After winning the 2005 WNBA Championship, Erin Buescher headed over to Heliopolis, Greece for her second off-season to play with Akadimia 75. She�s been playing quite well averaging 14.9 points and 10 rebounds per game while guiding her team to an 11-3 record (as of 2/7/06). SacrmentoMonarchs.com recently caught up with Erin Buescher to see how life is treating her in Greece.

Here�s what she had to say:

Life over here in Greece has been quite an adventure this year. There aren't any other WNBA players here, but every team has an American. Greeks are fun people; they like to play, not to work. They like to go for coffee for hours and they all close their stores from about two until six, just so they can go for coffee, very laid back. They love food, laughing, wine, dancing, music, and the sea. It�s a nice fit for me except there isn�t any surfing. I've accepted the fact that surfing is something that will just have to wait until I finish ball, which is ok!

The level of basketball isn�t so high here in Greece, but the girls on my team are sweethearts. It has been snowing a bit, which is different than last year in Athens and I have to say as a California girl I am the BIGGEST BABY when it comes to the cold!! BBBRRRRRRRRR~~!!!!! So, I have been hibernating in my little apartment watching DVD's or going to the movie theatres. Outdoor activities have been put on hold until God turns the heat up a little. Although, I did go on a hike in the mountains surrounding Athens with a teammate and her three dogs in the snow, it was extremely invigorating!! I am still not a fan of the cold weather though. And these elderly Greek women are incredible, it�s about 3 degrees Celsius outside, just as cold in the Mediterranean Sea, and they are out there in the water, wading around in their bikinis (I mean ladies in their sixties and seventies) and shower caps...RIGHT ON WOMEN!!!!!! So cool, and so very much more tough than I am now, let alone what I will be when I am seventy.

The Greek food is yummy, but kind of heavy so I only indulge once in awhile, but the people are so welcoming. I have a family who lives next door to me and every day without fail at 2 o�clock there is a bag of hot yummy food tied to the handle of my door. They say they are my Greek family. Little do they know, many people say that!!! They are extremely hospitable, EXCEPT on the roads, whoa...watch out!!!!

I'm learning quite a bit of Greek and enjoying down time, as it is peaceful, quiet and restful. I�m looking forward to this upcoming WNBA season and as the time draws near for training camp, I notice I�m thinking about Sac town more and more. :)

Hope all is well!

Smiles,
Erin