When Monarchs players take their game overseas, playing and practicing are the easy part. Trying to communicate and get by border patrol, however, have proven difficult for Monarchs forward DeMya Walker.

Hey Monarchs fans!

What�s up? How are you? Everything is great for me. I am currently in Russia playing for the Nadezhda Orenburg Basketball Club. The experience has been interesting to say the least, but my main objective, when I accepted the job here, was to get myself into game shape and get my timing back while trying to help the team win games. I wasn�t so much worried about my knee as it was feeling great before I left. Well, my mission is being accomplished. I feel great and have lost almost all my injury weight gain, waaaaahooooooo!!! (LOL) My knee is back to normal as far as twisting and turning, step throughs, and drives. Although I have to admit, the first time it got hit I think my heart dropped to my feet. But once I realized it was cool, it was smooth sailing from there. My teammate is Betty Lennox out here and she is such a great player and influence. She makes sure I do my abs and even has me eating vegetables!! (Hahahahaha) If it wasn�t for her I might have gone insane out here by now, but hey GOD always makes sure you will be ok when he sends you out to the middle of nowhere, right?

As for life in Orenburg? Well, we practice twice a day and the language barrier leaves for much to be desired. Just recently my road trip consisted of a 17 hour train ride from my team city to Cheylabinsk, Russia, then a two hour plane to Moscow and then a 14 hour train to Lithuania, which got cut short because my team didn�t realize that as Americans we needed visas to enter Belarus. So, the police escorted us off the train as illegal entries, fined us and then told us to go get visas and they would allow us to leave. However, the office was closed, but luckily my translator, Tanya, found a man that could help us get the lady to open up just for us. We finally get our visas and then learned that we have to take a local bus to Lithuania because none of the taxi drivers have visas to enter Lithuania. So, we ride on the bus for about 2 hours with two stops for inspection by the Belarussian exit passport authorities and Lithuanian entrance passport authorities, both wanting to know one thing, �Why the heck are three Americans on a bus from Belarus to Lithuania?� As I explained it to them, �I would like to know too.� (LOL) When we eventually made it to Vilnius, Lithuania I thought woohoo at least I can see Kristin (Haynie). Well, they were on the road, figures right? So my translator, my grandma, Zachara and I just chilled till the next day when we had to go to the Russian embassy in Lithuania to extend our visas. Well, as if anything else could happen, we were supposed to have our visas to enter Russia for March 8, however the woman at the embassy decided to go by the book and cancelled our existing visas and told us we couldn�t enter Russia until March 9, the day of our game against UMMC, a powerhouse here (Russia). So we flew at 6am to Moscow, drove 1 hour to another airport and then flew back to our team city. We arrived at 4:45pm for a 6pm game. Needless to say I didn't play (LOL), but that is just one example of my commitment to Sacramento, its all about your purpose out here. (LOL)

As for Zachara, she insists on talking to everybody and trying to play with everyone and I think she may be picking up some Russian. Wouldn't that be an advantage if she was fluent in Russian by the time it�s time for her to go pro? She is an excellent passer already! Seriously people, my daughter is a future baller. I can't believe she will be two in a couple weeks, time flies so fast.

Well, I hope you all are doing well. I am great and I can�t wait to get back in a Sacramento uniform and prove our doubters wrong once again. It�s funny, but as long as I have been a Monarchs player, we have always done best when no one thought we could. It�s an honor to be part of an organization that believes in its players and I hope you all feel the same.

See ya soon,

D

DeMya Walker took some time during her vacation to check in with SacramentoMonarchs.com. Find out what she has planned for this holiday season!

Hey Monarchs fans, what�s up? Happy Holidays to all of you and more wishes for a very Merry Christmas! I am back home in NJ for the holidays with my parents, family and cold weather. Boy, do I miss Cali's (little) cold weather. It feels so unbelievably cold out here. It is about 30 degrees here and feels like someone soaked you with water and pushed you into a blizzard when you go outside. You would think I am used to this being that I was raised here, BUT I have lived in the South since I was 17. Also, when I live in Russia, I�m mentally prepared to freeze. Never underestimate the power of your mental attitude!

Anyway, Christmas in my family is a very exciting time of year. However, my mom has decided we should open all of our gifts before Christmas because she hates waiting to see people's reactions to what she chose (LOL). Besides, as she says, the birth of Jesus is the reason for the season, so why not enjoy your presents the whole vacation! Honestly, I�m not complaining. So far, I�ve received a watch, purse, money and perfume. My brothers refuse to tell me what I�m getting until Christmas, so the excitement continues. My mom always makes a beautiful tree. This year she has outdone herself. It is fantabulous!!!!!! Zachara has been spoiled rotten by my family and she loves every minute. She has so many toys; I don�t know how I�m going get them all back to Sacramento. However, I�m sure there are worse things that I could be worried about, like keeping up my conditioning in this cold weather! Running is a task in layers of clothes and wind blowing every direction! But hey, I�m determined to be back on the court better than I ever was in 2008, so I have to do what I have to do, you know? Right before I left, I got a chance to work out in ARCO and I imagined each and every one of you cheering us on. It was enough motivation to get me through this last month and a half to two months of rehab!

But enough about working out, I mean, I'm supposed to be on vacation right (LOL)? Anyhow, my mom's house is plastered with embarrassing pictures of my entire life as I�ve grown. I love being home with my mom and reminiscing about different things I�ve gone through or experienced, along with different styles I�ve gone through. Trust me, my style has taken a turn for the better, thank GOD! (LOL) I just knew I was cute but woe is me! My grandmother is still beautiful as ever and just as much of a smart aleck as me. I�m telling you, I get it honest! Our Christmas traditions of singing carols and thanking each other for our love of each other and commitment to family have yet to begin. Christmas Eve is the day! But I love being home with my family and love the chance to share city life with my daughter! She�s definitely going to be a little less country when we get back!

I miss you all and will talk to you again next week after Christmas to update you on all the fantastic happenings of my family!

Merry Christmas, D