Reflecting on Our Team USA Win at AQHA Youth World Cup!
EC Blog by: Team USA member Charles Lee
U.S. Takes the Gold!
Now we’re finally back home in the United States, safe and sound. It was a long flight back home, but it was definitely worth it. Seeing my family for the first time in over two weeks was a feeling I cannot describe.
As I write this, I feel a sense of pride because the U.S. brought home the gold, but sadness over the friendships we left behind with some of the countries we felt privileged to have met. The awards banquet was very simple, but the meaning behind it was remarkable. As they presented the awards to each team, and gave each clinician a cherished item, I must say we were filled with pride as the announcer called Team USA the champions of the Youth World Cup.
We were filled with emotions we could not describe. We got to take pictures with some of the other teams and say one last goodbye to our friends from other countries. I’m sure it was just as emotional to them as it was for us. Remembering the first time we met Team New Zealand playing catch, our nighttime battles with Team Australia involving Vegemite, the friendships we had created with Canada, Belgium, and other countries came flooding back as we were taking pictures knowing it was the memories we would always have forever.
Team USA 2014 was right when they said we would have a blast at one of the most prestigious horse competitions in the world. I’m so proud to have been a part of Team USA, the elite ten, and to help defend our title and bring home the gold.
After capturing the gold, it was time to celebrate by touring the Australian Outback. We took a tour of the landscape and saw wild kangaroos jumping on the skyline. The landscape was picture perfect with green hills and cool streams. Our tour guide explained a lot about the countryside and tooks us around the sights of the Outback.
If you’re planning to go to Australia anytime soon, here are some words of advice.
#1- If you plan to go to Australia in the winter, BRING A HEAVY COAT.
#2- Proceed with CAUTION when offered Vegemite!
#3- Here are some of the words Australians use that might be helpful to understand.
- “Sheila”- a girl
- “Bloke”- a boy
- “Station”- a ranch
- “Float”- a trailer
- “No worries”- Everything is ok
- “Utes”- Big Trucks
- “Brumbee”-Mountain Horse/Mustang
Australia is known for their hospitality. From those of us on Team USA, we all sincerely appreciate the friends and family members we left at home that carried on with the day to day activities to help make this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity possible.
#ProudtobeanAmerican
– Charles
