Eastern.

I arrived at Eastern a couple of days ago, it is now Monday and I am exhausted. A weekend full of induction and welcoming activities, late nights, sports, etc etc etc. The students here are LOUD, overly excited and I have no idea what to think of it haha.

My first day here left me wanting to go and hide in a nice and calm quiet place away from the hoorah and fanaticism of the freshmen (first years) arriving at uni with their parents. Oh and do those freshmen bring a crap load of gear for their halls.. I saw a few mini-vans packed to explode. I wonder how much they will actually use.

I've had a full schedule from when I arrived and it doesn't look to slow down for at least next Monday. Anyway I need to run again, I have a meeting with the faculty and transfer students.

I made it.

Last day in Ohio.

Wow, where do I start. Probably one of the best places to come and experience America from day one. The Lawson's have been flippin wonderful and their kids are adorable, when they're not feeding from each other ;)

The kids + monkey.

So many amazing things happened this week!

Firstly, I arrived seemlingly without a hitch. Then I was greeted with a true American burger at Red Robin. On Monday I walked Bailey to her first day of school for the year and hung out with Lynnette, Kaia, and Zion at the park for the day in the sweltering heat. Tuesday was Zion's day! Wednesday went for a massive walk around Columbus city (I also was blessed with an iPhone). Thursday I slept and then had an American BBQ and had an amazing time talking with the Lawsons' friends (they are so blessed to have such amazing friends around them). And today I went to the Zoo.

Batman?

Columbus Zoo covers over 234 hectares of land and is home to almost 9000 animals. Needles to say with 3 kids in tow, Lynnette and I didn't get to see much but it was still an adventure. I would have gladly spent the whole 30 degree Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) day in the water park next door (maybe when I come back!).

The zoo.

I need to pack and sleep.

For now it is Ka Kite Ano (see you again) Ohio, and Lawson family.

Party Time.

Today I was blessed with the opportunity to hang out with the whole Lawson whanau. It was Zion's (their youngest) 1st birthday party. We spent the day going around to shops buying food and party stuff and at the Lawson's church (which is amazing) baking the cake. Well I didn't bake the cake haha, I shot some hoops and played with the kids while Ron and Lynette made the cake.

Heading towards the party.

After all was done and ready we drove out to the preserve where we were going to have the party and set up. One thing I noticed, which was real odd for me, is that all the farm houses didn't have fences out the front and all of them had massive lawns which they mowed themselves with ride-ons. They were corn farms for the majority but not having any animals out the front section was a bit strange.

Setting up for the party.

Once we arrived we set up at the location. What we noticed when we got there was the big sign saying "RESERVATIONS"... We didn't have any, but we used it anyway, shhhh!

Ohio is pretty.

 While there we played some football, horse shoe, and cornhole which Ron and I won every game together (mostly Ron's doing haha).

After playing a few games we had presents and cake. Zion loved his cake.

Zion eating some cake.

 After a bit more talking and playing, it was time to go home. Ron invited some of the boys around and we hung out and had some yuengling beer. This was cool to talk with the guys and about things in America and back home in New Zealand, the differences and the similarities.

At the end of the night one of the guys asked for prayer, he had a sore foot from lifting a heavy safe a few days ago and was progressively becoming more and more painful for him. He was healed instantly. This was a massive highlight of my day, seeing the love of Christ at work through us and then seeing his glory in the miracle. Love as Jesus loved.

Til next time!

Sleep.

Well I am finally at my first stop in Delaware, Ohio with my friends Ron and Lynnette. Ron picked me up from the airport just after 9pm and we went and got some Red Robin burgers (I wish I had a picture of this place, or the food), that went down a treat! I shall try and get a picture of this house tomorrow, built in the 1800s.

Random fun fact, the 19th President of the United States Rutherford B. Hayes was born here in Delaware, Ohio in 1877.

Over 10,000miles travelled today.

When I think about the journey, it was so strange that I got to see two sun rises and two sunsets all within the same day. Such a long day. It is now 4.24pm on the Monday in NZ and it's only just gone 12:24am on Monday here. That makes almost 36 hours on the go, such a long time to be up but my brains all weirded out because of the date line and the sun rise / sun set.

Oh also wrong side of the road thing... So weird, and so bad for a tired soul when you're not used to seeing cars coming towards you on the left. I did jump a couple of times.

Anyway it is now sleep time as I will try to be up early to walk with the family to school.

