Editor's Note: The following is from a journal written by Cordley School student, Arna Hemenway, 11, about his trip this summer to Washington, D.C.
June 8, Day One
We got up early to catch the plane. When we got to the airport we discovered that waiting to check in was none other than 200, and then some, high school students. Luckily we (our group) were checking in at a different airline. While me and Ryan and Gardner (Cordley School colleagues) waited, the rest of our group were finishing checking in. The boarding call was made and in we went with Mrs. Grosdidier.
The flight was OK. A little uncomfortable.
On our way to our second flight a lot of people stared at us. I decided that they have no more reason to stare at us than we had to stare at them so every time someone stared at us I stared at them till they looked away.
When we got to Washington, D.C., from Dulles Airport, thanks to Sammy, our friendly van driver. We went to the Old Post Office. First we went all the way to the old bell tower. It seemed that we were sitting on the top of the Washington Monument. We could see almost 10 miles even though it was foggy! Then we got back to our van. We wanted to go to the Washington Monument, but it was covered in scaffolding because of its current "face lift," and we decided it wasn't worth it. Then, after meeting our sister group of middle school students, we went to Union Station. It's a train station with a mall, food court, fancy restaurants and business meeting places for lunch.
Then we went to the Library of Congress with its mosaics; the Supreme Court building, but we didn't go in. Then we waited for awhile for a Wisconsin congresswoman on the steps of the Capitol. She was tied up so we got in line to see the House of Representatives argument. Later we went to the Lincoln, Korean and Vietnam memorials.
June 9, Day Two
The first thing we did was wait in line for tickets to the White House. The second thing we did was go to Mount Vernon. That's George Washington's home. We went into the servants' quarters and then the house. The first room we saw was the main hall. Off of that was the dining room with its fancy cups and spoons. Next to that was George's study with an original globe and chair that three presidents have used! Yet another example that this house was fancy right down to the chairs.
Across the study were two parlors that were used for children's games, parities and games of chance. Upstairs the only interesting thing was the bed Washington died in.
Behind the house was a huge grassy lawn overlooking the Potomac River. After lunch we went on a tour of the White House (five rooms). Then we went to the Jefferson Memorial. The words around the memorial remind me of the words of Plato.
Then we went to the Smithsonian Institute National Museum of American History. We saw Oscar (Sesame Street); Mr. Rogers' sweater; the original Snap, Crackle and Pop dolls; and Michael Jordan's 23 jersey.
We also saw the flag Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner" about. After that we went to the Kennedy Center to have dinner. In my opinion the restaurant on the top is a little confusing. I mean it's supposed to be fancy, yet it's a buffet. You have a choice between pizza and rotisserie chicken, tart or brownie.
Tomorrow is the last day. Should be interesting.
June 10, Day Three
Today we got up early, ate and got on the bus. We saw the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. We saw bones and stuffed things and live bugs! But my favorite was the Hope Diamond. It was the size of a 50-cent piece and it was on a necklace of 16 white diamonds. Then we were picked up and driven to the Washington Dulles Airport. We found our gate and started to exit for the plane to Chicago when we were told it would be a three-hour wait! Then we waited and waited and finally boarded after Mrs. Grosdidier told us we were going to spend the night in Chicago. When we got there we waited for our luggage. When we got it we went to our hotel and went to sleep. The next morning we ate a huge breakfast at the hotel and went to the airport. Caught our flight, and when we got to K.C., went home.
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