Heading Down South to the Land of the Pines

Delaware, Davidson, and UGA

It didn't hit me until I passed through the bottom of Delaware that I was actually going south. Soon after leaving the Johnsons in Lewes, DE, I hit Maryland; then twenty minutes later, I was entering Virginia. The trees thickened as I followed Route 13, the Delmarva Peninsula narrowing as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel drew nearer. Very little seemed modern along Route 13. The stores and houses had just enough wear and tear to be noticeable, but even though a gas station looks a little beat up, there's always gas in the tank. 

Cold air and blue skies as I drove across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel

I was especially looking forward to traversing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel during my long day of driving this past Wednesday. Not only did it seem like a scenic focal point, but my mother also wrote about this incredible feat of engineering in one of her novels. The linked bridges, causeways, tunnels, and a man-made island connect the tip of the Delmarva Peninsula to the Virginia mainland. It was perhaps the most surreal twenty miles of my journey--one that has taken me thousands of miles down the eastern seaboard. And so far, every mile feels worth it. 

Lewes, DE with the Johnsons

The last time I posted, I had just arrived at the home of Drew, Karen, Sam, and Luke Johnson. My family had visited them in Lewes before, but not in their new house. It's a beautiful spot--minutes from the center of town, the ocean, and the coastal preserves north of the town. Living near water can have a profound impact on everyday life, and the Johnsons definitely take advantage of their location. Just as I took my dog Pepper for runs everyday while I was home, Drew and the boys take their dog Cal to the beach after school without fail. Cal will chase his baseball up and down the beach, whether it's a warm summer day or the dead of winter. I endured a beach walk with Drew and Luke while Cal ran. The wind gusts did nothing to help the low-teens temperature, but it didn't stop Cal. The ocean is beautiful any time of year, but it was nice knowing that the Florida beaches will be much, much warmer. The Johnsons are used to it, though. Drew and the boys, especially Luke, are serious surfers. Year round, they'll catch waves off of the jetty. I can't imagine the water is ever warm, but that's the sacrifice if you want to surf on the Atlantic.

The Dogfish Head Brewery truck

I also had the privilege of dining with the Johnsons at Confucius, undoubtedly the best Chinese restaurant I've ever been to. The Johnsons knew the owner, and he cooked for us an absolutely over the top meal. I was told my orange chicken would be the best orange chicken I ever tasted, and it did not disappoint. We were presented with appetizers of the chef's choosing, and his shrimp tempura was some of the best shrimp I've ever tasted. Safe to say, I ate well and slept well in Delaware. It was a perfect stop. I was able to see family friends, talk with Sam and Luke about the upcoming summer at Dudley (Sam will be a Junior, and Luke is arriving as a Cub). I battled it out on the ping pong table with Luke, and had a fantastic time. 

On to Davidson, NC

Rested and ready for the biggest leg of my trip, I left Lewes last Wednesday for Davidson, NC. As I alluded to in the introduction, it was on this drive that I felt I was truly heading south. The speed limits were just a little higher, the gas prices just a little lower, and the temperature warming from single digits to above freezing. I had some pretty fantastic meals spanning from New Jersey to Florida, but my lunch that day of cold carrot ginger soup and wheat thins may have been the best.

Arriving at Davidson College late that evening, I felt worlds away from home, but as I soon discovered, I was really only easing myself into life in the South. Seeing my former AL and incredible Dudley friend James Frankel made the nine hours on the road worth it. We ran off to grab dinner at a not-your-typical fried chicken joint (very southern, I suppose), but as we drove through campus, it reminded me of any number of NESCAC colleges. And though I met a fair number of students from North Carolina, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see any of them at a school like Middlebury.

James showed me a fantastic time—from meals at Ferruci’s and Toast to our racquetball match to an economics class. Since I hadn’t been a student in a classroom since May of 2012, I was able to pay plenty of attention, despite the professor’s inanimate style. A highlight of the visit was our Thursday evening at the bowling alley. James’s entire fraternity hit the lanes for a few hours of friendly competition, over-the-top celebrations, and a few strikes here and there.

