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

And the Winter season begins....well, It's more like Summer, but they call it Winter

So, it turns out that Wales really is missing out on some things. Thanksgiving for instance.Thanksgiving holiday is not really something I have ever thought to celebrate or even thought about how to celebrate, but this year, as I am gracing America with my presence I have had the honour of celebrating one. This is not just a day over here, oh no, but a buzzing 5 day weekend with the Thursday being the day for the festivities. I ate a lot of brilliant food (for America), put up Christmas decorations...in November, they like to start early over here, and got to hang out with some really cool people. I got to spend my first American thanksgiving with My host dad, Tom's family. Another great first experience and one I will remember until I'm dead old...at least 43 or something.

After thanksgiving I had a day to relax, otherwise known as time prepare for another wonderful weekend with the GRSP's. The plans were, Friday night Atlanta, Saturday night Athens, Sunday night Home. The big thing about all of this was the fact that UGA were playing Georgia Tech, the Rivalry of Georgia. That was our excuse for getting together. After a very swell time tailgating, with food and friends, people started to head off to watch the game. Everyone was very organised, getting tickets to the game but some of us, in all honesty didn't want to watch the game. So the four musketeers, Alex Duthie, Anders, Anton and I set ourselves loose on Athens. Poor them. We promised to never speak of what happened on this night again. It was AMAZING! Probably one of the best/weirdest/funniest nights I've ever had. Those guys are just the best. After everyone came out of the game we regrouped and headed into down-town Athens for a fun night partying, the Europeans took over the dance-floor and showed those Americans how you're are supposed to dance in clubs, none of this stupid 'grinding' business. One hell of a night, only to be expected from the GRSP's though, then finally back to UGA, where all the guys hung out a little longer. Eventually we all passed out. Fortunately I had found myself to be sleeping in Sara's room, meaning I got a huge double blow up bed. I slept like a baby. Only issue was, I was heavier then the person I was sharing the bed with...Meaning they regularly rolled downhill and ended up on top of me...this wasn't a bad issue though, GRSP loving is always a pleasure. 

Then It was back to hearty old Reinhardt where I began the week of finals. I've never seen so many people stressed out in my life. Kinda funny really considering I wasn't...at all, no need to be, I only had one final, and it wasn't really a big deal to me anyway, lets face it of course I was going to be chilled, I'm me, the least stressed guy on the planet. After finishing all my things, there was not much more to do then sleep, watch movies, hang out with friends and go to the gym (and get MASSIVE).

This Monday just gone by, Chalky's host Dad, Bob Hope had provided another excuse for the re-grouping of the GRSP's. A Hockey game. Sounds perfect to me, a nice occasion for everyone to see each other and hang out one last time before Christmas. We watched the Hockey game from a Box...Yeah, it was immense, food, drinks, great view and it was with GRSP's. oh and free. DEAL!

Now it's Christmas time and the festivities are beginning. I am looking forward to it. I'm spending the next few days at my Host's as I have a few Rotary functions to attend this week, and then I am lucky enough to be going to stay with one of my best buddies Conner in Macon over the Christmas period. I cannot wait. The only thing that could out do that is if I was somehow going to Miami for new years as well. Oh wait. I am. The word 'Excitement' does not even cover how I feel about this. It will be awesome. 

Love, Peace and Laughter.

C