad guy. I was certain my job description was 'coach' first and not 'disciplinarian' I'm not there to punish their kids because they couldn't. I always knew thats school would come back to haunt me. I spent the first part of the summer still working hard to be told my position in SLC was under threat because of the complaint (apparently it was a few complaints which I'm not buying' my boss hardly spoke to me, never sent me emails about the fall until I got told they were removing me from SLC and I no longer had my job there, replaced by a 1st coach. I guess thats where 4 years hard work gets you. Not once did I get asked my side of the story, they took the schools word before hearing mine and sealed my fate.
4 years I've been with this company, I've worked so hard, a lot harder than others I may add. I even got 'coach of the year' for the work I done in 2011 which was a highlight of my coaching career but the summer of 2012 was amongst the worst I've had in terms of coaches I worked with, the quality and attitude of coaches also. 2013 never improved at all and it seems this company are employing people to simply 'make up the numbers' despite their obvious lack of coaching experience and more worrying knowledge and qualifications. It's just as well parents who send their kids to the camps dont know much about coaching ability otherwise things would go downhill much faster. For me this 'job' is all about the lifestyle to around 75% of the people employed, some even using it as a holiday. I pride myself in being in that 25% bracket who's here for the job, to coach kids and make a difference.
Today I had a real think about things and what follows might just be coincidence or it might just be that everyone is against me.
Spring 2013, I'm doing my work in SLC which I loved despite the fact it was 90% pre school work. One school which I was at was a nightmare from day 1, kids behaviour was dreadful, never listened, parents sat there and done nothing, even witnessed a kid defying one parents repeated warnings to stop doing something but was ignored. How could I get the kids to listen if they don't want to? Parents do nothing? Teachers do nothing? I went down the route of sitting them out but to no avail, so I persevered as I have patients. It got to the stage where I had enough and had a word with the head teacher of the school. I told her about the kids behaviour, parents doing nothing. 2 kids were the instigators while their parents done nothing to help. It was around a day or 2 later I get an email from my boss telling me the school aren't happy with me (coincidence?', that I don't discipline kids and they want improvement. Not once was I asked about my side or anything, just took the schools word for it. Turns out one of the kids who messed around and who's parent done nothing was a teacher at the school. No doubt they took that as offence that I'm saying the parent (teacher) isn't helping control her kid. Not once was I asked about things. That kids sat there and threw sticks at me, never listened, never paid attention, called me names, one actually callled me an idiot. But I had patients and shrugged it off. But yet I'm the bad guy. I was certain my job description was 'coach' first and not 'disciplinarian' I'm not there to punish their kids because they couldn't. I always knew thats school would come back to haunt me. I spent the first part of the summer still working hard to be told my position in SLC was under threat because of the complaint (apparently it was a few complaints which I'm not buying' my boss hardly spoke to me, never sent me emails about the fall until I got told they were removing me from SLC and I no longer had my job there, replaced by a 1st coach. I guess thats where 4 years hard work gets you. Not once did I get asked my side of the story, they took the schools word before hearing mine and sealed my fate.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
The problem with modern day Football (Soccer)
Incase you don't know I'm soccer daft, love watcing it, love coaching it, love the passion and everything that goes with it.
Almost 2 years ago in college I done a piece of work highlighting how transfer fees for players have spiralled out of control, going from the 1st 1M player, to the 15M sale of Alan Shearer, to the 42M transfer of Zidane, the 85M transfer of Ronaldo to now the 86M transfer of Bale. It's really gone out of control but this is'nt what this blog is about.
The modern day footballer, on a wage per week that people struggle to make in 5-10 years and that's just for the average player. I've grew up watching the game, Scottish football, English football, Italian football and other leagues as they've produced players who've gone on to be household names. I remember when top players were on 50k a week, nowadays thats a wage for a distinctively average player with the best commanding upwards of 150k a week. I've seen bare average players who rarely play pick up 50k a week. It's got out of control.
This blog is based on one game I watched last weekend. Sunderland v Man U. Sunderland bottom of the league, their players got the manager sacked because he believed in old school management, having to earn the right to be where you are, respecting the senior players, young players having to seriously work to be where they want to be. But yet the senior players, who are picking up in excess of 50K a week took the huff, felt they didn't deserve to work extra hard in training 'pampered players' I call them and duely got the manager sacked. Welcome to modern day football.
Here's my biggest beef with modern day football, the 'young player'. Back in the day young players had to work super hard to get near the 1st team set up, they'd clean the senior players boots and no doubt a host of other stuff, they all couldn't afford cars so they got lifts to training. Nowadays its flipped, they swan around in fancy cars despite not featuring for the 1st team, picking up thousands of pounds a week before its earned. Who decided these players deserve big wages before its earned?. The governing bodies around Britain wonder why young players aren't getting produced , they are getting produced but they slack off once you hand them big fancy contracts, their work ethic no longer exists and their effort drops as in their eyes 'they've made it' and that contract will keep them happy for years to come.
Adnan Januzaj. The 18 year old Man U player who last week no one had ever really heard of. He starts against Sunderland (bottom of the league) and scores 2 goals on his debut. Now all of a sudden you'd think this was the next Messi, Ronaldo, Zidane by the way the media have acted. Not even a week has passed where already he's rumoured to be signing a new deal worth 50K a week and a number of countries are pathetically fighting over who he should play for (born in Belgium so that really should be the end of it) thanks to this stupid parent and grand parent rule. Born in Belgium but your Mum is Albanian, Dads French, Grandfather was born on Mars and your Grandmother was born in the air over Spain and Portugal so take your pick what country to play for. All because of one game, 2 goals.....against the worst team in the league. No one can justify how this kid is suddenly worth 50K a week after one performance. Who knows what he'll be like in 4 years time, if he's still amazing then give him what you want if he's proved it for 4 years solid at the highest level. In my view younger players get too much, too young, too fast. It's what's ruining the modern day game in my view and it shows no sign of stopping.
Almost 2 years ago in college I done a piece of work highlighting how transfer fees for players have spiralled out of control, going from the 1st 1M player, to the 15M sale of Alan Shearer, to the 42M transfer of Zidane, the 85M transfer of Ronaldo to now the 86M transfer of Bale. It's really gone out of control but this is'nt what this blog is about.
