A Year of Dreams Come True.

This is probably my second to last blog I will write during my time here in America. I remember writing my first blog all those months ago. I now realise how much has changed since then. In fact, I would go as far to say that I am almost a completely different person then I was that day. So much has happened to me me in the last year and I can't even imagine trying to recap the emotions that I have experienced this year. before I begin to let you know what has happened to me within the last month I just want to thank everybody that has made this year possible. I will never be able to thank you enough, but guys, this year has been the best and it is you that have made this possible.


Before I last left you I was just about to embark on my next GRSP journey. We had planned yet again to take a bus from the wonderful Baptist church of Conyers, 2 hours away from where I live. From here, a fair group of GRSP students began the trek down to Camden County, South Georgia. This was a further 6 hours away but only to make the journey that little bit longer, in typical GRSP fashion, we accidently blew a tyre and had to stop at El cheapo gas station for another 2 hours. So, after being on the road for around 10 hours we finally made it to Camden county, where we met our host for the weekend and went back to his beautiful house. What an epic few few days this was. We spent the next day playing on the beach on Cumberland island. After that we had some great food and played rock band for hours, we then, after a small amount of sleep we headed back for another long bus journey back up north. Yet another successful weekend.

On the beach, Cumberland Island

Once I arrived back form Camden County I headed straight to Atlanta with Chloe and Chalky in anticipation for Fiona and Pete's visit. They arrived the day later and their trip commenced. Fiona came up to Reinhardt for a week where she got to meet all my friends and have a really good time. The week after we headed back into Atlanta so we could spend time together as a group. We saw all the sights and spent a really nice few days together. As the weekend approached the GRSP group headed up to Atlanta to join us and we spent a great few days partying together. It was great to mix my my friends from home with my new friends here in America.

Ebenezer Baptist Church, Easter Sunday 

Once I arrived back I had to go through the process of moving out. This was not fun, it seemed like I was packing up an entire year of my life. Leaving Reinhardt was one of the hardest things I have had to do this year. I will never forget the memories that have been made there. I have met some wonderful people and I will never forget them. Reinhardt will always have a place in my heart. I hope I can visit again. Sooner rather that later. 

Move in day, almost 9 months ago

Almost straight after leaving Reinhardt I was able to distract my mind because i had my last ever GRSP event to attend.  District Conference. for this I was heading up to Ashville, North Carolina to spend my last time with the GRSP students and the Rotarians. We did a lot, swimming, drinking, the Biltmore house (Which is HUGE),

The Biltmore estate wit me in front.

 banquets, and much much more. A absolutely fantastic way to finish off the year. Now all I have left is a trip to the West Coast and then I am homeward bound. What a year!

The students from District 6910

Love, Peace and Laughter,


C
xXx

Time spent with friends is time well spent.

I always start these blogs sayin "Sorry it's been so long since my last blog", and now again, as I come to say it one more time I realise that it is not actually my fault that I fail to update this regularly. It's time's fault. It's going far too fast for me to control.

So Spring Break was everything I could have wanted it to be. Very civilised for college students I feel. 5 good friends away in Ellijay on a quiet week of peace, tranquillity and hot-tubs. Was greeeaaat fun, a good chance to get away and just enjoy life...even more.

The Cabin Crew

The weekend after coming back from spring break I was away again on another Rotary student weekend. This was one of the more eventful Conclaves. Activities GALORE!

Anton, Me and Anders (First night in Pelham)

Alligator farms, Prison tours, highschool tours, banquets, talent shows, Canoeing, Soccer, Tennis...Bloody everything! But one thing I have to mention above all else. The Barn. If you didn't know, when I go away to these student weekend I am hosted by a family. Usually you are paired up with another GRSP or two in order to make it a more bonding experience and it is always lovely. Well this time it was a little different, I turn up to find that I would be sharing with Olafur, Anders, Anton, Stefano, Quentin and Benjamin. I couldn't think of a better grouping. Oh and by the way just so you know, these people belong to the countries of, Iceland, Sweden, Sweden, Italy, France and Kenya. We were a very cultured group. 