Davidson is a unique school—offering a high level liberal arts education, Division I sports, and a touch of southern hospitality. As a senior and president of Kappa Sigma Delta, James displayed a whole lot of pride in his school—very similar to the pride he’s had for Dudley for as long as I’ve known him. When there’s nothing else to talk about, we talk about Dudley. And that’s perhaps the best thing to talk about when you have two people who care so much for the place. 

As I left, I found myself thinking about returning again some day. I’ve been meeting a lot of new people during the trip, but none have quite lived up to the new friends I found at Davidson. James is a senior, but I would have no problem making a trip next year just to see his friends. 

A Birthday Weekend at UGA

If my time at Davidson was my easy transition into the South, then my weekend at the University of Georgia was when the South hit me square in the face. Willie Treiber, one my greatest friends, was brave enough to be a Georgia Bulldog, and though school with 35,000 in the student body was never on my radar, I’m glad I have a friend who took the risk. UPenn seemed big to me; UGA was hunormous. Willie resides on the first floor of a dorm with at least fifteen levels; and his was only one of a handful of other freshmen residences—all housing upwards of a thousand. He graciously let me break in his new UGA emblazoned futon, and I certainly slept well all three nights.  

Sanford Stadium, at the heart of the UGA campus

If Williamstown is a “college town,” then Athens is a “college city.” The campus is at the heart of the city, with the north end leading straight into downtown. And at the center of it all is Sanford Stadium—90,000 strong. I can only imagine the city exploding with people on a gameday, especially since the ‘Dogs have secured a place in the SEC elite. A few top recruits were in town for the weekend, and everyone knew about it.

I had such a fun time with Willie and his friends that I barely even thought about my eighteenth birthday. I was too busy snickering at southern accents, eating not-so-healthy food, and splitting my time between the dorms, the fraternity house, and downtown. Willie and I took on the home course of UGA alumns like Bubba Watson and failed pretty miserably—but I’ll take any golf I can get in the month of January. It was a little strange to turn eighteen, arguably the most important age distinction of my life so far, without many people knowing. But I would gladly sacrifice any birthday party for a trip like this one.

Post-script: A Few Thoughts on the South

The moon rose just as we finished on UGA's 18th

I know Texas is the only state that truly deserves to be its own country, but coming from the eyes of a New Englander, the South is as different as it gets. I’m glad I was able to take it (fairly) slow during my trip down from Massachusetts, because I had experiences I won’t find anywhere else. On my birthday, I spoke with parents and grandparents, and I told everyone that I was having a phenomenal time, but I also couldn’t have been happier that I chose Middlebury. I know for a fact that I will be happiest at a small school. And in traveling around my own country, I've realized how proud I am to have grown up in New England and on the shores of Lake Champlain. And even though I've only been gone from Williamstown for a little more than a week, I miss it more than I did when I was oceans away in Germany. I'm going to continue to enjoy my time in the South, see everyone I want to see, play a lot of golf, and learn more about my country and its people. It'll be a very short month of February, and before I know it, I'll be heading north to go back home. 

A Second Goodbye; Then Zigzagging Down to Florida

Goodbye to snowy Williamstown

On Saturday I said goodbye to Williamstown again. It felt different this time around. I am ecstatic to be in Florida, but a month down south doesn't quite have the same magnitude as four months in Germany. And everything is just a little bit easier the second time around. This time I had no baggage limit--as long as it all fit in my car. And though I'll be charting unfamiliar territory, I don't have to worry about translating everything I see. It’s an A-to-B trip, a journey with a destination. I know that by the beginning of next week, I need to arrive in New Smyrna Beach, FL--ready to work, but also ready to enjoy the sun and heat in the middle of winter.

