Driving on the wrong side of the road...

I can't believe it - my first semester is over, just one more to go and I will be all finished in America.  Time is just going too quickly, 7th January marks the half way point and I feel there is still so much that I want to see and do before I go.  However, after finishing my first semester, I rented a car and, managing to drive on the wrong side of the road (for British people, not Americans I should add) the whole way, I went and did some touring around.

  The only time I strayed onto the wrong side of the road actually happened as I turned into our local shopping mall on the day I picked the car up.  As I stopped at the traffic lights I kept telling myself 'turn onto the right hand side, turn onto the right hand side', unfortunately, what I thought was the right hand lane, was in fact one of the left hand lanes.  Thankfully, nothing came towards me until I was in a place where I could pull over onto the correct side, so all was well!

At Oakridge

  I then set off on Tuesday afternoon and drove north to Knoxville, Tennessee.  My director of studies at Wesley House is actually from Tennessee and her parents had kindly invited me up to stay with them for a few days.  On my journey up to Knoxville I did encounter my other problem with driving in the States - filling up with petrol (or gas as they say here).  I pulled up to the pump (after circling round the pumps as I realised my cap was on the other side) and noticed that they had an option to pay at the pump which I opted for.  Unfortunately, after entering my card I then had to type in my zip code for security reasons.  As my card is a British card, it is not linked to my zip code in the US and so my card was rejected.  Meaning I had to go in to see the attendant, who didn't believe it should be a problem, so came out with me to see me do it again.  Once again it was rejected, so I had to go back into the store to pay the cashier.  The system is that one must pay for their petrol before they take it, so I had to say how much I wished to put in.  Of course, I had no clue!  He suggested $75 which I accepted, paid and then went out to fill up the car, which I did and it only came to $25 - I was not happy.  While I was thinking about what to do an announcement came over the tannoy saying 'can the customer at pump 4 please come into the store' where the attendant had produced a new receipt for the correct amount.  Thankfully, after looking a bit dopey, I won't have to go back to that gas station!

Oakridge - the so called secret city

  I arrived in Knoxville safely after this and found my way to Doris and Bob's house where I received a warm welcome.  On the Wednesday morning I went to their church as Bob was singing in a musical concert put on by the church's director of music for the Fellowship Club - a group of older people.  It gave me the opportunity to look round their wonderful facilities which has space for youth and children, and also an organisation which works with those with dementia - definitely a much needed ministry within the church in this day and age.  In the afternoon Bob and I went up to Oakridge which is where the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were assembled.  During the war, Oakridge became the 3rd largest city in Tennessee when approximately 75,000 people were moved in - all in secret!  Oakridge also hosts a museum of science and energy which was very informative and interactive explaining everything one needs to know about nuclear power.  Unfortunately, we had hoped to go up into the Smoky Mountains on Thursday but the weather was awful, so instead we went on a driving tour of downtown Knoxville ending with a Mexican lunch.

A view along the Ocoee during my drive to NC

 

At Fires Creek

The Folk School

One house's Christmas lights

Waterfall at Fires Creek

  I set off from Knoxville on Friday morning and drove to Hayesville, North Carolina to visit friends Amy, Tim and Laura-Clare who live there.  The drive was beautiful following the Ocoee river for a large part of it, in fact going past the place where I white water rafted earlier in the year.  After a nice quiet Friday afternoon and 

evening in Hayesville, we went out for the day on Saturday.  We were driving past a glass blowing workshop and saw that it was open so popped in and were able to watch pretty much the whole process of crafting a beautiful dolphin tail ornament with amazing swirling patterns, it was so impressive the skill and patience that went into it.  We then went on to the Folk School which was established in 1925 and based on folk schools in Denmark teaching rural crafts and also engaging in community life and the tradition of folk story telling.  We finished our excursion with a short walk along Fires Creek which, no doubt due to the recent heavy rains, was high and fast flowing making a beautiful walk.  We returned home for my first experience of 'lupper' (a combination of lunch and supper), which consisted of a very nice Thai green curry.  The day finished with a trip out to see some of the Christmas lights and enjoy a Dairy Queen ice cream.  After church on Sunday morning and lunch back home, it was time to bid my friends farewell and head off back to Atlanta after 500 miles and a great time of seeing some of the surrounding area.

The end of Thanksgiving... and the start of Christmas

This post must start with an apology for the length of time it has taken to be written.  Unfortunately (or fortunately for those involved in my current education) writing essays has taken over from writing blogs!  However, now that the essays are all out of the way, the blog may resume!

Mesmerising jellyfish

  Those who have been following the 3 episode Thanksgiving post may remember that the previous post ended with us heading back to Atlanta, via the Georgia Aquarium.   This Aquarium is supposedly the largest aquarium in the world - and it is pretty amazing.  There are various zones to visit focussing on Georgia marine life, ocean, freshwater to name but a few.  There are places where you can put your hand in and touch some of the rays as they swim past and they even have a couple of Beluga whales.  It was quite an awe inspiring place because one realises the vast number of creatures and plant life that, without places like the Georgia Aquarium, we would never know existed - I really was reminded about the creativity of God, and that so much of it exists without us ever needing to know about it.

A content looking frog

  When I heard they had whales I was a bit sceptical as I couldn't imagine they could provide a suitable environment for the whales to enjoy life.  While I still can't be completely sure that they are happy, they certainly looked happy as they swam around and the tank was huge.  I also loved the frog zone as there were some amazing looking frogs.  However, after only a short time, it was time to go.
 

