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Hi my name is Joe and i will be writing a weekly blog on univeristy life in America. I am attending the University of Pittsburgh on a four year soccer (we all know it's football really!) scholarship. I will be sending back information on the latest crazes to sweep campus, my own views on american life an anecdotes and stories on my new beggining in Pennsylvania.

Please feel free to contact me if you want to now more about University life in the good old US of A!

Cheers,
Joe Prince-Wright

Reporting on Penguins with a difference

Last week i shadowed a reporter from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette the paper which serves the 2.5 million people who live in and around Pittsburgh. I attended a NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators and was totally blown away by the access media have in this all action league.

"Does it snow like this in England.....i wish, it just rains!"

As I sit here gazing at the snow falling in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania the harsh reality of a North American winter sets in. The thermometer has struggled to get above 0 Celsius (or 32 Fahrenheit) since I returned from my 3 week whistle-stop visit for Christmas. Is it just me or do all English people still struggle at first to deal with the loss of all that unpredictable weather we receive on our fine shores? Ok, it's just me then. The confusion of hearing my alarm clock waking me up for football training at 6am stating that the temperature will be "a chilly and icy 32 degrees today", is startling, this is yet another factor which sets Britain apart from the rest. We measure the weather in Celsius and we drive on the left side of the road, Rule Britannia! A wry smile breaks over my face as I hit the snooze button.

American football rules, not that i understand them!!!

Take me out to the ball game!

So folks, having been here for nearly two months now i felt it was time to indulge in one of America's great sporting traditions.... a night out at the ball park! I travelled the 10 minute journey to downtown Pittsburgh with my team-mates to watch The Pittsburgh Pirates against The St.Louis Cardinals. As I walked up the steps into this brand spanking new PNC arena, I gazed around in amazement at the many lights, colours and sounds which greeted me. Let me set the scene for you, one half of the stadium was left completely open when constructed, as the Pittsburgh city skyline was situated close by. The rest of the stadium was in a perfect "L" shape, holding over 40,000 screaming fans. The stunning view of skyscrapers lit up in front of me on a perfect September evening was a joy to behold. I suddenly felt as though I was the journeyman baseball player who had finally reached the big leagues!

The Journey continues.....

Many people in the UK are asking the same question, is our society becoming obese? Due to the vast number of fast food outlets which now exsist across the British Isles, many feel this argument can be valid. Have our children grown up with ready meals, take away trays and fast food becoming second nature?

The Beggining, and my Accent!