Bluff City, TN

[I wrote this blog before I realised I had broken a bone in my wrist. Was it worth it? sure!]

The weekend began on Friday night with a free Ben Rector concert in the middle of campus. It was run by the 'Parents Association' so students can invite their parents to it too ... and people actually did! He was really good and spirits were high, even the oldies ;)

Ben Rector on UT Campus

After packing up the two cars with enough gear to stay for a fortnight, Michaela and Shannon drove me, Lauren, Annabelle, Georgia and Rubia to Bluff city - about an hour and half North of Knoxville. We didn't arrive until almost midnight, but Michaela's friends and some of her brothers had stayed up and lit a bonfire by the lake where we made smores (toasted marshmallows sandwiched between two biscuits and dipped in chocolate) BEAUTIFUL. We had a really good laugh, mostly taking the mick out of each others accents as usual, and ended up staying out until really late, we then went to stay at Michaela's house.

Saturday began with French toast (it's what we eat in England, of course) and English breakfast tea that they'd bought especially for us! We drove about 20 minutes away to the 'lake' to go out on the boat. It was so beautiful and massive, with little islands all over it, not what I had in mind for a lake!

Ready to board the boat

After a few trips over to an island in the boat we were all finally there - Michaela's huge family all came, her mum and dad; Wendy and Joe, then her 5 brothers; Joel, Austin, Caleb, Ryan & Seth and her 2 sisters; Carly and Emma. With us, that made a total of a 16 strong party.

Lake, Hickory Tree

They suprised us by bringing surf boards out. We tied them to the back of the boat and got to go in pairs to 'skurf', it was so much fun. I didn't manage to stand up on the board for more than 2 seconds because it was too hard, but loved lying down on it and flying around the lake clinging on for dear life. Apparently my face said it all and was a highlight of the day!

Skurfing

Baywatch

This how it's supposed to look - lessons from Michaela

When we got out of the water, the boys had set up a fire and cooked hotdogs. It was like something from a film, cooking on this little island in the middle of nowhere.

Campfire

Hotdog Dinner

Just in case the adrenaline junkie needs hadn't been fed enough, we then went jumping off rocks, which was fun ... and very safe of course! (yes, that's me on my way down in the picture). It got really cold quickly though so we had to speed that part of the day up.

Rock jumping

Almost 6 hours later after a lot of fun, food and a few patches of sunburn, we headed back to the Marina and made our way back. We were all really tired so decided to have a chilled out evening playing 'Red neck life' - a board game based on the stereotypes of Southerners, it was really funny because we'd seen most of it in action already since we've been here!

Red neck life game

On Sunday, the Gilstrap family wanted to show us what's typical of a Southern family's day out, so we went shooting. We drove out to a nearby forest and had a go at shooting targets with guns and a bow & arrow (these are completely acceptable things to own living down here). The younger kids also wanted to show us their favourite thing to do; put fireworks inside a pumpkin and blow it up so it goes everywhere! It was fun and a change for us, but not really my cup of tea. It was quickly established that us Brits, and Brazilians even more so are not as daring, as excitable or impressed by guns as the Americans are!

Safety lessons

Bullseye

Country life

After a brief trip into Johnson city to see where Shannon lives, we spent the rest of the day chilling out and enjoying being in a comfy house. Our departing meal was more great Southern food - home-made burgers, corn on the cob and sweet potatoes, followed by home-made key lime pie!

I had such a great weekend and got a real taste of American family life, which I'd really wanted the chance to see. There's loads of stuff we didn't get to do because we didn't have the time, but we've been invited back for Thanksgiving, so I think that's going to be the plan for then. I'm so happy I've made a good group of friends to stick with here, they're all great and we have serious jokes.

Girls

Work & Rain - feels like Manchester

This weekend was pretty quiet, I 'tail-gated' before the game and got to meet some of the football players (they are like celebs on campus) which was pretty fun, but then didn't actually go to the game ... that suited me though! When the game had finished I joined the party at someone's house nearby - it was a massive mansion type house, looked like something out of a film, but it was loads of fun! Sunday I just chilled out until I had a 'study session' at 5-7.30 ... on a SUNDAY, however it was followed by a class milkshake run, so that made it acceptable.

Tailgating on UT Campus

That was for my first exam today though, I've just finished and having a lunch break between lessons sampling a Pumpkin Bagel (it's all Halloween crazy already!). The exam went well, I knew everything that came up on it, but I ran out of time and had to rush the end because I wrote too much for the first questions! I've never had this problem before, but I guess it's a good thing!

I am sooooo tired, I hardly slept last night - there was a flood warning and tornado warning for through the night in Knox county and the rain was SO loud. So, not a great night before an exam and a full day of classes. I also need to write an essay by Thursday. So obviously this is a great time to update my blog! NOT.

