Where to begin? We’ve been in D.C., the political centre of the world, for about two weeks and it has simply been amazing. There are so many things to write about so I’ve tried to highlight my favourites…
Saturday 7th June
Took the “WIP bus” to Dublin airport where I managed to get two monstrous bags onto the flight (how else would I carry the new American clothes home?) We flew to Toronto and then caught a connecting flight to Washington D.C. Landing in the D.C. airport was spectacular because the pilot flew us across the famous sights of Washington: the Lincoln Memorial (the beautiful tribute to the US’s 16th President); the State Capital and the Washington Memorial.
We had no major hiccups along the journey and twenty-six more-or-less strangers started to really become friends. When we skipped off the plane in D.C. we were instantly hit with the heat. I’m not sure how to aptly describe it other than to say that it was intense. I was greeted at the airport by my host “mom” Claire McGuire who was so welcoming and who has been extremely generous since I invaded her house nearly ten days ago! Thank you so much Claire!!
Sunday 8th June
The following day we attended a host family BBQ at Deb and Kurt’s house (with whom John is staying) and had a chance to speak to the other host families involved. So many people are so generous of their time and their homes. I feel so lucky to be here!
Monday 9th June
So, we were given the following instructions for Monday morning:
“Meet you at the White House. Wear a suit.”
I did feel a little bit like James Bond. Once assembled outside the most famous residence in the world, the WIP ’08 team took photographs and then headed to the WIP office just down the road – two blocks from the White House…not bad, eh?
We also visited the “Newseum”, D.C.’s 250,000 square-foot museum of news. Some of the most memorable aspects included the memorial “wall” commemorating 1,843 journalists who died while reporting the news from 1837 to 2007. Also unforgettable was the September 11th tribute, where we watched live footage of the event followed by numerous eyewitness accounts and interviews with families, friends and loved ones who were affected by one of the most infamous happenings of our time.
Tuesday 10th June
We started the day with a great seminar on “personality colours/colors” (American spelling) with Michael Galligan Stierle. Apparently I’m a blue, and a little bit green.
I shudder at the recollection of the next event…“Oakley’s death tour” – a completely accurate and appropriate title. Never in the history of mankind has a day been so hot!! We visited JFK’s grave and that of Jacqueline Kennedy. We also visited the tomb of the Unknown Soldier which, since April 6th 1948, has been guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, regardless of weather. It is a time honoured ritual, executed with great precision and filled with American pride.
We completed the day with a visit to the Lincoln memorial, a monument that attracts millions of visitors annually and also the site of numerous demonstrations by those seeking justice. I stood on the spot where, on 28th August 1963, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., proclaimed, “I have a dream”.
