USA 2005 - weeks 2 and 3

Following 1 week of holiday in and around LA, I had 2 weeks of training at St Charles' Q Center (read: executive uni campus).

The routine was work hard, play hard. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were served in an all-thou-can-scoff buffet style which almost prompted us to start a weight gain content. There was plenty of socialising each evening at the Cue Pub, which was the perfect way to unwind after a day of being stuck inside learning and then making use of the extensive sports facilities. A bike ride to St Charles was one of the funnest things to do without the use of alcohol.

The legendary Cadillac Ranch provided the entertainment on both Thursday nights: all-you-can-drink-before-1am wristbands, karaoke, and photos. Fab.

Chicago was the destination on Saturday night. A limo ride took us to Arlington House where we dumped our stuff before hitting the town: Barleycorn's followed by some form of McDonalds nurishment while bantering with the local party animals and homeless people. Sunday was spent walking to downtown Chicago, looking at the sites, and trying to shake the hangovers. Drinks at the top of the Hancock Tower ended the weekend nicely before heading back to St Charles.

In the second week we managed to get a few games of Beach Volley going, only once having the arrogance to play the Top Gun soundtrack out of some portable speakers. I also experienced my first keg party - while it lasted anyway.

But like all good things, the "training" came to an end, and on Friday evening after some goodbyes and half-serious promises of keeping in touch, it was off to O'Hare airport to start the journey back home.