My first stop was in Westfield, NJ to visit my close Camp Dudley friend Adam Fraites. His house has often been the site of reunions with my camp buddies, and I always enjoy a weekend living the Jersey lifestyle. I met many of Adam’s Westfield and Pingry friends, ate at places like Chipotle and Bagel Chateau—two dining experiences that don’t exist in Berkshire County, and had the unfortunate privilege of watching my Patriots roll over in the AFC Championship against the Ravens. It was one of the poorest performances from New England that I can remember. I’m spoiled as a Pats fan because I expect a Super Bowl every season, but the reality is that it’s been half of my lifetime since they won a title. And Seattle, my favorite NFC team, failed in a big way last week when they blew a twenty-one point comeback in the last seconds against the Falcons. Thank God hockey is finally back.

But the best part of my time in Westfield was talking about Dudley. If all goes as planned, Adam and I will be leaders this summer at the place we love more than anything. I have a lot planned before then, but no matter what happens in the next segments of my gap year, I have the best job in the world lined up from June to August.

I left New Jersey on Monday morning, but not before stopping at Dick’s Sporting Goods to pick up a new pair of golf shoes. I was hoping my old pair would last through my Florida trip, but when I forgot to pack them, upgrading my golf shoes became a necessity. My old Walter Hagan’s endured four years of rounds and carried me to countless memories. Now I’m excited to have a new pair of Nike’s and to see how many loops they can handle—from Vermont to Florida and beyond.

A dusting of snow in the UPenn freshman quad

The cold spell set in as I drove from New Jersey to Philadelphia. Adam’s dad was out golfing on Sunday morning, and twenty-four hours later it felt like snow was in the air. I met Peter Rogers, another Dudley friend, at UPenn just minutes from the heart of Philly. It was cold when made the (long) walk from my parking space to his quad, but even in the gray January air, the campus still looked majestic. If playing DIII soccer hadn’t been part of my college equation, UPenn would’ve been on my list. (I also would’ve looked at Davidson, and I can’t wait to see the school in a few days. Based on everything I’ve heard, it seems incredible. It’ll be great to see for myself later this week.) Anyway, UPenn really impressed me with its large quads and elaborate academic buildings. Standing at the center of campus, I didn’t feel like I was so close to a major city, but only a few minutes later, the Philadelphia skyline dominated my view.

I wasn’t expecting “Pat’s King of Steaks” quality at the dining hall, but after dinner with a crew of Pete’s pledge brothers, I found myself thinking about the Middlebury food service. Nothing against the mac-n-cheese I had, but I’m glad I’m going to a school with excellent dining options. I loved the Penn dining atmosphere nonetheless, and the best part of the evening was walking outside to find an inch of snow on the ground. And, seeing the reactions of many of Pete’s friends. I know I’ll have classmates next year who have never seen snow, and I can’t wait for the first big storm of the year.

Pat's King of Steaks, with Geno's Steaks in the background--Philly's rival cheesesteak stops

Today I left Philly and let Pete get back to his classes, and though the morning walk to my car was almost unbearably cold, the roads were clear. After crossing back and forth over the upper reaches of the Chesapeake Bay, I entered Delaware and had a straight shot to Lewes (pronounced like Lewis, with two syllables, not one. It’s still a struggle for me, though). Our longtime family friends, the Johnsons, live just minutes from the coast in Lewes, which claims the title of "the first town in the first state." Right now I’m waiting for the boys and Drew to get home from school and sitting with Calvin--a dog who reminds me a lot of Pepper. Outside I can see the windmill turning in the frigid ocean breeze, but no matter the season or temperature, the Lewes shoreline is a beautiful place. 

Shouting Out Some Thank-You's

Back to Blogging

It's been nice being home. I've caught with family and friends, shared my stories, and enjoyed the complete comfort that comes from sleeping under your own roof. Coming home makes it even easier to appreciate the things you love most. I've taken over "Pepper duty"--running my dog at lunchtime everyday, no matter how cold or rainy it is outside. And I don't think there's been a day where I haven't played or watched basketball. It's been a lot of fun helping out the Greylock team, spending time with friends on the team, and of course, going one-on-one with my brother Sam. 

