First few days in Brussels

Hi SFCC!!

It has been a crazy week since I last wrote. I umpired my second test match in the Netherlands last Sunday (Australia lost 4-0) and then got straight on a bus with the Australian team to come to Brussels in Belgium. It took about 2 hours on the bus. It was funny to think that I had crossed a country's border without even really knowing it! To get to a different country from Australia, we have no choice but to catch a plane or go by boat and we always have to go through customs. Travelling from the Netherlands into Belgium was as easy as driving from Campbelltown to Sydney.

Here is a picture from after the first match I did in Amsterdam. 

I had to remember to switch from the Dutch language to French (which is what they speak in Belgium - well one of their main languages anyway) ... not that I can really speak either language haha.

Once I arrived at the hotel 'Ramada' in Brussels, I met up with my roomie (the person I will be sharing a room with over the next two weeks), Amber from New Zealand and we joined the rest of the umpires for dinner.

We had fitness and briefing sessions over the next 2 days in stinking hot weather.

Here is a photo of all the umpires after our first fitness session. Starting in the back row from the left is Annelize from South Africa, Frances from England, Amber from New Zealand, me from Aus, Lisa from Australia (she is one of the video umpires). Then in the middle row from the left is Kelly from New Zealand (the second video umpire), Laurine from Belgium, Amy from the United States, Ana from Portugal and Emi from Japan. The two at the front is Irene in yellow from Argentina and Maggie from the United States. Quite a multicultural group!

We also had a trip into Brussels city for dinner on one of the nights. It was the night of the terrorist attack in Brussels. We had been at the exact train station a couple of hours earlier but we were safe in a taxi on the way home when the attack happened. It was still pretty scary for it to happen so close ...

Some beautiful old buildings from Brussels city.

On the last night before the matches started, we had a welcome cocktail afternoon. In this picture I am with (starting from the left) Emi from Japan, Ana from Portugal, Annelize from New Zealand and Mel who is the Australian Hockey Team's manager.

Breakfast is provided every morning at the hotel and it is super yummy!! Eggs, bacon, cheese, croissants, pancakes, fruit, yoghurt, juice, donuts, lollies, pastries ... the lot!! I have to show lots of self control not to go crazy each morning as I won't be able to run on the hockey field.

I had two reserves (which means I'm the third umpire that sits on the bench in case one of the on-pitch umpires get hurt) on the first match day.

On the second match day, I umpired at 6pm with Emi Yamada from Japan - Spain vs. Malaysia.

My snazzy new shoes. We are sponsored by Adidas so we got to pick a pair of Adidas hockey shoes to wear for the tournament.

This is me getting mic'd up before the match by the tv crew. We wear two packs on a belt beneath our shirt that allows audiences across the world hear us on the tv and it allows me to talk to the umpire on the other side of the field, the reserve umpire on the side line and video umpire in the truck.

Emi and I lining up in the middle of the pitch before the teams run out (I'm the tall one haha).

Joined by the teams - Spain in white and Malaysia in blue.

Yesterday (Friday) was our first of four 'rest days'. We had a sleep in, did our washing and went for a walk down to the local shopping centre.

We went with Emi the Japanese umpire to have some yummy Japanese food for lunch.

This is the majority of the umpiring team walking to the shops.

I have my second game tonight (Saturday) at 8pm (this will be Sunday morning 4am Sydney time for you). I am going to finish writing this post and then get ready to head out to the fields for the 6pm match before mine. I am umpiring Italy vs. Scotland with Amy from the United States.

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

Love Miss Seymour