So long, farewell, auf weidersehn good bye.

Well- I am just done packing for the third time (do you know how hard it is to pack) I always use to enjoy it but I think that was because I used to sit and talk to Mum while she packed- doing it your self is a whole different kettle of fish.. How I have managed to accumulate so much stuff over just four month is beyond me but It Is all now (fingers crossed) in the suitcases. It seems only right that I should finish this blog with a reflection on what it has been like over here and of course the thank you’s. I know many of you back home, and over here too who read it will probably be thinking how happy I am to be heading home- and it is true, I am looking forward to getting home and seeing you all, yet in true Emma style I am now quite settled and it will be very strange and sad to say goodbye to this place, and not just the place but also the people. I think Sarah commented on it in her blog entry but it has been the people that have made this experience so fantastic and special. I will treasure these experiences and memories forever and despite how hard it may have been at times, I wouldn’t have swapped these four months for anything. I have found so much out about me and I think, well I know- it has started a process which I will continue when I get back and am truly excitedoi- although maybe a little sacred too, of finding out who I truly am. I feel it will be very strange for me and especially my Mum and Dad- yes that is you two I am talking about, I left Penkridge and they said good bye to their little girl and in a couple of days they are going to be saying hello to a woman. I have grown so much over these four months (and not just in dress size) that although home hasn’t changed I have- and that doesn’t mean I wont belong back home- it just means I will have a different place- and I am very excited to take that on.
Now for the thank you’s and where do I start, it hardly seems enough that little word but here goes. Well I think I must start with all those who have been praying for me while I have been over here- I truly couldn’t have done this without them, a special thank you to Jan and John- you have followed my every adventure by my blog entries and have sent me so many encouraging texts and even managed to comment on my blog- I am truly grateful and I need you to know that it has meant so much to me. Thank you to David and Karen- your wonderful advice and support has been cherished immensely and I am very excited about getting back and joining you again for searchers- Thank you. Of course my family- thank you, Dad your emails have been wonderful, you have kept me laughing even over here and your advice and support has, as always, meant more than words can say, Mum thank you for you prayers and all the msn chats- you really did get the hang of it despite the little hiccups at the beginning- and as always you were there to talk when I needed you- see even water can’t stop us talking or you Laura and Jess- thank you for your emails and comments on my blog and msn chats- they have all kept me going and cheered me up when I was stressed with work etc- you are both stars. A big thank you to the Nan’s and Poppops of the family- the care packages have been wonderful- I think they have kept the whole England crew going and a thank you to all of you who have taken the time to write to me, emails, letters texts. Thank you. Finally thank you to all those of you who have been here with me- you have truly helped make this experience what it has been. Fantastic!
I am quite aware that this sounds very much like something you would read on the back cover of a cd- “thank you for this and I couldn’t have done it without”, but it is true- and I need you all to know how much I appreciate you following my adventure over here and if I have left any of you out then I am truly sorry and thank you.
Well I best stop typing otherwise you will still be reading this when I get back. I am off to New York on Sat, which I am very excited about, and one last wonder around Keene tomorrow and then Tuesday I will be back in the UK. I am looking forward to seeing you all very soon and catching up with you. Take care and see you soon.
Em J
xxx

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Well yesterday official marked the end of classes for me. I have one paper, a research project and a final left and then as of Wednesday I am free to enjoy the little town of Keene to before I come home. Last night we got into the Christmas spirit and we went to see a Christmas Carol. It was good fun watching the actors trying to do English accents- and they didn't do to bad, although to be fair are the moment I can't tell the difference between an English accent and an American accent lol. They sung Carols within the performance and it worked really well. We had wonderful seats and it was a wicked fun night. As we walked out of the theater- I suddenly got very excited- look I said it's snowing and it was. We walked out of a Christmas Carol in to snow. It was sooooo Christmasy- it made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside which is a good job because the temperature has now plummeted. My trusty weather source (helen) has instructed me that it is -6 Centigrade today, so as you can imagine we are all wrapped up warm in our big coats.

Well I best get on with some of this work, there will be one more blog posting before I come home so keep your eyes peeled lol!

Em :)

xxx

Go Manchester Monarchs!

Well what I should be doing is reading and doing some work as the work load for the next week is of the scale, however as I am a little groggy still from my cold, and the Christmas music is so fun to listen to I thought I would update you on our weekend events and I will start the work tomorrow. Last night we went to Jama (no idea how to spell it!)and her and her husband cooked as a lovely homemade meal. She is a friend of Priscilla's and it was lovely to go there, they were so welcoming and friendly. After stuffing ourselves with chicken, rice, salad, pumpkin pie and S'mores we went intergalactic bowling for Sarah Ms birthday. Strobe lighting, loud music = wicked good time. It also equals better bowling environment, not only did all the bowls go down the right way and in the right land I also got a strike and two spares- wahoo!

