All-Year Cheer

Fireman Joe and GI Joe

I just returned from a Manchester Man and Van job with my friend Joe Hallam. Adam and Joe are business partners (Joe is also marrying Adam's sister Amy) and Joe needed help with a job moving a client's furniture to her new home across town. The job took four hours, but was a lot of fun.

We had to move an entire truck full of stuff which included a five-year olds firetruck bed. We thought this was awesome and so we had to get a picture with it. 

Joe and I are fairly cheerful guys and the 45-year old woman we were helping move was happy about that. She had told us about a couple of other times she has hired people to help her move and how they were always grumpy.

That's no fun. Heck, even if the job you are doing isn't ideal you might as well make it the best it can be. You have to stretch that Christmas Cheer out a bit longer. 

The All-Year Cheer is better.

Considering I have just competed a job in Manchester that means I have made my way back from Newcastle. Newcastle sits about 2 to 3 hours north of Manchester. Jamie and I enjoyed the weekend in both Newcastle as well as Sunderland and met up with his friends Mikey and James. Both great guys. 

While heading out for a night in town we all decided it would be fun to change our names to a famous celebrity. I think I look like Shaun White who is a famous American snowboarder, but other suggestions were Boris Becker and James Johnston who is a member of a Scottish band named Billy Clyro. Being British, my friends didn't know too much about Shaun White and considering Boris Becker is much older than I am I decided to go as James Johnston. It's always fun to switch things up when out in an area where no one knows you. 

The crazy thing is, I kid you not, while exiting the bathroom a guy who was entering stopped me and told me I looked just like James Johnston from Billy Clyro. I swear it happened! Too funny. 

Anyway, as the night and weekend went on we ended up dropping the fake names and identities and my friends became adamant about making sure everyone knew I was an American. It was funny and the ladies loved my accent. This is what it must feel like when Brits come to America and just talk. 

American accents are definitely better, though. I actually struggle to understand some British accents. 

After spending the weekend at Jamie's parent's house Adam picked me up on Monday afternoon and we made our way back to Manchester. 

The past two days have been more errand and business based. A good chunk of the days have been spent running around and getting things taken care of. This is completely fine with me, though. It's actually quite nice to be able to relax a bit and just hang out.

Though, yesterday afternoon and evening we were able to make it over to the nearby mall which was nice, but nothing compares to the Mall of America. We also went to Old Trafford where the football (soccer) team Manchester United plays. It was cool to see the stadium. I also saw a part of the headquarters of the BBC (British Broadcasting Company). They have a number of buildings here in Manchester.

As for this evening, there is a famous buffet in town as well as an Indian restaurant and so we are deciding which one we should go to for tonight. Adams birthday is tomorrow and so I am sure we will head to the other tomorrow.

The 2016-2017 Benedictine Volunteers have completed their pre-service retreat and are preparing to depart for their year-long assignments in monasteries around the world. This year the BVC has assigned six volunteers to Africa. Two will go Katibunga, Zambia, two to Hanga, Tanzania and the final two will head to Imiliwaha which is also located in Tanzania. I believe it is a bit to the northwest of Hanga which makes sense because I suppose you can't get much further south. Ha! This will be the first year volunteers serve in Imiliwaha.

With six volunteers instead of one I believe their experience will be a bit different than my own, however still very beneficial and great. There is so much to learn and to share and so I wish all of the BVC volunteers a wonderful year, especially the ones headed to Africa.

As their service begins, mine ends. If you have read any of my blogs throughout the year then you will know that I have enjoyed my time very much and have loved each and every experience. Even though it is sad to see this phenomenal year come to an end I am very excited to be able to return home and begin to plan out the next chapter of my journey. 

My flight home on Friday is out of London and so Adam and I will head down early that morning. After a layover in Iceland I will fly home and land around 6:30PM Friday evening (CST). I am excited to get home, but it is a bit crazy having it so close now after so long. It will be great to be home and around everyone again. 

I will even be able to visit my brother Thomas who is stationed at an Air Force Base in Little Rock, Arkansas next weekend. My sister Abby is also there for her service in the Americorps. It will be great to see them next weekend. Two in service for the United States of America! God Bless America and all who serve our great country. Having seen how others in countries around the world live makes me even more thankful this past Memorial Day.

I plan to post my last blog this Saturday so stay tuned. 

Well, it has been a wonderful stay in Europe and I have had a blast seeing many of its sights. I have one more full day and so I better get going so I can enjoy it all.

Happy June, everyone! I hope it has brought with it some nice weather. I suppose I will be able to see for myself in two days because...

MA, I AM COMING HOME!

Thanks for reading!