The modern day footballer, on a wage per week that people struggle to make in 5-10 years and that's just for the average player. I've grew up watching the game, Scottish football, English football, Italian football and other leagues as they've produced players who've gone on to be household names. I remember when top players were on 50k a week, nowadays thats a wage for a distinctively average player with the best commanding upwards of 150k a week. I've seen bare average players who rarely play pick up 50k a week. It's got out of control.
This blog is based on one game I watched last weekend. Sunderland v Man U. Sunderland bottom of the league, their players got the manager sacked because he believed in old school management, having to earn the right to be where you are, respecting the senior players, young players having to seriously work to be where they want to be. But yet the senior players, who are picking up in excess of 50K a week took the huff, felt they didn't deserve to work extra hard in training 'pampered players' I call them and duely got the manager sacked. Welcome to modern day football.
Here's my biggest beef with modern day football, the 'young player'. Back in the day young players had to work super hard to get near the 1st team set up, they'd clean the senior players boots and no doubt a host of other stuff, they all couldn't afford cars so they got lifts to training. Nowadays its flipped, they swan around in fancy cars despite not featuring for the 1st team, picking up thousands of pounds a week before its earned. Who decided these players deserve big wages before its earned?. The governing bodies around Britain wonder why young players aren't getting produced , they are getting produced but they slack off once you hand them big fancy contracts, their work ethic no longer exists and their effort drops as in their eyes 'they've made it' and that contract will keep them happy for years to come.
Adnan Januzaj. The 18 year old Man U player who last week no one had ever really heard of. He starts against Sunderland (bottom of the league) and scores 2 goals on his debut. Now all of a sudden you'd think this was the next Messi, Ronaldo, Zidane by the way the media have acted. Not even a week has passed where already he's rumoured to be signing a new deal worth 50K a week and a number of countries are pathetically fighting over who he should play for (born in Belgium so that really should be the end of it) thanks to this stupid parent and grand parent rule. Born in Belgium but your Mum is Albanian, Dads French, Grandfather was born on Mars and your Grandmother was born in the air over Spain and Portugal so take your pick what country to play for. All because of one game, 2 goals.....against the worst team in the league. No one can justify how this kid is suddenly worth 50K a week after one performance. Who knows what he'll be like in 4 years time, if he's still amazing then give him what you want if he's proved it for 4 years solid at the highest level. In my view younger players get too much, too young, too fast. It's what's ruining the modern day game in my view and it shows no sign of stopping.
21 days.......
So I've now reached some what of a needed date today, today is 21 days or 3 weeks till I fly back. Why is the 21 days mark important? It has now put me beyond the half way stage of my time here until I leave. The weeks have flew by quickly but not quite quick enough for my liking. The last 21 days here I have no doubt will fly by in no time, much quicker than the previous days.
The last few weeks I've really been bored as I have nowhere to go and nothing much to do. I've started running again and I've seen my fitness improve slightly as I've ran more and more, also playing soccer has improved my fitness too, got my muscles working and my dynamic movement that comes with playing. I said in my previous blog (I think anyway) that I was told to socialize more with the host families as they had mentioned I'm very quiet. Heres the part that gets me. How can I socialize with families when they are never in and we have conflicting work schedules? Families i've stayed with work during the day and I work evenings, I really felt like an idiot having to point this out and state that while talking to my boss. Things like that work both ways but with this job, the coach is always the one who has to do all the work, has to please everyone but rarely do they ask the coach this simple question 'how was the family you stayed with?' I've never complained or moaned about host families in my time with this company. They don't know about my host experience in Gunnison, Utah 2011, sleeping on the floor in Taos, New Mexico 2010, my 2nd host this fall on my first day there all went off to the Baseball game leaving me on my own, my current experience this week in Ohio (just for the record I'm staying in the basement on a roll out bed, no room, the shower only runs boiling hot water and the basement smells of cigarettes as it's the smoking area) do I complain? Not at all, I shrug it off and move on.
Last Saturday night I was that bored, with some debate I decided to walk a mile to a bar to have a cold drink. It was only there I fully realized how alone and fed up I've been here, I also thought over my time here this year. Outwith work it's been the best year of my entire life thanks to Michelle, she injected me with happiness I've never had before and I love her so much. Work wise it's been a nightmare, I've fully realized how far the standard has dropped in this company, what takes priority and how easy it is to be praised simply by kissing someones ass. I'm not big headed, far from it but I've been with the company for 4 years, one of the most experienced coaches and hard working coaches but still I found myself working camps with 1 coach and like 8 kids while others who don't even coach as a profession get to run 8-10 coach camps. They really wonder why their numbers have dropped a lot in the past few years, look no further than who you employ and who's running the bigger camps down in numbers.
Enough of that for now. I have 21 days left to see out here and I'm really ready to finish now and get back home to Michelle where I belong, I miss her so much and I've certainly been away long enough. Skyping has been great but I hate seeing her down and I'm not there to comfort her like I should. So comon October, do my a favour and speed things up for me and push me towards the 29th, I'd be forever grateful.
21 days.......
The last few weeks I've really been bored as I have nowhere to go and nothing much to do. I've started running again and I've seen my fitness improve slightly as I've ran more and more, also playing soccer has improved my fitness too, got my muscles working and my dynamic movement that comes with playing. I said in my previous blog (I think anyway) that I was told to socialize more with the host families as they had mentioned I'm very quiet. Heres the part that gets me. How can I socialize with families when they are never in and we have conflicting work schedules? Families i've stayed with work during the day and I work evenings, I really felt like an idiot having to point this out and state that while talking to my boss. Things like that work both ways but with this job, the coach is always the one who has to do all the work, has to please everyone but rarely do they ask the coach this simple question 'how was the family you stayed with?' I've never complained or moaned about host families in my time with this company. They don't know about my host experience in Gunnison, Utah 2011, sleeping on the floor in Taos, New Mexico 2010, my 2nd host this fall on my first day there all went off to the Baseball game leaving me on my own, my current experience this week in Ohio (just for the record I'm staying in the basement on a roll out bed, no room, the shower only runs boiling hot water and the basement smells of cigarettes as it's the smoking area) do I complain? Not at all, I shrug it off and move on.
