3/4-15: A peaceful weekend by the lake

Efter en travl uge efter spring break hvor der både blev søgt om optagelse på kandidat hjemme i Århus, samt skrevet og afleveret to franskstile, så glædede jeg mig til endnu at gang at skulle afsted i weekenden. 

Denne gang skulle vi igen til Lake Sinclair i midten af Georgia hvor vi havde booket et stort hus ned til søen. 

Vi blev omkring 15-16 GRSP'ere, og så endte jeg i øvrigt med at invitere Flora med da hendes weekendplaner gik i vasken i sidste sekund, og hun ellers skulle have brugt hele weekenden alene på værelset. 

Endnu en gang havde huset en smuk udsigt ud over søen, og denne gang var vejret varmt nok til at ligge i bikini nede på broen, spille bold, og også hoppe en tur i søen for de friske :-) 

Lørdag lavede vi forskellige konkurrencer (med ansigtsmaling) i løbet af dagen og grillmad om aftenen.

Alt i alt, så var weekenden rimeligt perfekt. 

:::::

After a busy week after spring break where I both managed to apply for my master's back home in Århus, as well as write and hand in two French papers, I was looking forward to once again heading off for a weekend trip. 

This time we were going back to Lake Sinclair in the middle of Georgia where we had booked a big house on the lake side. 

We were 15-16 GRSP students and I also ended up inviting Flora since her plans for the weekend got cancelled last second, and she was looking to spend the whole weekend alone in the dorms. 

Once again the house had a beautiful view of the lake, and this time the weather was warm enough to do some tanning on the dock, play ball, and jump in the lake for those who wanted that :-) 

Saturday we did different competitions (with face paint), and at night we made grilled chicken.

All in all, this weekend was pretty perfect. 

26/3-15: A weekend on the countryside

Gucci bag

Versace and Louis Vuitton wallets - perhaps a Cartier watch

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I kølvandet på min vilde rundrejsen omkring Orlando, Savannah, Boston og New York (m.fl.), var min Spring Break næsten ovre. 

Først havde jeg dog en GRSP student weekend i Pelham ca 1,5 time fra Valdosta. 

Der bor ca. 4-5.000 mennesker i Pelham, så det er jo næsten ligesom Ry derhjemme - og så alligevel ikke. 

I løbet af weekenden var vi på alligatorfarm hvor man opdrætter alligatorer til at sælge til firmaer som Louis Vuitton, Versace, Gucci m.fl. som bruger skindet til tasker, punge, bælter osv. 

Farmen er den største producent i verden, og har altså flere tusinde alligatorer af gangen. 

Vi var også forbi et statsfængsel hvor vi endda fik mulighed for at komme ind og se cellerne i forskellige afdelinger, og stå øje til øje med de indsatte - godt vi også fik lov at gå ud igen ;-) 

Så kan man da tale om skræmmekampagner!

Om aftenen var der barbecue, fried chicken, fried alligator, og naturligvis mac 'n cheese. 

Vi var også ude og spille et par huller golf. Jeg vil ikke prale og sige at det gik godt, men det var jo også min første gang :-)

Pelham (og Camilla) Rotary har en lang historie for at holde GRSP student weekends, og for hvert år bygger de på deres collage som går tilbage til 1965. 

Det er tydeligt at rotarianerne her gør et stort stykke arbejde ud af at få alle de studerende helt ned til South Georgia og ud i en lille landsby, hvert år. 

Lørdag aften underholdte vi alle sammen med forskellige sketches om livet i Georgia, og da vi nåede søndag morgen var alle enige om at det havde været den bedste student weekend hele året :-) 

::::

Following my crazy traveling around Orlando, Savannah, Boston and New York (and many more), my spring break was almost over. 

However I did have one weekend left to spend in Pelham for a GRSP student get2gether.

Pelham has around 4-5,000 inhabitants, so it's almost the size of my hometown Ry - and then again, not at all like my hometown!

During the weekend we visited an alligator farm where they raise alligators to sell to companies like Versace, Louis Vuitton, Gucci etc.who uses the hides for purses, wallets and belts.

