Holland!!!

Finally!!! Here it is. Everyone and their mothers, and grandmothers, have been asking me how it is in Holland. I will list 5 things that stand out to me since I have been here these last 2 months. I will include some mini stories and facts that you may find interesting as well throughout this entry.

1. Bikes, bikes, bikes!!!

It's a little overwhelming at first. EVERYONE has a bike! On top of that, bikers have the right of way in most scenarios. The first thing that I saw when I got to Holland was an elderly couple pedaling away on their bikes. If you have a bike, you better take care of it though. The number one crime in Holland is bike theft. There is a random fact for ya.

2. Stroopwafels

If you are an American reading this, you probably have no idea what a stroopwafel is. Basically, it is one of the best things I've ever tasted. I compare it to Krispy Kreme doughnuts in America. I would tell you whats in them, but the ingredients are in Dutch. Sorry. My Dutch teammates told me that every American who has tried the stroopwafel become obsessed. So the first time I tried it, I was determined not to like it to break this stereotype. I took a bite and my taste buds did a mean double take. I've been hooked ever since. Smh.

3. Everyone speaks English

Thank. The. Lord!!! Everyone that I have interacted with has been able to communicate with me to some degree. When I first got here, it took a legit 10-15 minutes just to order my food. I'm starting to pick up on the Dutch language a little bit though. I can count to 10 and I know that "kip" means chicken!!! Dutch 101! Had to learn that right away. Chicken is a necessity.

4. Manual cars

For the most part, there are only stick shift cars here. No automatics. Not even semi automatics (which is a good thing lol). I have also seen horse carriages a couple of times. I have added riding on a horse carriage to my bucket list before I leave.

Learning to drive a stick was definitely frustrating. I killed the car consistently time and time again. The worst part was when I was actually trying to drive on a street instead of practicing in a vacant parking lot. Here is a good story...

My worst enemies were traffic lights. This was the case because the most difficult part for me was getting to first gear. I would always try to hurry and get through the lights. Of course, as soon as I would get to the light, it turns red. Then, a long line of cars would build up behind me. The pressure escalated...I started to twitch...to sweat...to pray. The light turns green and then....DEAD!!! This is the only time I've seen Dutch people get a little upset haha. Guess its pretty understandable. Oh well... They honked or zoomed around me. All I could do is hide my face as I started back up the car- and proceeded to pray again.

5. Dutch people are tall!

Ok, I'm already not the tallest guy. Now, I've supposedly landed in the tallest country in the world. Just my luck...*Kanye shrug*

Well I hope that you have enjoyed my rundown of Holland. Overall, it's a beautiful, peaceful country with many sights to see. I am blessed to have an opportunity to start my professional basketball career here and have been thoroughly enjoying my time so far. Thank you for reading my post! I hope you continue to follow me as I continue on my long journey.

God Bless,

Andre

Yeah I'm a Nerd...So?!

Since this blog is all about my life beyond basketball, let's get the truth out there....yes, I'm a "nerd." "You ain't no nerd?!...I coulda swore you was one!" (*Unforgivable voice*). What many people fail to realize is that there is nothing wrong with it. There are many definitions out there for the term "nerd."  Mine is simple...different.  Just because I am different from the next person doesn't mean I'm better or worse for it. We are all beautiful and cool in our own way.  What's crazy is that a couple of years ago, I would not have shared anything like this about myself to the world.  Maybe you will find it interesting haha.

So, now lets talk about my qualifications that confirm my nerd status...

1. I still watch cartoons.  Yes, I am 22 years old and I still get excited when Tom and Jerry comes on haha. I don't know if I should be slightly worried about this, but whatever.  Tom's constant failures to beat Jerry are borderline sad and thoroughly entertaining to me.  Also, I will still watch my favorite cartoon show growing up...Dragonball Z.  Kamehameha!!! Classic.

2. I love video games.  But then again, what guy doesn't?!  I suppose there are some, but there is something about establishing your dominance as a man when having a controller in your hand against fellow gamers.  But this is where I take off on a tangent.  I don't play sport games.  And if you are reading this and don't know me very well, I'm sure that your reaction was like, "What?! What do you mean you don't play sport games?? O_o?!?!"  I deal with this reaction wayyy too often but it's true.  I don't take delight in playing every 2K or FIFA game that comes out on the market.  Just not me.  It probably doesn't help that I already play basketball all the time and I just want to do something different.  And it definitely doesn't help that I am terrible lol.  I play more action/adventure games such as: God of War series (best games ever), Resident Evil series, Final Fantasy series (genuine nerd status), Uncharted series...you get the idea.  Now some competitive games that I do play (and have mastered) are Call of Duty and Super Smash Bros.  You don't want to see me in either.  Promise.

