7 Days in Cyprus

One week down in Cyprus, another four to go. It is an interesting place, I must say. When we first arrived, it reminded me of a mixture between Mexico and Florida. That was strictly from a visual standpoint. After a week, I have decided that it looks much better than both. It isn’t quite paradise, but the sea and mountains set a nice scene for a lovely vacation spot. The culture is much different as well, naturally. The pubs of jolly old London have been replaced by the coffee shops of Cyprus. The coffee here is really good, even if it is considered Greek. It comes in very small cups, almost like espresso but much better. Now I know why it takes me two hours to fall asleep at night! The stuff is wicked strong.

Unfortunately Cyprus isn’t the liveliest of places this time of year (winter), with temperatures hanging around 60-70 degrees. Now that is a winter that I can bear! The weather here is lovely, even if it has been raining a bit lately. This weekend, everyone kept commenting on the air, saying it was full of dust. Apparently sand from the Sahara Dessert travels across the Mediterranean and into Cypriot air.

Our hotel is very nice (http://www.paphosgardens.com) and the food they serve is even nicer. It is so good. We are trying to counter all of our eating with daily trips to the gym. We’ll see how long that lasts. We coach for a few hours a day, the rest of the time is spent eating, sleeping, and stealing internet from a café down the street. Well, it’s not really stealing if they leave their connection wide open. We had to do something, I can't last long without the world wide web and the hotel charges way too much (6 Euros for 90 minutes).

All of our colleagues are really friendly and talented guys. A few of them are ex-professionals, oh yes. I have kicked a ball with someone who scored against Real Madrid. I feel special. The level of football here is really good as well, these kids can ping the ball around very well. It is certainly the biggest sport on the island, followed by basketball. Gross.

So the first week has been a lot of fun, lots of coaching and eating. If you are friends with me on facebook, look for some pictures soon! Cheeeeeeeeeeers!

Greece Awaits

Good things come to those who wait, that is for sure. So here is a good thing: I am heading to Greece in January to coach for four months. I take that back, the dream team is going to Greece! Rupen, my partner in coaching crime, and I are heading to about twenty different regions in Greece, along with Poland and Cyprus. We will be coaching Greek youngsters, hopping from island to island, all through Arsenal’s brilliant Gap Year Program. I can’t wait. So to pass the time, the coaching hours are being upped for a hectic and highly enjoyable last month or so in London.

In a few weeks I’ll be getting my British passport and next week my little sister and good friend Pruitt aka “The Chamness” visit jolly old London for a week. Pruitt and I will be jetting up to Scotland for the weekend, to see some of his mates and watch Rangers at Ibrox. Should be epic. What else? Tons. Gappers vs B-Tech vs Arsenal Staff match on December 17th, a refereeing course to complete, my birthday celebration - PUB GOLF*, FIFA night with the fellas, and more. London has been amazing, as always, and I will be sad to leave. But I am afraid there is a whole world out there waiting to be coached in the art of football, so it must be done. Greece is going to be more than a bit of fun though, a great opportunity to learn from some great coaches, hopefully impress a few people, and to learn more about myself. Start queuing now for a chance to enjoy it with me! Ha.

Everyday I feel increasingly vindicated in my decision to leave CGI and come here. I miss all of family and friends so much, but I’m not sad in the slightest. I have never been so filled with joy, I’m doing what I love. Football is my passion, hands down. So let my joy be a great example to you people reading this (all 3 of you). If you aren’t completed satisfied, challenged, and stimulated by what you are doing with your life, change it. There is no hole to deep to climb out of, no career too far into to escape from. If you know your passion, seek it out. Give it a go! And if you don’t, keep searching. You’ll know when you find it.

But that is enough preaching for one day. Yassou!

*Pub Golf

Three Cheers For The Gaffer!