My Religious Education class

  After arriving back home, although my Thanksgiving adventure had come to an end, there was a sense of anticipation building that Christmas was on its way.  There is a tradition that people put their Christmas decorations up the day after Thanksgiving so there were lights going up, music started playing and festive events started being advertised.  As term came to a close at Candler there has been time for some social activities, both on the same day.  My Religious Education class and my Texts of Terror class both decided that something should be organised for the class to celebrate the end of term.  The Religious Education class decided to go to a local pizza restaurant for a bit of food and a drink, while a member of the Texts of Terror class invited us all to their apartment for our final class where food and some finger food.  It was interesting that they were the two classes that decided on this, and they were also the two classes I have taken that were very focussed on classroom participation.  It made me wonder if our education systems need to do more to create learning environments where people can feel comfortable with one another in order to learn together.

"Merry Tuba Christmas!"

  The other experience I have had to point the way to Christmas was possibly the best ever - TUBA CHRISTMAS!  Over 40 years ago Tuba Christmas started in New York and, since then, it has spread around America and even into Europe - although sadly not as far as Great Britain.  In the middle of Atlanta there was a concert by about 150 tubas of all shapes and sizes.  Many of the players were youngsters bussed in from local schools, but also many older players (the ages ranged from 9-76 apparently) who all turned up on the day and, after an hour and a half rehearsing, performed for an hour.  They were mostly Christmas carols, but with Jingle Bells and We wish you a Merry Christmas thrown in as well.  It was a stunning performance (unfortunately I have not been able to upload a video of it).  Sadly the conductor did like to talk so there were long gaps between pieces, but it was a great event nonetheless.  While I was pleased to be able to enjoy watching and recording the concert, there was a part of me that regretted not having a tuba to be able to go and join in.  The sound was incredible to hear, so I can only imagine what it was like to play in.  Who knows, maybe one day it will make it to Britain and I could find out.  It was, most definitely, the best start to Christmas!   

A Southern Thanksgiving Part 2

Previously on A British Methodist Abroad...
  I had arrived in Alabama, seen some sights, eaten some food and was in the car heading for Florida...

My adoptive Thanksgiving family

The great thing about David's car is that in the back it has reclining seats and a DVD player so travelling around was awesome.  I had time to watch Disney films I had never seen before and some old classics.  However, we arrived in Florida in the dark, and in time to eat (seeing as it had been a few hours since the last meal!).  Thankfully, David's parents had decided not to do a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner (seeing as we had eaten that for lunch) and so instead we had beautifully cooked steaks with baked potatoes and salad.  After dinner provided the opportunity to watch another animated film (this time watching Brave - a film well worth watching if you've not seen it and enjoy animated films!) and, just when I was feeling it was time to fully unwind and go to bed, I was told it was time for another must-have American Thanksgiving experiences - Black Friday Shopping.  Black Friday shopping, for those of you who haven't had the delight, is the day when all the shops start their pre-Christmas sales encouraging people to buy a whole load of presents in one go.  For those in Britain, think January/Boxing Day sales - but starting at midnight on Friday. Because it was a must-have experience, I agreed to go.  If you have never been, and don't like shopping/crowds of people - DON'T GO!  It is always a bad sign when you are told we need to start with a coffee at 11.30pm just to see us through the evening!  However, I went with David (also not keen on the experience), Brittany his wife, Stephanie his sister and Wesley his brother.  We arrived at the first store at 11.45pm which meant queuing up outside with hundreds of others - apparently part of the experience - and then all rushing in when the doors opened.  I was impressed with how orderly people walked in in line - but once through the doors - it was every man/woman/child/baby (yes someone did bring their baby in a pushchair) for themselves (ok - so maybe the baby had someone looking out for them).  This first store was where most of our purchases were made (I say 'our' - I wasn't actually buying anything), however, we still had to go to two more stores and a burger drive thru.  It had got so late that I, yes you heard correct, even I, did not fancy a burger!  Finally, at 3am we arrived home laden with bargains and I was able to collapse into bed.  I had survived my Black Friday shopping experience - an experience I am weirdly glad to have had, but one I do not intend to have again!

On the pier

  The rest of Friday (after I had slept for a while) was, by contrast, very different.  It was relaxed, there weren't crowds of people, and it didn't involve shopping!  Instead, we went to the beach just a few minutes away from where David's family live.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  The sea was so blue and clear.  The sand was clean and fresh.  There was a pier (without any amusement arcades on it) to walk down where many people were fishing.  I had been warned that it may be breezy down at the beach and not quite warm enough for shorts - as it happened it would have been fine.  However, like a true Brit, I rolled my jeans up and waded in.  Those I was with felt that the water was too cold - but for me, it was no different to the North Sea off Frinton in the summer so was quite alright for paddling in.  I was also introduced to Dippin Dots, supposedly the ice cream of the future.  I'm not sure it beats a '99 but they were very nice.  Then, Friday evening, David's grandparents came and they said they'd bring some fried shrimp, locally caught for our dinner.  David had warned me about the quantity of shrimp that would be coming - but even I, in my wildest dreams, couldn't have imagined a mountain of shrimp the size we had that night.  And that was to accompany the fillets of flounder and the devilled crab that they also brought - it was amazing and so fresh tasting.  Sadly, I did not think to take a photo of the shrimp mound before everyone started digging in.  Friday night also saw part of my education - learning to play Canasta!  It is a card game that can get vicious - and bring out the worst in even the nicest people, but it was still loads of fun and I'll have to practice in case I ever get the chance of meeting up with them all again some time.

