As a Freshman, Emersyn made the varsity team for tennis. The tennis team has a ladder system – you challenge the person ahead of you in a set of 8 games. Emersyn started the season at #7 to earn the position of #4. The top five players went to the APAC conference (Asia Pacific Activities Conference). The tennis APAC was in Kobe, Japan this year.
The Concordia boys tennis team was very strong with players that are dedicated to the sport by playing 18-hours of tennis a week all year. The girls tennis team was not as strong, but all the girls have played tennis for several years just lacking experience.
For our family, I would go to Japan to support Emersyn while Jim stayed home to have one-on=one time with Eleri.
Wednesday, October 22: Travel to Japan
The team and four Moms, Pam (Grant), Jennifer (Sean), Jerry (John) and myself, left for Japan on Wednesday morning. Once we arrived in Japan, we took the bus to the Canadian Academy, the host of the APAC tennis. The Academy is located on a small Island, Rokko Island. It reminded me of Discovery Bay in Hong Kong.
Our team and the coaches, Mr. Muir, an 8th grade math teacher, and Paula, a Mom to two of the players, Brandon and Michaela.
Zeb and John are playing singles
Brandon and Sean are playing doubles
Grant is playing mixed doubles with Bridgett
For the girls team:
Nicholle and Nathalie are playing singles
Emersyn and Michaela are playing doubles
Bridgett with Grant for mixed doubles
The tennis players have homestays with various students from the Academy. Emersyn has a homestay with Nicolle, a junior. At first, Emersyn was on a homestay on her own as the apartment are small in Japan. However, I didn’t feel this was the best for a freshman on her first trip. A quick email to get it changed with all the other Moms agreeing with me! Emersyn homestay host was Ester, originally from Korea.
The Moms walked the 10 minutes to the hotels with our suitcases in tow. There are only two hotels on the Island, therefore, it was hard to find a room and my Chinese travel agent found us one at the Sheraton. I was sharing a room at the Sheraton with Pam, a new family at Yanlord. Like DB, everything was located in one central place similar to the plaza…outside the Sheraton hotel doors. The coaches were staying at the other hotel, Kobe Plaza. Jennifer and Jerry were staying at the Kobe Plaza as there was a bit of a mixed up in hotels. The Kobe Plaza hotel was just down the street from the Sheraton.
We met at the Sheraton for a dinner plan. As we were discussing the options for dinner on the Island, we decided on Korean BBQ. Jerry’s comment (a very nice and funny lady), “really, we are in Japan and we are eating Korean”. So we decided to walk around to see what we could find. We ended up at the Italian place for pizza!
Emersyn went to a noodle place with Nicholle and Ester for her first night in Kobe. She actually took a few photos that I can add to my blog.
Thursday, October 23: Tennis
The bus leaves the school at 8:45am to the drive the 45 minutes to the tennis center. We asked at the hotel about a taxi to the tennis center since there would be four Moms sharing the ride. The cost would be around $60 – we decided the bus was the best option.
The tennis matches were set up for all schools to play each other to determine the overall team score. Based on the outcome of these games, the player would be place in the brackets for the final day matches of individual placement. Our Concordia boys have a good chance to win the overall and place as individuals. Our Concordia girls are here for the experience as their chances are slim. Bridget playing mixed doubles has the best chance to place since she is with the boys. Bridgett and Michaela both wanted the position of mixed double – a challenge before APAC determine the placement with Bridgett winning. Michaela wasn’t thrilled to play doubles with Emersyn as they have little chance of winning. My talk to Emersyn was to go have fun, play hard, learn and lose with a smile and grace. Of course, she did all that and more!
The tennis center had seven courts to use for the tournament. Courts 1-5 were on one side with courts 6 & 7 on the other side.
No stands, seats or anything were set up for watching theses matches. We were told we had to watch from the fence through the wind guards…ok! We stood on the street watching through the hole in the wind guard. It was a beautiful day with blue skies to watch Emersyn play through the hole in the wind guard!
I had to take a photo at the bathroom. Everything in Japan is very neat and orderly. The pink shoes were small, but I squeezed my feet into the bathroom slippers.
We also found the people very friendly and willing to help…even when they spoke little English.
A few photos of Emersyn in action.
There was no food available at the tennis centre as prepackage lunches were provided for the kids. They sat on the courts cheering their teammates and eating their lunch between matches.
Around 2pm, Pam and I walked to the mall which was about a 15 minute walk. Pam and I found a delicious beef place at the food court for about $6. Kobe is known for their Kobe steak.