Lets get caught up a bit, shall we? So this is my second week at Holloway Secondary School. I am coaching in the school with a fellow gapper, Rupen. Basically we take over P.E. sessions that are either an hour or two hours long and coach football. The fortunate children we coach (both girls and boys) range in ages and skill level. But, seeing as how we are a sports college (not college like in the U.S.), we get a lot of top talent. Many of these kids are on the books for great clubs like Charlton, Millwall, Arsenal, and Chelsea. There a couple at Tottenham as well.

Yesterday I had a great session with the Year 11 boys. They responded really well to our training and were switched on the entire time. But what really made it was the match at the end, it was great. I think it ended 5-2, it was so back and forth, great banter, and some cracking goals were scored (complete with cracking celebrations).

I also coached my first real match yesterday, it was a friendly between our Year 8 and 9 boys. My mate Rupen had the Year 9s and I had the Year 8s. My group turned out to be half way decent, in terms of behavior. They are a fun group to be around, with out a doubt. But anyways, back to the match.

It was pouring down with rain, much like it had been all friggen day. I sent them out and they held their own, that is for sure. I thought we had the better of the play and chances overall. In the first half we created some chances with a few decent balls into the area. Our wing play was excellent! Especially Tosin (a cocky little bugger), our left winger. He is a bit of a premadonna, never tracks back. You know the type. We went down 1-0 and replied with an equalizer that I missed because two of my lads were about to have a punch up on the sideline. I wasn’t pleased, but at least we were level! Second half, we went down again 2-1, really unfortunately. I have this little Italian kid in goal and even though he’s only 3 foot, he made some truly unbelievable saves. That little kid covered that full sized goal better than most of the keepers I have ever played with. Deep into the second half, we turned it up and put them under a lot of pressure. Shots were flying in left and right, we had them pinned back. I made a few changes, trying to shake up the pack a bit. I sent on Carl, who had impressed up top in the first half with a few good passes, and took off our captain Rashane. The pressure contined, we had a shot cleared off the line and then we bagged it. It was a dipping shot into the far top corner, on the half volley, by who? Carl. All 5 of my subs rushed the pitch to mug him after it went in, what a result!

Back in the changing room, I told the lads they were shit. Haha. They got a kick out of that. I was pleased with them though and I let them know it.

On the way out I got, “Three cheers for the gaffer!”

The beginning of what I hope is an illustrious management career, haha.

3 Weeks in London

It has been 3 weeks in London for this aspiring football coach, about time for a blog posting. I have been so busy, I apologize. So here is the update all of you have been waiting for so patiently.

I’ll start of by saying that these three weeks have probably been the most physically demanding weeks of my life. We have been training non-stop, at least 4 hours a day, sometimes 8! Having said that, I have loved every single minute of it. Even the worst of training is enjoyable. I have encountered so many great coaches already, from both Arsenal and the FA. I feel like I have enough material to start coaching now and that is exactly what I am going to do! Yesterday I visited the school I will be coaching in for the next few months (Holloway Secondary School). The staff were very friendly and accomodating, and the facilities are really good. My work there begins next Tuesday, bright and early. I can’t wait!

Based on these 3 weeks, I feel 100% sure that I made the right decision, to come to London and pursue this career. Football aside, life in London has been perfect. I enjoy every second spent with my family, be it sitting on the couch chatting with my grandparents or looking after my cousin of a evening. I have also found a great church – Hillsong London. I visited for the first time last week and it was incredible! I can’t wait to go back this Sunday.

The other members of Arsenal’s Gap Year Program (fellow ‘gappers’) are great as well. They like to give me some stick now and then for my accent, but its all in the name of banter. Great times.

What else? Ah, I saw Arsenal play for the first time this week. It was a good match and a great time. Touring stadiums is good and all, but theres nothing that compares to seeing a match, stadium packed with thousands of fans. I can’t wait to see them play again.

So into the schools next week, the real test begins. I have to improve my coaching skills so I can spend some time abroad with Arsenal in January (fingers crossed, in Australia).

