Before the competition, we had been focused on olive picking and getting ready as a team. During the race we worked hard, we represented our country and did well, but what I will remember the most is the other people we met and got to know along the way and the identity and pride of the people of the Adriatic.

After the olive picking competition, we took a bus to an old castle in Dol, one of the original settlements on the island and the castle has been build inland with a view of the sea to protect the inhabitants from pirates who dominated the Adriatic. A beautiful lunch was prepared by the culinary class from the high school. As we ate in the shade I listened to the hum of a dozen languages being spoken at once, but with a standard universal language of friendship. It was soul filling to be apart of a group celebrating that which brings us together.

The girls were exhausted as much emotionally as physically when we were done and caught a quick nap before the official weigh in at the olive plant. We each saw our own numbers but were sworn to secrecy before the actual awards ceremony. Our olives were combined and turned oil that evening.

The day of the awards ceremony the organizers again went above and beyond setting us up with a day full of more learning and adventures. We headed back to the museums of Skript and walked back down to the town of Dol. One of my favorite moments was when we were at the olive oil museum. We were enjoying wine, fig jam, oil, and homemade bread while the Hungary team and Spanish team gave us a crash course in the subtler points of olive oil tasting. Much like wine, olive oil is an art and science, and it was beautiful learning from these world experts.

The afternoon was free, and our family headed out for another “swim challenge” in open water (the girls are becoming quite the little fish) and waved at the English and Spanish teams sea kayaking as they explored the coast.

As the hotel lobby swelled with guests before dinner, it was clear the awards night was a big deal. The mayor, a representative from the prime minister, and journalists for numerous countries were all in attendance. The awards started with the 11th place and moved up from there. Our goal was top 10. When it was announced Great Brittan got 11th, we were ecstatic, we were not the last. Next came Spain, and we all were shocked. As they called Frances' name for 9th, we thought we were next but then came the taste testing masters, Hungary followed by Sweeden in 7th. Seeing little one's expression during the countdown was priceless. They announced last years second place team, the Netherlands in 6th place. By the time they called our names in fifth place, I didn't think the girls could hold their excitement in much longer. Everyone erupted with shouts of joy as we walked up to get our picture taken and collect beautiful gifts they gave every team. The whole competition exceeded all expectations, and we celebrated the top 4 teams in their well-deserved victories with Croatia winning for the second year in a row.

What struck me the most about the night, however, was the camaraderie among the countries of the former Yugoslavia. There were these songs that the band would sing and suddenly everyone from Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia / Herzegovina, and Montenegro would all break into song together. They were emotional. They cheered, hugged and cried. I asked one of the women from Slovenia, a kind beautiful soul who taught me so much how they all knew so many of the same songs. She told me the songs were all from the singer, Oliver Dragojević who has recently passed away. She said his music unified the countries over common themes of friendship, love, family when they were united and through the wars and he is deeply missed. He was from the Dalmatian islands and losing him was like losing a superhuman figure that defined the people of this region more than their nationality.

We walked home along the water in the darkness after the ceremony, our hands full of olive oil from the fruits we had collectively gathered. The voices of people from countries I had only know a part of a faraway war on TV before this year echoed against the Brac stone buildings. It struck me that like our oil, the voices were individual but blended into one common shared human experience that transcended nationality.

The door of opportunity opened with this compititon and on the other side were found the common language of friendship, a deeper understanding of both the physical and political world and a stronger sense of who we are as a team.