icelandic adventures - katieandboo
its a new season and now Im in Iceland!!

day 1
Reykjavik, Iceland
today I arrived in Iceland for the start of a new season on a new team. After a 7hr flight I arrived in north Iceland because Reykjavik airport was closed. So then I had to take a 6hr bus ride to my town where I was met by one of the board members mikey. At around 6pm my new coach came and picked me up from my hotel (cuz my apt isn't ready for another week) and showed me where we plaay and where our club House is. After the tour we went to his House for dinner which was delicious and headed back to my place. I have met two of the girls so far both are very nice and can tell they are good, one goes to Northwestern in Boston and one was on the National team before she broker her leg in Jan. Tomorrow is a chill day just get a phone and go to training. That is all for now I am gonna try to sleep although it is so bright it looks like 5pm good night
written by  katieandboo on May 10, 2010 from Reykjavik, Iceland
from the travel blog: icelandic adventures

game day
Kopavogur, Iceland
Alright so today was our first game and we WON 3-1. I actually started played pretty well wasn't challenged too much there goal was a 1v1 hit the back post and went in. But our team is very good and good of had 6 goals. Team is very technical great feet and good shots some opps. just weren't capitalized. Oh and our defensive position is cursed because in the first game two defenders had to come out cuz of injuries and the two center backs had previously tore ligaments in the winter.
Anyways so some other info the weather is prob think of tacoma in end of Feb early March time when it can be windy rainy and/or sunny in one day the temp is easily 45-47 F. Could see my breath at practice yesterday night but the nice thing is we have a hot tub in our locker room so we all piled in after a cold training! Our locker room is cool I guess were supposed to get a flat screen soon! Tomorrow well either go to the pool or the hot tub after prac. depending on if its sunny or rainy.
The hotel is pretty basic I just have my lil bed and a bathroom and tv, I get breakfast in the morning here. Its close to the fields but someone has to pick me up cuz its not that close and I don't have a bike. I move into my apt. on monday and hopefully get my car by then or sooner.
For my dad skies aren't that blue most of the time there is clouds, it is very good air though and really cold water. Oh and whoever says its super green here has never been, yes the grass is green but its so volcanic it looks more like eastern Washington (except the grass is green because they run hot water under some fields). Food is pretty much like any Scandinavic country they love there meat and cheese spreads with butter and bread. Although Iceland has a bigger variety like they have taco bell KFC and subway!
My teammates are all super niceee all of them are very good at english some youd think its their first language. Learning their names is tough but I am starting to get the hang of it. Two of them are on the National team and two were before they tore ACL and broke their leg. So very skilled girl.
Anyway think thats all for now if you have questions feel free to ask
katie
written by  katieandboo on May 13, 2010 from Kopavogur, Iceland
from the travel blog: icelandic adventures

newby
Kopavogur, Iceland
So I am still in the gosh dang hotel and its driving me insane I just really want to cook and have a great big salad. Lots of my meals comprise of quick cheap things so microwave pizza or cup a noodles, not exactly the healthiest thing for an athlete but im coping. Were supposed to move out tomorrow and get our car in the morning. And yes WE, the other american has arrived and she is from penn state really nice chill.
Tomorrow we also have another game in Akueyri (sp) which is north Iceland. Team is really good and people think will take 2nd in the league but we shall see. Myself and some girls went in our hot tub after practice today was nice because my left quad has been bothering me. Had a killer keeper training the other day a circuit were none of us could really breath to say good job or keep going, just head nods ha.
Weather has been ok was really cold yesterday was 4 degrees so I think thats close to 44F. We watched the mens game after our practice and Hekla and I froze because we just had sweatshirts and wet hair.
Oh before I go I think I mention but I dont have my camera cord so no pics for probably a while sorry
written by  katieandboo on May 17, 2010 from Kopavogur, Iceland
from the travel blog: icelandic adventures

