THE FIRST ENCOUNTER

Good morning New York!

I'm saying this in spite of the fact that some were not quite as morning friendly, but given our long flight and possible jetlag, I can follow that feeling. 
Got up at 6 because we were 8 people sharing one bathroom and seven of us were girls - nightmare! However, a true test to our team-work skills. 

Went downstairs to check out the continental breakfast we had been so sorely warned about, but which turned out to be really quite good! One little thing, when eating a bagel in New York City, you may be cheated by the foul, smelling surprise that is: ONION BAGEL. I completely innocent-looking bagel, with an ulterior motive to make your classmates not want to talk to you. On this not-so magnificent bagel was however something I will soon treasure in the United States, the cream cheese. Awesome food I have seen and heard about in several series and movies that take place in New York City, at last I see what all the fuss is about. 

The 24 students of 3.a in front of
 Lady Liberty herself, courtesy of
Sabrina Friis Lund

Finally, we left for Ellis Island and Miss Liberty. We took the subway just off of our street and it was here I for the first time did not feel like a blue-eyed tourist, with my metro-card in one hand and my girls by my side, how could one not feel a little bit cooler. We arrived at the harbor where a boat would take us to the islands, but first the most innervating thing about USA - security check! I don't know if they actually had these before, but I will venture the guess that 9/11 made an impact on the American protection instinct. 

The statue of Liberty was swimming in tourists and she was being restored, however we did manage to get a group photo in front of the statue, upholding people for about 5 minutes. We were far away from the actual statue, because it was being renovated so the experience was not quite as majestic as one might have hoped. 
Moving on to Ellis Island - an interesting museum. When you get there, the ambiance is still there, but it only reminded me of all the rejected immigrants and not all of those who were accepted into the country, I did not feel Emma Lazarus' poem speaking to me. 

"Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

I thought to myself: this is not what I would have felt, I would have been scared to go there, what if I was not deemed worthy? We saw posters of how they tested them for insanity and retained them. Perhaps this is only the part of the story that deviates, and therefore is interesting, but fear of rejection was what I felt more than anything. Not unlike the feeling in the airport, with the customs check (not that I feel I have reason to be). 

The waters as they keep pouring
down the sides, never filling the structure

It was pouring down at this time and next on our itinerary was 9/11 memorial. This was a chilling experience in more than one way. All the day we had attempted to keep warm, but when we got to to two great pools, I sort of let go. 

The memorial is two grand pools the size of the two twin towers, where water is pouring down the sides, possibly an image of the great void, that day has made in so many New Yorkers' and Americans' hearts. It was, one could feel, a place of great strength and stubbornness, it felt like the Americans saying to the terrorists, we will rise again. 

After an experience I for one will never forget, we were let loose in the city and decided to go shopping, despite the challenging weather, and then we were ready to head on home. 

Till next time

The Viking