The extent of my cotton picking exploits

  On Saturday, we had another short visit to the beach, this time going to the area where the original Jaws film was shot which gave me an opportunity for another quick paddle (keeping a look out for any fins - but as I heard no spooky music I guessed I was ok) before loading up the car and heading to David and Brittany's house back in Alabama.  The one stop off we made on the journey (apart from to get food) was to pick cotton!  Alabama is a huge cotton growing region and there are just fields of it.  Just as we may get field after field of oil seed rape in Britain, so here it seemed as though every field had cotton growing in it.  So, making sure no-one was watching, I did jump out and pick a piece of cotton.  And I tell you, those plants are prickly and they are low down - I would not want to be doing that every day.  Thankfully now they do have machines to do it, but one could appreciate how hard the work was that slaves, and then other manual workers, had to do.  Once again we arrived home in the dark.  However, the next day I could see what a lovely small town it was, so peaceful compared to Atlanta.  Saturday night saw us finish putting up the Christmas decorations (now that Thanksgiving is over, the Christmas season has truly begun) and then Brittany gave me an education in great American reality shows.  We watched Teen Mom, Sister Wives (a show about a Mormon with 4 wives), Ink Master (a competition to find the best tattoo artist) and Breaking Amish.  I do feel I should have brought episodes of The Only Way is Essex and Come Dine with me just to repay the compliment!

  Sunday provided my first opportunity to see a bit of football (soccer to my American friends) since I arrived.  I was able to see the last 15 minutes of Liverpool v Swansea (a riveting 0-0 draw) before it was time to go to church.  After going to the very large Decatur First UMC (which I am loving) there was something quite comforting about going to Seale UMC which had about 30 present and, when sharing the peace, there was time and opportunity for people to go and speak to everyone - and say more than just 'peace be with you'.  It really felt more like a community than some more tightly structured church services can.  And then, after church, it was time to head back to the city, back to Atlanta.  But we did go via the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.  However, to read about that, you will have to read the final instalment of this mini series!

A Southern Thanksgiving Part 1

Hanging moss in Alabama

Google Map of my trip

Since Tuesday I have travelled 718 miles (according to Google maps and not including local travelling at each destination), I have travelled within three different states (Georgia, Alabama and Florida) slept in three different beds, watched 7 and a half animated films (thanks to a DVD player in the back of the car), been in small towns, seaside resorts and returned to a large city, I have eaten a variety of foods (all good) and made new friends along the way - this certainly was a first Thanksgiving to remember.  Due to all the memories I want to share from this, I will write it in a 3 parts, just so you don't have to spend all day reading it, and I can tell you all a bit more about each event...

  The great thing about being an exchange student from a foreign country is that there is always someone willing to adopt you for holidays to help you experience their native culture.  I was fortunate enough to have made friends with David in one of my Candler classes who was just such a person.  What made it even more remarkable that he and his family were willing to take me in was that just prior to my visit they had had a family bereavement - in fact the funeral was while I was staying.

The spot where Jefferson Davis was sworn in
on the steps of the capitol building

Jefferson Davis

Graves of Hank and Audrey Williams

  So he picked me up on Tuesday morning and we made the drive to Millbrook, Alabama.  From our base in Millbrook we ventured into Montgomery which is the state capital of Alabama.  It hosts the site where Jefferson Davis was sworn in as the first president of the Confederacy in 1861 and also Martin Luther King's church.  Montgomery is also the burial place of Hank Williams (country music singer) and I'm told that no trip to Montgomery is complete without a pilgrimage to his grave.  While staying in Millbrook we also went to Fort Toulouse, site of a French fort from the French-Indian war and also an American fort used during a war with the Creek Native Americans.  This was also my first experience of seeing moss hanging from trees, giving the forest a beautiful, yet also enchanting feel.  My final experience before Thanksgiving was apparently an Alabama must - to the Bass Pro shop.  This is an outdoor shop like none in Britain.  It really demonstrated the difference in culture as not only were there clothes and utensils for the outdoors on sale, but there were fishing lines and guns as well.  This is definitely an area where people feel at home outdoors and hunting and fishing are a way of life.  Needless to say - I did not buy a gun!

Me at the Bass Pro shop

  Thanksgiving Day itself began early.  I was invited to go with David and his family to a men's breakfast held at, but not organised by, a local shooting club.  The scenery was beautiful and the food was pretty good as well - Conecuh sausage (an Alabamian delicacy), scrambled egg, grits and biscuits (more like a savoury scone in Britain).  Before we ate we prayed, they swore allegiance to the flag (I listened to the words and thought of the Union Jack!) and then they sang My Country 'Tis of Thee (which is to the tune of God save the Queen!) - all very patriotic and they told me that praying in public and swearing allegiance to the flag is now very rare.  After breakfast we went to David's in-laws for lunch.  While they were rushing around making all the necessary preparations, I had the opportunity to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, which is a real Thanksgiving tradition.  There were casts from some of the Broadway musicals performing, pop acts, dancers and all kinds of acts to make it a wonderful carnival atmosphere.  With lunch ready we sat down together, all squashed in to make sure we could all fit, and enjoyed a dinner of smoked turkey, fried turkey, ham, mashed potato, dressing (a little bit like stuffing, but cooked separately), sweet potato soufle, and green beans, with pecan pie for dessert.  We didn't have long after lunch before David, Brittany (his wife) and I were in the car and off down to the Gulf Coast, to Navarre in Florida.  But for that, you will have to read part 2...

Heaven Bound

  I was invited to go this evening to a musical called 'Heaven Bound' performed by members of Big Bethel AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Church.  It was a musical which has been performed every year for 82 years!  It was first performed in 1930 during the Great Depression as the church was facing severe financial pressures and was facing closure, but has continued ever since.  Members of the church I went to watch it with who first went to see it 55 years ago (!) inform me that it hasn't changed at all in that time.  The history of Big Bethel is also interesting.  The congregation started life as a slave church, initially they had to sit in segregated pews in the white church, but eventually were given a plot of land to build their own building.  After the Civil War, once they were freed, they built a new building just next door (where the present church still stands, although it has gone through a number of refurbishments and rebuilds).

