Water polo

What a cool sport! Tonight I saw the US Womens Water Polo team take on Australia at the Avery Aquatic Center with my mentor Sonja. It was a packed house, including some of the US Olympic swim team. It was a great game and was back and forth until the end. USA came out on top 7-5 with the 7th goal coming from an open net shot (like when the goalie leaves the net in ice hockey) in the last few seconds.

So on to the pictures:

Micheal Phelps and other fellow Olympians leaning on the fence. More of the team was sitting two rows in front of us.


AUS advancing on goal. They have the dark blue and yellow caps. USA is in the white caps.

The US team get ready to play in the second quarter.


Moving the ball around to get a shot on goal. They are only allowed one hand on the ball even when catching (I think).

The US lining up a shot. The teams switched goals following halftime.

This one went in to make the score 5-3 with the USA in the lead.



Blocked!!!!

These matches are pretty exciting. The players sometimes fake like they are getting dunked by an opponent, which draws a foul sometimes leading to a power play. These athletes must have exceptional leg strength because they CANNOT TOUCH the bottom of the pool. It is too deep, so anytime the make a shot or pass they must propel themselves high above the surface of the water. Pretty cool stuff.

It's July..... and time is flying

Wow. I'm already at the halfway point of my fellowship here in California. I can't believe it. My project at Stanford is coming along quite well and I don't think I will have a problem finishing it. However I do think I will have a problem motivating myself to leave once it is over :). I will be happy to see everyone when I get home so that will help.

This weekend was pretty laid back. I joined my landlords, Maya and Nick, for a BBQ with some of their friends on the 4th. We had lots of good food and good company, topped off with some champagne and fireworks (on TV from Washington DC). I considered going to San Francisco to see the fireworks but it turns out that there was some fog so I am glad that I didn't go. I also did some shopping earlier in the day.

The 5th was filled with tennis, Federrer v. Nadal. What an amazing match. I also did some work. Sunday I went to a cactus garden on campus because I heard it was a good place to see some birds. Here are some of the pictures I got in the morning.