homecoming

Saturday is Valdosta States football teams homecoming game. This has been celebrated all week with different events. Wednesday was a comedy show which hundreds turned up to as around 100 people were waiting outside to get a seat when we were told that the auditorium was full and we all had to go home. There was also a trip to a theme park nearby called Wild Adventures which I decided not to go to as I had been told it is quite expensive. Of course I heard the next day that it was free for the students that day so I was a little miffed that this fact was not written down.

Yesterday I went to the pep rally with a friend. It was in our PE complex on the basketball court so already I was excited as it was huge. I felt like I was in a movie there was just that this atmosphere and buzz in the place. It started with the cheerleaders. They were spectacular I have to say. On each others shoulders and flips in the air, I was amazed. Unfortunately they were only wearing t-shirts and shorts so that wasn't all too exciting but the bows in their hair were smart. Made me wonder if they are given them as part of the uniform or whether they are told what type of ribbon to buy and have to go to the haberdashery.
There are also dancers. Not too sure what there deal is to be honest. It seemed a lot like cheer leading but without the acrobatics. Still rather kinky though.

After the dancing it was time for us to meet the judges who would be judging the skits performed by the sororities and fraternities. They call it the lip sync contest. The theme was 'blazing into the future' (the football team are the Valdosta Blazers). So most of the songs had something to do with burning or fire and went from the 50's to present day. It was very funny and the people performing didn't take themselves seriously and just had fun with it so it was a good laugh.
The fraternity that some of my friends are part of won in the end so I am chuffed for them. Also, the fact that they one and didn't resort to wearing woman's clothing for a cheap laugh was very commendable. Although I have to give my respect to the boy wearing the pink, PVC HIGH heeled boots, I don't even know if I would be able to walk in those.

Well tonight is a parade with different floats made by different societies at Valdosta. I know some people that will be riding on the floats so I am going to show my support with my friend from London (hopefully).

Oh, I also voted for Homecoming Queen although I am not sure how to find out who the winner is. All the girls were part of sororities apart from one who was a cheerleader. I voted for the girl who wasn't blond. She looked the nicest.

So the last couple of days have been pretty good fun.
Last night i went to see a play called 'Wit' by Valdosta's drama company on campus. I have to say that I was incredibly impressed, the lead was fantastic. The set was also very clever and well designed.
Then I went to my friends Fraternity house for a short while and played a little ping pong. They have a lovely fairly old building with a cast iron fire place and all their pictures on the wall of previous years. It was interesting to have a look around. I had a lot of questions but it is all very secretive so not a lot were answered which was a shame.

Today I had my 3D design class which I enjoy so much! After I used the laundry room for the first time which was successful. I then went round to a friends dorm and watched 'Shaun of the Dead' as he had not seen it. For dinner we went to a place called Zaxbys which is a fast food place but with chicken. The chicken was tasty but the crinkle cut fries/chips were a bit hit or miss.

Disney World

Oh yes people, the title says it all!
Well on Thursday night I was invited to go to Disney World with my flat mate from Colombia (also here with the Georgia Rotary Programme) and her host parents.
Friday we had a rotary club meeting at Pelham Rotary Club. It was emergency service appreciation week. I was just hoping that there was no need for any of the people there during the hour as that would be a little dangerous.
After that we went back to the house and watched Sleepless in Seattle while I attempted to revise for my Sociology test (we won't talk about how that went). Then Pelhams football team were playing so we went along to give them some much needed support. The team generally don't win any of their games although they put there all in, bless their hearts.
The marching band was a lot of fun to see, I think that was the highlight. We didn't watch the whole game and went home to sleep for a few hours before getting up in the small hours of the morning so we could leave for Orlando at 5am.

When we arrived in Florida around 10am we picked up the host families son who works at Disney World. It was great as he knew exactly what we should do and how to plan our day. Also it meant that we got in for free which was fantastic!

We started in the Animal Kingdom and saw a short stage show of The Lion King. It had acrobats, fire breathers and crazy flying bird women in it. They sang the hits of the show and it was pretty spectacular. We also saw Finding Nemo the Musical which was done with fantastic puppets and some well done projection. There was a 3D show of a Bugs Life which was done very well once again. We also had a little wander around the park which has a tour of some different animals such as fruit bats (cool) and tigers. We also went on Splash Mountain which was good fun and very refreshing as it was ridiculously hot!

After that it was off to the Magic Kingdom with the big ol' castle. We had our lunch and saw the Haunted House, another 3D show with Donald duck just being silly and getting in the way of some other Disney movie songs. We also went on Pirates of the Caribbean, Monsters Inc, Dinasaur trip. Then we got to see the parade which was fantastic, all the characters were covered in lights and it was just magic. Then there were the fireworks at the castle which were amazing. Oh, we also went to a puppet show of The Little Mermaid which was pretty cool.
So that was Saturday over or at least as much as I can remember.

Sunday we went to Epcot with its giant golf ball. We saw a Finding Nemo ride and the fish tank inside which was huge. We also went on a ride called soaring which made you feel you were flying over California. I now want to visit California very badly...and I also want to fly but who doesn't? There was also a ride where you were made to feel that you were testing cars so you could go crazily fast which was fun.
We also went to the MGM Studio which I loved. It was done up like a 1940's film set so was right up my street. We went on a trip 'through the movies' which had all the charters around you in all the classics Casablanca, Alien that sort of thing. We saw a play of Beauty and the Beast which I loved. Also I was persuaded some how to go on The Tower of Terror. I coped very well I have to say. It just went up and down very very fast but didn't last too long so I was pretty good.
We saw a little of the MGM parade which was pretty fun. The muppets were there!