Last Saturday night I was that bored, with some debate I decided to walk a mile to a bar to have a cold drink. It was only there I fully realized how alone and fed up I've been here, I also thought over my time here this year. Outwith work it's been the best year of my entire life thanks to Michelle, she injected me with happiness I've never had before and I love her so much. Work wise it's been a nightmare, I've fully realized how far the standard has dropped in this company, what takes priority and how easy it is to be praised simply by kissing someones ass. I'm not big headed, far from it but I've been with the company for 4 years, one of the most experienced coaches and hard working coaches but still I found myself working camps with 1 coach and like 8 kids while others who don't even coach as a profession get to run 8-10 coach camps. They really wonder why their numbers have dropped a lot in the past few years, look no further than who you employ and who's running the bigger camps down in numbers.
Enough of that for now. I have 21 days left to see out here and I'm really ready to finish now and get back home to Michelle where I belong, I miss her so much and I've certainly been away long enough. Skyping has been great but I hate seeing her down and I'm not there to comfort her like I should. So comon October, do my a favour and speed things up for me and push me towards the 29th, I'd be forever grateful.
21 days.......
Friday, September 27, 2013
32 days.....
That's almost another week over and done with and with each passing day I'm a day closer to going back to Tooele with Michelle, I'm hoping the weeks continue to go fast like the last 3 have done.
This week started of well until I decided to clean up the Ipad web browser a bit. I closed my blog page, went to log back in when I sat staring at the screen....I only went and forgot my email and password I used, oops. As anyone knows this can be a nightmare because when you type in something wrong for 'security reasons' it doesn't be specific with you as to what part is wrong, the email or password. So I spent around an hour going through all the email combinations I'd use and also passwords, after each email attempts and at least 6 password combinations I gave up as it was driving me crazy. The next day I decided to try again and low and behold, the first email I put in and password was correct wooooooo, finally logged back into my blog page, worry over.
Apart from that its been a rather uneventful week, its been quick and easy, coaching has went well which is always a bonus and I'm still out running. I do a 2 mile run round a few streets and back and my time has started to decrease slowly which is excellent, its a ling road back to fitness but I'm finally on that road thanks to some motivation from Michelle, thanks my love :-). I'm also playing soccer for the next 4 Sundays which will also aid in my fitness so thats defo good.
I'm just happy the weeks are going by fast, I'm now finished week 4 of coaching and only have 4 more weeks left, lets hope these 4 weeks fly by like the last 3 have done and I can be on my way back to Tooele to meet Michelle at the airport, give her a massive hug and kiss then go to China buffet for dinner.
The dinner is still on me.
This week started of well until I decided to clean up the Ipad web browser a bit. I closed my blog page, went to log back in when I sat staring at the screen....I only went and forgot my email and password I used, oops. As anyone knows this can be a nightmare because when you type in something wrong for 'security reasons' it doesn't be specific with you as to what part is wrong, the email or password. So I spent around an hour going through all the email combinations I'd use and also passwords, after each email attempts and at least 6 password combinations I gave up as it was driving me crazy. The next day I decided to try again and low and behold, the first email I put in and password was correct wooooooo, finally logged back into my blog page, worry over.
Apart from that its been a rather uneventful week, its been quick and easy, coaching has went well which is always a bonus and I'm still out running. I do a 2 mile run round a few streets and back and my time has started to decrease slowly which is excellent, its a ling road back to fitness but I'm finally on that road thanks to some motivation from Michelle, thanks my love :-). I'm also playing soccer for the next 4 Sundays which will also aid in my fitness so thats defo good.
I'm just happy the weeks are going by fast, I'm now finished week 4 of coaching and only have 4 more weeks left, lets hope these 4 weeks fly by like the last 3 have done and I can be on my way back to Tooele to meet Michelle at the airport, give her a massive hug and kiss then go to China buffet for dinner.
The dinner is still on me.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
37 days.....
I wasn't planning on blogging till Tuesday but thought I'd do one today as it's been a busy week.
I had my medical done on Wednesday where the Doc's had great joy prodding me with all sorts of jabs. First I had blood took which I'll admit really made me light headed, then they done the TB test...another jab then to top it all off another Jab for a Tetanus. I went back friday for my results and everything was spot on and good to go, a worry over and another step forward.
I'd been getting so lazy lately and as always, Michelle has been my inspiration. Some great motivation finally got me off my ass and I went for 2 runs this week, albeit a total of 3 miles, it's a working progress to rediscover my cardio. I's gonna take a while before I begin to run my normal distances of 3-6 miles. Also today I played my first soccer game since Spring. Was a co-ed game and the level was actually not too bad. My legs managed to last the 50mins, score 2 goals and set up another 3, we were winning 5-3 with 3 mins to go then for some reason we changed keeper.....who must have thought he was still outfield and we.....or he lost us 4 goals in 3 mins and we lost the game 7-5, despite that it was fun and good to play again and looks like I'll play for the next 4-5 sundays. This will no doubt pass the time even more. Even after playing soccer i decided to walk to the nearby mall, around a 1.5 mile walk there. It's safe to say my legs are now resting today lol.
Here's one thing I figured out today. Because I don't have the car, like I said I walked to the mall. I never passed one person on my way there, this being America people drive everywhere and I realised why: In Ohio, Cincinnati where I'm staying there is a distinct lack of walk ways to walk on, to get across the road you need to walk around 1/4 mile to get to lights, people must have drove by me thinking 'what's that idiot doing walking?' The walk was an adventure and I now realise why people here drive everywhere. Lesson learnt.
I'm almost at the halfway point here now which is excellent, I'll feel so much better knowing I'm half done here and soon I'll be back to Michelle, that excites me more than anything.
On another note my beloved Rangers are now 6 out of 6 in the league and coasting back to the Premier league where we belong, RFC 1872.
37 days to go.....
I had my medical done on Wednesday where the Doc's had great joy prodding me with all sorts of jabs. First I had blood took which I'll admit really made me light headed, then they done the TB test...another jab then to top it all off another Jab for a Tetanus. I went back friday for my results and everything was spot on and good to go, a worry over and another step forward.
