Adventures in America Part 12: Returning home

Coming back home was a pretty big upheaval. Not only did I have to deal with jetlag, but I also had to move in to my house and start university – all in three days. Initially it felt like a backwards culture shock. Gone were the American accents, the yellow taxis of New York City and the George Washington dollar bills. Instead I found myself dealing with people who sounded strange to me, trying not to get run over as I looked the other way to cross the road and seeing the Queen’s head everywhere.

Return jetlag was an usual experience. I had attempted to get a few hours sleep on the plane, which did work, and it kept me going until around 2pm that day. After that time I completely crashed and had to be guided around the supermarket by Emma. All I can remember is looking at things on the shelves in the supermarket and not being able to understand what the writing meant. I think I slept for about 14 hours that night, which was the best feeling in the world.

Of course, it goes without saying that the opportunity to see all my friends again was a lovely experience. It was comforting to know that they missed me, and the feeling was likewise with many of them. Seeing the cathedral of Lincoln was such a remarkable sight – I’d rather have that over all the skyscrapers and sights of New York City.

And yes, I miss a lot about the USA. Every day was an adventure, and it did open my eyes to a lot of things. I feel like I had changed so much when Lincoln was still the same. The same faces, the same shops, the same outrageous drinks costs in certain bars. I believe if I was out there any longer I would have found it more difficult to adjust, the US way of life is addictive and it sucked me in. Lincoln just felt so bland by comparison.

In any case, it’s good to be back and doing my degree again. The journalism gang made my return so worthwhile, and I've got a tonne of memories to remind me of how much I've changed. My American Dream is over, now to get a 1st this year in my degree!

Adventures in America Part 11: New York City

Wow. That is simply all I have to say about New York. The city has an amazing vibe to it. Stepping onto the concourse of Grand Central Station today and simply watching the public go by was an experience in itself. The only comparison I can make is looking at old flms. Since the cameras were hand cranked the speed was inconsistent and people look sped up. It was exactly the same today. Everyone was walking with a purpose, they had somewhere to go and something important to do.

New York has every possible race, nationality or type of person you can think of. The population of New York is a refreshing change from the white middle class city that is Lincoln. It's a city of extreme poverty - from the many people sat on the sidewalks with cardboard signs reading "pregnant and broke" - to the extremely wealthy. Only today I walked past so many Broadway shows, the ranks of limos and a red carpet for a Fox show. Not to mention looking at the many businessmen hurriedly picking their way round the tourists.

At first glance, it can be quite rightly overwhelming. This really is a place where you have to think on your feet, although the initial experience I have had with New Yorkers has been great. Everyone will stop to give you directions on the subway when lost, and people offer to take your photos which is nice.

One thing which is particularly impressive for me is the sheer amount of high rise buildings. They are literally everywhere because the place is so short of space. Buildings are crammed in to the smallest spaces possible, giving the layout of many tall thin buildings of steel and glass right next to a brick built early skyscraper.

Today was filled with so many "goose bump moments". Seeing Manhattan for the first time on the Staten Island Ferry, gasping at the vastness of Radio City Music Hall, the permanent grin on my face upon realised the little green blob in the distance was actually the Statue of Liberty, walking through the largest department store in the world and realising it was a whole block, standing in the middle of Times Square at night - all this and more has combined to make New York an amazing experience for me.

Adventures in America Part 10: Coming to the end of my time in New Hampshire

Today pretty much summed up my time here in America. I woke up early and immediately got on the phone to my insurance to finally be told that they are reimbursing me. After a lazy lunch I decided I would retrace my steps that I first made when I arrived here, by visiting Goodrich Falls.

As I picked my way amongst the rocky path, I was suddenly hit with the memories of my first day here. The excitement of going out in "a random direction", not knowing what was in store or where I'd end up. I was pretty jetlagged and tired but so wide eyed and excited at what lay in store. Goodrich Falls is, and forever will be my first memory of the beauty of New Hampshire. Since I was unprepared for the hot weather, I stopped at the county store up the road and bought some water. Immediately the attendent noticed my accent and we got chatting.

This situation pretty much echoed what happened today - and emphasised the friendliness of so many American people. The ability to talk to randomers up here is something I've taken for granted, so when I went to the waterfall today I met a few anglers and had a nice chat with them.

Eventually I left them and went down to that spot where, 3 months earlier I had reached the waterfall and stood in awe of the beauty of the place. I had never seen anything like it in the UK, and I remember sitting on a rock just watching the water go by, wondering what lay in store for me.

As I sat there today, only much higher up close to the top of the falls, I thought about everything amazing that had happened to me. The people that I've met, and the things I have done.

This was the summer I jumped out of a plane at 15,000 feet, the summer I stood on top of mountains and shouted "hello world!". The summer I made everyone on the pirate ship sing "Happy Birthday" for a child on the boat and saw his face light up, the summer where I got a potentially life threatening illness, the summer I spent 4th of July in small town America - and standing for the anthem. This was the summer I got drunk in a field and woke up hungover in Tia's tent, the summer where I screamed so much going down a water slide, and the summer where I rode waves up and down Old Orchard Beach.

I've never been to a place which has been more welcoming, more hot and humid, more extreme and generally fun. Living in New Hampshire has honestly given me a completely new outlook on life. I feel so much more relaxed out here and I am so glad I made the initial plunge all those months back.

In all certainty, I will miss this place so much. The residents here take for granted waking up everyday and seeing nothing but unspoilt mountains, and the general freedom this state permits. I know this country has it's problems, but I know I've seen all the good that America has to offer.

To all my New Hampshire friends: thank you. So, so much. Meeting you all has been amazing, and you've opened my eyes to another way of life. You've accepted me with open arms and shown me so many good times. I will honestly miss all of you, and your comments about how tall I am, my slicked hair and how stereotypically British I am. Despite the long hours, baking heat and tiring conditions - you are what I wake up for every morning and you make my work days fun!

Ahead of me is my time in New York, and California - and then it really is time to stop living the dream and return home.

Have I enjoyed my time here? You bet.

Will I be back one day?

Just try and stop me.