  However, it was about the production itself that I wanted to share.  I wish I was able to have taken photos as it will be difficult to imagine without.  The setting for the performance was at the pearly gates.  It opened with St Peter and the angels all entering through the gates, Peter with the giant Book of Life.  One thing of interest was that Peter and the angels were all black people, decked out in white and gold.  It was refreshing that it wasn't the traditional Western images of angels that we usually see.  Then the rest of the performance consisted of stories of individuals on their journeys to heaven.  Each person came in, one at a time and told their story using a traditional gospel or African American spiritual song.  The singing was incredible - both the soloists and the choir - made up of the angels and all who had made it to heaven thus far.  Each person had a slightly different story - some were already decked in white robes and were people full of faith and triumphantly marching to heaven; whilst others were in ordinary clothes, facing the trials and tribulations of this world, some carrying heavy baggages, who persevered in faith and just made it, to be given their white robe and golden crown on arrival.  These songs were uplifting, the characters represented many people's journey through life, there was encouragement for all watching who may be facing similar trials.

  The production did also tell the stories who didn't make it.  Those people who were tempted by the ways of the world rather than the way of God.  I was pleased to see that there were far more people getting into heaven than not.  However, in each person's story, the character of the Devil was present, and in the case of the few, he tempted them away and they did not make it into heaven.  The songs which were sung, still had notes of hope within them, which then jarred with the stories being displayed.  But the stories also told of a man choosing wealth rather than helping the poor; and the story of a mother desperately praying for her children to turn back from their lives of gambling - and only one did.  In our churches we don't like talking about the Devil or people not getting into heaven.  However, what happens with regards to judgement after death, only God knows.  In the mean time, these stories provided the challenge to each person watching, to do all they can to resist the temptations which force us to live contrary to God's way.  The other clever aspect of this musical was that the character of the Devil was able to bring this to challenge to us by using humour.  It was funny and entertaining to see how he was going to try and lead people away from God's path, but as we laughed, there was also the realisation that there was truth in what we were witnessing.

  If you are in Atlanta on 8th November 2013 (the next time they are performing the production) then I would recommend that you go as it was a fantastic night out, a really well done production, great music performed by great musicians, and a real encouragement to make sure your life's journey takes you heaven bound!

Election Night special

Its 10.20pm, I have an 8am class tomorrow, yet I have not gone to bed - why?  Because it is election night - or 'Decision 2012' as NBC call it!

  Obviously I don't have a vote - and yet the decision made tonight is one which will affect my life, even after I return from the States, such is the power and influence of the American President in world affairs.  I have my preferred candidate who I hope will win, but I am just intrigued as to how it will turn out - especially given the close nature of the election.

  However, what I want to write about isn't the election, but the communion service that our church hosted this evening.  It was part of a national drive by churches (see www.electiondaycommunion.org) as a unifying move after what has become a very divisive campaign.  The service was led by the 7 churches in the city of Decatur and it was truly a unifying act.

  In the welcome to the service it was stressed that people voted for different parties, had different expectations and dreams for the future of this country, yet in Christ we are all one.  There was no sermon, just a time of silence in between each Bible reading to allow us all to meditate upon the words.  Crucially it meant that there was no opportunity for political posturing, or for any words to be misconstrued as such.

  The music was led on the piano rather than the organ so, as there was a large congregation, the sound was just beautiful.  The words that really struck me were in the chorus of a hymn.  They said:

"And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,

Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love."

  Whatever side of the political divide we are on, we must still continue to live in a way which will lead others to know we are Christians by the love we have.

  What was also good was that the ministers from the 7 churches all stood at the front during the Communion liturgy, even though it was only one of them saying most of it.  However, when we got to the recounting of the Last Supper story, they all said in unison "For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said,"  At that point we all joined in with "This is my body which is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me."  The same was done with the wine.  There was just something really powerful about the ministers affirming the unity between them in Communion, and also when we joined in creating the much larger unity.

  The decisions made tonight will have lasting consequences for the United States of America, for Britain and for the wider world.  However, in the midst of it all, we must remember that we are first and foremost children of God and so we must live within that unity, and then ask God's blessing on whatever follows.

Trip to the Mountains

I'm trying to catch up on blogging as it has taken a back seat over the last few weeks due to midterm paper writing.  However...

  I want to share with y'all (learning the lingo!!) about my weekend up in the mountains from a few weeks ago.  I was staying in North Carolina with friends of mine Amy and Tim and family (daughter and dog!).  Those of you with connections with what was the Newbury and Hungerford Methodist Circuit will remember that Amy was minister of the churches in Thatcham and Kingsclere for a year and Tim was minister in the Reading and Silchester Circuit.  Amy very kindly drove down to pick me up, and then drove me back at the end of the weekend as well (probably more understandable for her to be keen to drive me home!).  This really highlighted the difference in British and American culture as I would consider driving 2 and a half hours each way twice in a weekend a lot of driving, but Amy seemed to take it all in her stride.  It was definitely a welcome break from studying and from city life in general.  The season of Fall seemed to be reaching its peak (or fairly close to it) and so the colours of the leaves were beautiful.

  On the Saturday, after visiting Tim's college where he works, we journeyed back over the state border into Georgia and went to Brasstown Bald.  This is the highest peak in Georgia at 4,784 feet.  Thankfully we were able to drive most of the way up and then hiked the last bit.  After looking round the small museum in the visitor centre we climbed the last few stairs to the top of the lookout point.  It was a clear day and we could see into 4 different states (Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee).  Looking out over the mountains and the forests was awe inspiring - and I could almost imagine living here.  But fear not British readers (or, I suppose, fear - if the thought of me living over here is an attractive one), I'm not actually planning on moving over permanently!!  

