Heavy Metal

Another day with good weather!! We started our last day in Bowman with a tour to Hilton and Fousts car collection. They hade a lot of great cars, the oldest one was a T Ford from 1919. We even got to sit in it! Ulf was very pleased with finding a car just like the one he has back home a 1966 Chevrolet Corvair. We also went to look at old farm machines.

For lunch we went to the Haley Dam Marina, they even had a Nordic inspired buffet for us. During lunch we also got interviewed by a reporter from the Bowman Pioneer.

In the afternoon we went to Scranton and got all our questions about selling and buying grains answered.

We ended our day with seeing the world largest metal sculptures along the highway between Scranton and Dickinson and meeting our new host families. I also had the privilege to meet the Rotary Governor for this district. It’s going to be really interesting to be part of the district conference.

/Sabina

Western land!

Today we woke up in Bowman, a real “western” town with about 1700 inhabitants. Suddenly the weather turned to a lot warmer than we have been used to on our trip. The day began with a slow walk thru town to the Bowman County Courthouse. There we were guided around and learned about how justice was shaped in he court room and the jury room. We also said hi to the sheriff and got information about Bowman’s Social Service.

After a delicious “picnic” lunch we headed southwards and crossed the border to South Dakota (!) so now we can check another U.S. state on our trip. The temperature went up to 70F, real summer temperature for Swedes. Along the road there were endless farm fields and frequently the horizon was broken of oil pumps pumping up the black gold to surface.

The goal for the trip was a BIG ranch, 15000 acres! There we drove around with four wheelers among some 1000 Black Angus cattle and stopped now and then at places with breathtaking views over the prairie landscape. After home trip passing even more oil pumps it was time do dress up and give our presentation “show” after an excellent meal. Another wonderful day on our trip was ended. Tomorrow we are heading for Dickinson.
Believe it or not, there are weather forecasts for snow later in the week.

//Ulf

Rollin´ rollin´ rollin´

Today we started out at 9 am heading for Bowman, ND. The roads we traveled by were absolutely beautiful and saw muck of the famous Badlands. We stopped for lunch at the Buckskin café - and then traveled on for another 2 hours. Finally we got to Bowman and got to see the museum as well as the library. The team´s activities were concluded with a social with Bowman Rotary at the museum with som delicious hors d´oevres! We´re all looking forward to tomorrows western adventures!

//Marcel

Zoo-nday

Some of the team members took theopportunity to attend the worship at the Augustana Lutheran Church.One of about seven Lutheran churches in this small town. The buildingwas not built in the style that we are used to see back home. Insteadit was made of bricks with interiors in wood. When we got there we sawsome of the people from The Scandinavian Heritage that we had met yesterday. That was fun. The service was very much like those one at aSwedish church, although the pastor Tim Eighmy and the children from the church´s childrens program made it extra joyful. It was also nice that wegot to see a young boy being baptized.In the afternoon we visited The Roosevelt Park Zoo and Brandi Clarktook us on a guided tour. The zoo has over 200 mammals, birds andreptiles. Quite a big zoo for a town of Minot's size. The rumor had itthat a little baby giraffe had been born earlier this winter. We foundout that this was true, but we didn't get to met him since he is stillfragile.

//Anna Mia

St-------rike!

Marcel and Ulf had the opportunity to watch a couple of innings of baseball on sunday. We watched The Minot University Beavers vs. Dickinson state Blue Hawks. We had a great time (with burgers of course) at the ballpark checking out Americas favorite pastime. And yes, we got to see a real life home-run!

/Marcel

Back in Sweden?

Today we went to the "Dakota Territory Air museum". There we got a really interesting tour from Mr. Rich Larcombe. He showed us among other things plains from the U.S Air Force and the Wright brothers most famous airplane construction. After that the team went to "The Skandinavia Heritage centre" and wasn't that something. We all felt like our trip had ended and we were back home in Sweden again. We got a roundtour at the centre from Mr. Carroll Ericksson and Mrs. Ann Krause. After the roundtour we all set down had lunch whith some people from Minot that had Scandinavian relatives. Sometimes the world doesn't seem that big anymore.. After lunch we had some coffee and cake, while celebrating Tina on her thirtieth birthday! //The Team

Friday April 25th

After an early start we left Bismarck for Minot. We were sad to leave Bismarck but excited to go to Minot. It’s going to be many hard farewells and great greetings on this trip!