3. I read.  This is obviously an art that has been lost among our society with the advancement of technology amongst other things.  Reading can be a very fulfilling opportunity to learn about various things.  Learn new words, improve grammatical skills, and learn various writing styles.  The list goes on and on.  Read a fiction novel. You will find that you can improve your creativity skills as you imagine certain characters and places that are described in the written movie by simply using your mind.  Your brain is a powerful thing!

4. I have graduated from college, but I still study.  Now Im not talking about studying intense subjects such as chemistry or calculus; however, I have found a passion for music recently.  I have been playing the piano for almost a year in a half now.  Talk about constantly learning!!  There is so much music has to offer whether its breaking down music theory or just listening to different music.  I'm sure mostly everyone can relate to listening to music.  It's has the power to affect us in many ways.  A piece of advice that I want to offer is to be open! Extend beyond your favorite musical artists and give other genres a chance.  You will be glad you did.

Well, this blog is getting a little lengthy.  I probably could have kept going, but I think if you are still reading this, you get the point.  Also, if you are still reading this entry, there may be a little nerd in you too!  You are more than welcome to share your thoughts or your "nerd" qualifications if you want. We can be nerds together! Lol.

God Bless,

Andre

Cribs: Young Edition

In this video, you get a "Behind the Scenes" experience of the Youngs' crib. I will take you on a tour of my house and you will also get to meet my family.

I was back in my hometown recently spending some quality time with my family. Now if you know anything about Albany, GA, then you know there is NOTHING to do. So, you have to find ways to entertain yourself in a productive manner.

A couple of years ago, I would not have been able to make this video because I was shy and would have been caught up with what other people thought. Since I got to college, I have become more comfortable with who I am and not be so concerned about what other people are saying or thinking about me. Also, I have learned to laugh at myself (a skill that everyone should work on and obtain in my opinion) and enjoy life. In this video of Cribs, I definitely laughed at myself...multiple times. But my family and I had a GREAT time making it. Editing the video was not as great but you gotta do what you gotta do haha. Hope you enjoy!!

P.S. I apologize if you can't hear me in some parts of the video. I tried my best with the resources that I had. Enjoy.

Don't Twist My Words

So, I have been thinking...women have this innate talent where they have the ability to completely twist our words (men's words) to negatively affect any given situation. Because of this, it has changed the way I text, talk on the phone, write, or communicate in any way to a female. It's gotten to the point where I have to mentally think about everything that I say and what the outcome will be for each response that I have-- in a short amount of time! In other words...it's annoying haha.

If you are acting like you don't know what I'm talking about, like this is some foreign language/concept to you (most women are probably feeling this way while men are nodding and applauding in agreement), then let me provide a couple of examples to see if I can clear things up a little bit.

Men, I think you would agree with me when I say there are a couple of picky topics when it comes to communicating with women. Some of the topics are their appearance (weight, attractiveness, hair, etc.) and their friends! Honestly, "their friends" can be changed to "any other women in general." Now there are probably more, but I don't want to write a blog as long as the bible. So just bear with me.

As a human race, we are very aware of appearances because we are a visual people. To put it simply, we love to look at/see....things lol. Now, women are very aware of their own appearances because us scavengers...oops, I mean guys, are constantly on the lookout for the most attractive women we ever laid our eyes upon. Therefore, women, you have to be on your game at all times...fair enough.

When it comes to appearances, women want our opinion...on EVERYTHING! "How do I look?" "Do I look fat in this dress?" "Do you like my hair straight or curly?" And most of the time, us guys are like "Uhh...fine." "No" and "I don't care, you look fine with both." And then the woman gets mad because it clearly wasn't a well thought out response like the ones you hear in the chick flick movies that they love so much. Hence, this response then gives us guys the anxiety to TRY to deliver a Emmy awarding quote that will take the woman's breath away. That's where everything goes south!

Woman: "Do I look fat in this dress?"
Man: *VERY slight hesitation simply because you were caught off guard* "Uhh..no."
Woman: *Rolls eyes* "Oh, so I do look fat?"
Man: *Confused* "Uh no, I just said no."
Woman: "So you saying I'm lying now?"
Man: ..........

