Haunted Edition of Overseas Famous Newsletter

Hey Imports,

Welcome back to the Overseas Famous newsletter, where we’re diving into the unique lives of overseas athletes, with a little twist for Halloween! This week, we’re sharing some of the best places abroad to celebrate Halloween, giving you tips for a spooky good time overseas, and a preview of next week’s podcast with former Duke player and author Nick Horvath.

🎃 Best Places to Spend Halloween Abroad

If you’re overseas and want to get into the Halloween spirit, here are some top spots with events that bring the scary fun to life:

• Derry, Northern Ireland: Known for one of the largest Halloween celebrations in Europe, Derry hosts the Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival, a full weekend of parades, costume contests, haunted houses, and street performances that draw crowds from around the world.

• Transylvania, Romania: What’s spookier than Dracula’s homeland? Celebrate Halloween in Bran Castle (yes, Dracula’s Castle!) with eerie tours, vampire-themed parties, and a night in one of the most iconic “haunted” castles.

• Kawasaki, Japan: Just outside Tokyo, the Kawasaki Halloween Parade is the biggest Halloween event in Japan, featuring thousands of people dressed in elaborate costumes, from traditional spooky characters to anime-inspired creations.

• Paris Catacombs, France: For those who like a real scare, the Catacombs of Paris are open for hauntingly fun tours. This network of underground tunnels is packed with eerie vibes and history...a real treat for thrill-seekers!

🏀 Next Week’s Podcast: Nick Horvath

We’re excited to have Nick Horvath on next week’s episode! Nick, a former Duke player and current author of the book Sledge, joins us to talk about life after basketball, the challenges of transitioning from sports, and the journey of becoming an author. He dives into the mental and physical challenges of sports and how he turned his experiences into his new book. Tune in next week for a powerful, insightful conversation!

🧛 Overseas Athlete Halloween Survival Guide

Not all countries celebrate Halloween the same way (or at all), but here are some ways you can still get into the spooky spirit:

1. Host a Halloween Movie Marathon: Create your own mini movie theater experience. Invite teammates and watch classics like Hocus Pocus or Nightmare on Elm Street.

2. DIY Costumes: If you’re low on Halloween costumes abroad, hit up local thrift stores and get creative. Throw on your DIY costume and get votes on social media for the best look!

3. Ghost Story Challenge: This Halloween, tap into local legends! Research a ghost story or local haunting from the country you’re in and share it with your teammates, friends, or followers. It’s the perfect way to get in the Halloween spirit and learn a little history...if you’re brave enough!

💀 Scary Fact of the Week: Ghost Stories from Overseas Arenas (and Beyond)

I don't know who needs to hear this, but there’s a whole world out there…and all the strange, creepy things that happen in American historic spots? They’re happening in ancient places across the globe too. If you’ve ever walked past the Colosseum in Rome at night and caught hundreds of glowing cat eyes staring back from the shadows, you know the world is a seriously eerie place. The strange echoes in deserted gymnasiums long after the lights go out have left athletes with some pretty wild stories of their own.For example, rumor has it that a certain arena in Belgrade, Serbia, is haunted by the restless spirit of a former fan who never missed a game. They say he roams the stands, cheering on an empty court…local athletes swear they hear faint chants echoing when they’re there alone.

But the truth is, it’s not just the arenas that give you chills overseas; sometimes, it’s the places you stay, and the isolation that can make every little sound feel personal.

My Own Overseas Ghost Story

My Estonian apartment was not old, at least not the interior. It featured many modern amenities including a two-sided fireplace that I never lit despite the draft that seemed to seep in through the crack of my front door. It was however, the kind of place with creaky floors, high ceilings, and walls that have probably seen more lives than I could imagine. It was one of those late, quiet, cold nights after practice, and I was finally starting to unwind. Just me, a random movie from my prehistoric DVD collection, and the eerie silence that tends to settle over you when you’re alone in a foreign country.

Then, out of nowhere, I heard it: knock, knock, knock. Three slow, solid knocks on the door. Now, if you’ve been overseas, you know that sometimes people just show up…teammates, neighbors, even the landlord. But something about this knock was… different. It was heavy, almost like it carried some weight with it. I stood there, frozen for a second, thinking, Who would be at my door this late?

I walked over, trying to brush off the creepy feeling, and glanced through the peephole. Nothing. Just the empty hallway and that dim, front light that barely illuminated the parking lot and the woods beyond. I waited a second, half expecting someone to come into view. But there was nothing…no footsteps, no sound, just that eerie quiet pressing in from all sides.

I checked the lock on the door and headed back to the couch, trying to shake it off. Maybe someone had the wrong door. But then… It happened again. Knock, knock, knock. Same slow, deliberate rhythm, and this time, it sounded almost impatient.

I remember sitting there, debating whether I should open the door. My mind was racing. Could it be a teammate messing with me? Maybe the weird couple next door, who would scream at each other, then ten minutes later wake the entire complex with their homemade pornography? Or, worse, one of those Albanian traffickers they always warned us about, who maybe got a spare key from one of the many people who somehow possessed one. But as much as I wanted to think it was a joke, there was something off…a feeling creeping up my spine, telling me this was something else.

I got up to open the door, just a crack, but again no one. No shadows, no footsteps echoing away, just the cold dark air. And for a split second, I think maybe I imagined it… until I realize the apartment feels colder. It’s like the temperature dropped ten degrees…probably because I opened the door to the -12 degree night, but maybe because of something else.

I slammed the door, locked it tight, and headed back inside. My mind was racing. Who’s got a key? Who’s been here before? I think about how old the building is, the stories I’d heard from teammates about strange things happening to people who stay there. It could’ve been a prank, a neighbor, maybe even an old tenant—but what if it wasn’t?

That night, I didn’t sleep. Every creak felt like someone was standing right outside, waiting. I kept glancing at the door, half-expecting another knock, another sign. But nothing. Just silence and the weight of being alone in a place that felt a lot older than me, with memories it wasn’t ready to let go of.

I never figured out who, or what, was knocking. Maybe it was just a delivery guy at the wrong door, or someone messing with me because I missed two clutch free throws a few nights before. Or maybe it was one of those massive wolves I’d heard howling earlier, just looking for a warm home and a soft-hearted pet owner… guilty. Or maybe, just maybe…it was something else entirely. Something not real.

Until Next Week…

Thanks for joining us for this Halloween edition! Wherever you are, we hope you enjoy a safe, spooky season. Stay connected, stay creepy, and don’t forget, you’re more than just an athlete.

Cheers, Kevin Owens Founder, Overseas Famous

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