Mia, Anders and I check out the Alligator fur

After the first evening meal we went back to what we thought would be a house for us to spend the night, but it wasn't quite what we thought. If anything it was something much different and much more unexpected. We rolled up to an old and what seemed to be deserted barn. We entered and looked around, not sure what to make of this, "party barn" as we'd been calling it. It was a 2m x 8m room with 3 seats and a washing machine. We were sceptical but we new we would make the most of it. Then we were told there was another little part of the barn too, to which we guessed would maybe hold a bed. We walked through another door which none of us had yet noticed. BLOODY NORAH! It was like we had entered heaven. Picture this, One wall lined with 8 Queen size beds, one 30 foot long kitchen, a T.V area, and a living area holding 3 sofas and 5 recliners surrounding a roof fire. All this in one open space. Many things I feel I have to mention include the 9ft Christmas tree in the middle of two pianos, a life size Santa Claws, the endless amount of fancy dress costume, and the electric blankets. This place look like a huge antique store full of the most random things in the world. Oh and not to forget Mr. Parker, our host. We talked about Mr. Parker a lot over the weekend, telling people how wonderful he was. Only on the last day did we inform people that Mr. Parker was a dog. We weren't even sure if his name was Parker, never mind Mr. Parker but even so, we grew to love him greatly..., and he grew to love Stefano greatly. Sleeping with him every night.

Mr. Parker at the front there.

Love, Peace and Laughter.

C

xXx

Where did all the time go?

So somehow March is right around the corner and so is Spring Break.... already. I know the saying "Time flies when you're having fun" but it has never before been more evident than now. Although time is going by so fast, not once have I thought that the time that's passed, has been time wasted. I'm not necessarily saying this time has been productive, unless you include happiness as productivity...Which I guess I kinda do because what is the point of doing anything that doesn't make you happy.

The GRSP weekend was just as successful as the last. Perfectly mature and well ordered with the prime mixture of immaturity and disorganisation. The hosts Anders and Anton organised a marvellous weekend full of activity. Everybody had a beautiful time there. Thanks for that guys.

The weekend after the GRSP cabin in the woods I was asked by my swell American bestie Conner if I would accompany him on the guitar for a coffee house performance that Friday night at Reinhardt. The hilarity of rehearsing was worth my time alone. We did a set of three songs, opening with "Stu's Song" from the Hangover, stepping into "Mamma who bore me" from Spring Awakening and then Finishing with a grand performance of "Everything" by Michael Buble. I even sang for the last one. It was a great experience and I'm so glad I got to perform with Conner.

This weekend I had the pleasure of being a part of the Humans vs Zombie's film that is being shot at Reinhardt this spring. Conner, Aussie and I all got painted up and made to look like Zombie's whilst we limped and moaned around campus for 5 hours without our shirts on with blood dripping everywhere. This was so much fun to be a part of, and I can't wait to see the end result of the movie.

So this week we have broken up for spring break, and I will be heading back to the Georgia mountains once more with friends from Reinhardt to have a relaxed week lying in the sun, bathing in the Hot tub and cooking and eating great foods. It is set to be a wonderful week and it is something I am very excited for!

This week has provided me with new family additions with my three fish that I now have living with me here in my dorm. I have three little Goldfish Sitting next to me right now, called Lionidas, Achilles, and Sparticus. They are wonderfully loved and as they asked nicely, they are coming on spring break with us. It's safe to say that they are also extremely excited.

I also thought I would add a little congratulations to my room-mate on here, because after a hard weekend in Knoxville trying out for a Summer team he made the cut and signed. Well done to him for that, not an easy task I'm sure. Adam Reakes.... Remember the name guys.

Love, Peace and Laughter.

C

xXx

Another month gone!

2011. Month one. Location Waleska, Georgia. FREAKING AMERICA!

Yet again there has been a rather large gap between this blog and it's predecessor. But that is because I have wanted to save all the good stuff to make a super wonderfully literate, totally bodacious , mouth-wateringly bad-ass display of creativity whilst capturing the in's and out's of the life of a 19 year old Welshman living in America. Only problem is, as crazy as this blog was to be, I am slightly lacking in wonderful adventures and tales to report. No problem though, as I do live so far away on my own, I do have things to tell, they may not be the juicy gossip you were waiting for, but nonetheless here we go again.