Here is a texting example:

Woman: "Hey, what u up to"
Man: "Nuthin, just chillin at the crib with the fellas....bored lol"
Woman: "Oh, so I'm boring you now?"
Man: "Huh?"

See how fast that was? That's what happens when you don't think before you speak. Smh...

Now, you have to be extremely careful when talking about other women, especially to your woman. Sounds mean but no compliments for other woman...around your woman. When you are around the fellas, by all means...let loose. A tenth of a second glance longer than 1 second is too long at a feminine passerby. You in the doghouse. You can't pass "GO," you can't collect $200, you can't do anything. You on your own for dinner that night.

This turned out to be a little longer than I wanted, but oh well. Stay tuned for some more blogs in the future. So, there is my 2 cents on twisting my words. Women...can you please stop? Thanks.

Sincerely,
 
Andre Young

Change

Often, I hear that old people don't like change. Um, I don't like change. Oh well, guess I'm old. Most people tend to settle into a comfort zone and become complacent with their life, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. And then, change strikes. Change presents a challenge. It's new and unfamiliar. A confrontational obstacle to overcome. Change presents adversity. It tests your inner strength and courage. You can either let it make you or break you. Here is a story about a big part of my life and how one change presented an umpteen amount of blessings and opportunities that I am still grateful for to this very day.

I was 13 years old. At the time, I stood at a staggering 5 foot 2 inches...just tall enough to get on roller coaster rides. I played for my dad's 17 and under basketball team, The Albany Outlaws. I didn't play much in the games because of my height and youth, but I learned a lot by watching and playing against the older guys in practice. In one of our earlier tournaments during the season, we played a team called the Columbus Blazers. They quickly became one of our rivals. The game was scrappy and everybody was talking trash to the opposition. They ended up beating us in a game that came down to the wire. I was utterly devastated.

Time passed, but the memory lingered.

The season started to draw to a close. After our last scheduled tournament, we found out that we weren't invited to the nationals. The season was over. Done. Finished. Suddenly, out of nowhere, my dad was contacted by a team--a 13 year-old team. The Columbus Blazers. They saw me play in a couple of games and wanted me to join their 13 year-old team who were going to the YBOA (Youth Basketball of America) nationals. My dad presented the idea to me. I didn't even have to think about it...NO! I didn't want to play on the same team with my rivals. I didn't want to play with other kids my age (I got accustomed to the thought of playing with older guys and viewed kids my age inferior to me...crazy thought, I know). However, my dad sat me down and told me how this change could open so many more doors and opportunities that can benefit me later in life. I was 13, young, naive, and wasn't trying to hear it. No!

After all of my complaining, there I was, riding in the backseat with my dad and mom on the way to Columbus, GA...boiling. I refused to talk to my dad. How could he do this to me? I told him straight up, "I am not playing for them if I can't get my number." For those who don't know, my favorite number is 11. After the hour and a half drive, we arrived at the gym. I got prepared to play when I realized that I didn't have a jersey. The head coach, Tony Adams, reached his hand into a bag full of jerseys and threw a random jersey at me. Lo and behold...number 11! You have got to be kidding me? Is this a sign or something? Is this a joke?! All I can do is put on the jersey in disbelief and play with the other guys. It didn't take me long to realize that these guys were as good as I was, if not better! Two guys on the team in particular really welcomed me and eased my discomfort a little. I quickly found myself calling them my brothers. Their names are De'Andre Johnson and Jarvis "The Beast" Jones.

We ended up winning the YBOA nationals. Our success landed my team and I in The Sports Illustrated For Kids Magazine. An unbelievable and humbling honor. I couldn't believe the achievements that we accomplished. I continued playing for the Blazers for the next 4 years--some of the best years of my life! I thank my dad for opening my eyes and showing me that not all change is bad. More of my thanks goes towards the Blazers' organization for giving me a chance to play for them. And of course, so much of my thanks goes towards God! How could any of this be possible without Him? Was this a coincidence? I think not. He presented this opportunity for me and blessed me with parents to show me what I couldn't see. Change treated me well...very well. I gained accolades and met some of the most important people in my life during the 5 years with the Blazers. Though change is hard, we have to learn to accept it. It is inevitable. It often seems to be associated with negativity; however, change is not always negative. Venture out of your comfort zone to maximize your blessings and opportunities. It worked for me!

