Norwegian/Swedish jokes

Click here to read about how our dear neighbours make fun of us (USA Cup blog post). Exactly the same jokes are told the other way around :)

E.R. special

Here are the photos we didn't dare show moms and dads at home before they could see for themselves all girls are fine:



We happened to be the USA Cup's medical center's most treated team 2008. The staff at the center were incredibly caring and helpful. They took care of knees, feet, stomachs and heads as well as heat stroke, an infected spider bite and an asthma attack. We are all fine now!






This is the board used to keep track of and direct the ambulance cars to different fields. Field L2 "the Swedish field" had visits twice.







Photo: Bibbi Forsman and Pia Dybeck

Record for one day: three pair of crutches for one knee and two feet.

Record for one match: team Passion's quarter final with four players from our team and three from the other. Hope they are all fine too!

Being treated was free, but x-ray, crutches and medicines we had to pay for. Nearest pharmacy most conveniently located at Super Target, where we hang out for lunch anyway.

Welcome home!

A whole committee of welcoming parents and friends met us at Landvetter airport, happy to have us back again. And we were happy to see them, of course, and glad to show them the trophy.

The girls each got Azalea coloured roses. All coaches and chaperons was presented with other nice prizes by the parents. Anders got the most over all prize of first bringing the idea of going to USA CUP up two years ago.

Saying hello to the families also means saying goodbye to the team. Our trip is over but not our adventure. In August trainings start again and then the series begin again and there are matches and...

Thank you!

Photo: Bibbi Forsman and Ulf Svensson
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Last day in Chicago, bags stuffed with the shopping we did now and then over the last days. And the cooler comes to Sweden, maybe it will replace the "fikabord" at games?

But much more important than stuff we bring; we are filled with lovely memories, e-mail addresses to new friends, knowledge of another country, the sense of new flavours. And a trophy, joy and passion for the game of soccer!

To all families, guest players and new friends we met: Thank you for making this trip unforgettable! Thank you for giving of your time and sharing your homes! We are overwhelmed and will keep you dear in our hearts.

Hope we all meet again!

Sight seeing Chicago

While in Chicago we stayed in families with girls from Team Chicago, in Aurora and Naperville. Again we were overwhelmed by the hospitality that stretches longer than any of us could imagine. Most of all it was nice to meet the family of Julianna, who played with us all week in USA CUP.



Our new families had organized a sightseeing trip for us in Chicago. Early morning rise to take the train down town after the late night in Rolling Meadows, so well worth it. An incredible sunny, happy ride on top of the sightseeing bus and a day we'll never forget. And we managed some shopping that day too...




















Photo: Bibbi Forsman

Some of the families met up downtown Naperville for dinner afterwards. Naperville is something else than skyscrapers, a pretty, lively little town with old buildings and green trees. This was our last evening together, we are both homesick and sad to leave, all at once.

International friendly games

Rolling Meadows Soccer Club organized a whole evening of games and festivities, Monday. We played two games against their U14 and U16 teams. Before they begun was a dignified opening ceremony.



Anders talked about the club and our motto "Passion and Joy"...



...and presented Rolling Meadow's mayor with a Swedish t-shirt and our CD.





The both teams lined up on the field. Players from Julianna's Team Chicago in Naperville filled in so we could play two games.



After that we sang the Swedish national anthem "Du gamla du fria"...



...and a girl from the U16 team, Katie Deger, powerfully sang the American.



Sofia handed the Azalea presents to the U14 team.





After the game we finally took the photo we've been talking about for two weeks but never did: all Azalea girls in their jerseys. It was best we waited though, to win the USA CUP trophy first.



Enormous grills for hamburgers and hot dogs, tasty salads and cakes, yummy, yummy.





The clubs exchanged autographed balls (Emilia is getting more used to writing hers now)



Pia won in the lottery.



And Lizzie had to sign each t-shirt before she left : ( We are going to miss all our American guest players, so much fun playing with you!



This flag was a gift to the Azalea girls from Team Chicago's professional women's team. In 2009 there will be a professional women's league in America again, exciting!

There is a local web article to read more, click here.