I'd been getting so lazy lately and as always, Michelle has been my inspiration. Some great motivation finally got me off my ass and I went for 2 runs this week, albeit a total of 3 miles, it's a working progress to rediscover my cardio. I's gonna take a while before I begin to run my normal distances of 3-6 miles. Also today I played my first soccer game since Spring. Was a co-ed game and the level was actually not too bad. My legs managed to last the 50mins, score 2 goals and set up another 3, we were winning 5-3 with 3 mins to go then for some reason we changed keeper.....who must have thought he was still outfield and we.....or he lost us 4 goals in 3 mins and we lost the game 7-5, despite that it was fun and good to play again and looks like I'll play for the next 4-5 sundays. This will no doubt pass the time even more. Even after playing soccer i decided to walk to the nearby mall, around a 1.5 mile walk there. It's safe to say my legs are now resting today lol.
Here's one thing I figured out today. Because I don't have the car, like I said I walked to the mall. I never passed one person on my way there, this being America people drive everywhere and I realised why: In Ohio, Cincinnati where I'm staying there is a distinct lack of walk ways to walk on, to get across the road you need to walk around 1/4 mile to get to lights, people must have drove by me thinking 'what's that idiot doing walking?' The walk was an adventure and I now realise why people here drive everywhere. Lesson learnt.
I'm almost at the halfway point here now which is excellent, I'll feel so much better knowing I'm half done here and soon I'll be back to Michelle, that excites me more than anything.
On another note my beloved Rangers are now 6 out of 6 in the league and coasting back to the Premier league where we belong, RFC 1872.
37 days to go.....
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
42 days.....
My word......where has the last week gone? It felt like yesterday i blogged at '49 days' and today I find myself at 42 days. It's safe to say the last week simply flew by in no time at all and I'm liking it. If the other 42 days go this fast I'll be one happy guy.
My days are starting to pick up speed whch is excellent as the first week simply dragged as I was struggling being away from Michelle, texting and skyping everyday has made things a lot easier for the both of us and time now flys by. Last week I kept myself busy during the days pre planning all my session's for the weeks ahead. My rec coaching is now planned for 5-6 weeks and the rec plus coaching is fully planned out until I finish the 6 week programme there. The coaching sessions flew by also and last Friday must have been my most enjoyable sessions for weeks, they just all flowed superbly. I'm now into the 3rd week of 8 coaching here and I continue to look forward to one date and one date only....29th October when I'll get to see Michelle again.
Like I mentioned in my last blog I got hit with coaching in pre schools....I really shouldn't use the word 'coaching' because it's far from that. Telling kids to stay off climbing frames, not to pick up equipment, not to use their hands, not to eat the soccer balls or equipment.....yes the kids eat the soccer balls. For me personally I wouldn't introduce kids to soccer until they are at least 4-5, 2 yrs old is just far too young but what do I know? To some not a lot.
This week again I moved house to another host, very nice family but what was the one thing I was most happy with? I have full bar wifi from my room so skyping Michelle should be much smoother than last week where I had 1 bar to losing connection...big houses have their downfall. Today I finally got off my lazy ass and went a run.....I lasted 1 mile. I used to be able to run 3-6 miles very easily but not seeing a gym since April pays it's price, again I get to a really good fitness stage then suddenly stop which annoys me. It really is a battle between me, myself and I to get fit and maintain the level I reach cause there is nothing worse than having to start all over again from scratch. I'm not putting weight on but my fitness has suffered. Soon I'll need to make the gym my 2nd home and regain the level's I know I can reach.
So the highlight of my time here is very simple, basic but so thoughtful. Michelle told me she was sending me stuff to aid my medical tomorrow and also something else which she kept a surprise, Michelle loves surprising me. The package arrived Friday and I was like a kid at christmas opening presents. Michelle sent me what she said but I also found a lovely tub of home made cookies which I scoffed down in 2 days, Michelle I love your cookies. There was also a card too which I opened and read, I barely read down 4 lines when tears came down my face, it wasn't just the card but what the card had written on it and what it meant to both of us, I couldn't have picked a better or more thoughtful card if I tried. The card just hit home our situation and how much I miss Michelle every single day but she remains the driving force for me and my inspiration to see out the next 42 days here. The card sits in my room next to me and will continue to do so for the rest of my time in Ohio.
Michelle, I love you with all my heart and I'm ticking off each day until I get to hold you again, kiss you again and be with you again. Not long now. 42 days.....
My days are starting to pick up speed whch is excellent as the first week simply dragged as I was struggling being away from Michelle, texting and skyping everyday has made things a lot easier for the both of us and time now flys by. Last week I kept myself busy during the days pre planning all my session's for the weeks ahead. My rec coaching is now planned for 5-6 weeks and the rec plus coaching is fully planned out until I finish the 6 week programme there. The coaching sessions flew by also and last Friday must have been my most enjoyable sessions for weeks, they just all flowed superbly. I'm now into the 3rd week of 8 coaching here and I continue to look forward to one date and one date only....29th October when I'll get to see Michelle again.
Like I mentioned in my last blog I got hit with coaching in pre schools....I really shouldn't use the word 'coaching' because it's far from that. Telling kids to stay off climbing frames, not to pick up equipment, not to use their hands, not to eat the soccer balls or equipment.....yes the kids eat the soccer balls. For me personally I wouldn't introduce kids to soccer until they are at least 4-5, 2 yrs old is just far too young but what do I know? To some not a lot.
This week again I moved house to another host, very nice family but what was the one thing I was most happy with? I have full bar wifi from my room so skyping Michelle should be much smoother than last week where I had 1 bar to losing connection...big houses have their downfall. Today I finally got off my lazy ass and went a run.....I lasted 1 mile. I used to be able to run 3-6 miles very easily but not seeing a gym since April pays it's price, again I get to a really good fitness stage then suddenly stop which annoys me. It really is a battle between me, myself and I to get fit and maintain the level I reach cause there is nothing worse than having to start all over again from scratch. I'm not putting weight on but my fitness has suffered. Soon I'll need to make the gym my 2nd home and regain the level's I know I can reach.
So the highlight of my time here is very simple, basic but so thoughtful. Michelle told me she was sending me stuff to aid my medical tomorrow and also something else which she kept a surprise, Michelle loves surprising me. The package arrived Friday and I was like a kid at christmas opening presents. Michelle sent me what she said but I also found a lovely tub of home made cookies which I scoffed down in 2 days, Michelle I love your cookies. There was also a card too which I opened and read, I barely read down 4 lines when tears came down my face, it wasn't just the card but what the card had written on it and what it meant to both of us, I couldn't have picked a better or more thoughtful card if I tried. The card just hit home our situation and how much I miss Michelle every single day but she remains the driving force for me and my inspiration to see out the next 42 days here. The card sits in my room next to me and will continue to do so for the rest of my time in Ohio.