a home
Kopavogur, Iceland
So we have finally moved into our apt. and it is awesome! We each have our own rooms and a nice size kitchen and living room with 3 couches and ones a pull out! So if anyone wants to come crash do it!
We lost the other day which sucks cuz we totally out shot the other team but they were better at finishing their opportunities. It was pretty cold and right next to the Field you could see the big mountains loaded with snow! So it was pretty chilly especially since it was at 7 at night. We ended up having to take the bus which was 5 hours but really just the longest most uncomfortable bus ride ever! We didn't get back to our House till 4am the next day. Oh ya and I got drug tested after the game, got picked by random lottery. Was easy since I peed fast but my teammate took 2hrs so the team went and had pizza while we waited for her.
Its ugly here now been raining all day but thankfully we have a car so were able to get our groceries and stay dry :) Not surprising im sure but I have already found a jacket I want. Oh ya and I have my address so if you want it just email me. ta ta for now
written by  katieandboo on May 20, 2010 from Kopavogur, Iceland

just like Inter
Ok so we didn't win 2-0 and dominate the whole time like inter but we did win. We played a team who is currently above us who people think will get 4th this season a strong side they got an early lame goal. Cluster in the box I couldn't see ball or player then the ball wizes past me far post. They are up all game then in the last 5 minutes we score a goal, and due to some injury time we go over the 90 min and 30sec into the extra time we score our second goal to win the game!!
We went over to one of the girls House around dinner time to celebrate her graduating so were just kind of hanging out eating and drinking then the girls brought up beer pong and I helped them set it up and all the proper rules and we played!! It was alot of fun the girls enjoyed it, after we headed to downtown which is soo cute I can't wait to see it in the day.
Had a hard practice this morning was pretty frustrating but some parts were fun. Tomorrow we have the day off so maybe the roomy and I will head to see something new and cool in Iceland.

9 years...over!
We won today 1-0 finally tackling a 9 year non winning streak on this Field. Apparently the club as a whole mens and womens haven't won in 9yrs on the Field we played on today, have had ties but no win till today!
Lets back up a little though, so we had a day off and Hekla took us to Rekyavik wher we wondered around just looking at shops and book stores. We then went to where the presidents House is which is outside of Kopavogur, super cool you could literally drive up his road and stop outside his House, I have proof! Oh saw where the most famous hot dog stand in Iceland I'm gonna have to get one soon. Other than that have been pretty chill we tried to get a library card but can't so one of our teammates is gonna help us get books. Ya dad thats right books!! Anddd I finished the book I brought already! Had a really good pre-game dinner last night made up some relaly tiny maceroni sauted up some zucchini mushroom shrimp and cherry tomato just enough so they pop in your mouth. of course with some seasonings and red pepper flakes served it over chilled pasta and lettuce with lemon juice veryy good!! Kev if you have any good ideas I should try making while im here let me know!
So back to the game was pretty exciting we didn't score till the last like 7min. They had a few chances but we got our first shutout of the season!!! I am soo very happy for that and can't tell ya how happy I get when we win (although I know no one will care in 20 yrs, still I like it). Well im pretty pooped so I should try to sleep although its still bright as heck and its after 10:30pm ha
Bless
katie

tourists
Ok sorry it's been so long sometimes forget about this thing. We tied our most recent game 0-0, which is good but we had many opportunities. We had the day off today so I went to see the geyser and the gulfos waterfall today with my roomie and sam who is visiting. It was alot of fun we actually picked up a hitch hiker which made the experience way more fun. He was from Germany and was really nice he is just camping at the geyser for a few days. We all agreed the geyser was the most boring of the day but on our way to the waterfall there was a stampede of horses on the side of the road and on the road so that was fun we got out and took pics. And the waterfall was super cool something unlesss you were told was there from the road you would nevver know. We jumped one of the ropes and the 4 of us took pics right next to the waterfall so that was fun.
Oh forgot to mention a while ago Hekla took us to get icelandic ice cream, which was basically ice cream but from a specific farm so it was more special! She also took us up in a tower in the hospital so we got to go on the roof because her dad works for the security team.
Saw the mens cup game last night they lost in pks our keeper made 1 save and they missed one but then the other teams keeper who is actually the national team keeper made 3 pk saves back to back, was really cool to see. Think thats all for now I will be posting pics maybe tomorrow.
written by  katieandboo on June 4, 2010 from Kopavogur, Iceland

