I like high-fives, but this is almost out of control

The last 2 weeks I have been playing volleyball with a group of teachers at my school and their sons. They might be old- I really have no ability to tell with these Slovenes:
'A sta tudi učetelja?' (Are you teachers too?)
'Eh, ne. Jaz sem devetnajst' (Eh, no. I'm 17 years old).

However, old or not, I certainly am not the most fit and agile person there. Miha, who is probably about 55 years older than me can still dive, plus he sets to that sweet spot every single time. Love playing with him- hate playing against him.


Yesterday was a pretty bad day- I have some conflicts with the staff that I am working with and I am struggling to find the balance between doing what I want to do, and being respectful/submissive. I definitely definitely understand that I am new and naive ... I also understand that I am a teacher too who is good with kids and can bring a new perspective. I will find the balance. I hope- otherwise, I am lovin' it here.

I think that there are many things in my character that really help me to 'fit' into the European life-style... I'm not really fashion consciousness (''Nicole, what are you wearing?'' -Lynn... almost everyday). I don't feel that it is important to shower everyday (or every other day). I like bread. However, some things that I love are taken to such extremes that I cannot handle it. Ok- yeah, I love pizza, but I don't want to eat an entire pizza at one sitting. Yes, I would do many things for high fives, but really?

I would say that our volleyball games here look like this:
65% volley
10% ball-retrieval/dead-time
25% high fives

Every. Single. Serve.

Don't get me wrong, I like being enthusiastic and positive- I enjoy congratulating my teammates, but there has got to be a limit. We have exceeded it. However, I suppose all of the high fives contributed to my lighter spirits. Though it could have been some of the other funny things that happened:

1. My coworker Boris (55 year old volleyball MACHINE) apparently always sweats into a perfect heart on his shirt.
2. There was a point when I didn't understand the new 'plan' for success that my huddled team was whispering about. Until Frenk motioned that I should flash the other team because ''še si mlada'' (Don't worry mom, dad, or minister- it was just a joke. Though one that will probably make me avert eye-contact with Frenk until Christmas).
3. I realized the irony of being on a really good team of ex-Yugoslavs which is not called 'Hammer and Sickle', and how they could destroy our young Lawrence Parks & Rec team.