  On the way back to North Carolina we stopped at Dairy Queen for a Blizzard ice cream which was apparently a cultural experience not to be missed - and it didn't disappoint.  The range of flavours really was impressive - there was certainly more than a choice just between chocolate, strawberry and vanilla!

  On the Sunday we went to their local Methodist Church where they had a 'note-burning' ceremony.  This was to commemorate and celebrate the fact that they had paid off the debt on their new sanctuary building.  In just 10 years they had managed to complete the payments on their beautiful sanctuary.  It also meant that the building could be dedicated now that the debt was paid off.  It was great to be part of this celebration.

  After lunch on the Sunday it was time to make the journey back to the city.  But not before one more stop in the Appalachian Mountains to have a last look at the view!  All in all a great weekend, thanks to my friends in North Carolina!

Atlanta Cyclorama - definitely a good break from studying

This is a post which I've been meaning to write for a couple of weeks!

A couple of weeks ago I decided I needed a break from studying and so, after Googling 'things to do in Atlanta' decided on a visit to the Atlanta Cyclorama - a 360° oil painting of the Battle of Atlanta which took place in 1864 during the American Civil War.  The painting was done by German artists in the 1880's.  The Cyclorama is situated in Grant Park which is also home to Atlanta Zoo - a somewhat odd mix I thought - but it was a beautiful park to walk round even if you weren't visiting the zoo or the Cyclorama.

The Texas

  Entering the building you are first treated to a museum with various exhibits and paintings of the Civil War and also a steam locomotive called the Texas which was involved in the Great Locomotive Chase.  In 1862 Unionists (northern states) hijacked a Confederate (southern states) train in Georgia and was driving it and trying to destroy the train line as it went to cut off Confederate supply chains.  The Texas was one of the trains used by the Confederates to chase the Unionist hijackers.  The Unionists were eventually caught and some of them executed as spies.

Uniform of a Confederate 

  After looking round the museum I was called in with the other visitors to see the Cyclorama.  Before going in to see it we were shown a short film about the Civil War in general to place the Battle of Atlanta into context.  I then imagined that we would then walk into a room and walk around the painting to look at it, with maybe the help of our guide.  However, this is America and they know how to put on a good show...

Part of the  Cyclorama

  So you go in and take a seat in the middle of the room.  All the benches are tiered to enable all to see, and the painting is in front of us and goes from floor to ceiling.  It is apparently 42 feet tall and 358 feet in circumference.  What is more, the seating is on a turn table so that you sit and rotate round to look at the painting.  You rotate twice - once as the audio guide tells you the story of the battle, and the other time when they give the history of the painting.  Not only was there the painting to look at, but there was also a diorama coming out of it.

Another part of the Cyclorama

  Maybe it is my British nature coming out which supports the underdog, and sympathises with the defeated, but I couldn't help feeling some allegiance towards the Confederates.  This is probably a useful thing living in Georgia.  Whilst I don't agree with the pro-slavery, pro-white position that they held, I can understand that there also were feelings of injustice as to the gap in wealth and opportunity between northern and southern states in America.  It is important, I believe in Britain to recognise that some of that still exists in the North/South divide and should not be ignored.  I also feel that the complete destruction of Atlanta which ensued after the Unionist defeat is an unjust action on the part of the victors.  However, the abiding image is one of abject terror and destruction on both sides.  Each side lost over 30,000 men in the wider Atlanta campaign which lasted for many months during 1864.

The Plaque commemorating the officers of both sides

  The final photo is a plaque with the flags of the Unionists and Confederates along with photos of the commanders of each army.  Next to it, the explanation about the plaque says that many of these officers trained together and knew each other prior to the War.  This shows that in civil war particularly there can be no victory because even in winning, you lose friends and brothers.  What I find interesting in my time in Georgia so far is there willingness to acknowledge the War and still remember the dead of both sides.  Around Atlanta and Decatur there are plaques commemorating significant events that happened at these specific places; and the Decatur war memorial was originally erected to mark the deaths of Confederate soldiers from the city.  This was not a light, fun day out, but it was an interesting one to shed light on an important part of American history, certainly for this region, and it was definitely a good break from studying!    

Administration, meals, practical work and worship - just an ordinary week for a student minister?

Even without all my studies to do, it has been a busy week as I have been at Decatur First United Methodist Church getting involved in their life.

  

An example of a cheese ball

  On Thursday (13th Sep) I popped in for lunch with the staff (you won't be surprised to hear that I found time in my diary for that!).  The lunch was hosted by a member of the Staff Parish Relations Committee, the body which is responsible for hiring staff and, as the name suggests, ensures good relations between the staff and the Board of Trustees.  It was a lovely lunch in a lovely house with a veranda out the back to sit on.  It was a very nice lunch and I got introduced to cheese balls.  They are basically, as the picture shows, a ball of cheese with various other things added to it suitable to dip biscuits, carrots etc into.  The one we had was a smoked cheese with bacon in and was delicious.  However, initially I did feel a bit of a fraud.  The lunch was organised in appreciation of the work the staff had done - and obviously I hadn't actually done much work at all in the week since I began my placement.  The staff and the committee though actively invited me and encouraged me to be part of this.  It was a fantastic time to get to know staff members, that I had maybe only met once or not at all, in a relaxed environment and it was also good to see the staff of the church being appreciated for the work that they do.