Michelle, I love you with all my heart and I'm ticking off each day until I get to hold you again, kiss you again and be with you again. Not long now. 42 days.....
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
49 days.....
Here we are, out of the 50's and finally into the 40's.....49 days to be exact I have left here before I can be on a plane back to Tooele. Like everyday I look forward to that time where I can step off the plane and see Michelle there waiting for me, the thought of that edges that day ever closer.
My days are chilled and the coaching is certainly speeding things up. What speeds things up more is knowing I'll be skyping Michelle every night, certainly gives me something to look forward to each day. Speaking to her last night, or afterwards it became evident that Michelle is now feeling a bit like I was last week. I really do miss her but realisation sank in this has to be done, I really hope it sinks into Michelle quickly this week for the better, I hate seeing her feeling down especially when I can't comfort her properly. This is where i feel most helpless.
Thing's are looking up and moving forward for both of us now, we are getting required things done in good time which is going to set up a great future for us both. These next 49 days shall pass just as quickly as the last 8 days have without doubt.
Here's my problem now. Yesterday I got notified that I, with another coach would be doing Mini Kickers....in pre school. The same thing that at the tail end of July I was personally told I wasn't good enough to do in Salt Lake City. So here begs the question.....what makes me suddenly good enough to coach that age 1600 miles away in Ohio? It seriously does baffle me beyond belief and in all honesty angers me. Not good enough where I was but suddenly when I'm on the plane, sent here I'm suddenly good enough again to do this job. It angers me, or as polite as I can say it pisses me off. I've been with this company for 4 years, vast experience and highly qualified, one of the senior coaches where I was. I also found out I got replaced by a 1st year coach who in all honesty, had the personality of a tree.....good luck with the Mini's. a facebook post I seen yesterday sank deep about the direction the company is going, it was along the lines of this 'A professional soccer company who now prioritises in coaching 2-3 year olds over high school teams' unfortunately I have to agree with that, in my view thats exactly why the quality of coaches has dropped dramatically. I'll be happy when I finally shut the door on my time with them. Don't get me wrong I've had fun, it's allowed me to do things and most importantly allowed me to meet Michelle, for that I'm grateful, the way it's ending not so much.
Despite that I'm in much better spirits and a more positive outlook for the last 49 days here. I love Michelle to bits and it's the driving force for seeing out my time here. Soon.....soon this will be finished and the last blog I write for a good while will be the day after I'm back in Tooele with Michelle. That day is not far now and soon it'll be within touching distance.
49 days.....
My days are chilled and the coaching is certainly speeding things up. What speeds things up more is knowing I'll be skyping Michelle every night, certainly gives me something to look forward to each day. Speaking to her last night, or afterwards it became evident that Michelle is now feeling a bit like I was last week. I really do miss her but realisation sank in this has to be done, I really hope it sinks into Michelle quickly this week for the better, I hate seeing her feeling down especially when I can't comfort her properly. This is where i feel most helpless.
Thing's are looking up and moving forward for both of us now, we are getting required things done in good time which is going to set up a great future for us both. These next 49 days shall pass just as quickly as the last 8 days have without doubt.
Here's my problem now. Yesterday I got notified that I, with another coach would be doing Mini Kickers....in pre school. The same thing that at the tail end of July I was personally told I wasn't good enough to do in Salt Lake City. So here begs the question.....what makes me suddenly good enough to coach that age 1600 miles away in Ohio? It seriously does baffle me beyond belief and in all honesty angers me. Not good enough where I was but suddenly when I'm on the plane, sent here I'm suddenly good enough again to do this job. It angers me, or as polite as I can say it pisses me off. I've been with this company for 4 years, vast experience and highly qualified, one of the senior coaches where I was. I also found out I got replaced by a 1st year coach who in all honesty, had the personality of a tree.....good luck with the Mini's. a facebook post I seen yesterday sank deep about the direction the company is going, it was along the lines of this 'A professional soccer company who now prioritises in coaching 2-3 year olds over high school teams' unfortunately I have to agree with that, in my view thats exactly why the quality of coaches has dropped dramatically. I'll be happy when I finally shut the door on my time with them. Don't get me wrong I've had fun, it's allowed me to do things and most importantly allowed me to meet Michelle, for that I'm grateful, the way it's ending not so much.
Despite that I'm in much better spirits and a more positive outlook for the last 49 days here. I love Michelle to bits and it's the driving force for seeing out my time here. Soon.....soon this will be finished and the last blog I write for a good while will be the day after I'm back in Tooele with Michelle. That day is not far now and soon it'll be within touching distance.
49 days.....
Friday, September 6, 2013
53 days.....
I promise I'm not going to be one of those bloggers who post every single day but I found that doing the blog yesterday made me feel so much better, well as better as I can be I guess so I'm posting one today to keep my mind at ease.
This week has been so tough on me emotionally I wonder how I've coped and managed to get by but then I figured it out yesterday. Michelle is my rock, my best friend and without her this week I'd have never of managed this week (special thanks to my sister too for her help) The sound of the text message coming through puts a smile on my face and a positive outlook and the evening skype session, where I can see and actually speak to Michelle makes my days go fast and certainly something enjoyable to look forward to. Michelle has been much more stronger than I have been this week and I take inspiration from that. What I'm struggle with is with this: I feel upset, lonely, I really have no one to turn to, no familiar face where I am that I can go to and talk to, hang out with even. I mentioned it in my other post that I feel like an outcast and I honestly do but I guess I'm allowing myself to feel like that. I have no doubt that when the 2nd week comes around I'll be more settled and more to the fact that I have to do this, not just for me or Michelle but for the both of us combined. I am here because I love Michelle so much and this is for both of us, when that day comes on the 29th October I'll be able to see Michelle again, hold Michelle again, cuddle Michelle again and more importantly be with Michelle again cause our relationship, as strong as it's been really has been stop-start and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Michelle.....the Chineese buffet is on me ;-)
Today is Friday 6th September, a very important day for me and Michelle and it really does pain me that I can't spend this certain day with her, on a day like today, for us we shouldn't be apart but work situation tells us otherwise. I can't wait for the day when this work is over and no longer pulls us apart from each other cause it's been tough but we have and will manage through this for the greater good.
