2008 Woodie Awards
Balance key for foreign athletes
Antonio Graves
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: Sports
Originally published: 4/26/07 at 4:54 PM EST
Last update: 4/27/07 at 8:40 PM EST
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His father, who used to play, taught him all the basics of the game and encouraged him to come to the United States to further his education and hockey career.
Helgesson's early introduction to the English language - English classes being in the fourth grade in Sweden - made coming to the United states an obvious choice.
The U.S. culture is also represented in other aspects of Sweden, such as movie subtitles, he said.
"Back home, I hear English everyday, so I'm used to speaking it," Helgesson said. "Sweden is a lot like New York and New England, except for the fact that it's smaller."
With vast knowledge and experiences in both Swedish and American cultures, he said he one day hopes to land an international political career in which he can travel back and forth between the two countries.
Similar to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Kirby Davids' cultural background is extremely diverse.
Davids, a junior softball player for PSUC, was born in Brisbane, Australia, to two South African immigrants, both of who encouraged her to come to the United States.
Her parents fled to Australia to escape the racism and violence that consumed the apartheid rule in Cape Town, South Africa.
Davids said although Brisbane, Australia, resembles the United States in its multi-cultural nature, there are still many major differences.
In Australia, there is more of a sense of unity whereas in the United States a feeling of separation is apparent between people of different races and backgrounds.
"In my opinion, I think that Australia is the best place to raise a child," Davids said. "No one says if they are black, Spanish or Indian because everyone just considers themselves to be Australian."
Davids found her way to the United States by getting recruited by Sean Cotter, head softball coach at PSUC.
Cotter spotted Davids during one of the games on the softball teams's annual trip to Australia.
"He asked when was I ever going to play for the team and I said whenever you want me to," she said. "I didn't care if it was a bad team or if it was in the middle of nowhere. I just knew I wanted to go and experience something new."
Her father, who is very athletic, encouraged her to go play softball in another country.
Since Australia has no college sports teams, he figured it would be a great opportunity for her.
"My dad always pressured my sister and me into playing different sports," she said. "I don't know where I would be right now if it wasn't for sports. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Helgesson's early introduction to the English language - English classes being in the fourth grade in Sweden - made coming to the United states an obvious choice.
The U.S. culture is also represented in other aspects of Sweden, such as movie subtitles, he said.
"Back home, I hear English everyday, so I'm used to speaking it," Helgesson said. "Sweden is a lot like New York and New England, except for the fact that it's smaller."
With vast knowledge and experiences in both Swedish and American cultures, he said he one day hopes to land an international political career in which he can travel back and forth between the two countries.
Similar to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Kirby Davids' cultural background is extremely diverse.
Davids, a junior softball player for PSUC, was born in Brisbane, Australia, to two South African immigrants, both of who encouraged her to come to the United States.
Her parents fled to Australia to escape the racism and violence that consumed the apartheid rule in Cape Town, South Africa.
Davids said although Brisbane, Australia, resembles the United States in its multi-cultural nature, there are still many major differences.
In Australia, there is more of a sense of unity whereas in the United States a feeling of separation is apparent between people of different races and backgrounds.
"In my opinion, I think that Australia is the best place to raise a child," Davids said. "No one says if they are black, Spanish or Indian because everyone just considers themselves to be Australian."
Davids found her way to the United States by getting recruited by Sean Cotter, head softball coach at PSUC.
Cotter spotted Davids during one of the games on the softball teams's annual trip to Australia.
"He asked when was I ever going to play for the team and I said whenever you want me to," she said. "I didn't care if it was a bad team or if it was in the middle of nowhere. I just knew I wanted to go and experience something new."
Her father, who is very athletic, encouraged her to go play softball in another country.
Since Australia has no college sports teams, he figured it would be a great opportunity for her.
"My dad always pressured my sister and me into playing different sports," she said. "I don't know where I would be right now if it wasn't for sports. I wouldn't have it any other way."
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