The farm is the biggest producer of alligator hides in the world, and they have thousands of alligators at a time.

We also visited a state prison where we got the opportunity to go inside and see the cells, and stand eye to eye with some of the inmates - good thing they let us leave again ;-) 

Maybe a visit like that will keep us all on the straight and narrow.

In the evenings we had barbecue, fried chicken, fried gator and of course mac 'n cheese.

We also played a few holes of golf. I can't brag and say I was great, but it was my first time playing :-)

Pelham (and Camilla) Rotary have a long history of having GRSP student weekends, and every year they build onto their collage, which goes all the way back to 1965. 

It is clear that the rotarians here work hard to make sure that the students make a trip all the way to a small town in South Georgia every year.

Saturday night we entertained everybody with sketches of life in Georgia, and as we got to Sunday morning we all agreed that it had been the best student weekend all year :-)

Getting to an end

I går gav jeg min første af min sidste præsentation i Valdosta Rotary Club.

Jeg havde inviteret Flora, Nadine, Basak og Theresa til at komme og være med når jeg fortalte om mit år i Georgia. 

Hvad havde jeg forventet, hvad havde jeg oplevet, hvad havde jeg lært, og hvad vil jeg tage med mig hjem. 

Det har også været en af grundene til at bloggen gik lidt i stå - jeg skulle nemlig forberede min præsentation, samt deltage i Distriktskonference over weekenden. 

Enden begynder at komme nærmere, meget hurtigt!

Jeg har sagt farvel til enkelte GRSP'ere, et par medstuderende, jeg har haft min sidste undervisningstime, og jeg har nu kun to rotarymøder tilbage. 

Min præsentation bestod af en tale samt en lille film med billeder fra mit år, som jeg naturligvis deler med jer når jeg har holdt min sidste præsentation :-) 

::::

Yesterday I had the first of my last presentations in Valdosta Rotary Club. 

I had invited Flora, Nadine, Basak and Theresa to come and join me as I told everybody about my year in Georgia. 

What I had expected, what I had experienced, what I had learned, and what I wanted to take home with me. 

It has also been one of the reasons why the blog has been a bit quiet - I had to prepare my presentation and also participate in a Rotary District Conference over this past weekend. 

The end is getting closer, very quickly!

I had said my goodbyes to a few GRSPs, a couple of co-students, I have had my last class, and now remains just two rotary meetings. 

My presentation was a speech as well as a small movie with pictures from my year, which I will gladly share with you when I have had my last presentation :-)

The current situation at Valdosta State University

I fredags imens jeg fredeligt lå på stranden i Miami, var en knap så fredelig situation i gang med at udvikle sig tilbage på Valdosta State University. 

Herunder følger min forhåbentligt objektive og uspekulerende beskrivelse af situationen:

***

Fredag eftermiddag var der nogle studerende som demonstrerede på universitets grund. 

Demonstrationen omhandlede ifølge andre kilder, regeringen, racisme, samt hvordan demonstranterne mente at "hvide" har mere magt verdenen over end "sorte". 

Under demonstrationen blev det amerikanske flag gået på, og ifølge nogle også brændt, hvilket førte til stærke reaktioner fra andre, blandt andet en kvindelig veteran som tog flaget fra demonstranterne, for at undgå at de gik på det. 

Universitetspolitiet som overvågede situationen kunne ikke tillade kvinden at tage flaget som ikke var hendes, og da hun ikke ville give det tilbage, blev hun derfor tilbageholdt. 

(læs historien en artikel om historien her). 

I kølvandet på hændelserne fredag, blev der hurtigt lagt an til en moddemonstration som skulle hylde det amerikanske flag og alt hvad det står for. 

Denne demonstration foregik mandag og flere hundrede studerende, professorer m.m. deltog da der blev sunget nationalsang samt afsagt "Pledge of Allegiance" til flaget som er tradition i USA. 

Gruppen som startede demonstrationerne vendte senere tilbage, men alting foregik rimeligt fredeligt. 

Senere mandag aften begyndte rygterne dog at svirre på de sociale medier, blandt andet med billeder af de oprindelige demonstranter hvorpå de bar våben og udtrykte trusler overfor den "hvide" befolkning. 