catch up
Last sunday we had a bunch of the team over and Maura and I made dinner. She made enchiladas which were bom and I made lasagna which turned out ok considering they have no ricotta cheese. Was alot of fun the girls liked it, then we went to one of our teammates fav spots for ice cream and got these blizard things. It was like icier ice cream and you add 3 toppings and they blend it. So I had choco sauce daim and oreos, it was really good, super chocolate. THe ice cream parlor was alot of fun sara and I kept trying to understand eachother and she was speaking english so it was very amusing.
We tied again 0-0 to another team we should have beat. I played pretty well had 2 1v1 saves one of which was very crucial and good. BUt still we really are needing to start scoring we can only hold teams off for so long. It was a really funny day cuz on our drive there maura and I were both kinda going crazy for no reason and when we got there couldn't stop laughing at everything. Was actually pretty fun to play that game like that.
The night before our game was kinda fun we had practice then had a team bbq in the stadium. I made bratwursts was very surprised that I found em.
I have found some really good cheese here its like a mix between cambert and cambozola cheese, super good!! I did a little combo of that cheese prosciutto and grapes really tasty. Oh I have forgot to mention that after every game home and away the home team provides food/dinner after the game for both teams. Kinda weird at first but I really like it, most teams just serve us pizza so its pretty good. ALthough their pizza is not as good as ours and there pepperonis are super small its still pretty good. Oh ya and their juice selection is pretty small they are obsessed with orange and apple juice and are very sparing on other juices. Oh they have the sweet chili pepper chips here that I am obsessed with as well they are super good and their doritos but I have never seen em in the states.
Its super cold and windy today which is kind of a bummer cuz we have it off and I was excited to do some things but instead I think well go do a big store venture. Oh ya went to IKEA yesterday was alot of fun found some cool kitchens that Id want. It reminded me of Sweden so I got some hot dogs too which were delicoius and super cheap. ALright off to the store bless
written by  katieandboo on June 10, 2010 from Kopavogur, Iceland

blue lagoon
So the past couple of days have been pretty ugly off and on. One days horrible winds rain and super cold and the next some slight sun not too bad. We had practice on sunday moved to the morning so that the whole team could go to the blue lagoon after for the day. It was alot of fun the water is pretty warm but as you walk you can find some warmer and colder spots. And of course we all put on the masks so that we can have great skin. There is one part in the lagoon where you can still walk on the mud mask stuff so it feels really goopy. But for the most part they have removed all the goop from the bottom and put it in buckets on the side. After a few hours we got some ice cream and headed home.
Other than that its been pretty low key yesterdays practice was super cold really felt like late fall my cheeks were so cold (Oh and after prac a few of us went and got pad thai and watched the italy game). We have a game today so im hoping it isn't that windy and cold, but its not looking too promising. Oh forgot to mention we went to a local sports bar to watch the USA england game that was fun although the whole bar was rooting for england. Ok well I gotta go get fingerprinted now so more updates later.
written by  katieandboo on June 15, 2010 from Kopavogur, Iceland

national day
This posted late
First we won our game the other day 3-1. secondly it was National day on the 17th so on the 16th after practice we all got together at a teammates House to start the festivities. I should inform you that when we play 4v2 which is like keep away there are fines if you get megged or are in the middle for too long. There are also fines if you are late and get cards in games. So anyway those fines go to entertainment for parties. and one of the girls on our team is a chemist so she brought 96% ethanol to use in a punch. Lets just say the night was crazy. After being at the bars for about 10min we have to go to the ER because one of my friends got her finger slammed in a door and it looked chopped. Then while were there my other friend is throwing up all over the lobby floor. Finally we meet back up with the rest of the team and have some fun at the bars before one almost gets in a fight! Finally we start to head home but then the car breaks down so we have people trying to tow us down the street (like drunk passer byers trying to pull the car) But finally this nice guy towed us far enough and the car started and we got home around 6am. ahhh what a good night.
We have this whole weekend off so today we went and watched our teammate -who plays on the national team- play against Ireland. They won 2-0 and sara scored! Tomorrow I think im gonna search for some new cleats. To all the fathers happy early fathers day hope its a good one. Especially my pops I love ya happy fathers day Fred!

