Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from America! With five days off University to celebrate my first Thanksgiving, Evan invited me to his house to join in the festivities.

On the Wednesday we travelled east to Columbia, which is next to Lebanon, which is next to Scotland, you'd have thought the Americans would have thought up some original names for their towns. I was introduced to his Mother - Eva, brother – Nathan, their 3 cats, one of which has seven toes on each foot, his two dogs, the sheep, and a horse that they adopted to save it from being put down. The poor guy is 40+ and loves to just stand in the sun eating grass, despite having no teeth left.

Strongbow improves steadiness

Born hunter

 After being told when and where to meet for Thanksgiving, we moved on to his Dad - Michael and Step-mum – Chris’ house in Lebanon and was introduced to them. Unfortunately there were no animals to pamper, but I did meet his half-brother, James, who has the joy of being bullied by his two older brothers. The day was filled out shooting targets in the back yard with a pellet rifle and beer. Despite only ever holding a paintball gun, I managed to hit every target.

Thursday, the day of Thanksgiving, Evan and I awoke to the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade that was being held in New York on the T.V. America makes me laugh. The camera was stationary on the section outside of Macy's and the commentators commented on whatever float was in that section. The funny bit is how each float, and whatever popstar that was singing/miming on it, was advertising something. Now I'm not naive enough to think that there would be another reason, but they weren't even being subtle about it. The commentators would tell us about an upcoming album, DVD release dates, tour dates etc for every float. In addition to this there are adverts every 5 minutes advertising what we had just seen on the floats in case we went to the toilet and missed it. 

Later on we made our way to Evan’s Grandparent’s house. A little confusing but as Eva grew up, her Parents and Grandparents all lived under one roof. All being Latvian the Grandparents were known as Vetsamom and Vetsapop, and the Parents (Evan’s Grandparents) were known as Oma and Opa, which is German as they spent time there growing up. Despite both living in Latvia and spending part of their lives in Germany, they didn't actually meet until they both got to America. Having spent time working in England, Opa told me how he worked for a company in Sheffield that did work for the Government. He found it amusing how laid back the workers were, having a brew in the morning before they started then going to the pub early for dinner and coming back late and having more brews; especially as it was Government work. As we sat Oma presented us with a lovely Turkey whilst Opa presented us with a cupboard full of spirits. Evan was selected to cut the turkey whilst Opa told me of his time working in Sheffield, laughing at our laid back nature and love of the pub. 

Evan - Master Carver

Oma - Master Chef

The day after was Thanksgiving at Michael and Chris’ house. Now one Thanksgiving meal is good, two is fantastic and I felt it rude not to go up for seconds each time. People sure can cook a turkey in America.

On Saturday, Evan and I woke to watch Toy Story 3, then it was back to Oma and Opa’s to bake Latvian cookies. With Oma and Eva in control of the dough and oven, Opa, Evan, Nathan, and I were in charge of shape cutting. If Opa ever offers to get you a vodka coke, be prepared for a proper measure. Basically vodka with some colouring; he’s a good man. With Christmas music on in the background, beers at hand, and Opa trying to convince us that he wore the trousers in the house, we were in for a fun afternoon. For tea we had Chinese takeaway, now this is when Oma proved her role as trouser wearer in the house. As the list was passed around, Opa asked if anyone was having the Peking Duck? Before anyone could answer, Oma told him that he wasn't getting any, she would cook duck another day. Now according to Evan, Opa always wants to have Peking Duck but is never allowed as Oma says that it will take too long. The poor man just wants some duck. Then again the 2 have been married for 60 odd years, just goes to prove that a happy wife is the key to a successful marriage. Happy wife - happy home. 

Thanksgiving Meal

The Master & The Apprentice

With Evan and me returning to University the next day I said my goodbyes to Oma and Opa. I was told that I am welcome back any time, and I will always have my very own Oma and Opa here in America.

New Mexico Free-Kick

For our final day, we had some left over Thanksgiving meal for dinner at Michael and Chris’ (3rd of the break) then went on to watch the University of Connecticut (Uconn) play New Mexico University at football. With 4300 on the terraces it was packed, which in hindsight was good as the temperature was just above freezing, and the cold wind made it feel well below. The game wasn’t the best and the supporters that surrounded us were very annoying with their opinions that screamed out that they had never played the game. 

After a Uconn midfielder jibbed out on a header in his own half, New Mexico broke and scored after the goalkeeper parried out. New Mexico dominated the game, finding their players in acres of space due to Uconn's zonal marking, something I've never agreed with. Unfortunately they couldn't capitalise on this dominance. In the second half Uconn equalised after the New Mexico goalkeeper stuck to his line. The first cross should have been a simple punch, the second was trickier but still should have been claimed and then the ball was headed in at close range. As the game neared the final whistle, New Mexico won a free kick that the attacking player controlled beautifully as the ball came in leaving the Uconn players wrong footed. Unfortunately however, he failed to tap into an open net. With the scores level at half time, the game went into golden goal.  but Uconn managed daylight robbery to win the game by golden goal after a defensive mistake. The full back dilly-dallied on the ball and was caught by the Uconn striker who squared it to his strike partner who finished well to send them into the quarter finals. 

