Cat Scratches: ...the skinny on saunas

"SAUNA NIGHT!" Finally. It was the long awaited team night following our scrimmage last Saturday (where I finally broke the ice and tucked my first goal and got my first assist). It was the first night the team has been able to kick off our cleats, let down our pony tails, and let loose. To physically let loose, this infamous sauna night starts with an actual sauna. I had to ask at practice earlier in the week if "sauna night" actually consisted of a sauna or if that was just the code name so that we could talk about it at practice without our coach catching on to the real meaning of the festive night--drinking.

Well as it turns out a sauna is involved. Brilliant! Drinking while simultaneously draining ourselves of every possible drop of hydration. You can imagine what that combination does to a sauna of girls. Uh, reverse that, don't imagine. I will tell you instead, so stay focused.

Be there at 6, so I promptly wander in from the bus station around 6:45. Still don't quite have the bus thing down, but I at least found the place without getting lost, so that's progress. Apparently we have a sauna in our locker room at our stadium. Cool, right? I thought so too. With candy, of course, and lots of sweet, sugary drinks, which also deserves an 'of course,' as I learned Saturday night, the sauna night madness began.

About two hours into the whole experience, I found myself laughing out loud at what was going on. And no it was not the pink punch concoction that ushered in this fit of laughter, but more of a what-the-hell-is-going-on giggle. Four hours of a naked team walking and dancing around, then sitting, again naked, in a sauna practically shoulder to shoulder just chatting and gossiping like it's no big deal. This would never happen in America. Luckily, I am not modest and San Diego is the land of less is more when it comes to clothing most of the time, I guess I'm used to it? Plus, I didn't want to be that awkward freshman that doesn't shower with the team on the first road trip because it's an open, group shower. There is always one, and all the upperclassmen always laugh at her behind her back claiming that "she is just so young and cute." Well, eff that! I'm not young or cute, so let's do this!!!

Unintentionally though, I proved myself to be more comfortable than I had planned because pulling a typical, mindless move-- I forgot a towel. So while all the girls would wrap themselves up to and from the sauna or shower, I remained unwrapped and had no option but to be overly confident and just strut it out. It was ridiculous! A good portion of my time out of the sauna was spent standing in the shower area waiting to dry off. Which, by the way, is not a fast process when you're in a confined space that naturally turns into a humid steam room from the heat of the sauna combined with the water from the showers. But don't worry guys, I'm cool, still just drying!

After a few mandatory licorice flavored shots (they love licorice!) and some more dancing, we all got ready and went out to a club called Apollo. It was huge with three levels and two separate areas, the dance floor club part and an outside looking courtyard area that was confusing and had free Wi-Fi. Free Wi-Fi is my best friend, so Apollo therefore became the hottest spot in Helsinki. However, my buddy Apollo is a night-owl and doesn't close until 4 am. The two grandma Americans, who are used to last call being 2 am at the latest, had to call it an early night, so we decided to leave. Two Americans out on their own for the first time in downtown Helsinki, how bad could this be?

After strolling the streets for a while, fervently trying to find pizza after being denied a slice from a place called Pizza Express because appropriately they only sell chicken sandwiches, we resorted to settling for an average chicken sandwich. And what had once been an effort to having an "early" night turned into a not so early night because of this dang pizza, err, chicken place. Home, that now was all we cared about and how we were going to get there was going to be interesting.

The buses were chaotic and there was absolutely NO chance we would end up anywhere close to our houses if we took a bus, so making the first good decision of the night we decided to take a taxi. 30 Euro later we pulled up to Cynthia's house. Wishing to wake up in my own bed after a night like this, I asked the taxi driver how much it would be to bring me home too. "30 to 35." Well, shoot, I only have 18. "That's okay, you pay me when you get home." Sweet, let't ride.

It's 5 in the morning and I find myself with a driver who doesn't understand my English and somehow convinces himself that "football player" translates to hooker. Awesome. No, I am not going to be your new girlfriend and yes the road is in front of you. Well, the silver lining in the situation is that it will make for a good story in the morning. That is, if I get home. And, I guess one perk of my taxi driver thinking I am a hooker, is that being a woman of the night who is prematurely taking a taxi home to her cute suburban home clearly means that business isn't good. He must have felt bad for his new, struggling girlfriend because he didn't make me pay any extra.

Kiitos senor! Yes, home sweet home, my bed is just a few steps away...

No house keys. Feck!

Perfect ending to a seriously dysfunctional and amazing night? Waking up my sweet host family to let their demented American hooker into the house. Embarrassing, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. I am relieved when a cheery smile answers the door and the warmth of the house welcomes me in.

I'm still recovering from the intense sleep deprivation and immense full body dehydration, but can't wait for sauna night number 2!

Other stuff, like soccer:
-Sweden was awesome and I have complete confidence that PK-35 is going to rock Finnish soccer this season. We went 1-1-1 for the weekend, which is a great result and we were really happy with it. We are good and the girls are such amazing people and players. I couldn't be happier with the team!
-Stockholm was beautiful! The characters I met in the hostel were too funny . The motto of the couple days was "You can't make this stuff up." Like the weird, black, studded leather jacket wearing emo girl who refused to talk to anyone and fell asleep around 8 every night in her sheets that had giant pictures of cats all over them.
- We have this weekend off and season starts next weekend. AH! Can't wait.

Glad to see that Barca won last night because I'm off to Barcelona for Easter weekend. The city should be happy--Jesus and football!

Thanks for reading and your support!
Peace and Love,
Cat

PICTURE TIME: