Visit from Sweden Part 3

This post starts the 2nd of August in Charleston. We made our way to Patriots Point. A museum about the military. Consisting of one submarine, the USS Clamagore, one destroyer, the USS Laffey and one aircraft carrier, the USS Yorktown. It also has a few differnet exhibits, a Vietnam experience exhibit, a bunch of aircrafts and a Medal of Honour museum. Me and my dad wasn't able to go through the Vietnam experinece and the Medal of Honour due to my sister not having anything else to do so she got frustrated at us. Here are some pictures:

The USS Yorktown 

The USS Laffey

The USS Clamagore

From Patriots Point we went into Charleston for some lunch and we then continued walking through the town. The walk got us to the Old Slave Mart Museum. An old alley where they sold slaves. We then contiuned to the Old exchange and Provost Dungeon. Both very interesting historical places. We then took a stop at a nice irish pub called Tommy Condons Restaurant. From there to Tanger Outlets for a little bit of shopping before heading back to Columbia.


The next day we weren't sure what to do so we went to Augusta. Possibly a mistake as it was a kind of boring city, we had an awsome lunch and then we saw the riverside. We also met James Brown, or well it was a statue of him. We also got to a shopping mall and did some more shopping.

Statue of James Brown

After coming back to Columbia we decided to go to the cinema. We went to the movie Detroit, a dark and serious movie about a crazy event in the American history. Showing some clear racial tension. It was very touching and I definently recommend it.

The 4th of August was the last full day with my dad and sister before they left for going up north to DC and NYC. We spent part of it with my host family going down to our community pool and chilling out. We then went to a store my dad wanted to go into quickly, me and my sister waited in a car and we deicided to do a silly prank. We then moved the car and laughed our asses off as dad came out and looked confused as to where the car was parked. That night we went out for our last dinner. 

Last dinner before leaving

The 5th of August I got dropped off and my dad and sister left for the northwest. This was the end of some nice days and I went back to the normal crazy life. This concludes this mini series.

As I post this it's in the middle of hurricane Irma. Although not hitting me and my host family directly there's alot of rain and wind around us. We are fine and probably won't get any major issues.

But for now over and out!

Visit from Sweden Part 2

The 30 of July was a pretty calm day starting out with walking around downtown and finding our way to some Memorials about different conflict ranging from World War 1 until Vietnam.

Vietnam War Memorial

Unkonw Memorial probably something with dogs

Pearl Harbour Memorial

Holocaust Memorial

Also Holocaust Memorial

US WWII Navy Memorial

USS Columbia Memorial

World War I Memorial

Korean War Memorial

The Memorials show a clear difference in the way you see the armed forces between Sweden and the US. Also like the Korean War Memorial as it had the same type of statue as in Washington DC. One that I liked.

Spending the day roaming around and chilling out we ended the day with going to a baseball game.

Chilling out with the mascot

A fun and unique experience which is definently something to see while in the US.

The 31st started out with checking out the South Carolina State House and then went over to my host family. We spent some time chilling at the pool and then had some dinner with the host family. We also handed over some Swedish gifts. A book about the Swedish landscapes, a tray in blue and yellow saying "Fika".

The 1st of August and we get in the car to go down to Charleston. We went straight to the McLeod Plantation. An old plantation where people lived until 1990s. Not as slaves the latter years of course.

McLeod Plantation

The Mansion McLeod Plantation

The Mansion McLeod Plantation

The Mansion McLeod Plantation

The road up to the McLeod House

A great historic site with a dark history showing the racial differneces we can see all the way into our time. Even here on the plantation where both the mansion and the old slave houses had people living here until the 1990s. The people living in the old slave houses were free but very poor.

From the plantation to an awsome lunch at YoBo Cantina Fresca. A place I definently recommend to go if in Charleston!

Nom Nom Nom

YoBo Cantina Fresca

From lunch to some more history this time we went to Fort Moultire. An old fort built during the revolutionary war lasting until after the second world war. And now for some pictures:

A more modern cannon at Fort Moultire

The old command tower during WWII

Looking out through a cannon

An older cannon

How to lift an old cannon which weighs a lot

Another old cannon

And another

Fort Moultire

Some more cannons

Some ammunition

My sister hates this so she found a nice little beach nearby so after having went through the Fort me and my sister took a swim in the ocean. We then went to the hotel and checked in and then went down to the beautiful French Quarters. Especially the beautiful Rainbow Row. Stand by for Part 3 will try to not be as late for that post!
Cya laters alligators!

Visit from Sweden Part 1

Late as always but here it is... Between the 26th of July and the 5th of August I had 2 visitors from Sweden (also some vacation from the family, well needed). The two visitor weren't just anybody. It was my lovely sister and dad. Unfortanetly my mom couldn't join us due to medical issues. I was very sad about that and missed her a lot. However I had to get over that fact and with help of todays technology we could at least talk with her a few times when we all were gathered. This post will be in several parts as a lot happend and don't wanna make one suuuuper long post.

But now to the point, let's go!

26th of July I was working all day but something awsome happend that afternoon, my dad and sister landed up in Charlotte and drove down to the hotel in Columbia. So nothing special happend this day so lets move on. Well I did pack my bags so that's something.

27th of July I got picked up by my dad and sister and finally got to meet them. It was the first time in over 6 months that I got to meet them in person. It was an amazing feeling flowing through me as I saw them. I got all my stuff into the car and we went to a nice diner called Flight Deck. Inspired by old aircrafts.

On the 28th me and my dad dropped off my sister at a mall so she could do her shopping (Boooring). Me and my dad went to South Carolina Military Museum. A cool museum having artifacts from the revolutionary war until todays conflicts.

