featuring:
Paula Lenart '20
My most recent international experience took place the beginning of my sophomore summer. I was invited to participate in a one-week training camp in Bucharest followed by a short four-day tournament in the city of Karlovy Vary in the Check Republic.
The friendly tournament was organized as preparation for the 2018-2019 Women’s EuroCup. We played against the National teams of the Czech Republic, Turkey and China. Our short preparation period certainly left us with some setbacks, but we learned important lessons from our games.
The tournament also gave us the opportunity to discover one Europe’s most beautiful and famous cities. During our post-workout walks in a fairy tale-like place, I learned a lot about my teammates, most of them much older with years of basketball experience behind them.
Our team has changed a lot in the past few years. This summer we had a couple more experienced players along with some younger players. This creates an interesting team dynamic with an opportunity to learn and develop, but obviously creates boundaries too. What I really appreciated in my last experience was the fact that regardless of age or experience, we all supported each other and everyone pushed one another to become better players.
International play is different in some rules: FIBA differs from the NCAA, in terms of shoot clock, foul rules and pace. Both defensive and offensive style is different from country to country. One great advantage of playing internationally is that you get to play against many styles of basketball and you realize that there are multiple solutions and for every problem. The 24 second shot-clock also makes the game faster and creates a lot of transition situations.
There are many differences between Dartmouth and my hometown. When people ask me to describe Romania, I always say it is traveling 50 years back in time. I am coming from a rural area, where most people live out of agriculture, so there are obviously differences in people’s lifestyle, moral and attitude. However, the biggest difference between Dartmouth and resources and opportunity to grow and develop both as an athlete and a student. In Romania, not only would be impossible to fit my athletic and academic goals together, but I could never even dream of having the opportunity discover myself as Learning Fellow, Tutor or Research Assistant. What I love about Dartmouth is that it offers infinite amount of opportunities to try something new and challenge ourselves.
What I really appreciated in my last experience was the fact that regardless of age or experience, we all supported each other and everyone pushed one another to become better players.
One of my favorite memories is from last Year’s Francophone Games in Ivory Coast. Not only did our team perform extraordinarily, but I also left with important life lessons and memorable experiences. I learned that how differently basketball can be played in Africa, Asia, Europe and Canada, but I was faced with a different reality as well. Being in a third world country, changed my entire worldview. I saw people living in the backs of their cars. I heard people praising hot water as a luxury item. I felt the joy and grit of the locals, who cheered for every team regardless of scoreboard or national identity. I got to know the best runners, throwers, wrestlers in my own country, and I got some insight into the lives of different athletes. I survived the 100-degree, 90% humidity weather. I have taken cold showers for two weeks, battled against malaria, and came home reborn, graceful for what I have, and a newly learned joy and passion for Basketball.
You can check out what some of my teammates did this past year by clicking the buttons below...