San Francisco

San Francisco, what a city and what good friends to be there with.

Alex, Dickie and I arrived in San Francisco on the evening of the 7th of May, after a rather stressful days travel. We missed our connecting flight in Charlotte by 5 minutes, I repeat, 5 minutes! It was due to fog and so we had to wait 8 hours there for the next flight. Great fun. However, I am glad to say this was the only bad thing that happened on this amazing trip, apart form maybe Alex always checking his ATM or Dickie always eating ice cream!

Everyday we got up at 7am (except Alex who always slept) and left the hostel at 8.30. We did almost everything we could have in the week we spent there. We must've walked about 10 miles every day and covered just about every inch of San Francisco.

Some of the highlights of the trip were cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge;

Visiting Alcatraz with all the GRSP's in San Fran at the time;

Going to The Castro;

Seeing the Japanese Tea Garden;

And ofcourse taking our photograph at all of these places playing with our frisbee!

As the year draws to an end this happened to be one of the last times I would be with a group of GRSP, and what a way it was to finish the year. The times I spent with Christian, Alex and the others in San Fran were some of the best moments of my entire year and I am going to thoroughly miss spending such quality time with them when the year finishes.

I am currently in New Orleans for the Rotary International Convention but the memories of San Francisco are fresh and reminiscing on the year past makes me sad to think it is coming to an end but also it makes me excited to think what the next year will bring! Moving to a new city to study a fantastic course and meet new, amazing friends is just an amazing prospect and I cannot wait! But a bit nearer than that is the thought that my beautiful girlfriend Claire is coming to visit in June and I cannot wait for that either, we are going to have an awesome time (I hope... if the Icelandic volcano doesn't have anything to say).

Anyway I shall keep you updated. Talk soon.

God bless, Andrew x

Loving And Leaving

The District Conference this weekend was amazing. Around 30 GRSP, a pool and no organised activities it really could never go badly. Each day consisted of sunbathing, swimming, frisbee-ing, partying with and without Rotarians, and ofcourse the compulsory GRSP rendition of the Backstreet Boys (video coming soon), it was incredible may I say. The best way to finish a superb year.

This years conference was in a place called Callaway Gardens which was a beautiful 13000 acre area with cabins and hotels dotted around. The GRSP all stayed in the hotel and had an amazing time. Thursday - Sunday doing whatever we wanted and having as much fun as possible, I loved every minute of it. The only down side was that we had to say goodbye at the end which I found particularly difficult, and I wasn't the only one. These people are among the most interesting, fascinating and amazing people I have and will ever meet. I love them all.

To make matters worse the day I got back I had to move all of my stuff (I had SOO much stuff) out of Georgia State and say goodbye to the place I had called home for the past 9 months. Very sad. Great memories will always be remembered when I think of Atlanta and GSU especially.

It has just hit me that the best year of my life is nearly over. I have had my last GRSP official meeting and I am completely moved out of Georgia State University. It is hard to comprehend that it is finishing and my normal life is fast approaching. However, there is nothing to be sad about! I have so much to look forward to and I can almost certainly guarantee that I will be seeing most of the GRSP again in the not too distant future. For example this afternoon I am heading to Piedmont Park to see Anders and Anton and chill, cannot wait. Oh and I am heading to San Francisco on Saturday with Alex Duthie and Christian Dickenson (link to his blog) so no need to be sad at all!

Shall talk soon!

God bless, Andrew x

Spring Break #1: Roadtrip, Mardi Gras and New Orleans

Hey y'all it has been a fair while since I last updated you, sorry about that!

My Spring Break to New Orleans was amazing fun! This was definitely one of my favourite trips of the whole year. Alex, Freja, Charlotte and our leader Frida embarked on our roadtrip from Atlanta on Saturday the 5th (which began with the car being unfortunately clamped...) and after stopping in Macon Georgia and Alabama and after countless Swedish pop songs we arrived in the city that was New Orleans.

I was expecting there to be a lot more damage to the outskirts of the city but although there was some damage, there was not as much as I had thought. We were staying across the river from the French Quarter in a hotel and so when we needed to go to the main area of Mardi Gras this involved a shuttle and a boat ride.

