Saturday, 23 May 2009


Damian Allinson

An early start proved difficult for those of us in year 13, who had gone out to celebrate finishing exams the night before! However, we were soon well on the way to Heathrow and the US, and spirits were high. Nearly all of us beeped on the way through security, but soon we were enjoying a meal and a movie somewhere over the Atlantic. Mr Ford was particularly keen on ‘Beverly Hills Chihuahua’ and ‘High School Musical 3’ as his films of choice; the rest of us favoured the political dramas!

Arriving in the US after a relatively pleasant journey, we had to wait some time for the baggage and security, but we soon were riding on a yellow school bus, the highlight of the trip for many so far.

A quick look round some of Gar-Field high school was interesting, especially the huge library, the fiction section of which being approximately the size of our school’s library!

Following this, we went back to our respective families’ homes, myself and Mark returning to Kyle’s and enjoying a lovely barbeque chicken meal and a game on ‘rock band.’ Mark sang ‘Eye of the Tiger.’ I know, I know...

Some of us met up in the evening to go to Chipotle- I didn’t have a burrito, but will be trying one on Monday. This is making me seriously consider a Gandhi-like fast until then, after observing James’ inability to complete one. Mark and I, however, went with Kyle to “Cold Stone,” rather like a Subway store for ice-cream, where one can order entire Oreo cookies in a candy-floss flavoured ice-cream, topped with roasted almonds and whipped cream. I barely managed half of my ‘regular cone’, they were so big!

An early night is the remedy for my exhaustion, but I have definitely enjoyed today and eagerly await tomorrow’s trip to Jamestown! Although I now have ‘Eye of the Tiger’ stuck in my head. Thanks Mark.

Saturday, 23 May 2009


Rob Ford: Trip Master

After months of planning it is incredible to think we are here in the US.  This whole partnership owes its existence to a chance email following The Ridings appearing on a BBC website in 2006 and Jacqui Dexter spotting an opportunity to bring the two schools together.  Following the success of the visit in Feb 2008 and Oct 2009 to the UK this return visit marks the “normalisation” of our partnership and the strengthening of ties and friendships. The planning and hospitality from the school and community of Woodbridge is incredible.  We are very grateful to the hard work of Stephanie Smith and Brian Bassett as organisers.  It is only day 1 here but we have a very packed week ahead.


On a personal note this is my last ever visit for the Ridings after years of taking trips around Russia, Europe, Asia and the US-couldn’t think of a better way to go out on.  And of all the visits this was the hardest to go on leaving Evie and Gen at 5am on a sunny Winterbourne morning.  Now I finally have a phone at least I can text home without asking Gareth Keel or a student.  We have a great group and sitting on the plane with a G&T was the most relaxing moment for a while.   Not having the anticipated 10 minute regular squeal from Jenny Gregory was an added bonus on the flight.  And now we are here on a bus (Durk’s looking hopefully out of the window at every female truck driver to get a glimpse of his true love) on our way to where this country all started-they should have stayed with us and ended up like, er, Canada.  I am ready for the”daughters of the revolution” and their take on “British Tyranny” who freed the slaves first and why did a third of the 13 Colonies flee to Canada after 1781?  But we are friends and family now and fortunately we can gently make fun out of the least attractive sides of our national stereotypes-as Churchill might have said “divided by a common language but united by the IB”.  Where’s Elliott when you need him?