Snowy Williamstown

Now I'm ready to look forward. As the snow piles have come and gone here in the Berkshires, I've started to think about that Florida sunshine more and more. There's a lot to wrap up before I leave, but I couldn't be more excited for my next adventure. At the same time, Germany remains with me every day. It's hard to stomach that I might not be going back for many months. I miss the Judsons, I miss the freedom, and I miss the childlike excitement I felt every time I stepped off the train in a new place. I wish I already had plans in place to go back, but I know it'll happen sooner than later. I want to share my love of Germany with whomever is willing to make the trip. That being said, I can't imagine Germany without all of the people I met during my four months. Before I look forward any more, I need finish my blog posts about Germany, at least for now. First off, some shout-outs to all those I need to thank. 

It wouldn't have been possible without...

As my final week came to a close, figuring out how to thank all of the people who reached out to me while I was in Germany seemed like a daunting task. For every handwritten note or typed letter, I could have found five more deserving people. While some recipients were obvious, I struggled with the notion that I wouldn't be saying a proper thank you to everyone who deserved it. Many of these people knew very little about me, and while they may notice my absence, they definitely won't be offended that I didn't give them some token of thanks. Still, I find myself thinking about these people. That's why my first shout-out goes to everyone who didn't know my name or why I was in Germany but decided to open up to me. I've been telling friends back home that I experienced something new every day, and this has a lot to do with the dozens of people that I barely knew but with whom I shared a passing moment each day and week.

I need to thank my teammates and coaches at the DJK Bad Homburg club. Without their effort to make my experience easy and fun, my six days a week of soccer wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable. The nighttime practices were always something I had to fall back on, always something to look forward to. Special thanks to Marc Bretschneider, who took the challenge of having an American on his team and ran with it. I definitely miss those guys, and especially Marc's coaching.

I visited a lot of places during my four months. Sure, the solo day trips to discover new cities were a ton of fun, but my favorite memories came when I met up with people in my travels. I couldn't possibly name them all, but to all those who went out of their way to make my travel that much better, a huge thank you. To name a few: Lucas Ebeler, Blake Little, and Ian and Lauren Clausen--you guys are the best.

I spent a lot of time at the Accadis International School, and no one made a greater impact on my experience there than Darryl Cormier. Coach C and I spent so many hours together; not only did I learn so much about teaching and working with kids, but I also found a tremendous friend. Darryl understood where I was coming from. Not so long ago, he had been the young and unexperienced foreigner in Germany. He was able to relate to everything I was going through, whether it be sports or travel or preparing for college. I can't imagine my time in Germany without him, so to Darryl, a gigantic thank you.

Lastly, thank you to my German family, the Judsons. When I think of Germany, the first thing I picture is the long driveway leading to 24B Usinger Weg, where I found the greatest home I could ever imagine. It was exciting to be part of the Judson family; exciting to get to know six incredible individuals so well; exciting to watch the kids grow and to know I had a tiny bit of influence on them; exciting to watch Bundesliga or play soccer in the basement or just sit around the table late at night and learn. I learned so much from the Judsons. I know at times it might not have been the easiest thing for them, but they really made it fun and easy for me. Thank you so much. I know that because of you guys, I won't be able to go long without returning to Germany.

On to the next one

On Saturday I leave home again, this time heading south. I couldn't be more excited to hit the road. I'll be stopping lots of places along the way, to see friends, sample food, crash in a college dorm, or enjoy a round of golf. It's on to stage two of the gap year and of this blog. Leaving for the second time feels so different--after surviving four months in Germany, a road trip to Florida seems pretty simple. I know it's going to be awesome--certainly different than Germany, but awesome nonetheless. So with that, prepare for lots of blog posts in the near future. I know Germany will continue to work its way into my posts, but now I have a whole new adventure to write about. I can almost feel that Florida sun and warm ocean air...