Bourbon Street was the epicentre of the celebration and partying. It was filled with people, wall to wall, it was crazy and so much fun! On the Monday morning we were awakened by another Swede who had decided to join our motley crew. Sara Rywe had flew in from Las Vegas and it was great to see her. So the group consisted of four Swedish girls and two Brits, perfect combination I'd have to say. Monday was called 'Lundi Gras' and it was amazing fun. We met up with lots of other GRSP's and then chilled listening to some Blues and Zydeco which was probably my favourite part of the week. The standard of music was unbelievable! I loved it!

The next day was Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras and the parades that day were just fantastic! We watched them throughout the day and had a great time. The Tuesday was not as much a party day as I had imagined, I had expected it to be the craziest day of the whole festival but it turned out not to be which was a surprise. So the whole group went to a small bar place for some food and it ended up being the best pizza I have ever had. It was incredible words cannot describe.

The next day we set off for Pelham which was the next Official GRSP Conclave which was approximately 11 hours away. We had 6 in the car this time so Alex, being the legend he is sat in the boot of the car for most of the journey, well played. We stopped in Mississippi for lunch and Alex and I had the BEST meal ever, the Cajun food was so good but the girls decided to go for a Chinese buffet... They missed out!
We then stopped in Pensacola, Florida for the night before we made it to Pelham.

The trip was just fantastic it was my first proper road trip and I had such a good time. New Orleans is definitely one of my favourite cities in the world, it is well worth a trip. The people, the food, the chat, the location couldn't have been better and I would do it all over again, an amazing adventure.

Next up: Pelham Conclave

God Bless, Andrew x

Song Of My Week: High Contrast

In this edition of my favourite song of the week, I have delved into my drum and bass past. One of my favourite DnB artists High Contrast with Racing Green. Such a TUNE! The full version is better but this is a cool video likes. Enjoy.

Song Of My Week: The Joy Formidable

My song this week is by The Joy Formidable. A band I have been listening to for quite a while now. This song, 'The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade', is a great tune. Give it a listen! Enjoy.

The Bahamas

THE BAHAMAS! Yes, The Bahamas.

It was on a sunny Tuesday when we set off to the airport. We arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson and soon enough we were on the plane, but not without our fair share of excitement. First of all, our ride to the airport was in a Limo. Yes, a Limo. Which to me was incredibly exciting but my American comrades were not quite as excited, this was just life for them. Next piece of excitement was that Dave, my host dad, managed to bring the wrong passport... bad start. He didn't realise this until the check-in lady said the words "Is she travelling too?". Luckily after breaking the speed limit Pam managed to get the right passport to Dave in time.
We got to our resort and oh my goodness, this place was something else. The hotel was HUGE and the situation was incredible. The island was aptly named 'Paradise Island.' We had the evening to settle in before our real work started the next day.
Our trip was mainly to help out the school children in Nassau with their eyesight. We had brought hundreds and hundreds of glasses with us to give out.
You may not think testing kids eyes and giving them glasses is that big a deal but just imagine not being able to see anything clearly or watch tv or read because of your eyesight. A lot of the time teachers in schools can think a child is not very smart when in fact the simple reason was that he can't see what he is supposed to do. So I'm extremely glad I could help out with these children and possibly change their lives.

We visited around 4 different schools and a community centre treating around 200 people in total, which is an incredible achievement. None of this could have been possible without the help of one outstanding woman, Dr. Anne Higgins. She was with us in all we did from the transport, to getting into schools and she also helped us get involved with many of the local activities which was great fun. She and her husband run a community centre in a very rough area of Nassau which had funding cut by the new government but still they keep it going through their own wages and the work they are doing is unbelievable. She is a truly inspirational woman.
Some of you may not know, but my mum was born in the Bahamas and she still has plenty of family there so one of my most favourite parts of the trip was getting to meet my great uncle and aunt, Jeremiah and Barbara Sawyer. They took me out for a fantastic meal, where we chatted lots and caught up with each other. Then they took me to their house and then to another one of my relatives Debbie, Brian and Stephen Nutt. I had an amazing time talking to them all and felt very blessed to feel part of a family even though I am this far away from my home. I really hope to see them all again soon and will definitely have to bring my family their next time!

As well as meeting my family I managed to meet two rather famous people. Errol Brown, the lead singer of Hot Chocolate and Sir Durward Knowles, the first ever Bahamian Olympic gold medallist.
My trip was unforgettable. The people I met, the people I came with, the weather, the food, the children, everything about this place was incredible. I really think this was one of my favourite and most rewarding trips I have ever been on. I am very thankful to Rotary for letting me experience this and am so grateful for everyone on the trip being so great to me!

