I finally have a chance to sit down and take a breath. March was crazy busy for me! It stated off with the NY OPEN/ NYAC Team Championships in NYC. I had the opportunity to fight an exhibition match with the Japanese women's team that came in. It was a lot of fun and great to have women competing at this event! 
After the NY OPEN, a few days later I flew to Hawaii to do a judo clinic at the Hawaii Tenri Judo Club. It was my first time in Hawaii, and I am officially in love with the state! I hung out by the beach everyday and taught judo at night! It was a great experience to teach and show upcoming Junior athletes what I have learned competing internationally for many years.
I also got to take a break from the cold, work on my tan and sit back and relax for a minute!!
A week after returning home from Hawaii, I got ready to fly out to Georgia and Turkey for the last two tournaments before the Pan American Championships. The first tournament was the Georgian Grand Prix. I made it to the Semi-Finals, lost in the semis- (to the eventual winner) and than sadly lost in the bronze medal match in 15 seconds! :( I hit a wall, after my semi-finals match and all the caffeine in the world could not wake me up! Getting fifth place is probably one of the worse feelings in the world. It's like dangling a cookie in front of a hungry person, it is right there but you can't reach it!
The following week I competed in Samsun, Turkey. I went 3-2 and ended up taking another FIFTH! A very frustrating feeling- especially since during my bronze medal contest I hurt my MCL, after the first exchange and was trying to function hopping on one leg. I tried to continue the contest and fight through the pain but my knee was useless and I could not put any weight on it! So I yet again take another fifth place!
Overall, this trip was a very positive one for me. I got 9 matches in, and I felt like I learned a lot about myself and I am always figuring out what else I need to work on to continue to improve. That is the best part of judo, you never stop learning!
I am home now, resting and icing my knee, and more determined than ever to take a medal at my next event- which is the Pan American Championships in Ecuador.
