FBI National Academy, session 259 - my yellow brick road

Mittwoch, 11. März 2015

week 8

Week 8 is gone.

schedule week 8

It’s always a breath of finishing NA 259. First lists of departure, graduation participants and other logistical stuff circled in classes. However, there are two more weeks left to go. On Monday the international students visited the FBI Headquarter in Washington D.C. The building immediately needs renovation. There is an expression of the late 70ies, dark grey floors –no daylight. We visited the very interesting FBI-exhibition inside and had lunch with members of the International Operational Division.

international students in front of FBI Headquarter (Hoover-building) in Washington D.C.

On Wednesday the last challenge for qualification to Yellow Brick Road started. We had to run 1 mile in a limited time-frame. Most of our session students accomplished successful. Now we are allowed to particpate Yellow Brick Road Challenge in week 9. I’m really looking forward and hope my health will stay. There are a lot of students sick and I’m also still fighting my backpains. The health standards in the United States are (related to Germany) poor, high bureaucracy, no functional-diagnostic but tons of pills. However, I’ll survive.

challenge impressions- almost high requirements but great atmosphere

preparing for Yellow-Brick-Road qualification

starting 1 mile running (1,6 km)

finishing time 6.51 - good result (10 min - required)

Shawn also did it - great job

Rest of the week I passed in study-business as usual. Classes from 8am until 5pm. Additional we had a lot of mandatory meetings and I worked several evenings very late to finish my final presentations and paperworks. The workload is hugh. In auditorium we got another interesting enrichment speech about the FBI handeled Saddam Hussein.

analysis class - yes, it's a plane - but what impact?

criminology

creative student works

mathematics and criminology

analysis- one of my favourite classes

my examination presentation in violent crime class

50 minutes presentation in English

examination

explaning homicide investigations in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Wednesday evening our class mates from Texas organized a Texas-Barbecue. Good food and country music – thanks guys.

students from Texas

Texas night - students serve Texas food

The atmosphere in session 259 is still awesome – even everybody misses family and home. On Thursday a short winterstorm offered another day off. At weekend Xavier (France), Roberto (Brazil) and me were invited to Deltaville. Sheriff Dave Bushey hosted us in his guest house and we spent a very nice weekend at Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Saluda. Dave took us to historical places like Yorktown, Williamsburg. We entered USS Wisconsin in Norfolk and watched dolphins in the Atlantic ocean. Another weekend full of impressions and heartful hospitality in family. Thank’s to Dave, Liberty and Alex for that weekend.

Impressions from weekend in Virginia Beach, Saluda, Yorktown and Norfolk

They won't finish that meal - tasty but too much

Roberto, Dave, Xavier and me in Virginia beach at Atlantic Ocean

shadows in the ocean sand

Virgina beach promenade

battleship USS Wisconsin in Norfolk - Naval Museum

on back-deck

familiar atmosphere in Saluda restaurant

Xavier offers a good french red wine

tasty seafood in family at Yorktown beach

He guys do you need german moderation? Yorktown

Yorktown bridge

historic houses in Yorktown- American history

Yorktown monument

battlefields of Yorktown

Daves Sheriff Office in Saluda for Middlesex County

Sheriff David Bushey always on duty, but also funny

update next week, go for Yellow Brick Road.

Mittwoch, 4. März 2015

week 7

schedule week 7

Week 7 is done. Another week of classes, enrichments, presentations, home-works, physical training and the weekly challenge. I finished a lot of paperworks and worked late night. That's why my lack of sleep increased. Further I injured myself and fight my backpains, but I'll stand it. On Wednesday we celebrated the International Night at Atrium. It's the highlight of each session wenn the international students represent their countries and serve domestic food and beverages. Everbody created an information desk and spent a lot of efforts to be a good host. I got support by the BKA-liasion officers of German Embassy. They helped me to buy and serve popular stuff like german sausages and of course our famous beer. Thank you guys, great job - will meet next days in Washington D.C. for a german after-hour dinner. It was a successful evening with a lot of fun. I think there are a lot more Germany fans now:-). Weekend I stayed in Quantico to get a little bit calm and sleep. I used the time for finishing further paperworks. Friday I accomplished the Blue Brick Challenge. Now swimming will become fun for the rest of my stay. On Sunday-Morning I met with Ralph at library. He works as a supervisor at homicide-division in California. He is also a passionated draw-artist, police drawer and got's a professional training by the FBI. He promised to teach me, even I'll pretend to be untalented. We spent three hours in library and I'm really impressed by his patience, skills and my result. The guy I draw it's not me:-).

At Sunday afternoon we went out for D.C. to watch Icehockey match - Washington Capitals against Maple Leafs (Canada). Bryan from Canada organized tickets and we entered the Verizon arena downtown in Washington D.C. Even his Canadian team lost the game we spent a good evening with full entertainment and unhealthy American food.