Mange studerende blev meget bekymrede, da truslerne var meget direkte, og med historien for vold på amerikanske universiteter var der flere som snakkede om helt at blive væk fra skolens område indtil situationen blev bragt til hvile. 

Tirsdag svirrede rygterne fortsat, og politiets tilstedeværelse på campus var tydeligt forhøjet efter at det var blevet offentligt at de havde påbegyndt en efterforsking af truslerne på de sociale medier. 

Sidst på eftermiddagen offentligtgjorde universitetet at lederen af den oprindelige demonstration nu var eftersøgt af politiet efter at man havde fundet en skoletaske med et våben i som viste sig at tilhøre lederen. 

Det er endnu ikke lykkes politiet at finde den eftersøgte studerende, som de i øjeblikket mener forsøger at gemme sig enten her i byen eller uden for byen. De mener i hvert fald ikke at han udgør nogen direkte trussel for de studerende på nuværende tidspunkt, selvom de anser ham for at være farlig og bevæbnet. 

***

Som I nok kan regne ud er situationen på universitetet altså rimeligt anspændt disse dage, hvor jeg må indrømme at jeg personligt forsøger ikke at tilbringe så meget tid på den centrale del af campus. 

Indtil situationen udviklede sig til hvad den er nu, synes jeg faktisk det var en spændende oplevelse at se de studerende samt lokalbefolkningen stå sammen om at beskytte nationens flag. 

Udover blot at tage afstand fra den første demonstration, var der en tydelig bevægelse mod at forsøge at fremme forståelsen blandt alle parter og i øvrigt forsøge at vende hændelsen til noget positivt. 

På torsdag har Valdostas borgmester annonceret officiel flag-dag i hele byen, og selvom jeg tager tidligt på weekend, håber jeg at se mange striber og stjerner på min tur ud af byen. 

I kan læse den seneste officielle udmelding fra universitetet her.

Med dette indlæg håber jeg at undgå spekulationer, skulle nogen ske at høre/se noget i medierne - særligt de sociale - de næste dage. 

::::

Friday afternoon while I was peacefully lying on the beach in Miami, a not so peaceful situation was developing at Valdosta State University. 

Here is a hopefully objective and non-speculative description of what has happened:

***

Friday afternoon a group of students demonstrated on campus grounds. 

The demonstration was according to other sources, against the government, racism, and how they believe that there is "white supremacy" all over the world. 

During the demonstration the students walked, and allegedly also burned an American flag, which lead to strong reactions from amongst others, a female veteran who showed up to take the flag from the group, to keep them from desecrating it. 

Campus police who were monitoring the situation could not let the woman take a flag which was not hers, and when she did not want to give it back to them, she was detained by police. 

(Read an article on the story here).

Following the actions of Friday, a counter-demo was quickly put together to salute, cherish and celebrate the flag and everything it represents. 

The counter-demo took place Monday and hundreds of students, faculty and staff showed up to sign the Star-Spangled Banner and give their Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. 

The original demonstrating group later returned to speak further on their beliefs, but everything went on peacefully. 

Later Monday night the rumors started spreading on social media, some showing images of the first group of demonstrants with weapons and threatening messages, and with the history of violence on American universities many students started talking about not coming to school until the situation was put to rest. 

Tuesday the rumors were still flowing, and police presence on campus had been notedly increased since it was now public that they had started an investigation into the threats posted on social media. 

At the end of the afternoon, the university announced that the leader of the group was now wanted by the police after they had found a book bag on campus containing a gun which belonged to said leader. 

The police has not yet succeeded in apprehending the suspect, who they currently believe is hiding somewhere off campus. They do not believe that he is posing any direct threat to the university or the students, even though they do believe he is armed and dangerous. 

***

As you probably know by now, the situation is very tense these days, and I must admit that I am trying not to spend too much time on main campus. 

Until the situation developed into what it is now, I was actually finding the situation very interesting, especially seeing the local community come together to support and protect the nation's flag. 

