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Kenneth made a lot of new friends as the Norwegian Ben Franklin fellow

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Kenneth made a lot of new friends as the Norwegian Ben Franklin fellow

Ben Franklin fellow Kenneth Sydhagen shares his diary from his stay in the U.S. (August 15)

Kenneth Sydhagen (19) from Lørenskog was the Embassy’s participant in the Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Initiative 2008. Through an essay contest and a personal interview, Kenneth was handpicked to be our outstanding candidate, and this summer he spent 3 ½ weeks in the U.S. together with youth from Europe, Eurasia and the U.S.

The Program is set up to focus on democratic practices, volunteer service, conflict resolution, critical thinking, tolerance and respect for diversity, and youth leadership, and in addition to having classes at the Wake Forest University in North Carolina, the fellows traveled to Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Williamsburg.

The program participants experienced a lot during the weeks in the U.S., such as heated debates about Iraq and Darfur, simulations of multilateral summits, they ran the ‘Rocky stairs’ in Philadelphia, they visited the U.S. State Department, had discussions about the global media environment with various specialists, they met with a Senator’s advisor to discuss U.S.-Norway relations, they watched the moving Pulitzer exhibition, they learned about the first American colony of Jamestown, had host-family stays, and experienced traditional American pot-locks.

Kenneth writes that “I can without doubt say that it has been the time of my life. Spending a month in the U.S. has given me lifelong friendships, invaluable knowledge and great memories”.

Read his whole diary with many great photos here:

Ben Franklin Diary - Part 1

Ben Franklin Diary - Part 2

Kenneth and the Danish participant sharing creative thoughts

The Ben Frankliners were involved in many serious debates