For Your Consideration

Greetings! If you have typed in some sort of combination of Erin O'Connor + Blogspot + Kuusamo + Volleyball in hopes of finding my blog, then congratulations. You found it. If you have come here in hopes of viewing my now infamous blog entries featured in the Kuusamo newspaper, then I'm sorry, you will not find them here because they have been removed. If you have come here looking for some sort of apology then you will not find that either. However, before I do what I should have done a long time ago (which is, make my blog viewable to ONLY my friends and family--since they are and have always been my intended audience) there are a few things that you, my new-found audience, should know.

While I do try to accurately tell my side of the story, one should also be warned that I have a strong sense-of-humor. And if you do not know me, or understand the way that I speak/write, then it is hard to tell that most things that I say are in jest and highly sarcastic. I am aware that cynicism is not a desirable trait for any human-being to possess, but honestly, I can't help it. It's who I am and more often, it's what I laugh at. If I were to say something like, "Kuusamo, a town with two stoplights and more reindeer than people." then I would not be trying to be offensive or insult the town and its inhabitants, I would simply be trying to get across to my friends and family that the town of Kuusamo is small. Laughably so, considering that I thought my hometown (Iowa City, Iowa: Population 70,000) was small. Don't be mad at me because I don't always like the weather, I'm sure that you don't always enjoy it either! Kuusamo can be a really pretty place when the sky is blue and the trees are covered in snow and though it's hard to believe, I actually enjoy ice-fishing. This past summer I went fishing in the midnight sun at Karhunkierros and spent the entire time behind my camera trying to capture its beauty on film for my friends and family. Unfortunately, I did not write any blog entries about these things and even if I had, it wouldn't have interested any journalists.

Also noteworthy is that I didn't have any choice in the publishing of my blog entries in the local newspaper. So for those of you that have approached me in the swimming pool, on the streets, or during my personal time to let me know that I am a "terrible person" or a "stupid, selfish, American bitch" and that I should be "ashamed of myself" for writing these awful things for the paper, please know...IT WAS NEVER MY INTENTION. In fact, I have been quite happy and proud of my team after a few good weeks of practice and a close game with Somero/victory at Eura. The spirit has finally been great for us! I told the journalist whom called for my comment on the blogs that it was all old news and that the team spirit was 100% better. I even begged him NOT to print a story about the blogs saying that I didn't want to ruin all the progress that the club had made. But, obviously he did not listen.

My blog is not only a good way to keep people I care about involved in my life overseas, but it also allows me a space to vent when I am upset. These blogs in question were NOT about me proclaiming that I am better than anyone else because I am an American, nor did I say once that I think I'm the best volleyball player in the entire world, the blog entries were me becoming increasingly frustrated at the way I (and the other American) were being treated and of course, my team's 9 match losing streak. No athlete wants to lose and when the team is losing many games in a row there is always a bad feeling. So for those of you that insist on approaching me around town to tell me your rather brash opinions of me, I remind you that you don't know me as a person and you don't know the whole story. But, if it makes you feel better about yourself then I can take it.

And on a side note, I was extremely impressed with the grace my club's president demonstrated in response to my blogs in the paper. I am happy to know that his confidence in myself and the team has not been shattered by my rash blog entries. The man deserves a medal! Now, back to volleyball and figuring out a way to end the season on a more positive note. Thanks for your consideration.