Chasing Goals Across EuropePaula's Hockey Adventures

From the hockey fields of South Africa to the excitement of Europe, Grade 11 Ruthie, Paula Mokoto, embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime hockey tour, made possible by the incredible generosity of her donors, the AVI Community Trust. This is Paula's experience in her own words ...

Some trips you take. Others take you. My 9-day journey through Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands was unquestionably the latter.

From the very beginning, it was clear that this was not just a well-planned itinerary, it was a carefully curated experience. Every train connection, every training session, every guided walk, and every moment of free time felt intentional.

Days 1-3: Belgium - Leuven in 32 degree C Heat

We based ourselves in Leuven, which immediately became home. It was a vibrant, beautiful university city with its stunning Town Hall and bustling Oude Markt, and it was the perfect place to start.

What no one expected was the weather. Even though it was autumn, the heat was intense and it hit us the second we stepped onto the pitch.

Our first day set the tone for the entire trip. We had hockey training in that relentless heat, everyone pushing through, sweating, laughing, and already bonding through the sheer effort of it. That same evening, still feeling the sun on our skin, we had an exuberant game against the Dutch. It was fast, competitive, and full of energy. Despite how ruthless the opposing team was on the field, we shared laughs and short stories over pasta during dinner, interrupted by a lighthearted dance battle.

Off the pitch, Leuven took care of us. We spent the next 2 days getting well- acquainted with the city, as much as we were each other. We found a small local shop which sold an assortment of European candy spot which immediately became our go-to stop. Sharing our common love for sugar, that is when our group truly started to become friends.

Days 4-6: Germany - Köln in the Cold and Rain

If Belgium was summer, Germany was a complete contrast. We arrived in Köln to cold, grey, and rainy weather. The shift was dramatic, but it made the experience even more memorable.

Upon our arrival by bus, we played in the pouring rain, barely being able to make out the keep our eyes fully open and the ball skidding fast across the wet turf. It was tough, and muddy but it was brilliant. Team-bonding is really prominent feel when you are all soaked together and still fighting for every ball.

As the days progressed, we warmed up by exploring. We visited the grand St. Peter’s Cathedral, the Kölner Dom. Nothing could prepare me for its scale - it was colossal. Standing beneath the twin spires that disappear into the clouds, I was awestruck.

Soon after the admiring the cathedral’s great magnitude we walked to a popular fast food restaurant called Five Guys where I tried a raspberry Sprite for the first time along with the classic fries and a beef burger. With a content stomach, we spent the rest of the day shopping and acquiring souvenirs, wandering through the streets of Köln, our bags getting heavier but our spirits never wavering.

The next day was pure adrenaline-inducing. We spent the entire morning to early afternoon at the exciting Phantasialand amusement park, known for its large rollercoasters. I have never experienced anything like it. We went on insane rides that had my heart clinging onto my rib cage, screaming and laughing at the same time, strangling my friends’ fingers like my life depended on it. Regardless of my pounding heart, I would do it all again.

To top it off, I tried churros for the first time there, warm and sugary, the perfect comfort food after having your stomach flipped upside down.

Days 7-9: The Netherlands - Finally Feeling Like Locals

Arriving in The Netherlands, the weather graced us again. It was warmer, but in the most perfect way. The sun golden sun casting its rays upon every building as though the view from our bedroom window could not get any more scenic.

It was here that we finally felt like citizens, because we finally got to cycle, like everyone seems to in Europe. After seeing bikes everywhere for a week, we were finally part of the flow, ringing our bells and cycling in a long, wobbly, laughing line.

Our last game together was in the early evening. There was something so emotional about it, knowing it was our final time taking the field together on this trip. After the demanding, yet humorous game, we left everything on the as we all came together for a wholesome dinner with the entire team and our wonderful coaches. Between the delicious food and free flowing conversation, there was omnipresent warm feeling of having accomplished something together.

The last two days were centred around truly exploring Maastricht. No more games, no more rushing to catch the bus. Just long walks through its charming streets, trying different restaurants and endless shopping for those last few souvenirs we couldn't leave without. Maastricht was calm, elegant, and the perfect place to slow down.

Our last nights were quite the opposite. The nights we truly solidified our friendships conversations long forgotten but the feeling of togetherness everlasting. We spent the last nights laughing away rather than sleeping, all in the name of savouring our final days in Europe. With our motto being “we can sleep in South Africa,” we snuck to the vending machine in the middle of the night, had giant sleepovers where we repeated inside jokes while playing group games, and overall, sealing our friendships before we had to say goodbye.

Writing this final part on the plane back to Johannesburg, somewhere high above the clouds, it all feels surreal how nine days could hold so much.

Above everything, I am beyond grateful to my sponsor, AVI Community Trust, for making this unforgettable trip possible. What was once a dream has turned it into a reality far bigger than anything I imagined.

I come home with irreplaceable friendships, memorable experiences , and a deep appreciation for how big and beautiful the world is.

For this alone, I am forever grateful.

Paula Mokoto (RF2023)

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