|
Day 6: Thank you, Marsha and Charlie
EMERYVILLE / MENLO PARK (California, USA) - After completion from their practice session on the University-campus in Berkeley, the team returned back to the hotel in Emeryville. In the afternoon, Ellen Venker arrived from Michigan to join the team. Ellen studies and plays at Central Michigan University and flew from Detroit to San Francisco. The day before, the airport in Michigan was closed due to heavy snow, but today, there were no problems. With the addition of Ellen, the team is now complete.
Initially, it was scheduled for the team to go to the Dutch School, located in Palo Alto, in the afternoon, but that was canceled, as the school is in the midst of an exam-period, so we had a few hours off.
Later in the afternoon, the team drove to Menlo Park, which is located about 50 minutes south of San Francisco. There, the team was invited to the home of Charlie and Marsha Brock and their two sons for dinner. The sister of Head Coach Liz Kelly had prepared a great lasagna for everyone and the team enjoyed their stay with the family of Coach Kelly.
And so, Day 6 ended, which also happened to be President's Day. But what is Presidents' Day?
It is the common name for the federal holiday officially designated as Washington's Birthday and is celebrated on the third Monday of February.
Washington's Birthday was originally implemented in 1880 in the District of Columbia and expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices.
The holiday was originally celebrated on George Washington's actual birthday, February 22, but shifted to the third Monday in February in 1971.
Since 1968, both George Washington (the first American President)(pictured left) and Abraham Lincoln (the 16th President)(pictured right) are being honored on this day, which became publicly known as Presidents' Day in the eighties.
By the way, another special event is coming up on Wednesday-evening, as there will be a total lunar eclipse, which will mostly be visible. The most exciting part of the eclipse, which is mid-point, will occur around 7:26 PM, with the full moon being colored reddish.
The San Francisco-skyline as seen from the Bay Bridge
The belltower in the front was the lone surviving building
from the big earthquake in 1906
Head Coach Liz Kelly (right) poses with her sister Marsha and her husband Charlie
Ellen Venker (center), who arrived in the afternoon, with Judith van Kampen (left)
and Nina van Huissteden
Posing in the backyard of the Brock's home
Lynn Geertman playing ball with Jack
Saskia Kosterink performs on the Wii-guitar
The three catchers: In front, Nathalie Timmermans (left) with Nina van Huissteden.
In the back Ellen Venker talking with Head Coach Liz Kelly
More photos from the family-dinner
Go back to the schedule of the USA Tour
| 