Pray I get a wicked sleep!

Night :)

ps. Thanks for all your prayers so far, I arrived in one piece, with no major hitch ups at any airports and all my luggage is with me.

Dallas TX.

Well I've arrived!!

Texas 10km below.

It's kinda pretty from the sky, and such a relief to be here.. That last flight sucked hard. I have decided that I do not like long haul flights, there is no room to stretch out and if you're window seat like I was... Well just try waking two people up in the middle of the night and asking them to move out of the way twice. It's slightly awkward haha.

Approx 17 hours and 15,000 km.

Also I stink, having been in the same clothes for about 28 hours now.. Kinda feeling like death warmed up. Luckily I packed a change of socks, jocks, and a tshirt so I was able to change out of that when I landed but yeeesh, I need a shower!

Probably looking at 1/50th of Dallas Airport

This place is also huge! Looking at the map I had I thought ok I could probably walk around this... Nope haha, had to take this sky rail thing between terminals and that wasn't going slow.

Oh and I was a bit peckish so grabbed my first American meal.... 

Zinger burger combo. Kinda reminds me of McDonalds crispy chicken from NZ.

Just waiting for my final flight today from here to Columbus, OH where I'll get to see Ron, Lynnette and their little whanau. I cannot wait!

Sydney.

Walking out to the gate at Auckland airport at 7.30 this morning.

So I'm kinda super tired. I've been up since 4am (NZT), on the 19th of August, and currently I am in Sydney  International Airport waiting my plane to Dallas / Fort Worth. Today is already starting to feel like a bit of a drag.

Saying bye to mum and my girlfriend this morning was somewhat difficult and then seeing my last glimpse of home soil  for the next 4 months and 5 days just made it all hit home. Luckily I am travelling by myself so I get to have this time to reflect and think about the important things, and hopefully sleep at some point in my next flight.

A final call just went over the intercom and it finished "...if you intend on flying today..." in a real harsh and almost angry sounding Australian accent. Kinda makes me miss the hospitality of home already haha and I've only been gone for 4 or so hours.

Looks like I forgot to turn my laptop off last time I used it, booted up quick and had next to no battery... Whoops I guess an electronic device was on when we took off and landed.... Shhhh!!!

I think I'm going to go down to my gate and wait there now, hopefully they have a powerpoint for me haha.

It's pretty warm here.

... ANNND I'm back. Found a nice little posse with the power outlet to get this charged up.

Ooooh looks like my plane for the trip to Dallas just arrived. Haven't been on one of these in years, if ever.

Was kinda hoping for the new Boeing Dreamliner or Airbus A380, but this will still get me there.

Not too sure what to do for the rest of my time here, I'm boarding in just over an hour and twenty minutes. Might go for another walk since my next flight is about 15 and a half hours. Probably a bit of a walk and get my papers ready for Dallas. That will be some fun going through that airport and customs and such and such...

Hopefully I have internet there and can get another blog up.

Au revoir.

Introduction.

Today is Thursday the 16th of August 2012. Three days before I leave to be an exchange student at Eastern University in Philadelphia PA. Everything is sorted and all I have left to do is catch up with a few friends before leaving.

I am currently doing a Bachelor of Primary Teaching and Worldview Studies degree at Laidlaw College and am half way through my second year. Within the initial few weeks of my first year we were made aware of this opportunity to go on an exchange to Eastern and something jumped within me. Immediately, I knew I had to do it. A phone call home and I had the parents on board.

The process of applying, filling in forms, waiting to hear back, filling in new forms, consulate visits, medical examinations, injections, confusion at Laidlaw and at Eastern, miscommunication, definitely became tiring and at some points I asked myself if it was all worth it. I stuck out the tedious process and am now anticipating getting on that aeroplane and beginning my almost day long journey from Auckland to Sydney to Dallas to Columbus for a few days, to Chicago to Philadelphia.

A part of me is sad to go, leaving my friends and family, my church, my girlfriend, and band. Mostly I am excited (not all screamy-headless-chicken-excited), rather full of anticipation that this is going to be a new thing, with new experiences, new friends, a new church, a new way of life and understanding for the next 3-4 months.

I will attempt to keep this blog regular with updates and pictures, but who knows, I may be having too much fun to do that.

To all my friends and family, I would really appreciate prayer for this upcoming journey. Prayer that my flights would go without a hitch, customs would be smooth experience, that I am able to settle in at Eastern, make new friends and find a church quickly.