Update - 6 years later

It's been a while since I was last on this blog, but like my time in Connecticut, it is something that I think about regularly with happy memories. I thought that it would be fitting to update everyone on where I am and what I'm up to, as well as some of the characters that have featured so heavily in this blog.

I am still very much in touch with those that I met in America all those years ago now and between us all we've clocked up some air miles visiting each other.

Jon & I in a student club in Preston

Jon and Claudia continued their relationship with Jon flying out to Spain and living with her to start with. However, due to his visa after 90 days he had to leave the country, so he came to England and stayed with me. It was like being back in Carroll as I didn't have a large bedroom and our house didn't have a spare room. So I had to bunk up with Jon which must have been an eye opener for the window cleaner as he caught Jon and I asleep in the same bed more than once. He came to UCLAN as I was still finishing up my degree, and enjoyed time in the student pubs whilst here. He then returned to Spain and traveled around Europe with Claudia.

Eric, Hongi & I at the top of Stuttgart

Beer Festival

Whilst in my final year I went to visit Hongi and Eric at the Stuttgart beer festival and had a great time. It was great to not only meet up with Hongi, Fabi, and Eric again, but to experience Stuttgart and a beer festival. I was told that should I ever want to go to a proper beer festival, to avoid the likes of Octoberfest as it has become too touristy and expensive - look for the smaller local ones. The beer was amazing and I got lost and spent the night walking the streets on my own trying to find Hongi's apartment. All this because I ended up in a pub with Hongi's friend who later came to England to visit me, and I returned to Stuttgar

t to visit her.

Graduation

Jon, Cristina, & I in China town - Manchester

At the end of the year I graduated with a 2:1 in Creative Writing & Journalism and won the school prize award for Most Outstanding Student in Creative Writing. I also managed to get onto a teacher training course teaching Design & Technology at a school outside of Leigh. For this I moved out of my parents house and into a little flat not far from the school. When I told the teachers in the technology department where I lived, I was told that the locals called it Heroin Heights and that it was a half way house. That explained the cheap rent. The hallways didn't have any lights that worked, the postboxes had been broken into, the windows leaked terribly, the walls had damp patches everywhere, and the heating was touch and go. Whilst completing this, Jon had run out of his 90 days once again and flew back over to England to stay with me. With very little money between us and me working full time with no wage, we ate weird concoctions of food and saved what money we had for beer; A bit like in America. With his Samoan features, and the locals loving Rugby League, we managed to sponge free drinks from locals by claiming he was signing for a local team but can't say more due to contract negotiations. It helped that there were numerous rumours that Leigh Centurions were buying someone from the Aussie leagues. Whilst Jon stayed, we were joined by Cristina for a couple of days whilst she was staying in London, and then Claudia as she moved to London to work for Cancer Research.

Our last day with Jon & his family.

After completing my teacher training, I got a job in the East Riding of Yorkshire so packed up and moved into a house in Beverley. Whilst here, Eric and his girlfriend came to visit and me and my new girlfriend showed them around Beverley and York. Unfortunately we never got Eric his afternoon tea that he demanded as everywhere we looked it was more like Champagne afternoon tea and that was a bit pricey for him. We did take them to a lovely beer shop/pub that serves beer from all over the world. It is also decorated in a Viking style, so Eric felt right at home.

BBQ Night

I can be romantic

Later that year, my girlfriend and I bought our own house and have been doing that up ever since. We took our first holiday abroad back to America and stayed with Jon and his now wife in Brooklyn, New York. Although I have said in my previous blog posts that I didn't like New York, my girlfriend always wanted to visit, and I thought I'd give it another go without the hangover. Jon's apartment was beautiful and his little boy looks just like him (probably not the best thing), but my opinion on New York still stands. Not a fan.

Block Island

We did enjoy the few days we stayed there but both agreed that it was enough, so we said our goodbyes and jumped on the train to Connecticut where Evan picked us up at New Haven train station and took us to our AirBnB in Old Seybrook. It was great to see Evan again and he and my girlfriend got on fine which made life easier for me. We made the most of our time here and filled each day with activities. We went to 6 flags but before we could go to the water park side of the park, it closed due to thunder and lightning. We went to an adventure park and enjoyed hanging in the trees and going on the zip lines. We met Evan's mum, brother, and Oma for drinks and food (unfortunately Opa had passed the month before). We had a BBQ with Kenny, Katie, and Scott.

Back together

Adventure Park

Deaf John came to visit with his little boy and spent a day at the beach with us. Katie joined us for a day trip to Block Island (I made it this time). We met up with Jenn for food and drinks, and we went back to Niagara Falls where I proposed to my girlfriend, and she said yes. Since the last time Evan and I went to Niagara Falls they have put barriers to

Deaf John & Baby Luca with my Fiance

the entrance to the water at the top of the falls and put signs up saying entering the water is a federal offence. Evan and I found a way. Whilst in America I tried again to get Evan on Sambuca (thanks to Deaf John for buying some as a present) - and failed. We took my now fiance to Elmers where they have extended and made the bar bigger - she wasn't impressed. We also revisited Sonic and enjoyed some good ol' American fast food - she wasn't impressed by that either.

