Recently graduated Penn State All-American outside hitter and the 2017 Big Ten Player of the Year Simone Lee discusses how she's learned to communicate in a foreign country on a new professional team in Italy.

Hello! For my next topic, I've decided to write about what I love to do most: talking. Specifically, talking when almost nobody else knows English. Or even better, not talking when you can’t because you’re in a gym full of Italian players and fans. Language is hard enough when you’re learning the difference between their, there, and they’re in elementary school. But when you have to find a way to communicate when neither party speaks the other’s language, things can get interesting. 

As a rookie in the European volleyball game, I have to say I am definitely blessed to be a part of such an amazing team in both talent and adaptation. Heading into my first practice, I was so nervous because I only knew how to say "hello" in Italian. But when I stepped foot on the court, I heard a very sweet, “Hello, it’s nice to meet you,” coming from somewhere behind me. 

The accent was different than what I am used to hearing, but it was a relief to hear English! I turned around so fast that I think I scared my teammate! I let go a sigh of relief when I realized that my coaches and teammates spoke English well enough for me to understand them. It’s even cooler when I looked around more and saw that Kim Hill (USA Volleyball women’s national team) and Samantha Bricio (USC women’s volleyball alum) were on my team! This being my first year, I feel especially fortunate to have come to a team where there isn’t really a language barrier!

With all of this being said, as grateful as I am that my teammates speak (or try their best to speak) English, I forgot to think about the actual playsets. I’m talking about the different calls you make when calling for the setter to set you. In college, we called for GO or a High Ball, 1s, 5s, and Yis, etc. In the international game, I’ve had to learn (very quickly) the new playsets. Super, Fast, B, Pew, Quick, and Gamma are only a few of the new calls that I have heard and learned. I’m sure you can imagine me on the first day of practice calling for a left side set, shouting, “GO! GO! GO!” And our setters being very confused as to “where I was going." Ha! It was all in good humor as I tried to learn the new playsets. I’ve slowly gotten the hang of it and I feel like this is just another step in the right direction into becoming the best player I can be!

My mom always told me, “You were born with two ears and only one mouth for a reason.” The other half of that quote is: “… so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” Being the new girl means I’ve got a lot of listening to do. Learning as much as I can about this new part of the game, but when it’s time to be vocal, I can assure all of you, nothing has changed.