This is a blog from WSC Women's Basketball player Maggie Schulte on her experience so far in Brazil representing USA D-2 Women's Basketball. Tuesday evening the American team defeated Itupeva 100-22. The American team plays again this evening (Wednesday) at 4:30 p.m. vs Osasco. The team will have the next two days off and are scheduled to visit Copacabana Beach and the Christ Statue.


Day 1 In Brazil
 
Day 1 started by landing in Sao Paulo from a 9 hour flight. We rode about an hour and a half to our hotel in Jundiai. The hotel is different than an American hotel, but still very beautiful and nice. I've only ever been to Canada, so it is an extremely neat experience being able to get out of the country and experience different cultures.
 
The food is very different, but VERY delicious. So far, we've had a buffet menu of very tasty rice, meat, and desserts. For supper after the game, we ate at a family style restaurant where they slowly brought out different types of food for us to try. The food is interesting, but some we have tried so far has been delicious!
 
The game went really well! We won, but that wasn't even the best part. It was a blast to play with new players, but it was also a lot of fun being able to play with Paige and to be coached by Coach K and Kelly. It's also awesome to play with other great players from our region and conference. The Brazilian players were so kind and excited to play us. The girls and fans talked with and asked for pictures after the game, which was a very humbling experience. We even asked them how to say a few phrases in Portuguese before and after the game so we can better communicate with them!
 
Driving to and from the auditorium was amazing! There are so many houses packed together, they almost look like one large house. One other thing I noticed was how different the cars look than in America. There are also a lot of motorcycles used to get around, which is fun to watch! The streets are narrow, which makes for a very interesting ride on the charter bus!
 
When I first started playing basketball, I never would have dreamed it would bring an opportunity like this. I'm doing my best to embrace the new culture and to learn all I can about the country while I'm here! The trip is still in its early stages, but I am having a blast and cannot wait to see what the rest of the week holds! Go USA!