recovery
So we lost our game yesterday. It was a huge game because it wasn't a league game it was a cup game and if we had won I think we would have gone to the semi-finals. We played the team that is currently in 1st who has National team players everywhere on the team. At least one in each position. I made some big saves but the two goals they scored were "good" but I think I still could have had them (a 1v1 and one off the cross bar bounces in instead of out). Now we need to focus on beating them in league, we play them July 7th at their stadium. But out next game is on the 30th so we must now turn our focus back to league play. Oh and we found out that the first round of Champions league will be in Iceland so if we make it through we will play another european team home and away. So now I really hope we make it through so we can travel. We had today off so I hung out with a team mate, went to the pool and then watched the Germany v England game.
This past week was pretty low key although on one day I biked to down town Reykjavik which is like 30min. I was super happy that I found my way with out getting lost! It started raining which was a bummer but then I had 3 cups of coffee to try and warm up. I'll tell ya that wasn't sitting well when I had practice later. THink I'll go make dinner now

hint of summer
we lost recently against valur in league which was a big bummer cuz we almost had them, 2-1 again. Our next 4 league games are huge not just cuz we need the wins but because there against strong teams. THey will be good battles which will be good to help us get ready for the Champions league games in Aug. We found out that we are hosting the games for the champions league and that we play a really good french team an istonia team and team from russia we think.
Harpa (my teammate) took Maura and I on a cool hike on our day off. we hiked up through a valley up the mountains then bathed in the hot water stream.
Thankfully we got out and changed before it started raining. After we got back down from the hike we went to this little place where we had a basket filled with chix nugs mozza sticks onion rings jalapeno poppers, was sooo good. On friday went with sandra and hekla to watch sandras brother play and the town happend to be where hekla grew up. So we ate at her favorite pizza place which was good. THen today after practice we went to brunch since we had an early practice, although it was lunch no breakfast part here. Which I was kinda bummed about because I could have really gone for a good breakfast burrito or some eggs Benedict. It is really nice today which is a change its been so ugly, so maybe it will be good here for a while. A really fun packed weekend soccer, pizza, hike party basket, prac, brunch, then world cup finale. Which might I say I made really good nachos! they have this sour cream with green onion and onion so I put that on it with this pepper cheese which tastes like Gouda, with pepper. Some tomatoes, jalps, salsa, chopped lettuce, and chix...really good!! anyway we have two games this week one on tuesday and then one on friday, so hopefully good outcomes. Hope its not to hot in the states :)
written by  katieandboo on July 11, 2010 from Kopavogur, Iceland

busy weekend
We won our game friday 4-0. But I have a pretty severly jammed finger from making a 1v1 save with just that finger.
Our club host this huge girls tournament from ages of 5-11 which went on this weekend. Started friday morning and lasted till sunday afternoon. The team had to work by walking around in our game day outfits and sometimes had to jumpp in to ref a game or two. It was fun although it was kinda tiring walking around for hours especially since the past days have been real nice out. There was a booth where they sold and traded cards so we were signing trading cards alot of the day too, which was cool. Then saturday we had to work the bbq for the dinner. We made 2,000 hamburgers, the line was out the stadium for about 3hrs. Everyone had a different station that worked pretty well, some were cooks some making the burger (lettuce and hamburger sauce) some were handing out cokes and burgers and others were runners (running the meat from the bbq to the makers, or refilling our lettuce). I was in the making station so alot of us were having races at who could make the burgers the fastest. We ran out of bread like three times during the night which was a nice break but the line would just grow. After all of it we ended up getting a case of free coke. Oh and Friday all the kids were aloud to come into our game for free so the stands were pretty packed which was fun.
I just bought a ticket to Italy with a quick layover in Sweden. Im going to hang out with my friends in Sweden for a little bit then head to Italy where I have a tryout with a team in Verona. I am super excited but a little nervous because they only take one international player so hoping ill be enough.
Biked to the harbor today and read, got a big game tomorrow so just tried to take it easy. Oh and its been pretty nice the past few days but supposed to rain on wednesday, but as long as our game is nice its cool! :)
alright gotta catch some sleep ciao
written by  katieandboo on July 19, 2010 from Kopavogur, Iceland