The next few weeks bring quite a few activities. First of all is Mardi Gras in New Orleans which shall be amazing! I leave on Sunday and I cannot wait. Then there is the next Official Conclave with all the GRSP's which should be equally as good! After that I have St. Patricks day in Savannah which is supposed to be an amazing experience and because I am Irish this should be even better!
I am also hoping to go and see my cousins in North Carolina soon too which will be great as they are a really amazing family. So much to look forward to.
I CAN'T WAIT.

Sorry it's such a long one, hope everyone is doing well.

God bless, Andrew x

Song Of My Week: The Gaslight Anthem

My song this week is by The Gaslight Anthem and is called 'The Diamond Church Street Choir.' It is from the album American Slang.
TUNE.

Unofficial Conclave 3 and More.

How y'all doing?
Well this weekend was something special may I say. Anton and Anders, the two Swedish dynamos, managed to book an AMAZING house alongside a river and invited all GRSP's to come. Unfortunately not all could make it but still around 34 managed to make it and have an awesome time. The house was huge. It had 3 floors, around 7 bedrooms and everything you would ever want, hot tub, pool table, foosball table and so much more. I had not seen all of the GRSP for such a long time because I went home at Christmas and just various other things which hadn't let me see them, so to see them all was fantastic! The unfortunate thing with all GRSP meetings is the post depression of knowing that we may not see any of them for a long period, but hopefully not.
If an unforgettable weekend in a river lodge wasn't enough for you, then don't worry because tomorrow I embark on a trip to the Bahamas until Sunday. Yes, the Bahamas. I cannot say how excited I am for this it shall be amazing. I am going with some members of the Roswell Rotary club and my host dad, Dave. I also have to say thanks to Dave and Roswell Rotary for allowing me to join them on their mission and also for covering the costs of the trip. The club is unbelievably good to me and I cannot express how grateful I am for them choosing me as their student.
As it is Valentines Day I also feel I have to mention my lovely girlfriend Claire as she will most likely be reading this blog more than any of the rest of you haha, so Happy Valentines Claire I love you.
Hope everyone is doing really well, I will update you with some pictures and fun from the Bahamas when I return, peace.

God Bless, Andrew x

Song Of My Week: Wolf Gang

My song this is week is by Wolf Gang and it is called 'Lions In Cages'. This is their first single I believe and hopefully not their last if they keep up these standards. Enjoy.

Song Of My Week: The Naked And Famous

My favourite song this week is called 'Young Blood' by The Naked And Famous. Their album is also very good should you enjoy this. Taraaaa.

February.

A new month as a GRSP is not always a good thing. A new month means our time in America is drawing closer to an end which is NOT something I or any GRSP wants to be thinking about. But anyway, I still have the best part of 6 months left so no need to get upset.
I've now got settled into my new schedule and back into routine once more, (routine basically is sleep, eat, gym then occasionally class!) so routine is never too stressful. Classes only on Monday and Wednesday as well as on online course make for lots of time for fun!
The next month is going to be an incredible one! Next week is the 3rd Unofficial Conclave of the year and it is going to be unreal. Thanks to the wonderful Anton and Anders there has been a lake house booked up in the North Georgia mountains where we will stay for a weekend and just live the dream with around 30-40 GRSP's. Really, what could be more fun? And then the Tuesday after that I will be going to The Bahamas with the Roswell Rotary Club on a mission there. I don't really need to explain do I? Beautiful beaches, sun and the time of your life. Oh and we will be helping the local communities with some basic health treatment which will no doubt make for a satisfying, worthwhile adventure. I'm so very excited. And to add to all of that my football team, E&P Silverbacks, are on a promotion push this month and it is getting closer to the end of the season, so it is all heating up.
First of all this weekend is the small matter of the Superbowl and my host sisters, Sarah, Birthday which will hopefully be a lot of fun. February shall be a good, if not amazing month, and it all starts today. YUS.

I have made a compilation of my favourite tracks of 2010 so if you fancy listening to some good music (:P) give this below a click.




God Bless, Andrew x

Song Of My Week: Funeral Party

My favourite song this week has been by Funeral Party and is called 'Giant Song'. They have a new album coming out soon so check it out! Sorry about the awful video. Anyway enjoy!

