By Courtney Irving (at right)
Senior forward for 2007-08 Women's Basketball Team

Day Four Anatolia Tour 2007 (June 15)
Trip Preview / Day One Blog / Day Two Blog / Day Three Blog / Day Four Blog / Day Five Blog / Day Six Blog / Day Seven Blog / Day Eight Blog - Wrapup
Photos Gallery from Turkey
Photo at bottom: The Delaware contingent poses for a team photo with campers

Merhaba!!

This morning kicked off at 4:30 a.m., followed by a four-hour bus ride. The first thing Coach (Tina) Martin said was “I am not a morning person. Am I right Coach Radice?” And Coach (Jeanine) Radice replied with her usual dry sense of humor, “Yup, 8 a.m. is early for you.”

On the bus ride we rode through the mountains and ended up on the Mediterranean coastline. The view through the mountains was spectacular and the air was chilly when we stopped at the rest stop. The mountains gave me the same trouble airplanes do, my ears popped the whole way down - I couldn’t hear a thing. I couldn’t even hear myself speak, which is a first.

Eventually we reached our destination, Adana, and it sure was a busy city. There were vendors and restaurants and TRAFFIC!! We started off our city tour with a panel at one of the local hotels. Many people attended and were participants. One gentleman knew about a game from this season with conference foe, James Madison.

When we got back onto the bus, these little boys approached it to say hello. Dr. (Matt) Robinson was nice enough to give out one of the balls. Soon the other boys invaded the bus and tried to get on and grab more balls. Now we know what rock stars feel like.

Next, we practiced with a local club team. The energy in the gym was so positive and adrenaline filled, Coach Martin and Coach Radice jumped in to show some offense. After a quick lunch, we went to an elementary school in Adana. Alena (Koshansky), Kyle (DeHaven), and I had submitted a grant to the UD Alumni Association to donate baskets. Those baskets were erected in the school yard of the school.  

Thanks to the Alumni Association, we were able to donate a new basketball court to the school and we are able to donate balls to all of the little boys and girls around Turkey. The looks on their faces are priceless and fill you up with a warm feeling. The view of the Gol Lake was so beautiful and the weather was awesome.

We got back onto the bus after the donation ceremony to go to the second practice of the day. We arrived at the BOTAS grounds, checked in, and got prepared for practice with the Under 16 Turkish National team.

Usually at practices, we show the children what to do and they replicate it. Little did we know, we were signed up for a full blown practice. It was a great experience. Alena led the entire team with a stretch and it brought back old memories. It was somewhat difficult because the girls communicated in Turkish and Kyle, Alena, and I did not understand a word.

After we finished up in practice, we ate dinner in the BOTAS cafeteria. They had french fries! We did back flips for hours after that.

Coach Martin brought her Monday night talk show overseas to a meeting room with the Turkish players, their coach, and us. We stayed up for hours chatting about everything from a normal day in the life of a college athlete to what the Turkish kids REALLY thought about Americans. It was a good time, full of hearty laughs and lots of solid conversation. They turned in for the night because they had early morning practice. The little angels were probably tuckered out from all of that talking. Our night ended there because we had been up for 18 hours, traveling, playing, and telling life stories.

Although we ended day three in the dark and we started day four in the dark, it was a wonderful day, just like the others. It is such a great feeling when you know you touch the hearts of others and they appreciate the time you take to spend with them.

The weather has been great also and the landscape of Turkey is beautiful. This has been a great trip so far and I am looking forward to the rest of the days and nights.

Good night and good luck, C. Irv.