These past few days have felt more like I'm in Manchester with the weather and work load, but the difference is when the rain goes we're forecast another week of glorious sunshine! This should tie in nicely with the weekend plans.

On Friday night, Ben Rector is playing an outdoor gig for free in the middle of campus - I'm really excited about this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BW_ugyj0lw 
after this, Michaela and Shannon are driving me, Lauren, Annabelle, Georgia and Rubia (their Brazilian roommate) over to their house in Johnson City! 

They've planned a fun weekend of BBQ's by the lake, going out on the boat, visiting a waterfall and eating loads of good Southern food ... Counting down the days: 3 more to go! 

Better than Average

There's not been much going on since my last posts so maybe this is where the normality begins ... 4 weeks in and finally I have got a bit of free time and starting to get into a routine!
I've still been really busy with work and I've just finished my first essay - no idea how it's going to go as I'm still trying to figure out the standards here compared to Uni at home, but sure it will be fine and having nothing to worry about YET.
I've found a great place (on the terrace of Starbucks) where I can work in peace and quiet, with Starbucks as a treat when I've got some work done, so that's working well for me! Then I've got an exam on Tuesday and an essay in for Thursday next week so planning on having a relaxed weekend to get most of that out of the way; I have a study session on SUNDAY 5-8pm, ouch!
But the plan to go to Shannon and Michaela's (Johnson City, TN) is still on for the weekend after so lots to look forward to!
I seem to be spending more and more time with the Americans which is good seen as that's why I chose to study here! But having the English around is always good for a bit of sarcasm/to watch the Inbetweeners!

I'm currently sat outside in the sun waiting for my next class to start; the lessons are SO different, you get graded on class participation which means I actually have to talk and give my opinion. I feel that the lecturers let me off a little bit though seen as the British are known for being quite reserved!
2 more classes to go for today (1 1/2 hours each) and then I think the plan is to go to a Chinese restaurant tonight with Sierra, Raven  and Joanna seen as we've not spend loads of time together as flatmates. Joanna is pretty homesick too (she's never off skype with her mum) so we thought that some good Chinese food might be what she needs!

All is good. Glad I'm interested in my classes or it would be really hard work. People are still lovely. The accent is still working in my favour.

Tennessee 51 - 13 Georgia State

I think it's fair to say that my first American football game was a success! 

We 'tail-gated' at the International house, about 100 of us where they put on a BBQ and played the Tennessee anthems to get us in the mood before we all headed to the Neyland Stadium, which is only about a 15 minute walk from where I live on campus. It poured it down for the tailgate party and for about the first half of the game but that seemed to add to the fun of it all. Shannon, who lives next door to me claims to be 'the biggest football fan on campus' so we were guaranteed to have a good time! 

Shannon 'the biggest football fan on campus'

First Football game - Go Vols!

I definitely don't understand the rules to American football yet and there seems to be a lot of unnecessary stopping and starting, but it was still fun to watch. The highlight was the Marching band - they were AMAZING - apparently they're one of the best in the country. We also had cheerleaders right in front of us (we had great seats that the International house had got for us) so I spent most of my time people-watching, or watching the cheerleaders and the band, rather than the actual football!

Member of the Pride of Southland Marching band

UK, USA & Brazil unite

The game went on for 3 and a half hours!! So we made our own entertainment for part of it, including a game of England v America.

We've found quite a lot of linguistic differences but it's lucky that we all know how to joke about it. Today's favourite was profiteroles - that American's call cream puffs.

Rainy day at the Neyland Stadium

The rain won't dampen our spirits!

All in all it was a really fun day! I've not got tickets for the next game (next Saturday) because I didn't register in time, but I'm quite glad because I wouldn't want to do it every week, just once in a while. I can't cope with all that Orange all the time. The key to a good outfit is; the brighter the better! 

So much ORANGE at Neyland Stadium

Outdoor Cinema, Meal & Birthday Party

It's been yet another busy but fun few days! We went for a lovely meal and watched a band at our favourite place on the strip - Tin Roof. Friday was boiling so after my class (I finish at 1 on a Friday wohoo!) I went round the pool with Lauren and there were people diving, so we ended up staying there for ages and watching that ... topping up the tan!

Tin Roof meal

Georgia & Jade - Tin Roof

On the first Friday of every month in Market Square, the main area downtown, they open all the museums until midnight and put on free buffets and events (like fire throwers in the middle of the town centre). It was also the first night of the outdoor movies, at the same place they're showing a different classic movie every Friday night. So, we had a wonder round then got an ice cream and watched Footloose Downtown, it's so good that they have stuff going on all the time. You can spend an afternoon/evening Downtown doing nothing, just wandering round and watching the world go by (and the buskers are great too!)