Back Down South

Back Down South by Kings of Leon


So after having such a good time last semester would this one be able to get anywhere near those dizzying heights? YES. So far my first month back has probably been one of the most enjoyable of all.
After a gruelling 19 hour journey from Glasgow (via London), I finally made it to Atlanta. And who was there to meet me at the airport? My fantastic host family who I had missed greatly, was so great to see them! After settling in and catching up on some well needed rest I was told of an incoming storm which was to hit soon and would cause the whole south to come to a halt. They were not lying and soon enough everywhere was covered in snow. Good news however because this meant I got an extra week off university! Get in.

Unfortunately the snow had its downsides too. The Oglethorpe Official Conclave was cancelled and so this was a great disappointment to everyone. However, the GRSP spirit still reigned and atleast around 20 showed up and we all had a good time. It had been so long since I'd seen everyone.
My highlight so far though has certainly been getting to go to the Falcons Play-Off game against the Green Bay Packers!! This was an experience of a lifetime and one which I most likely will never get the chance to do again. Although they lost (very badly) the atmosphere and noise at the start was incredible and just to say I have been to a Play-Off game is amazing! Got to thank the Delashmit's (host cousins) for their generosity for giving Dave and I the chance to go because I really appreciated it.

Next up university started and soon everything got back to normal. But with the schedule Christian and I have university is not too difficult ;).
Next up was skiing in North Carolina with the Christian ministry at Georgia State. This was a trip for the international students and I befriended one Chinese, three Saudi Arabians, One Venezuelan, two French and many American people. This was great fun. Although the slopes here did not compare to anywhere I have been before, just skiing blows my mind. Oh and I didn't even fall once all day, very proud of this achievement.

All I can say is that it is good to be back :). The best year of my life just keeps giving and nothing surprises me anymore with what that Rotary Club and my Hosts can do for me, they are fantastic.
Just to top off my weekend skiing my football team won a key rivalry match 1-0 lifting us to second in the league and in touching distance of the leaders! Oh and one of the players on my team, Ryan, had spare tickets to see Linkin Park and Pendulum in the Phillips Arena that night. Little did we know that this would be in an executive box and we would basically have it to ourselves. I can safely say Christian and I had a smashing time.

I have also just booked flights to the Passion Conference in Ft. Worth, TX in April which is going to be AMAZING. And Claire has booked her flights to come visit me in June :). So life is not bad right now I suppose...
Life has never been as exciting as it is right now. So MUCH to look forward to!

God Bless, Andrew x

New Year and Leaving...

Sorry guys it's been a while since I last wrote a blog, a month exactly to be precise, so I thought it was time to get into the habit once again. A lot has happened over the past month, far too much for me to put in one blog so I'll do two :)


Being home was amazing. I had a fantastic time seeing everyone and spending time with my family and all of my friends. We had a lovely quiet Christmas in Liverpool with the grandparents and my family which was awesome to be with them again after 5 months or so. I got lots of nice presents but my personal favourite was some junior bagpipes form grandpa which are quite amusing to say the least! Next was New Year which was just as exciting because the whole family was coming. Robin, Megan, Christopher, Rebecca and Megan's boyfriend Tyler all came over from North Carolina. Also the Beales came back to Liverpool after being away for Christmas which was awesome because I never feel it is Christmas without getting to play with Josh's lego on the days after Christmas. Oh and also the lovely Claire Smith came with me for New Year also which was very exciting for me.
We did so many things all together and had a fantastic time, which included lots of shopping, going to football matchs (my fave), playing cards and so many other things which was great fun. My dad, Christopher and I went to watch Leeds vs Middlesbrough and this was great because it had been so long since I had watched a live REAL football match.
After New Year we dropped Claire off at home and picked up Mr Ben Hutton who came to the Carnaghan household for a night to have some fun. And when I say fun, I mean playing a great deal of PS2 games. Heroic banter. Then the next day we went for tea at Rob Walkers house where the master chef himself had decided to cook for us... I must admit it tasted far better than it looked. No offence Robby we love you :). I then spent the next few days with Claire, which was amazing getting to see her again before I had to leave.
I always knew leaving again would be hard but I didn't think it would be as hard as it was. After just settling back in with all of my old friends and girlfriend it was such a shock to have to leave it all so soon. However, luckily I wasn't being sent into prison or anywhere, I was being sent back to the best time of my life over in Atlanta and I knew that many more life long memories were about to be made.

God Bless, Andrew x