Right I have to get some sleep as I have my 8am class tomorrow.

i saw my first Valdosta fire engine yesterday. It was very shiny and looked very cool, I was a little disappointed that I didn't have my camera with me.

Another Kodak moment which was missed was a trip to the cowboy shop. The amount of cowboy boots on display! Spectacular and also very odd, there must have been well over one hundred! There was also a grand display of hats and all the cleaners you could need for your cowboy hat. Loved it.

I have a paper for my human communication class due tomorrow so I will be hard at work today. 3D design starts at 8 am which is harsh but means that I have all the afternoon free to do whatever I want so I should be able to get it done.
Design class was good fun today, i was cutting acrylic plastic and bending it. However I did bash my leg against a locker door so now have a giant red mark above my knee. I don't know how I can use a saw without injuring myself yet walking seems to be a problem.

conclave

Here we go then my weekend away in Augusta for the first GRSP conclave was so much fun.
It took 5 hours for us all to get to August from Valdosta and although I was so sleepy I only managed to sleep for just over an hour. I think because I was so tired I just slept in a really odd position and then by the time I woke up I had this horrible pain in my side so then I could never really get comfortable.
So we arrived in this huge hotel and got a big hug from Janice who is like the coordinator of all the students. Then we checked in our luggage and got our picture taken as we get a year book at the end of the year. Then we had Mexican for lunch which was really tasty I liked that a lot. And so people just kept arriving and mingling which was nice. I got to see all the students from my home town Portobello and had a huge run up to hug my friend like those cheesy films it was sweet.

So then we had a lot of talking to be honest. They split it up so we had a nice break but wow there was a lot of talking.
They showed us a nice video at one point of really picturesque scenes of Georgia, however I don't know where any of them are which is a little annoying. Then at 4.00 we were given host parents for the weekend. I stayed with a lady who was so sweet I liked her a lot. Her house was full of tiny trinkets and thing it was amazing I loved it. And so she looked after me and the sweetest girl from Bulgaria who I just adore. She gave me this lovely little traditional wooden painted bottle type thing but it isn't like a bottle at all really, it holds rose oil as Bulgaria is famous for its rose oil. It sounds like beautiful country I think I would like to go one day, she told me that where she stays is very old so I think the buildings must be beautiful.

Then we all went out to a dinner with all the Rotarians, host families and students. I sat at the Bulgarian table with my friend from Scotland which was nice. We both ate a pie which was really tasty, very sweet.
Then all the students had to go up on the stage and say their name and country, which rotary club they were with and also their university. Which was a little scary to be honest so I think I may have just raced through it but hey. I wanted to say that I come fae bonnie Scotland in broad Scots accent but decided against it.
Then they gave us some freebies which was nice.

The next morning their were talks once again. Then we had our picture taken as a group which to be honest was torture! It was so warm outside and they kept having to move people about so we could be seen also I didn't want to be seen. I managed to spill some coffee on my nice new GRSP white polo shirt. I though that there was just a little in the bottom of the cup and I could still clap with it in my hand. Nope.

After lunch we had to get things ready for the performance that night. First we had to do the flags as we all walk in with a flag each side of the room and go up on stage. It was so funny though, we did it with music that sounded like a mix of star wars and Disney background music shoved together. I laughed. I was a little nervous too though that I would slip and fall and then it would be a domino effect with everyone behind me falling and all these flags falling on top of them and everyone would be like 'silly Scottish girl'. However it didn't happen so all is dandy.

Once we did the flags it was time to learn the Peace song. As my friend from Colombia is an amazing singer she was given the C.D. to take back and practice so she can sing it at our next conclave.

Then we all went in groups to practice our piece which was fun. We all just checked that we knew the Gay Gordons and then just spent the rest of the time having fun. We went back to Lin's so shower and change before we went back for the meal and performance. It was a buffet and my table were the first to go up so I got to find the biggest piece of chocolate cake. Then we did the flags and the song and all the little performances started.

There was a video about Colombia and they had a little dance and the girl from Malaysia did a fan dance which was so beautiful i loved it she looked amazing. Poland and Vietnam both played piano, not together they just both played. And the girl from Turkey danced by herself.
The four Bulgarians also performed two traditional dances.
The Gay Gordons went very well. Once showing the audience we asked if anyone wanted to come up and try so I danced with a little girl who was a part of a host family for another student, she must have been around 9 I think. She was lovely although it meant that I had to play the man which I am not quite used to but she looked so eager to come up that I couldn't say no. Of course it turned into a bit of a shambles but then again, that is what it is all about. Everyone had fun which is the main thing.

Once all the performances were done the Rotarians went home while the students danced in the hall. A lady played some salsa music and the usual pop music. We also requested that she play the Scottish music again so once again there was a mad shambles which was grand.

Hello everyone,

I just have time for a quick note. I have been away for the weekend in Augusta which is so pretty. It was the first Georgia Rotary Scholarship Programme conclave. It was a lot of fun and I have a lot to tell but being away I am now a little behind in my school work.
Once I have completed everything and am calm I shall give some more details. I have some photos but I am unsure how to put them on the blog.

Hey,
Just a quick word today as I have work to be getting on with. I just wanted to let you know about my new discoveries. The first being drive in pharmacy?? you don't even have to go in the shop you can drive by a window, ask for some cotton wool and then drive away.
Also, you don't have to walk to the garage to pay for the petrol/gas you have just put in your car as there is a chip and pin machine next to the gas.

All of this possibly adds to how lazy people are getting now but at the same time, that is pretty good isn't it? Drive ins, you can't beat them.