In Minot we started with a tour to Minot Air Force Base, a tour I don’t think anyone in the team will ever forget. As a retired air force major Ulf was in heaven! We were all able to go inside a B52 bomber and on a helicopter, a once in a lifetime experience. We also got to see the new exercise centre (it was huge) and a childcare centre. I want to thank everyone that made this visit such a great experience.

In the afternoon I had the opportunity to visit the auditor/treasurer for Ward County, Devra Smestad. It was very interesting to discuss the organisation of public administration, information during crises and organisation of elections in Sweden and USA. I feel that I start to get a good picture of the system for public administration in North Dakota.

/Sabina

Christmas seem to have come early

Today was a real treat for the team. We went on a visit to Fort Abraham Lincoln and the Mandan on-a-slant village. Our guides really did their best to give us a idea of the frontier life on ND. Whilst visiting General Custers house we were invited to a time machine. We were guide as if it were late 1800 - a very educational and absorbing grip! As if that wasn´t enough - Justice Sandstrom gave us a tour of the Art Deco style State Capitol (including the VIP-tour!) as well a tour of the heritage center. By this time the team was quite tired, but more was in store. The day was finished with a send-off Hoe-down. Barbecue, beer and good music amongst friends! Tomorrow we are going to Minot - it seems there´s a B-52 waiting for us there. Can hardly wait.

/Marcel

Tinas vocational day with Bismarck P.D

Yesterday I had my first day of vocational opportunity whith the police in Bismarck, North Dakota! This was a very informative day, I met many members of the Police Force so not to forget anyone I just want to send a big thank you to everybody I met. I do feel that I want to give a big thanks to Deputy Chief Dan Donlin for arranging the entire day. For example I met police officers from the bomb security section, the K9, S.W.A.T team, the narcotics and many more. I also had a very interesting tour of the police department. In the afternoon I rode whith a police officer while we patrolled the city. It was a really good experience for me to see how the police work in Bismarck, North Dakota. / Kristina (Tina)

Vocational day

Today it was the first vocational oportunity for all of us. teamleader Ulf visited General Sprynczynatyk at the State National Guard Office. Colonel Mike Wobema escorted thereafter on a very interesting tour at the air base. After a thourough briefing from him and his colleauge Dae Anderson there is nothing more worth to know about the National Guard after a fantastic day with them. /Ulf

This picture shows some of the people I met today , from the left the vocational host Presbyterian Pastor Jake Kincaid, and the right Lutheran Pastor Steve Sathre. I got an insight into ND religious life, the challenges and opportunities that exist. It was an very exciting day indeed./Marcel

First day

Today has been our first day on our study exchange. And what a day it as been! Waking up early in the morning after the long tri made the team look somewhat tired but as the day went along came energy! We´ve had an all day tour of Dakota coal gasification plant - interesting indeed. We thank our hosts and our guides for this fantastic opportunity. Later inte the evening we attended a welcoming ceremony at the Bismarck State College and delievered our presentation of Sweden for the first time whilst being treated to wine and cheese - what a treat! Tomorrow the team will be split up for the first time. We are having a vocational day. I´m going to see presbyterian pastor Jake Kincaid, i´m sure well have a great time.

/Marcel

En route - Copenhagen airport

We are currently sitting in a airport café in Copenhagen. We are starting to adapt to an American lifestyle - the team is drinking coffee from Starbucks! We´ve had an early start this morning - a majority of the team started around 4 a.m. We have a long journey in front of us - but we are all excited.See you soon!

The team

Final countdown

When the team first met in December we thought there were lots of time until departure time. Suddenly there are only a few days left now to pack the bags, ask friends and neighbors to look after your home and check the passport and travel documents once again.

Most distant team travelers leave home at 4 a.m. Swedish local time to start the trip towards District 5580 via Copenhagen/Denmark-Amsterdam/Netherlands-Minneapolis/USA to Bismarck in North Dakota. If the schedule runs ok we will be there after about 25 hours traveling (10 p.m. US time).

It will be a really nice feeling to get North Dakota Terra Firma under our feet after such a trip.

The team’s ambition is to have you continuously informed during the following thrilling trip in the huge District 5580. We promise to do what we can to live up to this but first we have to get there. You’ll hear from us then.

The Swedish Team is ready for the final countdown.

Sabina, Anna Mia, Marcel, Ulf and Tina

Team on the move!