USA Exkursion 2024

Day 1

Our flight departed from Frankfurt. On April 7 at 4 AM, we met Oussama, David, and Daniel at Cologne Central Train Station. When we arrived at Frankfurt International Airport, Tom joined us as well. Our first stop was Chicago. During our layover, we had some time to explore the airport, and we saw the biggest and fluffiest service dog! It was accompanying an elderly lady on her flight. Additionally, the thirsty passengers discovered what tap water tastes like in the USA.

Arrived in Nashville, TE. After meeting with Prof. Dr. Bartz and the rest of the group, we picked up the rental cars and settled into the hotel. Next, we visited Nashville downtown. By the time we arrived at the famous Broadway, the atmosphere was vibrant - crowded streets and live music playing from every corner. It was a harmony in chaos. Wayworn comrades were hungry, we ended up in the food court of a shopping mall before returning to the hotel to get some rest.

Day 2

After a solid breakfast, we headed to Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville. It was a couple hours' drive and luckily, I was one of the drivers. Driving in new countries is a fun activity. Along the way, we stopped by a rest area, where we had the chance to learn about the Tennessee Civil War.
Tennessee Tech welcomed us with cold weather and warm, friendly people. We had a very busy schedule: get-to-know session at the President's Conference Room, lunch, meeting with fellow students (two of whom were exchange students from Germany), and mostly exploring the campus.
After leaving the campus, we went for a mini hike at Burgess Falls State Park.

Disclaimer: During this trip, we encountered a bunch of mesmerizing surprises, with the first being a solar eclipse that occurred between lunch and a campus tour.  Extremely interesting to watch. Don't forget your glasses!

Visiting Walmart was on our bucket list, and we squeezed that in the evening. Unpopular opinion: visiting new grocery stores in different countries is equivalent to visiting a museum.

Day 3

Our second day at Tennessee Tech was more in-depth. We attended an electrical engineering lecture in the morning, and visited various labs, including a 3D modeling studio. So, the campus was big, and it was getting expanded with new buildings. The exciting part was that the college involved its academic squad and students in this expansion project. They showed us the software they use for preparing blueprints and modeling the buildings.

After lunch, we had a slack time. On the first day, it was mentioned that Cookeville has significant ties to CrossFit and is home to the gym of Rich Froning (four times winner of the CrossFit Games). So Daniel and I made good use of this break and dropped in for a workout.

When we got back, it was time again for more fun stuff! There was an event at Tennessee Tech Gym. During this event, we attended an axe-throwing challenge (no one was hurt), painted food plates, and shed them into a million pieces. We painted things that we're longing to accomplish. This was a meaningful act and served as a metaphor for achieving our goals.

As the day came to a close, it was time to say goodbye to Tennessee Tech while enjoying our pizzas and chatting with other students.

Day 4

We had a long journey ahead from Cookeville to Jacksonville Florida. The hot, humid weather provided a tropical climate. From airport to the hotel, the road was lined with tall palm trees and ponds. After hotel check-in, we got to the ocean in no time flat and rode the waves.

Following our morning dip, it was time to visit University of North Florida. There we again had the chance to attend lectures before lunch. By then, the sunny weather had given way to heavy rain. The campus was fairly close to downtown but strongly connected to nature, featuring a green area with several lakes. Although we  couldn't see them, we were told that some crocodiles were hanging around the campus.

We had a hard time choosing what to eat in the college canteen. Though, the ice-cream machine was definitely a highlight. Oh! And we met with an exchange student from TH.

After lunch we attended another lecture, and it was time to hit the ocean again! This time, Prof. O. Patrick Kreidl and his father joined us. Prof. O. Patrick was such a kind person and accompanied us throughout our entire trip at the University of Florida. His father was equally wonderful (kudos to him), and it was invaluable to talk with them and learn their stories.

In the evening, we went out for dinner at a local restaurant and drove through downtown Jacksonville. Downtowns aka (city centers) are usually where the  corporate world thrives. During day time it's busting, but after work there is not much going on, since almost everywhere is closed. However, we found a nice spot for a group photo.

Day 5

The next day was focused on exploring the campus and study opportunities for international students. This time, students guided us through the campus and dorms. This campus resonated with me on a deep level. Because it's such a nice blend of modern student life and nature. To be more specific, you can lie on the grasses in between classes and feed some squirrels.

On our way to Orlando we had the chance to stop by the famous Daytona International Speedway. Unfortunately, there was no tour available, but we could still feel the raw power emanating from that race track.

Remember those mesmerizing surprises? Well, on that day there was a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch. And the launch complex was not far from Orlando. Around  9 PM, we went to Cape Canaveral to witness this phenomenon. We found a shore 10 km away from the launch complex. SpaceX launches are very frequent, and we discovered that they had become somewhat routine for the locals, but not for us. Honestly, I don't have a vivid memory of the launch, but I can tell you that this is not something you hear every day. This launch is sooo powerful, it makes your skin buzz, and the sound was... well, the sound was extremely powerful, but my description doesn't do it justice.

PS: So far no crocodile in sight :(

Day 6

This was our last full day. We had a little debate on whether to visit Disney Land or Universal Studios or Kennedy Space Center. In the end, it was an easy decision. This trip was already honored with space-related occurrences, and Kennedy Space Center was glazing on top!

In essence, it felt like Disney Land. But this time astronauts were the main  characters instead of Mickey Mouse. All these fancy space stuff and mission control center simulation, but the "WOW" moment came when they unveiled the Atlantis spaceship behind the curtain. YES! The real spaceship which was floating in space! They managed to suspend it from the ceiling as if it were a toy in a child's bedroom.

Oh, and we finally got to see some crocodiles at the space center. Now we could leave this land in peace.

But before that, we still had some time and visited an outlet center close to our hotel. After a day full of action, we went out for our last dinner. When we got back to the hotel, we felt that the journey was nearing its end and it was a good time to reflect on what we experienced over the past few days.

Our trip had a clear schedule with flexible planning. Some of us arrived early in the USA, while others were going to stay longer. But this was our last night as the  whole group.

Day 7

Wake up, leave room, check out and get to the airport.

Epilogue

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Bartz. This was a special journey that will be remembered for a lifetime. We did not only learn about the  study opportunities but also experienced a taste of student life, so to speak. It allowed me to forge new friendships, meet people from the other side of the world, and learn their stories.

Every ending is a new beginning, and the conclusion of this journey has sparked new aspirations. I'm not sure if "who reads a lot" or "knows if he travels a lot", but I'm certain that who reads while traveling knows a lot ;)

Cheers,
Alpar Gür