  My next time at Decatur First was for Sunday worship.  The previous Sunday my alarm had failed to go off (or I had forgotten to set it - I'll leave you to decide which is a more accurate re-telling) and it had been a rush to get to church on time.  So this Sunday I was determined to be up and out on time - which I accomplished.  Unfortunately, because I believed I had so much extra time I took my time walking for the bus.  This resulted in having to sprint the last bit as I saw the bus already at the bus stop!!  Thankfully I made it which meant I was able to go the 8:45 service which I was not involved in.  It is so nice, when involved in leading acts of worship, to have times to just be, to worship God without worrying about what came next - and the traditional format of the service certainly made that possible.  At 11am I walked over to our other chapel for the Come As You Are service (CAYA).  That Sunday saw the beginning of a 3 week series entitled 'Engaging the Church on homosexuality'.  It will be a difficult series, but a necessary discussion.  This first week focussed on why should the Church care?  Revd. Katy Hinman encouraged the congregation to see the Church as a place where all people can find a welcome, and are valued.  Therefore, if there are people who are excluded, the Church can not fully be what it is called to be.  She was clear that this is not about telling people what to think, but challenging us all to consider how we can hold very opposite opinions and yet still remain united as a community of faith and love.  The following two weeks will look at What does the United Methodist Church say about homosexuality, and What should the Church be doing?  The service also provided the opportunity for more food!  There are 2 other placement students and we were asked to go for lunch with anyone who wished to go and talk about the service.  There were only two people who went but it was a time when real discussion could be had and people could be free to express their views and ask questions.  I am discovering that providing safe spaces for people to respond and question are really important for discipleship.
 
  My last point to reflect upon was on the Tuesday after (18th).  After getting soaked in the rain waiting for the bus, I arrived at the church and was asked to help set up for a sale that was being held in the church's sports hall.  My job was erecting wooden stands that would hold clothes rails.  By the number I had to set up it was obviously going to be a big affair.  The scheme was that people could donate anything to do with children that they wished to sell.  Each person donating would have their items tagged with a unique code and they would get a percentage of the profits.  What is more, if they volunteered to work a shift selling during the sale (which ran for two days) they would get a larger percentage.  I thought wasn't it great that the church could be involved in a scheme which rewarded people for taking some responsibility and no doubt learning important skills, gave people a sense of worth that they weren't having to rely on benefits, while at the same time provided affordable goods for people with children.  I addition on Tuesday I was working at the computer imputing data on who was present on a given Sunday.  Every week the congregations at the services are encouraged to fill in an attendance book to say that they were present.  Not only does this help spot visitors and make contact with them, but it is also good to be able to spot if people are no longer attending so that appropriate pastoral visits can be arranged.  For a church this size it is important to have organisation in place to track this, as it would be difficult to do it otherwise.  Neither of these jobs were glamorous, and most people probably won't ever know that they have been done.  However, the role of the minister has to be to also do the smaller jobs to ensure that the pastoral life and the outreach of the church continues.  It is an important reminder that being a minister isn't all about what happens at public events - in fact that is only a part of it.

  The week has been varied and the plans for the weeks ahead mean it will continue to be so.  Hopefully through it I will gain ideas and vision for when I return to the UK for what the church could do, what it could become, and how it can continue on the journey.        

Labor Day Weekend

  I can't believe it is almost a week since the start of the long Labor Day weekend, time seems to be going too quickly.  However, as it was quite a busy weekend I thought it would be good to share some of my experiences.

  The first thing to note is the spelling of Labor - although it goes against all my inclinations and sensibilities not to include the 'u', I suppose when in Rome...

This is not us!!

  The weekend properly got under way on Saturday morning - at 4.45am to be precise when my alarm went off.  Matthew, Caroline, Caroline's brother and I set off for the long drive to Tennessee.  Now this is where the difference in culture shows.  I think a two and a half hour trip each way constitutes a long drive, but apparently to them, it is an easy drive!  We were heading for the Okoee River as we were going white water rafting.  This was also the stretch of river where they held the white water events for the 1996 Olympic Games.  White water rafting is not something that I have done before, and I was a bit nervous when I had to sign a disclaimer removing any responsibility from the company we went with in the event of my death!  However, it turned out to be a lot of fun.  There were 7 people in the boat - 6 novices and a professional 'guide'.  There were also about 8 or 10 other boats going down the course at the same time.  The route starts gently, a few small rapids, and bumping into a few rocks - the kind of thing you'd expect in a theme park (just without the safety harnesses!).  And then our guide told us we were approaching a 12ft waterfall.  The thought of going over the edge of a waterfall twice the size of me certainly got my heart beating a bit quicker. Although it was a bit of a drop, I imagine the 12ft must be down to the river bed, rather than to the river because we certainly didn't drop that far.  Our next moment of excitement came when, in the middle of some rapids, we found ourselves stuck on a rock!  We tried all sorts to free ourselves.  Our guide got us to all sit on one side; to all sit on the other side; to paddle on one side; to shift people around the boat to change the weight balance - all to no avail.  In the end the only course of action was for our guide to get in the water (thankfully we were past the worst of the rapids in that section) and push and pull the boat until we were freed - surprisingly, during all this, no-one else fell in!  The Olympic section was intense with lots of rapids coming in quick succession.  By the end of the course I was wet, tired, but at the same time quite exhilarated.

  You will also be surprised to hear that I was also quite hungry!  So on the way back we stopped at Cracker Barrel.  For those of you who are from the UK reading this and have not sampled the delight of Cracker Barrel, then please check out their website (www.crackerbarrel.com).  They say that they are there to please people with good food and an old country store.  I'm obviously not the one to comment on how authentic an expression of Americanism they are, but I would be quite happy accepting that they provide a good taste of country America.  I had their chicken and dumplings which is meant to be a signature dish, and I could certainly feel my arteries clogging up as I ate it - but it was good!

