almost over :(

This was my Falls Creek B trek.. We had an interesting week but it definitely reminded us that flexibility is the key. We started out in South Acton doing more cheer clinics but on the second day we got a call saying it was cancelled for the rest of the week. What to do? Well, we joined up with the Limehouse team who was working with Charles at Departure cafe and promoted the art show that was happening that weekend. We got out into the community and cleaned up the youth center one day and we went into the parks and got to talk to a lot of people. I got sick for two of the days and had to stay home but I heard great stories from my team :)

We left London on yesterday morning to take a two hour train ride to Paris for some debrief time. Basically what we're doing here is doing some paperwork.. filling out evaluations for our teams, saying what worked well and what didn't work so well and focusing on re-integrating into American culture. Reverse culture shock isn't something you think about too much when going on a trip but it is a big deal when you've adapted to something totally different for 5 weeks. It is more likely to be harder going back home if it was easy to adjust to life in London they say.. it sounds about right. I just have to remember not to get frustrated at the things America does differently and enjoy the things that I missed :)

they say time flies..

I feel like a bad blogger.. but. life is busy! This past week was our week off.. a week to rest and get ready for the next batch of one-weekers. A few of us decided to take a train to Edinburgh, Scotland just for fun... here are some pictures:

We have to be walking at 6:45am tomorrow to go to the airport to pick up everyone.. and then the week is crazy from there. Just like week A, all of the students are already placed in groups, but since the ministry with the cheerleading was so last minute there isn't a team for it... which means I have to make my team at the airport by pulling people from their groups. IF there are even any interested girls. Hopefully once we're done with the airport and getting everyone settled in at the university we'll have time to make it out to Acton to catch the end of cheer camp for the day. On Wednesday there is no cheer camp and we will spend the day with Rachel and Casey's group in South Acton.. then on Thurs/Fri we will be at Twyford high school doing cheer stuff all day! Sat/Sun will be spent with Rachel and Casey's group in South Acton again and then Monday is the touristy day.. and then everyone leaves on Tuesday and all of the JSI's leave Wednesday morning for Paris for some debrief!

just for laughs..

and this is Andrew and Garrett working out.

when you have 5 hours a day on the tube..

Falls Creek A left yesterday morning and wow, what a week! We had several people want a relationship with Gd and many many conversations that planted seeds. My trek's schedule was split between working on cheer stuff with the girls at Twyford and joining up with Rachel's trek in South Acton. When we weren't at Twyford we were out on the streets and in the parks trying to start relationships. It was an awesome week! We have a week off and then Falls Creek B gets here and it will be crazy all over again!

exhausted?

squished

snoozin and snuggin

jammin

walking to Departure for morning session

hanging out with some kids at the youth centre

all things cheery :)

This is our routine! We performed it at the evening session tonight :)
***make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and pause the music***

Me, Keele, Alex

Blaine in an extension

Blaine-cradle

This is my Falls Creek A trek! We taught them this routine on the day they flew in and caught on really quickly. We have been at the school the past two days (all day) teaching the girls some cheers/chants and this routine. They feel so honored to have a team of American cheerleaders at their school just to teach them how to cheer, so it's really cool to work with such motivated and excited girls.

look at all these girls!!

first stunt all by themselves!
practicing a prep/half extension.. and spotting!

doing the "matt dance" ... go to youtube and type in matt dance.. and watch the greatness.