Shay Doron is not spending the summer the way most people her age do.

Instead of tanning at the beach, seeing movies or partying with friends, the Terrapin women’s basketball rising junior has been traveling the world playing basketball.

Doron has been in Russia, Lithuania, Israel and the Czech Republic playing basketball on two separate teams — the Under-20 Israeli National Women’s Basketball Team and the United States Jewish team in the 17th Maccabiah Games.

Doron, a native of Tel Aviv, Israel, led the Israeli National team to its first-ever gold medal win at the Division B European Championship. The Israeli team went 6-0 as Doron was named tournament MVP.

Considered unable to represent Israel in the Maccabiah Games because of her age, Doron, an American citizen, played for the United States team. She picked up her second gold medal and her second MVP of the summer.

To Doron it’s all been one big summer vacation, and she doesn’t mind it one bit.

“It’s been amazing,” Doron said. “I’ve been to a couple of places that I’ve never been to. I made some friends for life and I think that’s the most important thing out of all of it.”

As a member of the U.S. Maccabiah Team, Doron was joined by other Jewish players in Israel. The difference, though, was that she was used to her native country’s atmosphere, unlike her teammates. Doron was called upon to be a leader, both on and off the court.

The tournament culminated in the championship game, which placed Doron and the U.S. Maccabiah Team against the Israeli Maccabiah Team.

Playing against her native country’s team was tough at first, Doron said, but she put it out of her mind and scored 22 points in a 78-53 win. Shortly after, she was named tournament MVP.

“It was definitely hard,” she said. “I was a little bit nervous beforehand, but once the tip off came up I just wanted to win.”

Two major issues that Doron has had to deal with this summer have been illness and the threat of terrorism, especially in Israel. But neither one has affected her greatly.

Doron did contract a minor virus after returning from Lithuania, but it did not cause her to miss any games. As far as terrorism goes, it’s something she couldn’t worry too much about, said Doron.

“It’s in the back of my mind, but it doesn’t bother me,” she said.

Dealing with viruses and terrorism was just a small price to pay for what Doron gained during the summer. Asked if she’d rather be at home, living the beach-movie-party life, Doron said no.

“This is my way of traveling, and this is the way I get to do it,” she said. “It’s unbelievable. I think its better than traveling with a friend because you’re with a whole team and it’s a great atmosphere.”

Even after winning gold medals and tournament MVPs, Doron still has the same goal on her mind: win an NCAA championship with the Terps. But which is better, winning a national tournament for one’s country or the mother of all United States tournaments with the Terps?

“I’d have to say winning an NCAA tournament game,” Doron said. “Just because of the team atmosphere we have at Maryland. I’ve been with the same girls at Maryland for two years now. If I had more time [with the summer teams] it would have been a lot harder of a question.”