All in all, Thanksgiving was a huge success and I would like to thank Evan, Eva, Michael, Chris, Opa & Oma for their wonderful hospitality. I've never felt more welcome.

America Doesn't Know What It's Missing

After my long hard search for Strongbow, I finally managed to find it. I also managed to find some American Ciders in the pubs of Boston and have even converted the girls at Bentley University to cider. The next search is for Banana Milkshake. I didn't even realise that this would become a problem as I walked into McDonald's and asked for a super-size big mac meal with 'nana milkshake. I was corrected that they no longer do super-size. Gutted - this was one of the reasons I came here, to see for myself the true size of American food. Settling with a large (burger the same size, chips a bit bigger) I asked for a 'nana milkshake. Looking forward to my bucket of nectar, you could imagine my expression when I get a small red mixture. When I report that I asked for 'nana milkshake they said that they don't do banana milkshake and that a banana and strawberry smoothie was the closest. Disgruntled I leave to eat my small meal.

At first I thought this must be a one off, so a few days later I tried again at another McDonald's but once again was handed this crappy red smoothie. Game on, I needed to find a 'nana milkshake. Scouring the shops I found that there is only vanilla, strawberry, or chocolate - no banana. I was so happy when I found Banana Colada. My face was that of a child at Christmas  but soon turned to the child who got socks when it tasted more of pineapples than banana; it was horrible.

I am having to settle for making my own in the canteen of real bananas, vanilla ice cream, and cream, but it's not really the same. Wish me luck in my search

P.S - In other news, I have converted Evan (coach) into eating Chip Butties. He now eats one most days after tea. Next I will introduce 'nana butties into this environment.

Football & Drinking - I Should Feel At Home

I'm slowly but surely getting up to scratch with the American way of life, although I don't understand it whatsoever. To begin with drinking is very different over here to at home. Apparently, if you go to the pub regularly for a couple, it is considered that you are drinking away problems. If that's the case, then my football team back home are repressing more problems than the Greek economy.

I've befriended an Australian who has lived here for the past 10 years and in doing so, have found a drinking buddy! This is both good, and bad. Good that I have someone to drink with, bad in that he drinks like me and we tend to have to carry each other home. For example, going for a couple at 3pm, resulted in us both staying until closing at 2am. Then returning the following day at 8pm until closing once again. On this day however, we got cut off for being there too long. Not that we were staggering or slurring our words (which we weren't) but simply for being sat in the same place at the bar for too long. This baffled me more than anything I've ever come across before. Jeez, I've seen someone throw up on the bar back home and still get served. I am persevering with the American beer, but I do miss Strongbow. Even to the point of dreaming that I found a shop here that sold a 75 crate for $100. Sad yes, but I do miss it. Until I find it, I'm just going to have to stick with Bud and Miller. There is only 1 pub in walking distance from campus and we are already friends with the bar staff (who attempt to speak in an English accent when I get served) and no longer get asked for ID at the door. Probably a bad sign, especially as I've only been here a month.

$9 Every Saturday

I recently joined a 7-a-side football team that the University set up. The season only lasts one month and you must have 2 girls on the pitch at all times. Originally I set up to play in the competitive league, but for some reason, the team that I play in got moved into the inter-mural league. When our first game arrived, I was slightly embarrassed. I don't think these people had ever played before, or if they had, not very much. Jon (the Aussi) has played at a decent level in the past and scored at will before subbing himself. I ended up clearing some poor lad out going up for a header and they didn't have a shot on goal for the entirety of the match. I could say that it's down to my perfect defending, but I think it's more to do with how poor they were. I think we finally won 7-0 but I would have sooner played in a game where it was tight and competitive. They couldn't even take a throw-in properly. Each time someone committed a foul throw, a part of me died. I even felt that I couldn't commit to the tackle properly. 

I went to watch the University play today in their first home game of the season. Very strange. They are very good technically, their touches are very good and their control, but there is no tempo to the game at all. Players are very rarely put under pressure and I think there was 1 slide tackle in the entire match, also dominant defending headers were a no show. The pitch is that 3G fake grass stuff and perfectly flat, probably why controlling the ball is so much easier. Also both sets of defenders seem to play extremely deep and, apart from the goalkeeper, talking was minimal. The game is so different compared to back home, if I played I would probably get sent off early doors for being too physical.

I'm getting on OK over here and I'm enjoying every minute, but if that barmaid cuts me off again I will not be held responsible for my actions.