Shopping With Women

The thought makes me cringe. As my cousin, Johan, eloquently described it, "Its like a going to the dentist. Its painful, expensive and sucks. But you gotta do it every once in awhile." After 21 blessed years of life on this Earth, one thing is painfully obvious... Women are complex creatures. They love to shop and want you to participate sometimes. What's even more crazy is that they want us men to ENJOY being there. Really ladies?! Absolutely absurd, but like I said, they are complex.

Indecisive, picky, passionate, enthused, excited, etc. You name it, they got it. It is one of the most time consuming events that you can participate in. It's like a sport to them. They take pride in what they do. Nothing is more frustrating than walking into a women's clothing store where other women lurk around every corner. If you are not tagging along with your mom, sister, girlfriend, etc., you are like a lost child in a super Walmart on a Christmas Eve night. You are scared and way out of your league. Therefore, you have to run behind the woman to make things less awkward. If you have tried this at all, you know how hard it is to do.

Some tips for guys who fall into the lethal trap:

1. Try to stay optimistic. I know it's hard, but you gotta do it. This will help when you are asked the inevitable questions, "How does this look?" or "Do you like this?"
2. Have something to entertain yourself with. A phone, a book, an ipod, buy a Rubik's cube if you have to! Anything!
3. Take occasional breaks to maintain your sanity. If you are in a mall, visit a men's store. Check out some sneakers at a Foot Locker store or Foot Action. Check out a game store to find out when the next Call of Duty comes out. You need a break, so reward yourself.
4. If you are getting really annoyed, get on their nerves. This is not suggested, especially if the woman is your wife, girlfriend, etc. But, it may be necessary depending on the situation. I found a farting app on my ipod that can get highly annoying. Every time your clothing hunter bends down to look at a pair of shoes or piece of clothing, pull out the ipod/iPhone and pick an ear splitting fart noise that will be sure to turn feminine heads with contorted faces of disgust (Don't tell her that I told you to do this. Please. For my own safety). If you choose to do this, you must suffer the consequences yourself.

If you have any other suggestions, please share. I know I'm going to end up in these inescapable scenarios sometime in the future. Just remember, there is no way we can survive without these complex creatures we have come to adore so much. Though they are a handful, they keep us men in line. This is our way of showing our thanks. Now, go! Venture out to overcome this difficult challenge to test your courage and manhood. And don't forget...optimism!

Free Time

Free time. My time. Invaluable time. As I get older, I find that it becomes more and more scarce. If I had to give advice concerning this topic, I would advise to choose hobbies that you enjoy doing; however, also try to find things that are productive and rewarding. It is always interesting to look back on life and witness your evolution as a person. What did you like to do when you were a kid? What do you like to do now? As we get older, our responsibilities don't add up...they multiply. With that being said, I think that what a person does with their free time speaks a lot on what kind of person he/she is. What kind of person are you? Let's talk about the two words separately.

Free. A concept that is pretty much nonexistent in our society today. So why don't we take this more seriously? I found myself asking this question recently. I take care of my obligations such as workouts and school. But then what? Sleep? Video games? Read a book? There are 24 hours in a day. My obligations only takes about 8-9 hours of the day. Up to this point in my life, a lot of my free time went to video games. It is something that I enjoy doing. But what am I getting out of playing video games? Nothing, really. So, I started looking for hobbies that I enjoy, but are also productive. Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to learn to play piano. Currently, I practice the piano at least 30 minutes everyday. Also, I am starting to blog. I think this can help improve my writing skills and critical thinking. It can also be a process to find out more about myself and what my values and priorities are. Finally, but certainly not the least, I am reading the Bible. I want to be more knowledgeable on my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so, very blessed to have the opportunities and talents that I have today because of Him. It is up to me to find out as much as I can about Him and live through His Word. In order to live through His Word, I have to know what the Word consists of. So remember, this time is free. So don't pay the consequences by wasting it.

Time. Something so invaluable, so precious. It's unconscious and slows down for no one. It should be taken seriously because once a day goes by, you can't get it back. Make your life worthwhile. Take life a second at a time. Learn as much as you can. Make an impact on a life. Pursue your dreams. Love those precious to you. Bless those who dislike you. Be unforgettable. Time is short. It has the ability to stop all together; however, it only stops for an individual. Life goes on for the rest. The physical body can not compete with time. It just isn't possible. However, a memory can. Will your memory conquer time?

As I bring this entry to a close, I already feel productive by just typing my ideas down on this blog. It is one thing to talk about doing something; it is totally different to actually do it. Now that I talked about each word separately, it is time to put them back together. Free time. My time. Invaluable time. What will you do with it?