Besides just distancing themselves from the original demonstration, I actually felt like there was a real movement towards enhancing understanding and also trying to turn the events into something positive. 

This Thursday the Mayor of Valdosta has announced an official flag day in the town, and even though I will be leaving early for another weekend, I hope to see many stars and stripes on my way out of town. 

You can read the latest statement from Valdosta State University here. 

With this post I hope to avoid any speculation in case anyone sees/hears anything in the media - especially the social ones - the next couple of days. 

26/3-15: Quick touch-down in Valdosta

Som opsummering på min midterste del af Spring Break kan jeg kun konkludere at det var helt fantastisk!

(1. del var med Thit og Angus, 2. del var turen nord på, og 3. del er hvad jeg endnu ikke har dækket.)

Jeg har oplevet så mange ting, så det nærmest ikke når at synke ind, før det er videre til næste oplevelse. 

Jeg nåede at få omkring 18 timer i Valdosta inden jeg skulle videre til Pelham student weekend.

Det var tid nok til at få sovet lidt i min egen seng, vasket tøjet, og ompakket tasken. 

Udover alle de ting jeg fik set, var der naturligvis alle de ting jeg fik spist!

- og for dem som kender mig, så er halvdelen af min rejse gerne de ting jeg spiser undervejs :-) 

Vi var omkring kinesisk dim sum, italiensk pizza og pasta, dansk jordbærtærte, ukrainsk og marrokansk brunch, og i øvrigt også indisk aftensmad samt brasilianske pão de queijo (ostebrød), som jeg ikke har spist i 8 år! 

Der blev også købt billetter til en hel masse ting i New York, og det var det hele værd :-)

::::

As a summary to the middle part of my spring break I can only say that it has been amazing!

(1st part was with Rob and Angus, 2nd part was up north, and 3rd part is what I haven't covered yet.)

I have experienced so many things that it has almost not been possible to fully take it all in, before moving on to the next experience. 

I had about 18 hours in Valdosta before I had to head off to Pelham student weekend. 

That gave me just enough time to sleep in my own bed, fix my laundry and repack my suitcase. 

Besides all the things I saw, there are also all the things I ate!

- And for those who know me well, you'll know that about half of what I experience traveling, is what I eat :-)

We had Chinese dim sum, Italian pizza and pasta, Danish strawberry tart, Ukrainian and Moroccan brunch, and also Indian dinner as well as Brazilian pão de queijo (cheese bread), which I had not had for 8 years!

I also bought a ton of tickets for all kinds of stuff, and it was all worth it :-)

25/3-15: The end

Vores sidste par dage i New York var væsentligt mere afslappede end de første. 

Vi fik gået en tur igennem SoHo og Little Italy ned til Wall Street, hvorefter vi så tog tilbage uptown til MoMa - Museum of Modern Art, for denne gang rent faktisk at kigge på udstillingerne :-) 

Frokosten blev indtaget på ægte New-Yorker-manér: fra The Halal Guys foodtruck hvor der omkring middag typisk står 15-20 mennesker i kø af gangen. Måltidet nydes på en iskold marmor-mur, sammen med et par duer. 

Om aftenen tog vi på Broadway, hvor det næsten lykkedes os at komme for sent til Chicago!

Det var en halvdyr oplevelse selvom vi købte billetterne til halv pris ved TKTS boksen på Times Square, så selvom det var en super oplevelse, så er jeg ikke sikker på jeg gør det igen næste gang ;-) 

Freja rejste hjem morgenen efter, så jeg havde en hel dag i NY til mig selv.. 

Jeg gav mig selv en tur på Guggenheim samt en laaaang gåtur igennem Central Park, hele vejen ned til Rockefeller Center hvor det begyndte at regne, og så kunne jeg passende hoppe på subwayen tilbage til East Village for at hente min baggage, og så ud mod JFK. 

Guggenheim er en virkeligt imponerende bygning! Udstillingerne var ind i mellem lidt for interessante, men det hele var en stor oplevelse. 

Igennem Central Park fik jeg set nogle nye sider af parken, og fik også forvildet mig helt over til West Side, inden jeg vendte tilbage til East Side, og så ned til bunden af parken, osv.. 