The start of a new semester naturally brought upon a new term of classes. Classes this semester were going to be a lot easier for more than one reason. The pressure to pass them so wonderfully had been dropped due to the fact I will be leaving in only three months, so now the classes are more for the wonder of knowledge, sheer enjoyment and sometimes just for something to do. My schedule consists of five different classes, these being-

- Elementary Spanish.... I know, really tough.

- Basic English... Yes I know I have to A level's in English, but there is actually a difference in American and British English.

- Acting....Yes, I also have an A level in this. I do not see this as cheating. At all.

- College life and Fitness... Here I get to just listen some guy, telling me what's healthy or not. Then I get tested on it. Doesn't seem too difficile to me.

- Weight training.... It's true, I am getting MASSIVE!

All in all, not too stressful and fairly enjoyable at the same time, my second semester at Reinhardt could not be going more swell.  

This past weekend, I was invited on a guest pass to go and visit 'Lifetime Gym' with Reaksie, Katherine, Aussie, and Lindsey. We worked out, swam, jacuzzied, Sauna'd, played basketball and had a jolly old time together. Probably the biggest gym and best faciliteies I have ever seen. Truly awesome. And a great day out. Afterwards, of course we went to get Pizza and strawberry milk which we took back to Lindsey's in preparation for the super-bowl.

 A wonderful experience that I am very glad I got to experience was my first American Super-bowl. I had watched them before, but never in America. It was a great atmosphere and I was really glad I got to watch the game with some great friends. And to top it all off we got to watch it in Lindseys movie theatre that she has. In her house. The packers took the Victory, which all the guys were very disappointed with, even though we didn't actually understand what was going on too well....

This weekend coming is set to be another good one, with the connection of the GRSP's once more. This time we are meeting up together in the Blue ridge mountains, for a weekend full of games, activities and more and more fun than most people are capable. I'm sure there will be an update on that sooner, but for now, all I can feel is a wonderful Vail of excitement and anticipation drifting over me. 

Well peace out for now, I will try and update a little sooner next time,

Love, Peace and Laughter.

C

x

A blog of boredom. Possibly not the best idea.

I was sat here, being all philosophical when I wondered to myself, "What if, next time I write a blog, I make it up". This would seem completely irrelevant, boring, wasteful, pointless and stupid, but as I sit here, cracking my neck and my knuckles seeing past the irrelevance of some things. Like for instance, writing a blog which involves mostly fact with a lot of fiction. After thinking stupid thoughts alone at 3 in the morning I realise that this idea is yet again pointless, wasteful and boring. But then, like a buzzard of dreamy wisdom, the thought that provokes this wondrous banter flew out and hit me. To most people, my blog already seems like fiction, in fact my life almost seems like fiction. Could I really be living this kind of life and experiencing this kind of atmosphere, this kind of envirionment, with these kind of people. As I said very like fiction. 

I'm thinking of renaming this blog "The Incredible Adventures Of The Hobbit Lookalike, Christian Dickenson!" Because seriously, my life is full of incredible adventures. I have already had so many, and who know's how many more I am going to have. All I know is, that I look forward to every single one of them. Also, has anyone else ever realised my uncanny resemblance to Frodo Baggins?

Nah, I don't really see it either....

Love, Peace and Laughter,

C

x

P.s,  This makes me happy....

Winter Wonderland.

Alrigh' me Loverssss, I'm back innit.

Well, it has only been 3 weeks since my last blog, but I do have an excuse....actually, I'm not sure I really do. But I have been busy. I have done such a wonderful array on different things I'm not sure I will be able to write even a fraction of the last three weeks in under 10 bazzillion words. It really has been that wonderful and that epic that it is almost incomprehensible. I last left you before Christmas at Conner's where I already stated I was having a whale of a time. Christmas day soon rolled around so me, Conner his older sister and younger brother drove to his Mom's fiancées house in Milledgeville.

