Uncaged 'My dream'

June 2025

Himeji, Japan

Welcome Ethel!

I will never forget what it felt like stepping into the arrivals hall at Kansai International Airport — unsure of what awaited on the other side of customs. What greeted me was not just a sign, but a big, warm, unforgettable smile.

Ms. Minako Abe held up a glittery welcome sign, and for a moment, I was not just a volleyball player on a journey — I was part of something. This was my first step in Japan; it already felt like home.

"Even the simplest welcome can leave the biggest impact."

Meeting The Team Behind The Game

A few days later, we visited the volleyball headquarters in Himeji. It was not about fancy offices or meeting executives — it was the people. Passionate people. Fun people. Former professional athletes.

I met coaches, coordinators, and staff who worked behind the scenes to make Japanese volleyball what it is: disciplined, gracious, and humble. Everyone made me feel like I belonged—even when I was still adjusting to slippers inside offices and bowing the right way!

"Every great team has an engine behind the scenes. They are mine; the quiet MVPs of week one."

Dinner That Felt Like A Celebration

That evening, they hosted a welcome dinner, and it was unforgettable.

The table was full of food: sausages, salad, and beef, but the people around it made it special. We did not need a perfect language to connect; peace signs, shared plates and belly laughs did the talking.

"You don't always remember every dish, but you will never forget the people who made you feel welcomed."

It was not just a meal, it was my first real moment of belonging in Japan.

Meeting My Teammates

When I first walked onto the court here in Japan, I did not know what to expect. But the moment I met my teammates—all smiles, snacks, and peace signs—I knew I was in the right place.

We did not speak the same language perfectly, but volleyball is a language of its own. We shared jokes, passed snacks, posed for photos, and started forming the trust that makes a real team. It was warm, real, and encouraging — everything I needed at the start of this new chapter.

"The start of something special. One team, many smiles."

Reflection

Not There Yet, But Here

If you are reading this and feel like you are not quite where you want to be — I see you, because I am still there too.

The first week in Japan has been more than just new faces and routines. It has been about stepping into a space where I do not fully belong yet, but showing up anyway — heart open, shoes off, and volleyball in hand.

I met my teammates, whom I could not speak to in complete sentences, but who understood my hustle with a single drill. I walked into meetings with staff and captains who had seen hundreds of players—I hoped I could be one they would remember.

I smiled, I bowed, I learned when to lead and when to listen. In quiet moments, I asked myself: "Am I really ready for this?"

Here is the truth: I am not fully there yet.

Not the athlete I dream of being. Not the coach I hope to become. Not the leader I imagine standing on the sidelines one day.

But I am here.

And sometimes that is the most courageous place to be — the middle.

The becoming.

To The Ones Still Trying

If you have ever felt like you are always chasing and never catching up — this story is for you.

If you are waking up early, training hard, getting passed over, or questioning your worth, this week is for you, too.

Being in Japan reminded me that it is not about being at the top—it is about being on the path. And sometimes, the scariest and most sacred thing is showing up when you do not yet feel like you belong.

Why I am Writing This

I started this blog not because I have arrived, but because I am still chasing — and I know some of you are too. Some of you are trying to find your place, wondering if all this effort will ever turn into something real.

Let us find it together.

Because even if we are not there yet, we are here.

And maybe here, with all its struggles, self-doubt, and hope, is exactly where the real story begins.

"I may not be who I want to be yet - but I am not giving up. And neither should you." — Week One, Himeji

Love

Ethel (UDA)

Follow my journey

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