Today makes it 53 days left here before I go back where I belong and I look forward to that day every day. I really wish I had a spare $450 to fly Michelle out even for a weekend so it breaks up the time apart but financially neither of us can afford that luxury. My evening work makes the days go fast and I really need to pre-occupy myself during the day to make it go even faster.
I believe 100% my time here will begin to go fast, Michelle believes it, others believe it and I'm now happy to say I believe it too.
This week has been so tough on me emotionally I wonder how I've coped and managed to get by but then I figured it out yesterday. Michelle is my rock, my best friend and without her this week I'd have never of managed this week (special thanks to my sister too for her help) The sound of the text message coming through puts a smile on my face and a positive outlook and the evening skype session, where I can see and actually speak to Michelle makes my days go fast and certainly something enjoyable to look forward to. Michelle has been much more stronger than I have been this week and I take inspiration from that. What I'm struggle with is with this: I feel upset, lonely, I really have no one to turn to, no familiar face where I am that I can go to and talk to, hang out with even. I mentioned it in my other post that I feel like an outcast and I honestly do but I guess I'm allowing myself to feel like that. I have no doubt that when the 2nd week comes around I'll be more settled and more to the fact that I have to do this, not just for me or Michelle but for the both of us combined. I am here because I love Michelle so much and this is for both of us, when that day comes on the 29th October I'll be able to see Michelle again, hold Michelle again, cuddle Michelle again and more importantly be with Michelle again cause our relationship, as strong as it's been really has been stop-start and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Michelle.....the Chineese buffet is on me ;-)
Today is Friday 6th September, a very important day for me and Michelle and it really does pain me that I can't spend this certain day with her, on a day like today, for us we shouldn't be apart but work situation tells us otherwise. I can't wait for the day when this work is over and no longer pulls us apart from each other cause it's been tough but we have and will manage through this for the greater good.
Today makes it 53 days left here before I go back where I belong and I look forward to that day every day. I really wish I had a spare $450 to fly Michelle out even for a weekend so it breaks up the time apart but financially neither of us can afford that luxury. My evening work makes the days go fast and I really need to pre-occupy myself during the day to make it go even faster.
I believe 100% my time here will begin to go fast, Michelle believes it, others believe it and I'm now happy to say I believe it too.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
54 days.....part 3
The phone call i received wasn't one I ever wanted. I'm gonna cut a long story short with this as to this day it still riles me with anger. I got told my position in SLC was no longer there and I had one of 2 options. 1. Stay in SLC and not get paid or 2. Go to Cincinnati for 8 weeks. This was my only choice to get paid was to go 1600 miles away. Going here wasn't the problem for me, it was realising I'd be leaving Michelle for 8 weeks this fall. We had a very deep discussion about things and we decided I should go as we needed the money. Again, I'm going to fast forward a few weeks as the next part of this story is private.
I finished my summer work in Utah and got to spend 2 wonderful weeks with Michelle, helping her as she started in her new school, she can tell you how much of a help I was :-) the 2 weeks came and gone and before we knew it, it was Saturday night. Why is this significant? Because Sunday I was leaving for Cincinnati. I've never been so heart broken in my life when Sunday morning came around (the tears are starting as I type this) I didn't want to go, I didn't want to leave Michelle at all but we decided I had to. The drive to the airport was very quiet, we never talked as we were both too emotional to speak, I knew if i spoke I'd break down with emotion. I've never hugged someone so much in my life outside SLC airport as I that morning with Michelle. Realisation sank in that when I walked through that door and Michelle drove away I wouldn't get to see her again until the 29th October and that pained me so much.
Never have I been so alone in a new place, I feel like an outcast and I've been very private in keeping to myself the first few days I've been here. Tuesday I actually broke down when I fully realised I had another 56 days here and even today I've not gotten any better. I almost started crying on the coaching field Wednesday night as all I could think about was Michelle. I'm not an overly emotional person but my word, these past few days I've cried alone in my room enough to fill a bathtub full of tears. What makes things worse is I promised Michelle I wouldn't come here if I was coaching the ages of 4-6 yrs old, if I can't do that in SLC I'm not doing it 1600 miles away. It gets to Monday and I see my schedule....the main ages I'm working with are 4-8 yrs old. I feel cheated, I feel conned, I feel betrayed and more importantly I feel like I've let Michelle down. I'm disappointed that my time with this company is ending like this, I'll never forgive the man responsible for sending me here and taking me out of SLC and away from Michelle for this length of time, some things are forgivable but this is something I can never forgive. Today is Thursday, today is 54 days till I get to see Michelle again. I have no doubt these next 54 days will be tough on myself, I need to keep telling myself it'll go quickly and before I know it I'll get to see Michelle again and finally get to begin our lives together as all it's felt like lately is stop-start-stop-start. I can only hope 29th October decides to come round very quickly.
Michelle, I love you with all my heart and I miss you like crazy. 54 days.....
54 days.....part 2
So it's Saturday, soccer day and this is 2 weeks after I fell for Michelle. The afternoon was spent watching a DVD and with me, wimp that I am trying to come up with the courage to tell Michelle how I really felt. I kept holding off, why? My fear or looking stupid and ruining a friendship that was built so well over the last few months. Little did I know Michelle currently felt the same way and I won't lie to you Michelle, yes I seen your hand lying there but I was too big of a wimp to move my hand down to hold yours, we even made lots of eye contact which said everything but still I was a wimp to even say anything. Up we got and went to play soccer. That Saturday night Michelle was trying to get a few friends over but it never materialised....for the better this would turn out. We went back, had a few drinks and sat down to watch 'Gladiator' Movie had finished, seemed like time had slowed down then Michelle turned to me and told me how she felt. RELIEF.....this was the weight of the world lifted off my shoulders, I said the same thing back to Michelle and just like that, we were a couple.