This is where I spent Christmas morning which, of course, contained with the usual frivolousness that Christmas brings, great food, great fun, great gifts and massive, huge smiles all around. What a wonderful time of year Christmas is, never fails to put a smile on my face, which clearly radiated out because it seemed like everyone else I met over the next few days also had the biggest smiles I could ever hope to see on such an enjoyable occasion. 

Finally after settling down and making some final plans for new year I caught up on a bit of sleep and re-packed ready for my next adventure.

On the morning of the 29th of December 2010 Conner and I opened the door to four wonderful looking Scandinavian girls who were there to pick me up for a 2 day road trip down to Miami. That's right, I was spending  New years in a house, with a pool and palm trees with over 20 of the best GRSP people in the world!

Day one - Drove 7 hours down to Daytona Beach where we bought a beach side hotel room. The journey went incredibly fast because we managed to have so much fun together. I think I may just love Scandinavians.

Day two - Drove another 7 hours down to Miami Beach where we bought a beach side hotel room. Again the journey seemed pretty easy with only a few stops for gas and snacks. All in all a very successful road-trip!

I was on the beach everyday from December 29th until January 4th? This country is wonderful.

Day three- New years eve. We awoke early on the morning of day three with anticipation of what was to come from the coming evening. We got back in the car and headed straight for Fort Lauderdale. This is where the 25 or more GRSP students had rented a house for a week in order to party, play and party some more. 

The food was cooked, the meal was eaten, the alcohol was drank and the party commenced. 

00:00-04:59 am -* CENSORED*-

The Next few days were filled with much more partying, much more beach fun and so many more memories. What a wonderful week. One that will be remember for all time by everyone who attended. Most won't remember everything, but that is not for lack of having a good time, if anything it is for having too much of a good time if you catch my drift! 

After another long journey back I finally arrived at my home. Reinhardt University. What a place. Strangely enough I had missed it. It was great to see everyone again.  After an enthralling first two days of class it was already the weekend. My birthday weekend of all weekends. Friday night was spent not doing anything inappropriate at all at the apartments....Saturday night was full of party loving at the wonderful Lindsey's house and Sunday night was spent playing in the snow. Another great new experience to have, and of course a wonderful way to turn 19. 

Because of that snow that began to fall on Sunday night a full week of classes was cancelled meaning I have had nothing to do but chill and recover from Miami. It was splendid indeed. The arrival of my sister was a wonderful addition to this week so I am getting to see some family for the first time in 5 months, and for the last time in 5 months. Unless Big Jonno comes to stay of course.

Anyway, before I get to bored, or boring I shall conclude. Winter American style is wonderful. I am having the time of my life.

Love, Peace and Laughter,

C

xXx

American Christmas Extravaganza!

With Christmas drawing near, it has become apparent to me that this is the first holiday where I am not with my family. At least the first holiday I care about. This is yet another new experience for me, and yet again it is another new experience that I am loving. As much as I love spending Christmas with my family, fortunately I have been brought into Conner's family and they are treating me like one of their own. So even though I am not with my family I still feel as though I am with family.

I have been here for the last week now and we are staying entertained, we have done a wonderful array of things all week, including the general Christmas shopping, Christmas parties and of course the obvious teenage sleeping... all the time. In fact i think we may be turning nocturnal... I'm falling asleep at around 7 every morning and waking up at about 4. As wonderful as this sleep is, it is slightly messing with me. This all because conner and I caught the flu, and were very ill the other day which resulted in no sleep. I never knew throwing up together could be so funny. We laughed at each other the whole way through. This did make the whole feeling like dog shite much better.

On my first night down here in Macon we decided to go for dinner at a Japanese restaurant with Conner's younger brother Spencer. We decided to go in suits just for the fun of it. On arrival Conner and his brother decided to tell them that I was the Ambassador for Wales and that it was my birthday. They therefore cleared a hibachi table for us and gave us a wonderful show with fire and knives and brought me a cake with a candle.....which Spencer blew out. Spencer blew out my candle. I was not impressed.

So Christmas is shaping up to be a good one this year and I am very excited to get to spend it in another country and with Conner's family. I hope everyone else has a most marvellous Christmas and Has a swell new year. Christmas wishes from across the pond.

Merry Christmas

Love, Peace and Laughter,

C