We ran into Jerry and Jennifer – they had McDonald’s for lunch. We laughed as Jerry’s comment about being in Japan and eating Korean was the new joke…In Japan eating McDonald’s!
The last match finished around 5pm. It is a 45-minute bus ride back to the school. By the end of the day, our feet were tired. I had on my running shoes – they may not be a fashion statement, but my feet were happy to have the cushion for standing all day.
Tonight, the Moms and Coaches were off Island to sushi. Jerry and I are not sushi eaters so we were not sure what tonight’s dinner would be for us…McDonald’s!?! We took the train from Rokko Island for four stops to the end. We didn’t have the best directions, but after asking a few locals, we found it. The sushi eaters were in sushi heaven! Jerry and I had “chicken nuggets” off the kids menu and a cooked tuna fish. The other sushi eaters had everything under the sun!
It was a late night by the time we were home and to bed. Pam and I finally turned the lights off after midnight.
Emersyn’s home stay Mom fixed the girls Korean food which Emersyn reported was delicious. Emersyn said the family is very nice. The Mom makes them a big breakfast each morning before sending them out the door. Her home stay lives across the street from the school so they have an easy commute.
Friday, October, 24: More tennis
Our alarm is set for 6:30am to have showers, breakfast and the 10-minute walk to the bus. The Sheraton breakfast is good so we load up on protein based on food options at the tennis center.
My feet are tired, but ready to go. Pam came dressed smart-casual while I am wearing jeans, a Concordia t-shirt and running shoes. She looks better, but her feet are hurting.
When I wasn’t watching Emersyn matches, I was supporting Nicholle. Nicholle has been such a good friend to Emersyn. Nicholle is a junior. Emersyn is the only freshman on the varsity team with no sophomores. A couple of the girls have not been very supportive of having a freshman on the team which is silly since she earned the spot. Nicholle stepped in and took Emersyn under her wing…she is a girl with good character!
Another long morning of tennis. It was around 2:30pm when there was a break for our Concordia kids. Time to walk to the Mall as the tennis kids want McDonald’s. We took the orders for the team for the Moms, Pam, Jerry and I, to walk the 15 minute walk. We ordered plenty for everyone. When we received the receipt, I joked we need to check it as it was all in Japanese. Well, when we got back, we were short a few burgers, but all the kids did get something to eat. Tennis went until 8pm! It was a VERY late night. We decided to go to the Sheraton bar for a salad and beers for a late night dinner.
The courts at the tennis center are on turf with sand. After each match, the players need to sweep the sand. Emersyn swept the sand more than her partner so her buddy, Nicholle, jumped in to help her – a true friend!
Emersyn, Nicholle and Ester went out for sushi. Emersyn said they had 40 plates of sushi for $50. They ate and ate and ate. Orders were taken on an iPad and the food came on the “train”.
Saturday, October 25: Even more tennis
Pam and I came back from breakfast with a text from Jennifer we needed to be at the bus at 8:15…it was 8:06. It looks like it would be a run for the bus. Pam’s feet were not happy feet as her stylist shoes were not as comfortable as my dorky sport shoes. The bus may wait for kids, but it does not wait for Moms. We did make it as some of the kids were late since they didn’t know about the earlier time either.
The kids finished their last play of matches for team points. The Concordia boys team placed second behind HKIS (Hong Kong International School). The Concordia girls actually placed 4th (no medal) which was a surprise. After team matches were completed, the individual rounds began. When the individual bracket rounds finished, Concordia boys had placed in the top. Zeb won 1st for boys singles. Sean and Brandon placed 2nd for doubles while Grant and Bridgett took 2nd for mixed double.
The tennis teams had a buffet dinner at the school at 5pm. The final matches finished just in time for the tennis players to get back to school for their dinner. After the dinner, awards were given out at 6pm.
The boys team came in second with HKIS winning the event.
The girls team. They didn’t take home a medal, but put in a good effort.
Nicholle has been Emersyn’s support this season. Emersyn was the only freshman girl and was treated as the “freshman” at times. Nicholle’s character was shown as she didn’t follow the other girls lead and step forward to be the better person. Emersyn was lucky to have a kind soul “partner” with Nicholle during the tennis season.
Emersyn, Ester and Nicholle went to the pancake house for a treat after the awards. Ester was not a tennis player, but she was at the matches each day helping.
Sunday, October 26: Travel to Shanghai
The bus is leaving the school at 6:45am. A 5:30am wake up call to pack and drag our suitcases back to the school.
It was a fun watching Emersyn at her first APAC tournament. She may not have won many matches but she learned a lot about team spirit and good sportsman ship. The person you are on the court reflects the person you are off the court.