We spent the whole spring together, never got bored of each other and loved each others company. Love....that part came so much quicker than expected but it was my true feelings towards Michelle, i truly felt that way. Everyone imagines the woman they wish to meet and be with, I can honestly say Michelle was the first girl I've ever met who ticked all my boxes which i thought were just fantasy....theres a reason I've been single for so long....waiting for that type of girl to come along into my life and it happened to be Michelle. Fate worked in our favour and something we still look back on to this day. Me getting changed from Eagle Mountain to Tooele, both of us signing up for soccer, being on the same team too, so many to go through but those are the main ones. We had a wonderful weekend away in Moab where i seen a shooting star and made a very special wish that day which would actually come true less than 2 months later. Then the time came, spring was over and summer was beginning, this meant I was away on my travels for summer camps. Leaving Michelle that Saturday morning pained me and we were both in a state, I think i cried all the way to Park City before i eventually stopped as i ran out of tears. It would be over 2 weeks till we saw each other again and throughout the first few weeks I would see her every weekend. Then came the week off for July 4th week, me and Michelle had so much planned for that week, her birthday was 1st July, Lagoon, RSL game, fireworks....it was already going to be a special week but I wanted this to be even more special.
Anyone who knows me knows I'm not traditional at all. I love Michelle and wanted to really show that by proposing to her, she was the only girl for me and I knew that. The weeks building up I kept contemplating what to do, what to say, how to say it. It was Sunday morning, 30th June. We woke up looking forward to the day but I was in a different mood which Michelle picked up on. She asked me what was wrong and me being me said 'nothing, all is good' thoughts were running through my head on proposing, when to do it, how to do it, but me being me, the non traditionalist just decided to just go ahead and say it.....in her bedroom of all places. Not the most flattering of places, most glamorous of places but I didn't want to be like everyone else and go all traditional, heck I never even had a ring yet. After 15-20 mins of mumbling (by this time Michelle had clicked on) I eventually got round to asking her.....my delight Michelle said yes. It was the happiest day of my life, who'd have thought 2013 would turn out this way for me or even Michelle?
We decided to keep it a secret and that week we had a wonderful week together, fancy hotel in SLC for her birthday, scorching hot day at Lagoon, watched RSL play, seen the 4th July parade (eventful) and the fireworks to top off an excellent week. That same week we hunted high and low for an engagement ring till we eventually found the perfect ring. I keep saying 'we' simply because WE found it, WE picked it out and WE were 100% happy with our choice, we did that together. After a few weeks of secretly wearing the engagement ring we decided to tell everyone, family and friends. Everyone was delighted for us and so happy for us it was superb. We have never been happier and the positive feedback we got from everyone we told. Everything was going superbly, everything was great, no problems, planned ahead for everything for the rest of the summer and fall....that is until a dreaded phone call came through less than 2 weeks later.
We spent the whole spring together, never got bored of each other and loved each others company. Love....that part came so much quicker than expected but it was my true feelings towards Michelle, i truly felt that way. Everyone imagines the woman they wish to meet and be with, I can honestly say Michelle was the first girl I've ever met who ticked all my boxes which i thought were just fantasy....theres a reason I've been single for so long....waiting for that type of girl to come along into my life and it happened to be Michelle. Fate worked in our favour and something we still look back on to this day. Me getting changed from Eagle Mountain to Tooele, both of us signing up for soccer, being on the same team too, so many to go through but those are the main ones. We had a wonderful weekend away in Moab where i seen a shooting star and made a very special wish that day which would actually come true less than 2 months later. Then the time came, spring was over and summer was beginning, this meant I was away on my travels for summer camps. Leaving Michelle that Saturday morning pained me and we were both in a state, I think i cried all the way to Park City before i eventually stopped as i ran out of tears. It would be over 2 weeks till we saw each other again and throughout the first few weeks I would see her every weekend. Then came the week off for July 4th week, me and Michelle had so much planned for that week, her birthday was 1st July, Lagoon, RSL game, fireworks....it was already going to be a special week but I wanted this to be even more special.
Anyone who knows me knows I'm not traditional at all. I love Michelle and wanted to really show that by proposing to her, she was the only girl for me and I knew that. The weeks building up I kept contemplating what to do, what to say, how to say it. It was Sunday morning, 30th June. We woke up looking forward to the day but I was in a different mood which Michelle picked up on. She asked me what was wrong and me being me said 'nothing, all is good' thoughts were running through my head on proposing, when to do it, how to do it, but me being me, the non traditionalist just decided to just go ahead and say it.....in her bedroom of all places. Not the most flattering of places, most glamorous of places but I didn't want to be like everyone else and go all traditional, heck I never even had a ring yet. After 15-20 mins of mumbling (by this time Michelle had clicked on) I eventually got round to asking her.....my delight Michelle said yes. It was the happiest day of my life, who'd have thought 2013 would turn out this way for me or even Michelle?
We decided to keep it a secret and that week we had a wonderful week together, fancy hotel in SLC for her birthday, scorching hot day at Lagoon, watched RSL play, seen the 4th July parade (eventful) and the fireworks to top off an excellent week. That same week we hunted high and low for an engagement ring till we eventually found the perfect ring. I keep saying 'we' simply because WE found it, WE picked it out and WE were 100% happy with our choice, we did that together. After a few weeks of secretly wearing the engagement ring we decided to tell everyone, family and friends. Everyone was delighted for us and so happy for us it was superb. We have never been happier and the positive feedback we got from everyone we told. Everything was going superbly, everything was great, no problems, planned ahead for everything for the rest of the summer and fall....that is until a dreaded phone call came through less than 2 weeks later.
54 days.....part 1
This is my first ever blog so forgive my rustiness.
My name is David, I'm a soccer coach for a soccer company in the US and I've been with this company for 4 years now. My job entails me to coach summer camps in lots of different areas where I get to meet lots of new people. I have been primarily based in the lovely State of Utah throughout my time. In 2012 i got an academy position which placed me in SLC for the fall and into 2013. Little did I know that being here would change my life forever and for the better.
I'll tell you about my life changing experience but first I'm going to talk about the present then shoot back to the past so bare with me.....back to the future without the Delorian.
I have titled my first blog as '54 days' as this is a significant number for me today. I am currently in Indian Hills, just outside Cincinnati where I am currently coaching soccer for the next '54 days' This to other people is a great opportunity, get to see a new State, meet new people and explore a new area? For me, this is the complete opposite. If truth be told this isn't a great opportunity for me, I've seen a lot of States, met lots of new people prior, have no intention to explore a new area again. You're probably wondering why so I'm going to tell you...here's where I begin in the past.
