Sooner Women Travel to Rome

May 11, 2008

ROME, Italy -- The University of Oklahoma women's basketball team touched down at Leonardo Di Vinci International early Sunday morning, taking its first steps inside Italy on its summer European tour.

The team left Oklahoma early Saturday morning for a connecting flight to Atlanta, then a nine-hour flight overseas to Rome. The Sooners will spend Sunday touring ancient Rome and the Colosseum.

Monday, Oklahoma will visit the Vatican before playing a game against European league club team Acquario Palestrina in Rome.

Photo Gallery

Did You Know? Rome is seven hours ahead of Central Standard Time. The Sooners left the United States from Atlanta at 4 p.m. Central on Saturday and arrived in Rome at 9 a.m. Italian time on Sunday (2 a.m. Central.)

Follow the Sooners' trip online at SoonerSports.com. Players will provide daily journals and photo galleries. Game recaps will also be available.

Today, Jenny Vining writes about her experience traveling to Rome.

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Hello all. It is 5:40 a.m. and we just arrived at the airport...and we are already having chaos. The chaos began at 3:52 a.m. when Lauren and I woke up to Court and Ash scramblin' around in their house not bothering to wake us up -- knowing we had to be at the gym by 4:15 to catch our bus to the airport. So we wake up in a panic. But no worries, we made it.

So we get to the airport and are going through the checkpoint where they check your passports and the next panic overcomes Danielle when she can't find her passport. Thankfully, we found it packed away in her suitcase. Now we are just sitting and walking around, waiting to depart for Atlanta then Rome.

Well, the plane ride from OKC to Atlanta was pretty quick. Everybody slept the whole time. When we got to Atlanta, we had six-and-a-half hours until our flight to Rome departed. WOW! What in the tarnation were we going to do in an airport for six-and-a-half hours? Have no fear. We managed just fine.

We found our gate and pretty much just set up camp. Jenna and Ny made pallets on the floor and went backt o sleep . Lauren and Abi got their Cosmos, People and Vouge magazines and started yappin' those up. While, of course, Rose and AT went to get food first thing. Now me, Ash, Court, Carolyn, (birthday girl) Danielle and Carleee just kind of sat around and talked it up. Shot some film for Ashley's documentary of the trip and played stupid games like who could do the most push-ups in 60 seconds. The time actually went by pretty fast.

We all go some money exchanged into Euros and everyone got their fill of food because we wouldn't have much on the plane. Some ate Italian, some ate Chinese, but I had to get one more American cheeseburger in me before we left.

We are on the plane now to Rome. My nerves are almost back to normal from the takeoff...but, hey, I am getting pretty good at this flying thing. Who knows, maybe I will become a pilot? Just kidding. Too much math involved.

We have been on the plane for about three hours and a lot of us our asleep again. They just served dinner and am I glad I had my cheeseburger. Yuck! They said it was chicken, but that was unlike any chicken I had before. Of course, we're just sitting around -- there is not that much to do on a plane. Me, Ash, Abi, Lauren, Court and Carolyn are all sitting nearby each other. We have some very unique and interesting conversations.

With six hours left in our flight to Rome, our athletic trainer, Carolyn Loon, is trying to teach us some Italian words. I think I may be in trouble in the communication department during this trip.

Just had a little excitement on the plane. There was a lady who was sitting four rows ahead of me -- right in front of Coach Coale and her husband, Dane -- who passed out. Have no worries, the greatest trainer in the world came to the rescue. They found a doctor on the plane, but Loon was the first responder. The good news is the lady is going to be OK. Whew! That made me nervous and I almost needed some assistance myself.

After all of the excitement, everyone calmed down and the in-flight movie, The Golden Compass, played. I don't believe anyone got far into it because we all fell back asleep until we were awakened with a continental breakfast -- a hot bagel, banana and orange juice. It tasted pretty good but that may be because I am starving.

With just a few minutes left, we are definitely ready to get off this plane. The captain has put the seat belt sign back on, so we must be getting close. Thank goodness.

Well, that's my time and someone else will write about our first day in Rome. I would like to tell my mom HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY and I LOVE YOU! And, Happy Mother's Day to all the others reading this, too. Hope you all have a wonderful day. C-ya later.

Love,
Jenny Vining #2

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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