Trip wrapup: Memories to Last a Lifetime

Early morning at the Brussels airport. Tired after an action-packed week!

We've been back in the U.S. for about 24 hours now, and it's been good to be home. The guys had a number of items they were excited to get back in their lives: Taco Bell, Mt. Dew and ESPN Sportscenter were among the tops on most lists. Everyone will be busy looking back through their photos and posting more images to social media. We'll share stories of our adventures with family and friends. And, coach Aaron Aanonsen will start thinking about where he would like to take the next trip, which would be as early as 2017 (per NCAA rules). There is a wonderful story about our trip in the local Luxembourg newspaper here.

One important thing to share is that everyone was impressed with our team. From their play on the court to the way they carried themselves off the court, our tour guides and everyone we encountered during our travels had nothing but good things to say about these ambassadors from Lakeland College. On the same note, everyone we met and worked with welcomed us with open arms. People were please we were visiting, and went to great lengths to make sure we were enjoying our stay. The Luxembourg people have tremendous pride in their country, and they loved this change to show it to some new visitors.

The Muskies and the Musel Pikes before Tuesday's game.

The group explored many amazing sights - the Vianden Castle, the American Military Cemetery in Hamm and the massive, beautiful cathedrals in Trier, Germany, and Strasbourg, France, to name a few. It was also interesting to watch the players (and their parents) who are new to Europe learn the cultural differences. Most places don't have air conditioning, and there are no screens on the windows. As one of our tour guides, Luxembourg native Robert Johanns, put it, "There are no bugs." Eating out was another big adjustment. Restaurants don't deliver ice water to your table as you're seated. In fact, if you ask for water, you're likely to get a bottle of mineral water that'll be added to your bill, so we did a lot of asking for "still" water. And, unlike the U.S. where most restaurants are looking to flip tables quickly, eating out in Europe is a social event unto itself. Meals can stretch into hours, and your server won't bring your check until you ask for it. Frankly, it was a welcome change of pace!

As we return to the "real world" of summer jobs and off-season workouts for our players and the daily grind for the parents, we reflect back on this special week together. I hope you enjoyed reading about our travels.

The view from high atop old Luxembourg City.