We then walked to a house for our friend David's birthday party, which was also fun. They genuinely do have 'keg parties' - everyone chips in to buy a keg then you just have a cup and drink until it's gone (unless you're an international girl of course, then it's free, winner.)

We get excited every time we see a Yellow school bus!

Jade & Lauren

Outdoor Movie - Market Square, Downtown

Elevator picture!

David's Birthday party

Just thought I'd show you a few of these pictures ... I've got loads of new ones on facebook that other people have put on, so have a look at them if you can get on it :)

BOOMSDAY

Saturday night turned out to be great, we went to the strip for a drink, met some people we knew from the I-House and ended up with an invite to a party with a 'girls drink free' and 'internationals drink free' policy, so we were sorted! 

Joanna (the Chinese girl who I live with) had her sister visiting from Washington DC for the weekend so I had lunch with them on Sunday which was lovely and then headed to the Tennessee River (just off campus) for Boomsday celebrations. It's an annual street festival to celebrate Labor day and it has the biggest firework display for Labor day in the nation, impressive.

It was packed with locals, food tents and musicians ... we got to see some pretty famous country singers (but didn't know who they were!) they were really good and I'm loving the country music!! We're trying to plan a trip to Nashville shortly - the home of country music.

Boomsday 2012, Tennessee River

We were there for about 3 hours just chilling, eating and people watching then they set off the fireworks from the bridge and they were AMAZING. Never seen anything like it. Then .... Hurricane Isaac arrived, right in the middle of the firework display, the timing couldn't have been any worse/better and everyone was absolutely soaked. It rained for about 15 minutes and the puddles came half way up way past your ankle, it was crazy and everyone was running around like it was the end of the world!! We just went with it - nothing we could do and had a right laugh.

Before the Storm

After the Storm

These are who I went to Boomsday with; David the American, Phoebe and Georgia from Brighton/Swansea University and Annabelle.

I've been trying to see if anyone recorded the storm because I can't explain how crazy it was!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2emQL39ARo

I've not actually done much for Labor Day, I was planning on having a day round the pool but it's cloudy and a bit rainy today and I think we're forecast more storms for the week ahead. I did get to go for lunch at the Chaplaincy though which was nice, I've met some lovely people there and planning on going on a Kayaking weekend with them at the end of the month ... watch this space! 

I was a bit disappointed that I hadn't planned to travel somewhere this weekend seen as we had an extra day off, but it's turned out to be really fun and I'm glad I didn't leave Knoxville now. Back to work! Everyone's counting down the days now to the big football match and parties on Saturday.

Theatre, Football & The Wedding Crashers

Thursday evening was a random one! About 20 of us headed downtown to the Tennessee Theater (Theatre) and got a private tour round it from the guy in the picture (just a glimpse into what the locals are like here!). It was really fun, he played us all the Tennessee anthems that we need to learn before the game next week and went in the dressing room where Johnny Cash and loads of other famous people had rehearsed! They get touring Broadway tours, but there's not much good on until after Christmas and we'll be gone by then, so that's a bit of a shame :(

Just a little flavour of the Knoxville locals

Friday night was really fun - Shannon's friends from Washington and Chicago were visiting so we went to 'Tin Roof' it's a really cool bar that usually plays country music, but they were showing the first game (away that's why we weren't there). Never seen so much ORANGE in my life, it was so much fun and I'm really excited for the game next week now. Everytime Tennessee get a touchdown they sing 'Rocky Top'
Good Ole' Rocky Top HEY! Rocky Top, Tennessee... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n9prNixjbg
It also happened to be 5 dollar Friday where you can get any burger with anything on it for 5 dollars. WINNER. It was huge and gorgeous. TGI Style mmmmmmmmm.
We could hardly walk after that but then went to another bar that let you in if you're under 21, you just can't drink (but everyone does) and they had 4 different bands on so that was pretty fun and we ended up staying there for ages because we bumped into some people from a course that a few of us do.

Georgia & Jade - Knoxville World's Fair Park

Not many people were around today, so me, Georgia and Annabelle went downtown we were going to go to the cinema but got distracted by the World's Fair park - where we went up into the big bubble to get a great view of Knoxville! We also saw a wedding about to happen in the park in the middle of the main street, so we ran into a coffee shop opposite and grabbed a table, we had the best view in the house! haha!

Knoxville World's Fair Park

Knoxville from the Bubble at the World's Fair Park

We went up into the bubble to get a great view of Knoxville

Just having some dinner then we're planning on doing something tonight, not sure what yet. Tomorrow is Boomsday which sounds fun and Monday is Labour Day, so there'll be lots going on!