This past weekend, my club volleyball team and I had a tournament in Davis, CA. After a long car ride there, we all wanted to experience something new and memorable. Our final option ended up being a barn party. Not knowing what to expect, we all went with high hopes and team spirit. We got to the barn and surprisingly not much except drunk people were there. Our team tried to bring in some positive energy and fun vibes by dancing to crazy music and singing to our favorite songs. A little while after we realized we needed to get back to our hotel.
We left in a rush, and four of us squished into a big truck. Another car of ours had about 9 girls following us. Because we were in a time crunch, our driver was going above the legal limit. We saw some fog so she slowed down, but then suddenly our truck crashed into a huge puddle or lake. The four of us in the truck screamed! My first instinct was hold on to the door so water does not flood into the car. With support and comfort by our teammates, we were able to help our driver drive through the flood. At the end of the day, we all agreed that if it were not our trust in each other, we probably would not have made it through. We ended the weekend in the top ten of our tournament, drove home safely, and survived the crazy weekend in Davis.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Success?
Lately, I have been feeling a sense of achievement and a lot of confusion. At my last volleyball tournament I received the award of All Tournament. It was an extremely exciting feeling to take back an award to my room. All the congrats comments from friends and family made me happy and stuck in a state of excitement. A couple days later, I realized I was missing a piece of achievement.
A couple weeks into my season, I began thinking about what I was going to do next semester (housing wise). A couple friends and I agreed to finding an apartment, yet I barely have any money. Thankfully, a teammate of mine answered my prayers. Her boss at Islands was looking for new employees and she got me an interview with him. Hearing this news cheered me up, but I also thought about how I was going to prioritize my time. After the interview, he told me I got the job. I was ecstatic, yet freaked out. How was I going to accomplish everything while having a boyfriend, going to school, playing volleyball, and trying to start a job? I have no idea. I guess this is just the time where life begins to get real and set in motion. At the moment I am nervous, but I know with all this going on in my life right now, it will help me in the future.
A couple weeks into my season, I began thinking about what I was going to do next semester (housing wise). A couple friends and I agreed to finding an apartment, yet I barely have any money. Thankfully, a teammate of mine answered my prayers. Her boss at Islands was looking for new employees and she got me an interview with him. Hearing this news cheered me up, but I also thought about how I was going to prioritize my time. After the interview, he told me I got the job. I was ecstatic, yet freaked out. How was I going to accomplish everything while having a boyfriend, going to school, playing volleyball, and trying to start a job? I have no idea. I guess this is just the time where life begins to get real and set in motion. At the moment I am nervous, but I know with all this going on in my life right now, it will help me in the future.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Dorm
As a student, I have chosen to live on campus for my freshman year. I live on the 3rd floor of the Los Alamitos dorms. My friends and I have created this group we call the DPTs. I am not going to actually explain what it stands for, but basically we have our own made up sorority. I mean, we even have the sign down. Last night was two of the girls birthdays; Alex and Sara. We went out to dinner at BJs on 2nd street and quickly finished a pazookie under a good two minutes. I am proud of my girls :) When we got back home, all of us decided to hang out in one room, so we did! I do not remember how our conversation got to this, but we started telling scary stories. It was not the best subject to talk about at 11:30 pm right before we were all going to go to sleep. After about 20 minutes, none of us could go to our own rooms to change or go to the bathroom alone. There have been some scary things happening here little by little and it is starting to freak us out. Whatever is here in the Los Alamitos dorms needs to go. I need my sleep.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Surprise Surprise!
This past weekend, my club volleyball team and I participated in an enduring tournament, here at Cal State Long Beach. Saturday and Sunday we played until we dropped. Our competition were some pretty tough teams mostly from out of state such as Arizona State and NAU. Overall, our team did really well :) But before I was about to leave, I was in for a great surprise. They awarded me All Tournament which means best player/best sportsmanship player throughout the whole tournament. I was in shock at first, but after minutes of silence I screamed and got all excited. The weekend turned out to be great, but also volleyball is not the only thing in my life. I guess you can say I have a romantic side.
