Written by: Jamie
Okay, let’s dive straight into it. I started the day well rested. I was so relieved to have been able to sleep, that I was in a good mood. Our first group activity was to have breakfast. I really enjoyed mine even tough I thought I had a chocolate cupcake, but instead I had something else that looked like it, but not taste like it. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to make a waffle, because I saw people doing that.
After breakfast, we all went to Ron John’s Surfshop. It was a really beautiful building and big. It was really big. I went in and I was overwhelmed with all the items this shop had to offer. I spent a good 45 minutes just wandering around trying to find the right souvenir. Eventually I got a really nice bag for my sister and a little stone turtle for me, as a reminder of this already incredible trip.
Next we went to the beach! The weather wasn’t actually all that warm, in fact it was a bit chilly, but a lot people went swimming anyway. Besides, when you sat in the sun for a long time it wasn’t all that cold. I spend my time walking along the shoreline looking for little animals, but I didn’t find any except for the seagulls and pigeons that roamed the beach. Later I went to get a late lunch at McDonald’s, because we’ve heard from the local people, that the chicken nuggets in America are way better than they are in The Netherlands. So of course everyone had to try. The result was that we agreed with them, they are better here.
We also had an impact moment planned for today, but first we had to drive there, one hour and a half. I really enjoyed the car ride because they were putting on songs that everyone knew and everyone was just singing along and it felt great. I jammed right along with everyone else! But when we arrived, the music stopped and the car ride took on a more serious tone. Because we arrived at the Pulse nightclub, where, 4 years ago, a lot of people got killed because of a shooting. Two people explained exactly what happened there and it sounded horrific. When I walked across the memorial I got chills all over me. Some people even had to cry, which is understandable.
After that we went back to the hotel and got ourselves pizza which we could eat in the same room as we did with breakfast. Everyone was a bit tired and shortly after everyone ate their pizza, we were dismissed to be free to do whatever we wanted to do. Some people went back to the shops and some stayed in the hotel to prepare for the next day, like me.
Stay stuned for a new blog about our second day here in Orlando.
If you want to see some pictures of our day, you can see those below this post.
Written by: Lotte
So I wanted to say something about this day as well. It was so nice to go to the beach. I took a swim in the sea after 4 years or so. It was cold, but I got used to it and I had the time of my life. I had a moment of relieve and I noticed I felt completely zen, ha ha! It felt amazing.
It was a sunny day. The sun burning on my skin felt so nice! When I went to the Ron John’s surfshop, I did not know what to expect as I don’t surf. We don’t have a beach nearby my house back home in the Netherlands, so… yeah. But the place was amazing! It was so big and I just loved all of the clothing, the souvenirs and the atmosphere it was holding.
When we left the beach we went to downtown Orlando, to visit the Pulse nightclub, which served as a gay club. In 2016 there was a shooting there. I knew about it, because our teacher told us the story before we went to Orlando, but I didn’t expect it to be this heavy, this disturbing. One of the teachers from Valencia College, Suzette, told us the story of how the shooting went. Everyone was quiet. We felt her sadness and the weight she was carrying on her shoulders while she was telling us how she experienced the whole thing.
After her story, we talked with a security gard who was garding the Pulse, which now served as a memorial. She told us that she is guarding the place for 6 days a week. She had a story of her own and told us more about that horrific night. I am not going to go in on the details, as it is to heavy for me to write about. I am still processing the information.
After we talked with the guard, we walked around the building. The building was covered behind big walls. On those walls there were pictures. Pictures from memorials and pictures to support the whole LGBT community. I fell completely silent again while seeing those pictures. There were holes in the walls as well, showing us some snaps of the building. One hole showed us all of the names of the people who died. One showed us bullet holes inside the wall, still beeing there on this very day. It was so confrontating, so disturbing and painful to see. I just can’t believe why someone would ever do this. I am still shook.
As I am writing this, we are on our second full day in Orlando. You will read about that day in the next blog, which will be written by Danique.
I just had to write something about my thoughts on the Pulse club. Visiting this nightclub left such a big impact on me. I am glad I went to go and see it. It reminds me of how lucky I am. That I can be who I wanna be. That I was born in a gun-free country. But I still feel so sad for the victims and their family’s. And for the people in the LGBT community who are still suffering from that horrible incident till this day.
If you ever have the chance to go and see the memorial, go and see it. It will make you think. It will make you realise that even though something this bad happened, there is still good in this world.
Love, Lotte
On our way! 
We saw some cruiseships on our way! 
Outside of Ron John’s surf shop! 
Ukelele’s on display! 
So many surfboards, wow! 
On the beach! 
The Pulse
Honors Program Orlando 2020 