The year after we got married and Evan finally left America to be my best man. Whilst here I took him to his first, and second Blackburn Rovers game, in addition to a couple of days in the Lake District where we had a few drinks and climbed Scaffell Pike. Hongi and Fabi flew over to attend the wedding and enjoyed sightseeing along with Evan. Whilst visiting, Evan destroyed my parents' bathroom by drunkenly turning the whole tap rather than the knob on the top before going back to bed. This resulted in a flooded bathroom. Whilst my mother cleaned this up, he threw up all over the bedroom.

The day before had beautiful
blue skies

Evan loved the size of cottage
doors & said they were a hate
crime against fat Americans

Hongi & Fabi enjoyed their visit

You can take the loser out of Germany

A year later we are all very much still in touch with regular Skype sessions and plans to visit one another again. Jon now lives in Washington DC with his wife and child, Evan now has the travel bug and wants to see more of the world, Katie is working as a councilor and climbing the ladder, Art is teaching English in China after spending a year in South Korea on a study abroad scheme, Deaf John has knackered his knee up again playing football and is waiting on surgery, Jenn has moved in with her boyfriend and doing well at work, Lauren is married with a little boy.

It's simply amazing how much has changed in 6 years

Niagara Falls

American Falls

With only a few days left in America before I have to leave, Evan and I decided to take the 7 hour drive to Niagara Falls. I have been told numerous times that the Canadian side is much better than the American but due to Visa problems, if I left the country I wouldn't be allowed back in so we'd have to make do with the American side.

The drive was dead simple, but as with our trip to the south as soon as we left Connecticut any radio station in the 80's early 90's on the FM radio wave was preachy stuff. I don't know what it is about Connecticut but they don't seem to have any radio stations like this that I'm aware of, although I'm pretty sure that they will exist.

Evan At The Foot Of The American
Falls

As we hit the area we were greeted with little stalls and car park attendants left, right, and centre. The smell of Indian restaurants wafted through the air making everything feel a little bit like home. As we entered the Falls area we came in contact with the Amish, they were everywhere. Now I don't know what was going through the women's minds, but they couldn't keep their eyes off Evan and I. One girl looked over her shoulder at us that much she might as well have been walking backwards. They either have never seen blond hair on guys before, or they have abnormally low standards.

Whenever you look up information about the Falls, you will find that they say a picture does not do it justice; I've never read a truer statement. A picture cannot put across the shear volume of water, nor the speed at which it travels as you stand alongside it. Even the noise that it creates batters your eardrums.

Wandering around the area it became apparent to Evan that the American side has a lot more on offer than the Canadian. Yes, the Canadian side does offer a better view of the falls as you're looking directly at the American Falls, and into the centre of the Horseshoe Falls. But other than that there is very little to do, all they offer is a short walk behind the Horseshoe Falls, and a boat ride which you can also take from the American side.

One Side Of The Rapids

After walking along the observation points we made our way towards the American Falls. Taking an elevator down to the base we were given a plastic poncho and made our way along the walkway to the base. As soon as you exit the cave in which the elevator lives, the noise of the water hits you along with the water mist.  As you walk towards the base you can see multiple rainbows along the floor and over the rapids. For the first time in my life, I saw a full circular rainbow on the floor. I think the closest I've ever seen is from an oil spill. As you get closer to the base the water hitting you becomes stronger and stronger with children being pushed by the falls. To stand and stare up at the water is something spectacular as the noise and smell surrounds you, and the weight of the water hitting you shocks you.

Evan A Mere Hundred Yards From The Edge Of The
Horseshoe Falls

Before taking the boat to get a closer look at the Horseshoe Falls we made our way to the rapids. Not only was this one of the best parts of the trip, but I was surprised to find that we were able to do what we did. Firstly there are no rails to keep you out of the water, and second, there were no guards to yell at you. With the current of the water obviously strong and the edge of the falls only a couple hundred yards away, Evan and I decided to go paddling. Even on the edges of the rapids it was obvious how strong the current was as our feet would be pushed along with the water. You could see back on land little kids watching us with envy as their parents watched us with anger as their children pulled on their sleeves yelling, "But they're doing it"

Rainbow

Having had a drink from the rapids we made our way to the Maid Of The Mist boat ride to the foot of the falls. As we rode past the American falls we got a close up view of what you would see from the Canadian side complete with rainbow. The closer we got to the Horseshoe falls, the less we could see as the mist became heavier and heavier. It was also difficult to keep your eyes open at times due to the amount of water splashing you in the face. It was nice to notice that a couple were getting married on the boat at the foot of the falls. It appears that romance isn't dead.

Leaving The Horseshoe Falls On The Boat

Throwing our plastic ponchos away as we stepped off the boat, we had a wander along the coast of the water. Big mistake as we were very close to the American Falls and got absolutely drenched. A nice way to end the day and start the 7 hour drive home.

Evan had previously been to the Canadian side and didn't think too much about it. He would recommend going to the American side. Having not been to the Canadian side I can only say that I thoroughly enjoyed the American side and would go again. If you ever have the chance - GO!