Infront of a Tank outside of the museum

Models of tanks inside of the museum

After the museum we picked up my sister and we all went for lunch at a nice asian resturant. From that we continued with dropping my sister off again. Me and my dad went to the Beef Jerky Outlet. A store filled with Beef Jerkey pretty much. With all kinds of different varieties, even weird jerkeys like kangaroo, alligator, elk and some other unusual meat. From Beef Jerkey to an awsome milkshake at Marble Slab Creamery. Also an awsome picture:

No Description needed

After a dip in the pool at the hotel we went out for dinner at The Melting Pot. A cheese fondue resturant which was delicous. 

At the Melting Pot

At the Melting Pot

The 29th started with a trip to Walmart to get some snacks for our trip to Lake Murray. We chilled out a bit at the public beach of Lake Murray. The lake had very muddyish water where you barley could see what was infront of you. You definently couldn't see your feet but it was nice to cool off from the heat. When getting up from the water my sister got very scared as there was a snake that also wanted get up from the water. (Not sure who scared who to be honest). She also made a new bestie, a dead fish floating around in the water. 

The beach of Lake Murray

The beach of Lake Murray

After the Lake we went to a Kmart to check it out. It was a kinda crappy low cost store. We then went back to the hotel and chilled out.

A silly picture

Another silly picture

We got a few funny pictures before heading out and eating some dinner

And one more silly picture

One more of those silly pictues

More coming up in the next post which will be the 2nd part!

Moving

From Massachussets to South Carolina. Moving with my host family have changed a lot. A bigger, better house, new surroundings, new opportunities. The biggest thing that has changed is definitely the weather. Going from a somewhat similar to Swedish weather (possibly a bit warmer but still relatable) to the heat and humidity of the south has been a big change. Both with how you plan the day but also what kind of weather you experience. Having large rain and thunderstorms regularly is pretty impressive but also a bit scary.  Especially thinking about how strong the nature can be and how it might affect your life.

I do find it awsome having moved here experiencing another part of the US and widening my perspective of the world even more. Probably couldn't have gotten a much better deal than this. 2 parts of the US for the price of 1. Having spent about half of my time in Massachusetts and now the rest here in South Carolina.

The move went by nice and fairly smooth having the packers come and pack all the stuff up in about 3 days was pretty amazing to see. It took some days before the boxes of our stuff would arrive in South Carolina however. That gave me a few days off beeing placed at a hotel by the family I got a bit of a minivacation before leaving Boston. I was abe to go into the city, do some shopping and just enjoy a few days on my own before we made the drive to South Carolina.

Having been here for a little over a week now I enjoy the house and the new surrondings. Another big difference here is relying on a car to get around. With no public transportation and longer distances between things, a car is key to get around. Something I don't mind as it would be very hard walking or biking around due to the heat. Beeing in a car with AC is very refreshing. It also makes more sense as the distances are longer. Driving around more makes it more important to work out properly and make sure you go out for a run or walk regularly.

Some of the challenges I see is that coming to a new area I have no friends or people to hang out with, so you need to find new places to meet people. Another thing is that this au pair group is smaller which makes it have a more limited kinds of people to meet up with as a start. The distances are also something that could make this harder as you get more isolated and need to spend more time getting to and from places. It also makes the range of places to go more limited.

To sum it all up I think it's awsome though all the problems I run into I will have to do my best to get past and find some way around.

But for now I'm out cya people!
Ludwig

I have commited treason

Yes, as the title suggests I have committed treason. Treason against the crown of England. As a memeber of the Sons of Liberty, I, Gilbert Colseworthy, a caulker, have December 16th, 1773 stood up against the monopoly of the British East India Company and the opression from the Parlament towards the colonies. By throwing all the tea into the harbour we have shown our displeasure with the treatment of us. This will surley be the start of something great for us. Huzzah!

With that little intro, probably not completley historically correct, I will tell you about how I, the 21st of June went to the Boston Tea Party Museum. Probably the best, if not one of the best museum I've ever been to. With some great acting and invlovment of the people coming to the tour. Starting with giving you a new identity and a funny meeting where you get to shout, hiss, stomp and clap to the speaker about the events of December 16th, 1773. Continuing with a tour of a replica of one of the two ships. Then telling you about everything which leads up to the start of the American Revolution. A great and fun museum showing everything from casues to consequenses in a interesting and entertaining way. It has somewhat of a brighter tone than maybe other museums which usally seem to center history as something dark and serious. Something that can turn the experience boring as the exhibitons can be long. Although it might be important to be serious (ex museums about WWII) I would be happy to see more museums being more light hearted like this one.

One of the 2 replicas at the
Boston Tea Party museum

Below deck at one of the replicas

Below deck at one of the replicas

Above deck at one of the replicas

Above deck at one of the replicas

After the museum I continued through Boston to see some of the tall ships participating in Sail Boston.

Another ship from Sail Boston

Some of the ships from Sail Boston

A tall ship leaving 

Seeing the ships was pretty awsome but I got hungry so I went to a fancy mexican resturant.
The guacamole was made in front of me and it was amazing.

Guacamole made in front of me

Mexican food

June 22nd
The following day I went to the witch town Salem and visited the witch museum. Another awsome experience.

Salem Witch Museum

A museum about the witch trials in Salem. A pretty awsome experience. It's not just the museum being inspired by witches, the whole town has something to do with witches. Having several witch shops making the whole town having an awsome atmosphere.


Going back into Boston I found a place to play some drums which I haven't done for several months. It felt great going there and being able to play some drums. The place is called Jamspot and it cost me 15 bucks for an hour.


For now I'm out cya!
Ludwig