busy busy
glacier lake
I can't believe its August been super busy this last bit of July it has just flown... We have had two really big games and won both! the first one we were down 2-0 with a man down and came back and won 3-2. I made some big 1v1 saves in the second half but the girls really played hard for eachother to bring home the win. The second game we were tied at half, and most of the game, 1-1 but then in the extra time minutes scored our second goal to take the victory!! Very sweet wins and much needed for our teams confidence. We dont have any games till the 5th but that is the start of the Champions league so well also play the 7th and the 10th.
We had yesterday off so my roommate and friend took a cross country trip to see the glacier lake, and let me tell you pics do not do it any justice. It really takes your breath awway how pretty and old this glacier is. On our way to the lake we stopped and saw two really cool waterfalls, one of which you could walk behind. Our journey started at leaving a lil after 7:15am and returning home at 9pm. But this journey took us from the very west of the island to the east so long but worth it.
Oh my friend sam and I hiked to see Glymur which is the tallest waterfall in iceland which is awesome! Although the terrain is kinda dangerous not too many tourists were on this path. At some points we would be on all fours sliding over a rock or trying to traverse across it. But totally worth it when you get to the top and see this jurassicesc looking scene.
We have had a few extra trainings during the week which were good and I have been working out extra as well and cooking some good things. Tonight I made a pepper steak with a mushroom cream sauce with fries on the side and a salad. Oh and of course garlic bread and a coke!
Oh I almost forgot so our team has groups now and your group has to come up with a fun thing to do for the team, like bonding. And the first groups activity was soccer tennis! So everyone got split into groups of 4 and you all had to have a signature costume that everyone wore, like a team. It was pretty hilarious one team was costume animals one was like a spandex fitness intructor look with unibrows and one was just simple orange shirts black shorts. We played it like a tournament and when it was over we all ate pizza and pop and then went and watched our junior girls play.
I am getting very excited for my trip to Sweden and most importantly Italy! I leave in 9 days now and am so excited. Well im gonna go to bed now but hope all is well back home.
written by  katieandboo on August 1, 2010 from Kopavogur, Iceland

Champions league
So yesterday we had our first game in the Champions league and won! We play our second tomorrow and final on tuesday. If we win we get to advance in the tournament and travel somewhere and play. It is really cool because it is super official. We all wear the same stuff pretty much all day long. We meet for breakfast in the morning then usually train or hang together until lunchtime then we can go home. On game days we meet back up before game time but on off days we meet up later for a little team bonding then have dinner together. This will alst until the 10th. Today for team bonding we got separated in to groups of 4 and did a little scavenger hunt. It was fun I had to recite a song in Icelandic infront of the girls.
A little about the game, when we walk out we each walk out with a little kid. I happened to get a little goalkeeper so it was really cute. And the officials are from all over and the main language everyone has to use is English, its crazy. I signed a couple of autographs after the game and could hear little girls chanting my name, which was kind of freaky but cool. Think thats all for now think good thoughts for tomorrows game, ciao
written by  katieandboo on August 6, 2010 from Kopavogur, Iceland

travel and tryouts
Verona, Italy
i have not had internet until now so i will try to catch you up. as i wrote lst we advanced and we will now travel to paris to play next. I went to sweden and visited boo and my friends in karlstad, was way to short of a trip. I got t train with hem and go to one of their games so that was fun. the manager even bought me an extra salad for the bus ride and dinner onthe way home. He also gave me left overs for my next day, he says he knows how muchi like to eat ha. on sunay i took a bus from karlstad to stockholm 4hrs getting in at 10pm. i then found a hostel to stay in until 4am when i had to leave to catch my bus to the airport. from there landed in italy and caught a train to Verona are were the team manager picked me up. Becaueshe is quitting the club she has turned into my sports agent saying dont sign anything without her in mypresence. i got in around 4pm monday so i didnt train but tuesday i went to te gym and pool with the center mid of the nat team. it was fun and the facilities were very nice. wednesday more girls showed up in the apt I am stying in, and we hd our first training (my tryout) I think i did pretty well. the girls are reallynice and even tho only one speaks some english they all still want to talk to m so we tend to do broken italish. today we trained again and it was just ok, it has been pretty hot here so im dying but thankfully we get lots of water breaks. oh I have been eting pretty well today for lunch I made this fresh spinach gnocci with sausage and cheese in olive oil, very good. i love that the grocery stores have two huge aisles of dry pasta on both sides and about 3 b floor fridges of fresh pasta and 3 big standing cases of more fresh pasta. lots of sasage and cheese as well, oh and of course sauces! needless to say i love it here the food makes me happy :) I think i forgot to mentin that my manager friend, lety, gt me another audition for a team in Roma which i think i leave tomorrow or saturday for. the cool thing about that team is that they get all of the things that the mens team get so our gear and logo looks like theres! I think the team here in bardolino wants m because after practice today they were saying that they were interested. so we shal se what happens. i am trying to just enjoy the experiences and have lots of fun along the way. ciao for now
written by  katieandboo on August 19, 2010 from Verona, Italy