  Sunday had a completely different tone.  I went for the first time to Decatur First United Methodist Church which is where I'll be doing my church placement for the year.  It actually has two sites as it owns a chapel across the road (from where this picture is being taken).  The main church hosts the two traditional services each week (8:45am and 11am) and the old chapel holds a Come As You Are (CAYA) service each week at 11.  The people on Sunday were so welcoming, offering to take me to football (US not soccer) and baseball matches, and one older lady (who was born in Britain) inviting me round on Labor Day for burgers and a swim in her pool - sadly I wasn't able to go.  If this first day is anything to go by, it should be a wonderful experience filled with warm Christian people.  I will be interested to see how a church of this size (about 2,100 members) manages to organise itself and ensure all people are included and used.

  Finally, Monday saw me enjoy my first Labor Day holiday.  Those of you from Thatcham Methodist Church may remember Amy Spivey who was our minister for a year.  Well she, along with her husband Tim Moore and their daughter Laura-Clare now live in North Carolina and are only a couple of hours drive from Atlanta.  So they kindly drove down to see me on the Monday.  We were able to go to Decatur and see the church, we had lunch at Raging Burrito which turned out to be a fantastic Mexican restaurant in Decatur and then drove on to Candler so they could see my college.  It was just a lovely day spent catching up with old friends.

  This is a far longer post than I anticipated but it was such a lovely weekend that I wanted to share it with you all.  Now that the fun is over, the work most definitely has to begin...

Hurricane Isaac

  I had considered doing a light hearted piece about the cultural experience I had today of learning how to make guacamole to go with the tacos we were having for dinner, however, considering events happening in this part of the world, that didn't seem too appropriate.

  It has rained here in Atlanta for most of today.  I attach a picture taken from my bedroom window during the afternoon.  Unfortunately, it was difficult to capture how much it was raining.  Now, being British, I am quite used to it raining in August - especially so close to the Bank Holiday Weekend.  In addition, due to my nationality, there is nothing I like more than to moan about the weather.  However, this is different.

  It is very difficult to moan about the little bit of rain we have had knowing how some people are being battered by wind and rain right as I type.  So often we can grumble when the weather isn't quite as we would hope, forgetting that there are often people in other parts of the world suffering so much worse - and sometimes they aren't even that far away from us.

  This leads on to the fact that it is very different actually being present, experiencing the full force of it in a way that TV screens can't do justice.  I remember watching the scenes from Hurricane Katrina exactly 7 years ago and my heart went out to them, but in a way that is different to watching the scenes whilst living in the same country.  I feel the same way about the floods in Thatcham in 2007.  I was in New Zealand at the time and although I heard all about them, although I saw the pictures and film clips, it was different to actually living through it.  There is something about saying 'I was there' rather than 'I watched it.'

  This also made me think that it doesn't matter if it is large swathes of America being buffeted by Hurricane Isaac, or a small town like Thatcham being flooded, when something like this happens it is real people; their homes and lives that can be devastated.  This is not something that can be compared based on the surface area or the number of people affected - a person's home is their home, whether 1 million other people's homes were affected or they were the only one.  The strength of a community is demonstrated by how they react in these moments of crises - regardless of how many people were involved.

  The final thought from this is it reminds me again of the size of this country.  I look at the weather charts and the distance between where I am in Atlanta and where the hurricane is hitting in Louisiana seems not much different to the distance between Thatcham and the Isle of Wight on a British weather map, and the thought that the hurricane was that close was quite alarming.  However, looking on Google I have discovered that it is 472 miles from Atlanta to New Orleans which is the about the same (again according to Google) as going from Thatcham to Dundee!  This creates a very different atmosphere in the country.  When I first heard the news that a hurricane was coming it was alarming - it all seemed quite close and very real.  But people here who aren't from the area currently affected by it seem more relaxed, probably due to the vastness of the country. In Britain I would imagine that something of this magnitude (even if it were hitting Dundee) would still be big news in Thatcham.  We often think in Britain that the various parts of the islands that make up our country are quite separated, and in some ways they are, but coming here has made me realise that we are closer than we think, and maybe that unity is something in need of protection.

  So all that is left to say is God bless all those enduring the hurricane, and may He be with those in the USA and Caribbean who are struggling to come to terms with the destruction that Hurricane Isaac has left behind.

Adventures around Atlanta

Emory Shuttle

Ok - so this may not be as exciting as the title suggests.  However, today was the first time I have used public transport to get from college back home!  Up to this point I have always had a lift both ways from Matthew and Caroline who were driving into college.  Today though, my orientation finished at lunchtime (thankfully for me, after lunch) so I did not want to hang around all afternoon before I could go home, and decided I would get the bus back.  Unfortunately, life is rarely as simple as that.  Although I don't live that far from college there are no direct buses back towards home.  A number of possibilities presented themselves involving combinations of two or three buses and various degrees of walking between stops.  In the end, as it was my first solo excursion out in Atlanta, I decided on the most straightforward.  This meant taking the free (always good) Emory shuttle from college to DeKalb Mall and then crossing over the road to catch the Number 8 bus which stops outside our apartment complex.  Unfortunately, when I arrived at the mall, it was not clear how to find the road I needed to cross.  I ended up walking around the whole of the mall before eventually discovering the correct road.  When I reached the bus stop there was no sign to suggest that the bus I wanted actually stopped there or when the next one may be arriving.  Thankfully, I managed to find a bit of shade in which to shelter as I waited and hoped.  I was on the verge of giving up and going back to the mall to catch the shuttle back to college and wait for a lift, when the bus appeared.  The journey ended up taking 1 hour 20 minutes which, considering it takes only 20 minutes to drive, seemed quite long.  Hopefully I will be able to organise better when I leave so that I can time the connections better.  It may also be that that there are other bus routes which will offer a quicker journey - even if I have to change more often.  It did leave me with a couple of thoughts (which considering this was after a week of orientation, I found quite impressive!).