- jeg var godt smadret da jeg endelig satte mig ned i flyveren mod Jacksonville, hvor der jo altså ventede mig en 2,5 times køretur fra kl. 23-01.30.. 

::::

Our last days in New York were significantly more relaxed than the first few. 

We had time to just walk through SoHo and Little Italy on the way down to Wall Street, after which we took the subway back uptown to MoMa - Museum of Modern Art, to actually go inside and see the exhibitions :-)

We had lunch New York-style: from The Halal Guys' food truck where they usually have 15-20 people in line around noon. You can enjoy your meal on the ice cold marble wall right next to it, along with  few pigeons. 

At night we went to Broadway where we almost succeeded in arriving late for Chicago!

It was still a pretty expensive experience, even though we bought our tickets half price at the TKTS booth on Times Square. It was an amazing experience, but I'm not sure I'll do it again next time ;-) 

Freja went home the morning after, so I had an entire day to myself in NY..

I treated myself to a trip to Guggenheim and a looooong walk through Central Park, all the way down to The Rockefeller Center where I could jump on the subway just as it started to rain - back to East Village to get my luggage, and then head out to JFK. 

Guggenheim is such an impressive building! The exhibitions were at times a bit too interesting, but it was all a great experience. 

Through Central Park I saw a few new sights, and I wandered all the way over to West Side, before heading back to the East Side, and then to the bottom of the park, etc... 

- I was exhausted when I sat down on the plane to Jacksonville, where by the way, a 2.5 hour drive was waiting for me to at 11pm..

23/3-15: Verdenskvinder! (Women of the world!)

Mandag startede vi med en gondoltur halvvejs over floden til Roosevelt Island. 

Turen koster det samme som en tur i subway'en, og udsigten er pengene værd.

Efter frokost mødtes vi med Thit og Angus' veninde, Penny, som arbejder som translatør ved United Nations i New York. 

Penny havde været så sød at ofre sin frokostpause for at have tid til at give os en rundtur indenfor dørene, og fortælle om hvad hun laver, forskellige historier om forsamlingerne m.m. 

Eftersom vi var på privat tour, fik vi også lov til at gå op på talerstolen i The Great Assembly og stå samme sted som nogle af tidens største verdensmænd og -kvinder. 

Vi fik også mulighed for at komme ind i en af translatørbåsene og få lidt indblik i hvordan det egentligt foregår når forskellige taler skal translateres til 5-6 forskellige sprog på samme tid som de bliver holdt. 

Efter en kop kaffe i personaleloungen, smuttede vi igen ud i kulden på vej over for at tage en tur op i Top of the Rock - Rockefeller Center. 

Står man og skal vælge imellem Empire State Building og Top of the Rock vil jeg, uden at have været i dem begge, anbefale Top of the Rock. Her får man nemlig udsigt over til Empire State Building, og desuden også Central Park, som man altså ikke kan se fra Empire :-) 

Og så er det i øvrigt billigere, hvilket jo altid er et stærkt argument når man er studerende. 

::::

Monday started with a cable car trip halfway across the river to Roosevelt Island. 

The trip costs as much as a trip on the subway, and the view is worth it.

After lunch we met with Rob and Angus' friend, Penny, who works as an interpreter with the United Nations in New York. 

Penny had been so nice to sacrifice her lunch break to be able to give us a private tour inside, and tells us about what she does, different stories about the assemblies and much more. 

Since it was a private tour, we were even allowed to access the speaker's podium in the Great Assembly and stand in the same place as some of our times greatest men and women. 

We also had a chance to look inside the interpreter's booth where Penny could show us how it actually works when speeches are interpreted into 5-6 different languages at the same time as they are given. 

After a cup of coffee in the employees' lounge, we headed back out to the cold to go for a trip up to the Top of the Rock - Rockefeller Center. 

If you are to chose between Empire State Building and Top of the Rock, I would, without having been to both of them, recommend the Rock. Here you will get a view of the Empire State Building, and also Central Park, which you won't get from the Empire :-) 

Plus, Top of the Rock is cheaper, which is always an important argument when you are a student.