Yesterday was Valentine's Day. Honestly, I did not expect much to happen, but then again I was surprised. Last week my boyfriend, Christos, informed me that he had to work Monday and would not be able to spend all day with me, yet at 6 am, an hour before I had to wake up, I heard him, "Baby baby, it's me..surprise!" At first I was confused and thinking to myself, "Who is climbing into bed with me..oh wait..it's Jr. (his nickname) Am I dreaming?" haha I wasn't dreaming. He brought me a pig pillow pet which I have been searching for and a card. To me, that was everything I needed. As he walked me to my second class, he had a little smirk on his face and I could sort of tell he was up to something. A few minutes into my class time, a man with flowers, a balloon, and peanut M&Ms comes to the door, "Is there a Sami in here?" My eyes opened wide and I felt my stomach drop and my cheeks slowly turning red. I raised my hand and he brought them to me. I was so happy!
After class I ran to him and gave him a giant hug and peck on the lips :) We got back to my dorm room and I gave him my present. I drew him a picture that looks like our names carved into a tree, plussss I also gave him a home-made card. After I got ready, we took the D bus to 2nd street in Long Beach. We had lunch at BJs and drinks at another restaurant. As we were walking down hanging out, we walked past Color Me Mine. I asked him if he was in the mood to paint and his face lit up. I said, "Let's go paint! I'm paying!" We walked in and chose things to paint for each other. After our masterpieces were finished, we gobbled up some Rite Aid ice cream and then headed back to school on the bus.
From there, Christos and I went to Mulligans. We miniature golfed twice, rock-climbed, hit some balls in the batting cages, and raced in the go-carts. It was amazing! We went back to his house and he had one more surprise left in store for me. He gave me a small box to open and said, "I have always wanted to do this for a girl and what better time than Valentine's?" He opened the box and it was a locket. It was perfect. I opened the locket to see inside and it had two of our pictures. It was sooooo cute!!!!! It was a perfect ending to a perfect day.
Yesterday was Valentine's Day. Honestly, I did not expect much to happen, but then again I was surprised. Last week my boyfriend, Christos, informed me that he had to work Monday and would not be able to spend all day with me, yet at 6 am, an hour before I had to wake up, I heard him, "Baby baby, it's me..surprise!" At first I was confused and thinking to myself, "Who is climbing into bed with me..oh wait..it's Jr. (his nickname) Am I dreaming?" haha I wasn't dreaming. He brought me a pig pillow pet which I have been searching for and a card. To me, that was everything I needed. As he walked me to my second class, he had a little smirk on his face and I could sort of tell he was up to something. A few minutes into my class time, a man with flowers, a balloon, and peanut M&Ms comes to the door, "Is there a Sami in here?" My eyes opened wide and I felt my stomach drop and my cheeks slowly turning red. I raised my hand and he brought them to me. I was so happy!
After class I ran to him and gave him a giant hug and peck on the lips :) We got back to my dorm room and I gave him my present. I drew him a picture that looks like our names carved into a tree, plussss I also gave him a home-made card. After I got ready, we took the D bus to 2nd street in Long Beach. We had lunch at BJs and drinks at another restaurant. As we were walking down hanging out, we walked past Color Me Mine. I asked him if he was in the mood to paint and his face lit up. I said, "Let's go paint! I'm paying!" We walked in and chose things to paint for each other. After our masterpieces were finished, we gobbled up some Rite Aid ice cream and then headed back to school on the bus.
From there, Christos and I went to Mulligans. We miniature golfed twice, rock-climbed, hit some balls in the batting cages, and raced in the go-carts. It was amazing! We went back to his house and he had one more surprise left in store for me. He gave me a small box to open and said, "I have always wanted to do this for a girl and what better time than Valentine's?" He opened the box and it was a locket. It was perfect. I opened the locket to see inside and it had two of our pictures. It was sooooo cute!!!!! It was a perfect ending to a perfect day.