It was July 2012 and to this day I can't remember what area I was coaching in. I got told that I would be coaching a camp in Eagle Mountain, Utah on a specific week by an ex coach who stayed with the family I was supposed to be staying with, so I had a heads up where I would be. A few weeks prior I got told I had an academy position in Salt Lake City this coming fall to which I was delighted. The Wednesday before the Eagle Mountain week I got notified I had been changed and would now be in a town called Tooele for that week instead. The week I had there was great, met lots of people and more importantly heard about an adult co-ed soccer league that was running this fall and if I wanted to participate. I jumped at the chance and got on board, a decision that would prove to be life changing for me, little did I know that the field I was coaching on that week there was someone who stayed a matter of minutes away who's path I would cross a few weeks later.
For anyone who know's me know's that when I play soccer I'm a totally different person, I'm focused, determined and go through all sorts of emotions when playing, it's my competitive nature I guess. I think it was around the 3rd game in where I met a player on our team called Michelle. To this day I don't think we clicked from the off but my word.....am I grateful for a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression. We began to talk and got quite friendly with each other even though my competitive nature when playing soccer made me look a right idiot at times. I went for a drink with Michelle and her friend one night in SLC, got on really well then after the last game of soccer went back to her's for a small get-together where, yes, I drank to much (typical Scotsman in altitude) and was leaving the day after. 2 weeks later I was on a plane back to Glasgow. Facebook....can be the bane of peoples life's at times but for once it proved to be a blessing in disguise. When I arrived home, despite the 7hr time difference I began talking to Michelle regularly each day. This got to the stage where I was talking to her more than my best friends. We just clicked and never got bored of talking to each other, first person I talked to when I woke up, last person I talked to before I went to sleep. Me being a guy, took it as a very good friendship but little did I know Michelle was thinking a little bit more. We talked every day from November right through to the 23rd March when I got on a plane and was heading back to the US.
Upon arriving back in Tooele where I was staying I never got to see Michelle much those first 2 week's, I had coaches staying where I was so was difficult to see her. We did meet at the colours festival for a bit which was nice though. Once I was there on my own my weekends were free to see Michelle. She invited me to her sisters birthday party which was really good fun. We hung out when we could and would watch DVD's and just relax. One night after this I went back to the place I was staying to find all the doors locked...poor me lol. I texted Michelle and she said 'come back down, you can sleep on the couch' I went back down, chapped the door and Michelle answered....wearing her Utah Utes sweats and a red zipper jacket......that was the moment and I stand by this, that was the moment I fell for Michelle. Seeing her there just looking all natural and cute with her glasses and hair down made me fall for her big time. I'm going to fast forward 2 weeks now.
My name is David, I'm a soccer coach for a soccer company in the US and I've been with this company for 4 years now. My job entails me to coach summer camps in lots of different areas where I get to meet lots of new people. I have been primarily based in the lovely State of Utah throughout my time. In 2012 i got an academy position which placed me in SLC for the fall and into 2013. Little did I know that being here would change my life forever and for the better.
I'll tell you about my life changing experience but first I'm going to talk about the present then shoot back to the past so bare with me.....back to the future without the Delorian.
I have titled my first blog as '54 days' as this is a significant number for me today. I am currently in Indian Hills, just outside Cincinnati where I am currently coaching soccer for the next '54 days' This to other people is a great opportunity, get to see a new State, meet new people and explore a new area? For me, this is the complete opposite. If truth be told this isn't a great opportunity for me, I've seen a lot of States, met lots of new people prior, have no intention to explore a new area again. You're probably wondering why so I'm going to tell you...here's where I begin in the past.
It was July 2012 and to this day I can't remember what area I was coaching in. I got told that I would be coaching a camp in Eagle Mountain, Utah on a specific week by an ex coach who stayed with the family I was supposed to be staying with, so I had a heads up where I would be. A few weeks prior I got told I had an academy position in Salt Lake City this coming fall to which I was delighted. The Wednesday before the Eagle Mountain week I got notified I had been changed and would now be in a town called Tooele for that week instead. The week I had there was great, met lots of people and more importantly heard about an adult co-ed soccer league that was running this fall and if I wanted to participate. I jumped at the chance and got on board, a decision that would prove to be life changing for me, little did I know that the field I was coaching on that week there was someone who stayed a matter of minutes away who's path I would cross a few weeks later.
For anyone who know's me know's that when I play soccer I'm a totally different person, I'm focused, determined and go through all sorts of emotions when playing, it's my competitive nature I guess. I think it was around the 3rd game in where I met a player on our team called Michelle. To this day I don't think we clicked from the off but my word.....am I grateful for a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression. We began to talk and got quite friendly with each other even though my competitive nature when playing soccer made me look a right idiot at times. I went for a drink with Michelle and her friend one night in SLC, got on really well then after the last game of soccer went back to her's for a small get-together where, yes, I drank to much (typical Scotsman in altitude) and was leaving the day after. 2 weeks later I was on a plane back to Glasgow. Facebook....can be the bane of peoples life's at times but for once it proved to be a blessing in disguise. When I arrived home, despite the 7hr time difference I began talking to Michelle regularly each day. This got to the stage where I was talking to her more than my best friends. We just clicked and never got bored of talking to each other, first person I talked to when I woke up, last person I talked to before I went to sleep. Me being a guy, took it as a very good friendship but little did I know Michelle was thinking a little bit more. We talked every day from November right through to the 23rd March when I got on a plane and was heading back to the US.
Upon arriving back in Tooele where I was staying I never got to see Michelle much those first 2 week's, I had coaches staying where I was so was difficult to see her. We did meet at the colours festival for a bit which was nice though. Once I was there on my own my weekends were free to see Michelle. She invited me to her sisters birthday party which was really good fun. We hung out when we could and would watch DVD's and just relax. One night after this I went back to the place I was staying to find all the doors locked...poor me lol. I texted Michelle and she said 'come back down, you can sleep on the couch' I went back down, chapped the door and Michelle answered....wearing her Utah Utes sweats and a red zipper jacket......that was the moment and I stand by this, that was the moment I fell for Michelle. Seeing her there just looking all natural and cute with her glasses and hair down made me fall for her big time. I'm going to fast forward 2 weeks now.
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