Until next time, cheers!

First 24 Hours in London.

So I made it to London, praise God. The UK authorities apparently didn’t buy my story, so they decided to keep me around for a few hours, before questioning me, calling me a liar, and then finally allowing me into the country for six months. Not very nice people, I must say! The bloke’s parting words were, “You’ll have a very difficult time when you try to come into the UK again.” I walked, but was thinking, “Not if I have a UK passport, you twit!” Haha. So I made it to my nanny’s at 1:30, after a nice chat with the cab driver. He was an Arsenal fan as well, and fully supported my mission to make a career out of football.

I slept until noon (a solid 10 hours), woke up and took a walk down to Junction Road and bought my UK sim card via T-Mobile! It might cost you an arm and a leg, but send me an email or message on twitter if you want it. I have a month of free texting, not bad eh! I feel like I am really living here now that I have a UK phone number. Not bad.

Then I went home to my grandma’s house and had some lunch, a bacon sandwich (Brandon’s favorite). I called up Samir, the geezer who runs the gap year program at Arsenal, and we met up at the stadium for a cup of tea and a quick chat. Really nice guy, he introduced me to a few people and we talked about the week to come. I am very excited, lots of time on the pitch! Arsenal’s facilities are top notch, really lavish and stylish. I’ll make sure to take a few pictures on Monday, even if I look like a loser doing so. It is really exciting times, I can’t wait! Two days out of the week I will be coaching in the schools, the rest of the time will be in training and in the community. I will be looking to join a league, maybe us gap year students will form a team. That would be cool. I get a discount on Arsenal gear and I probably will get to see a few games for free while I am here. Awesome.

Came home for dinner and had some good fish and chips from up the road. Hung out with the grandparents, made a few phone calls, and now its time to go to bed.

I miss and love you all. Be on the look out for a call from a strange number!

Thank You: C3 Church

Thank you to everyone involved at C3 Raleigh and Clayton. You all have been so welcoming and loving to me during my stay in Raleigh. I'm not sure if many of you know about this, but I was truly reborn during my time in North Carolina. I was having a rough time coming to terms with my move to Raleigh, I didn't know why I was being seperated from all of my loved ones, and I turned to God for help. I attended C3 Church and my spirits were lifted. And after my first small group (Connect Group), it all came together. I realized why I had come to Raleigh: to find God. And boy did I ever! My life will never be the same. In fact, I have a new life. And I owe special thanks to C3 Church for helping me find my life. You will all be in my prayers. Thank you all so much.

We are beggars all

There is no limit to the crap that I will post on here. Mini-album review? Why not!

Thrice recently dropped Beggars, a quick turn around from The Alchemy Index, Thrice's four disc concept album that encompassed the four elements of nature (Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire). After recording such a focused record, Thrice decided to put out something slightly more natural, enter Beggars.

After listening to the album for a few days, I am (once again) very impressed. Thrice have yet to put out two similar sounding albums. This time around they deliver an array of songs that echo a very clean and natural sound; lacking the distortion, keyboards, and heavy mixing of The Alchemy Index and Vheissu. Vocally, Dustin Kensrue is as raw and powerful as ever and his lyrics are meaningful and intriguing. It is also important to note that this album isn't as heavy as previous releases. Comparing it to any of Thrice's previous albums, I would say that it is a mixture of Air, Earth, and Dustin Kensrue's solo album Please Come Home. It is a great album for Thrice faithful and newcomers alike.

All you big-shots do swagger
And strive with conceit
Did you devise that your fray would be fought?
If you've been raised in a palace
Or live about on the streets,
Did you choose the place or the hour you'd be born?
Tell me what can you claim?
Not a thing
Not your name
Tell me if you can recall
Just one thing, not a gift, in this life?
Can you hear what's been said?
Can you see now that everything's graced?
After all
If there's one thing I know in this life
We are beggars all