He hates this picture but I love it!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Welcome to my blog!
Before beginning my thoughts and comments about my life and volleyball, I would like to give you a brief introduction of who I am. My name is Samantha Claire Almaraz, but for short, Sami. Right now, I am a freshman at Cal State University Long Beach majoring in Nutrition & Dietetics. Even though I plan on studying nutrition, I have a weakness for ice cream and other junk foods. I am involved in many things such as Club Volleyball here at the University, Basketball as a Mission (Check out our website for details), soon choir, and also Beach Newman, the Christian Club. I enjoy going out on adventures, repeating movie lines, and sipping on my favorite Pacific Cooler Caprisun along with many other things. I hope that this blog may be somewhat interesting, fun, and inspiring to read.
Okay, so a little background on my volleyball history. My dad says I've held a volleyball in my hand since I was a baby in my crib. I am guessing it was either a mini one or I was giant baby. From what I remember, I have been playing since 3rd Grade. I received the MVP award which made me proud of what I did so I grew from it. In high school, volleyball was the main sport at my school, Bishop Montgomery in Torrance, CA. I tried out as a freshman and was awarded MVP on the Junior Varsity team. At the end of my first season, the coach boosted me up to the Varsity team and I had the pleasure of going to playoffs with the varsity girls. Since the beginning of my sophomore year, I became part of the Bishop Girls Varsity Volleyball Team. It was a huge success for me. My Senior year came around and I became an all around player, starter, and leader. I was named 1st Team All League and received a few scholarships for volleyball. Even though I turned down a few scholarships, I am happy with where I am at today. I am proud to start and play for the Women's Club team at CSULB.
Volleyball has always been a huge part in my life. It is ultimately one of my main priorities, plus it helps me stay in shape which is a bonus :) Not only is it a game, but it is something I love and I have a passion for. Everyone out there has something they are passionate for as well, if it is art, basketball, writing, or even helping others out. Volleyball just happens to make me happy so I stick with it. After getting injured, I never gave up. I made myself get stronger so I can keep going and playing the sport. Now, the most challenging thing is playing volleyball while attending college. Of course it is just the beginning for me, but this blog is going to help me explain everything to you.
Game tonight against UCI! woopayyyyy :)
xoxo,
Sami
For those intereseted in basketball, traveling, coaching kids, or mission trips, check out this website for the club I'm in!
http://basketballasamission.org/
Okay, so a little background on my volleyball history. My dad says I've held a volleyball in my hand since I was a baby in my crib. I am guessing it was either a mini one or I was giant baby. From what I remember, I have been playing since 3rd Grade. I received the MVP award which made me proud of what I did so I grew from it. In high school, volleyball was the main sport at my school, Bishop Montgomery in Torrance, CA. I tried out as a freshman and was awarded MVP on the Junior Varsity team. At the end of my first season, the coach boosted me up to the Varsity team and I had the pleasure of going to playoffs with the varsity girls. Since the beginning of my sophomore year, I became part of the Bishop Girls Varsity Volleyball Team. It was a huge success for me. My Senior year came around and I became an all around player, starter, and leader. I was named 1st Team All League and received a few scholarships for volleyball. Even though I turned down a few scholarships, I am happy with where I am at today. I am proud to start and play for the Women's Club team at CSULB.
Volleyball has always been a huge part in my life. It is ultimately one of my main priorities, plus it helps me stay in shape which is a bonus :) Not only is it a game, but it is something I love and I have a passion for. Everyone out there has something they are passionate for as well, if it is art, basketball, writing, or even helping others out. Volleyball just happens to make me happy so I stick with it. After getting injured, I never gave up. I made myself get stronger so I can keep going and playing the sport. Now, the most challenging thing is playing volleyball while attending college. Of course it is just the beginning for me, but this blog is going to help me explain everything to you.
Game tonight against UCI! woopayyyyy :)
xoxo,
For those intereseted in basketball, traveling, coaching kids, or mission trips, check out this website for the club I'm in!
http://basketballasamission.org/
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