Now today we went to see an Ice hockey game- this was fantastic, I have become a fan. It was split into 3 periods each 20 mins and at the end of each period the teams would swap ends. We went to see the Manchester Monarchs and it was quite brutal- which somehow only added to the excitement lol, I was on the edge of my seat a couple of times it has to be said. We had a little confusion with getting the tickets but once we had them we were away, we even got our picture taken with the mascot which I am sure helen will post on her blog when she gets the chance. During the times the players had their breaks some children came on and had a min hockey game- it was so funny, they would fall and slide all over the place and just get up and carry on- it did make us laugh. The whole day has been great fun!

Us outside the stadium

Some of the Manchester Monarchs Hockey team

Actual play...and finally

The Mascot with the little kiddies- all say ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Thanksgiving!!

Well, i have just got back from a wonderful thanks giving. It was soooo much fun. Lindsay's family really made me feel part of the family. On Thursday I actually helped make the thanks giving meal and made my own cranberry sauce from scratch, it was great. On Fri we spent the day in Stamford (where they live) shopping and seeing a film and then yesterday- oh yes- we went to NY!!! It was brilliant. I can't explain how good it was. We were only there for a short time but I loved it. We went to see the Public Library (feature in a day after tomorrow) lol and looked around a craft show and then we went to see Tarzan on Broadway. It was fantastic. I felt truly at home which is something I haven't felt since we got here. To be back in a house, with a family was really good, sleeping on a proper bed wasn't bad either. Lindsay took loads of pics so when i get them I will publish them but at the mo I shall leave you with just a few of NY.

All I can say is that I had an amazing time and I am so grateful to Lindsay and her family for having me.

Will publish more pics soon once I get them of Lindsay.

:)

Bring on the Basketball

Well yesterday saw the 1st game of the season- for Basketball that is. It was very exciting and I am kind of getting the rules- a few more games and I shall be a pro. We watched the 1st half (that lasts 20 mins) and then it was time for the half time entertainment, yep- the cheerleaders and the dance team performed. They were both very good, the cheerleaders stayed throughout the entire game and did little jumps and formed letters and chants and stuff like that. Just as we were getting ready for the second half to begin (again 20 mins) we could hear this alarm going off. Now everyone just sat still and carried on (to be honest I thought it was the start of another dance track) that was until the booming voice came over the speaker- this is the fire alarm, will you please evacuate at the nearest exit. So we all left calmly- the thing is is that we don't know what set it of yet but we had to fire trucks (or was it one) well we had at least one and we could smell burning. They eventually let us back in but because of the delay we only saw 10 mins of the second half because we went to see the new Bond film. There is another match today so I am taking a guess that they one and am going to go to the latter match to see the two winning teams play one another. It was all very exciting. The Bond film was also very good, enjoyed it immensely- yet have to say it was the most complicated, confusing Bond i have ever seen (still had me on the edge of my seat though!) I will try and post again before thanksgiving but if not, I will post again in just over a weeks time- have a wonderful week and I will post soon. Just to keep you going- some pics from last night.

As you can see- everyone had a really good time! :)

Go Go Go MIghty Max

Hi ya all- well yesterday was Max's birthday and what fun it was. We all had to dress up in costume, I was Hermione (think that is how you spell it!) Sarah M and Helen plated my hair sat night and then we took them all out on Sunday- my hair was huge- looked good though lol... as you can imagine as Helen and Sarah L and planed a photo scavenger hunt it absolutely chucked it down- no surprise there then, but a little rain never hurt anyone so we went ahead anyway. Rain does not go well with frizz and I was soon de - flattened but the team I was on carried on anyway...despite the phone call from the other team saying that they surrendered. After we all dried out and had something to eat we participated in Mighty Max's indoor Olympics- as you can probably guess I had no chance of winning but it was good fun. Lindsey one Gold- go Lindsey, Priscilla got silver and Helen got Bronze. It was all good fun and of course there was cake at the end- how else would you end a birthday.

How American are we...

Well yesterday after the walk to Borders and Target, and once again surviving the near death experience of crossing the highway we decide to play Frisbee. Now it gets dark about 5ish over here so as we started at 4.15 we didn't have much light to play in. It was fun just trying to guess where the Frisbee was. I have some wonderful videos of Helen and Sarah playing Frisbee (well they weren't playing more...errrr....Having a discussion! lol). Obviously as you can imagine my talent for Frisbee is outstanding. All that hand-eye co-ordination, no problem!















In the evening we went to see the Prestige- it had a number of mixed views from all of us but all I will say is go and see it. It is one of the cleverest films I have seen in a long time.