• So often in towns and cities we presume that visitors and new members of the community understand how our systems work.  We imagine that everyone knows how to get from the shopping mall to the bus stops.  We guess that they already know which bus stops where and when it comes.
• Although British people complain about our public transport system I was surprised by how difficult it was, in a major city, to travel around the city by bus.  In an age when we must consider our environment surely our governments must be doing all they can to make it as simple as possible to travel by public transport.  Having said that, I was impressed by the extent of the Emory shuttle services which do enable people to travel into college by public transport.



An Atlanta bus - in case you couldn't imagine one!

• I was also thankful that I stuck it out at this bus stop because I have since discovered that the last shuttle bus back to college from the mall had already left, and I would have been stranded!

So I am pleased that I have started to make my first forays into and around Atlanta.  I hope as the weeks and months go on, I 'll have more opportunities to explore this city and its surroundings.

First impressions - Food, rain, church and jet lag!

State Flag of Georgia since 2003

So I have finally made it to Atlanta.  It seemed at points like I may not get here but I have.  It has been hard establishing first impressions as I have only been in the country for just over 24 hours, and most of that has been affected by jet-lag.  Getting up at 4.40am in order to catch my flight and then flying for 9 hours is tiring stuff!

  However, after meeting up with Matthew and Caroline (my flatmates), the first job was stopping off for dinner.  They took me to the Flying Biscuit Cafe in Atlanta (www.flyingbiscuit.com).  Apparently a 'must have' experience.  Sadly, due to the aforementioned tiredness, I didn't enjoy it as much as I would usually enjoy eating establishments - definitely a place to return in the future.  Whilst there I did learn, though, that when Americans speak of biscuit, the British would think of it as a scone.  I suppose this is a twist on the whole scone/scon (I know this isn't the correct spelling!) argument in Britain.

Peachtree Road UMC

  After 10 hours sleep and 3 hours dozing I went with Matthew and Caroline to two church services on Sunday morning - and they couldn't be more contrasting.  The first service we attended was Peachtree Road United Methodist Church (www.prumc.org).  This was (by British standards) a huge church.  It had a predominantly white congregation and a well drilled choir.  The service was structured with a mixture of choral pieces and congregational hymns.  It was most definitely a safe space, where visitors wouldn't be threatened and could participate as much or as little as they wished.  However, it was also possible to walk out of the church without anyone speaking to us.

  The second service was at Ariel Bowen Memorial United Methodist Church (no website).  It was not in as salubrious a setting and the majority of the congregation were Afro-Caribbean.  From the moment we walked in (admittedly we were quite early) everyone came over to speak to us.  There was a set order of service which was followed, but there was a far more relaxed atmosphere.  When it came to sharing the peace, the smaller congregation made it possible to speak to everyone.  There was more impromptu involvement from the congregation with calls of 'Amen', and 'Hallelujah' throughout the service.  While it isn't my style, it does suggest a more active participation.  However, as visitors we were also called upon to stand up.  They had taken our names and where we were from before the service began and this was read out to the rest of the congregation.  While the reception was rapturous it could be a bit daunting for unsuspecting visitors!  There was also a choir, but this made up of the children who were enthusiastic in all they did.  It really didn't matter that one child shouted the songs down the microphone.

  So two very different experiences of church, but experiences I hope to have throughout the year.  Both were most definitely worship and enabling for the congregations who were present.  But more in depth analysis may need to be carried out when I'm a bit more awake!  It has been good to start my time in Atlanta in worship and dedicating the time to God.  But now, the work begins - student orientation begins tomorrow.  On the plus side - they provide lunch!      

  The only thing left to say is that, probably in order to help me settle in, it has rained today.  The only difference being that, unlike Britain, I was able to be out in the rain and not feel cold!

A British Methodist preparing to go abroad

As I sit in my garden, in sunny West Berkshire, where there isn't a cloud in the sky and the only sound to be heard is a bird rustling in the bushes I wonder to myself quite why I'd want to swap this and move to America for a year.

  Am I going as an explorer - to discover new lands, experience new cultures and ways of life, taste new foods and see new sights?  My time could be spent meeting people, planning trips to make sure I see as much of the land as I can.  I could attempt to learn the rules for sports played there but less popular here and hope to return with treasures - either real or metaphorical which will be of value to me and others in the years to come.  I may return feeling enriched by the friends I have made and the different lifestyles I have experienced and learnt from.

  Or am I going to be a representative of Britain and British Methodism, ready to share my experiences with those I meet, offering a different viewpoint which can only be gained by originating from a different culture.  I could spend my time meeting people with the aim of bringing a flavour of Britain, of a smaller country and a different society to those encounters.  I may return feeling as though, because of my visit, people have more of an understanding of Britain and Methodism in this country.

  Maybe I'm going as a student, ready to sit and learn from others.  I could use this year to have an extra year of full time study which I could not do in Britain.  Studying academic subjects which may not be on offer here, studying church polity and aims of mission.  I could return feeling as though I have a broader knowledge than I had when I started.

I am actually going expecting it to be a mixture of all three and hopefully much more.  I hope there will be times to explore, to see new sights and experience new things.  But if that is all I do, it is no more than a gap year.  So I do also go hoping to learn, but also to share; to gain new insights, but also to bring them; to discover new ways of organising church and focusses for mission, but also to offer them as well.  This is an exciting time, but also a daunting one.  Travelling out into the unknown (I don't mean to make Atlanta sound like some uncivilised, uncharted wilderness!) trusting in God and those who wait to meet me.  It is a journey I hope not to make on my own, so please do journey with me by sharing in this blog where I will post regular reflections and feel free to comment along the way.

The journey starts now...