Target for Dinner?

Target: by Dalis and Emma
After we got to the hostel and put our luggage away, the parents decided that since we had such a late lunch that we should have ice-cream for dinner. Everybody loaded up in the vans and drove to Baskin Robbins. Once we all got inside and began choosing our flavors, Mr. Ekin said, “I have a better idea.” SO everyone loaded back in the vans and started following Mr. Ekin. About 45 minutes later we pulled over. Mr. Ekin walked to our car and said that the GPS said that we were here. We kept on driving, trying to find some place to eat ice-cream. After driving for another 20 minutes, we finally found the ice-cream shop we were looking for… only to find that it was closed! We needed to get out of the van. We stopped at the Philadelphia Art Museum and ran up the long stairs that Rocky ran up. Then, we posed for a picture with a Rocky statue. We piled back in the car and began to drive back home again. We had not had any dinner, because we had a late lunch, but at 9 at night, we were getting hungry. Dr. Ekin pulled up to a Target, and told us, “You each have a three dollar budget to get something to eat.” We all got some food, well, actually, desert. Joe got a whole tube of raw cookie dough, Bailey and Dalis got a carton of Ben and Jerry’s ice-cream, Hailey got six cups of chocolate pudding, Madeline got six cups of Jell-O, Will got twenty-two ounces of tapioca pudding, Rebecca got two candy bars and a pack of M and M’s, Lexi, Emma, and Brendan split six cups of chocolate pudding, they each got vitamin water, and Lexi and Emma bought candy, Anna bought Drumsticks, and Makenzie got a slice of Oreo pie. It was a fun but unexpected stop to an unexpected drive.

The Hostel

The Hostel by Makenzie Moody
Hello, this is Makenzie. It was last night when the story began in the Chamoix (shammy) Mansion, just outside of Philadelphia. It was gorgeous when we entered the building with old furniture and elegant flags from countries all over the world. After we had checked in, Mr. Harvey started calling, “We need three people in this room” and “we need four people in this room!” As soon as we heard that there was a four person room still available, Dr. Naden, Emma, Dalis, and I climbed up three floors to where we would be staying that night. As we came to the second floor, there were pretty, bright rooms with wooden bunk beds. As we climbed to our room, we could not get the door open because the lock was so confusing. It was something like turn the knob left, let go, enter three numbers and turn the knob right. It took three tries to get it open. Then, we were lucky we were only staying one night. There were four metal cots in a tiny room with no sheets and one scratchy blanket for each of us. We made our beds, and all of a sudden Dalis jumped. Now, Dalis is very afraid of bugs and does not enjoy them in the least bit. There were bugs everywhere! In the girl’s bathroom, on the lights, climbing on the ceiling, and running on the stairs. Emma, Dalis, and I made an S.O.S video before bed, and laid down posing for our coffins. Then Emma started talking in her sleep, and Dalis said that she was cold, then stole Dr. Naden’s blanket. In the morning we made a video about how the stay affected us, and it showed Dalis and I growling at the camera. This is all part of our adventure, and there will be plusses and minuses. This was definitely a minus!

Liberty Bell, Independence Hall... Rocky?

The Capitol

The Capitol: by Emma

On Thursday, we went to have a tour of the capitol building. We received tickets from the Washington Congressman, Jay Inslee, which allowed us to go to the House of Representatives and the Senate. Both the flags were flying over the building, so we knew that both the House and the Senate were in session. We divided into two groups with two different tour guides. During the tour, a Congressman from New York came over to my group and asked us if we had any questions. It was fun to talk to a Congressman and learn about his job. After the tour, we made our way toward the Senate. We found seats looking down into the room. After listening and sitting for awhile, guess who we saw…? Sen. John McCain and Sen. John Kerry, among lots of others, like our own Senator, Maria Cantwell. It was really cool to see all the famous people just feet away from us. After watching to the Senators argue for a long time, we decided to leave. It was a memorable experience that we won’t forget quickly.

Know What? Money Really Doesn't Grow On Trees!

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing: By Will

Hi Guys, it’s Will. After a great sleep, a subway ride, and the White House tour, our class headed to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, a factory making American Dollar Bills. We entered through security and into the large building, where money making machines and crews work 24 hours per day making money. The making of money begins when blank paper (actually cloth, containing 75% cotton and 25% linen) enters a machine and a water mark is printed, a small face that is really hard for counterfeiters to fake. These water-marked sheets of cloth are then sent through many more stages where every time they become more and more like paper money. Finally the bills are packaged and sent into stacking columns where they will be sent to where you and your parents may receive them. After, we left for the Washington Monument where we traveled into an elevator carrying us to 555 ft., an amazing view of beautiful Washington DC. This monument is dedicated to the George Washington, our first president.

Star Spangled Banner

Hello, this is Makenzie, reporting from Washington D.C. Wednesday morning we got up early and went to Ash Wednesday Mass, which was a new experience for most of our classmates. After that, we all walked leisurely to the metro and caught a subway into the city. When we entered the Smithsonian Museum of American History, in front of us was a giant abstract flag leading into the exhibit. {This exhibit tells the story of the original “Star Spangled Banner,” the original American flag which flew over Ft. McHenry in Baltimore Harbor during the War of 1812. Francis Scott Key was an American, taken prisoner of the British, who could see the American fort and its flag during the battle. The original flag, the one that actually survived the battle is on display there.} When we entered, there was the history of our country right in front of us. We read about the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and many other miserable wars which lead on for years. Then there was Abraham Lincoln, leading our country and keeping us together as a nation. The tour guide was talking about restoring our original flag, which was three stories high. Then as we turned the corner, there was silence. In front of us was our Star Spangled Banner, and the words of our National Anthem:

“O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, what so proudly we hailed, at the twilight’s last gleaming, whose broad stripes and bright stars though the perilous fight, o’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming, and the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof though the night that our flag was still there? Oh say, does that star spangled banner yet wave, o’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?”

If you ever visit Washington D.C., you have to see this humbling experience at the Smithsonian Museum of American History.

Thursday, February 26th: White House! Capitol! Monuments! Oh My!!

Few experiences on these American shores come as close to highlighting the devastation of war as walking through the thousands of white gravestones at Arlington Cemetery. These document the private lives, made public, of countless women and men whose own lives were cut short by indescribable tragedy. Our group seemed stunned and sobered by the day. Stories of courage and service are absorbed in stark contrast with an awareness of the unimaginably high costs of battle.
I am proud that our kids gave themselves over to the emotional impact of this day and I know that it will long live with them. The tiring day ended in a joyous celebration of Palestinian culture at the Kennedy Center. A choir of some 160 children gave tribute to their Syrian heritage with a feast of music, some songs dating back over a thousand years! I was struck by the powerful combination of music and children to create a bridge between cultures, to engage, through music, conversations that are otherwise difficult to have. Though the beginning and the end of the day seemed worlds and emotions apart, these experiences converged for me in a sense of hopefulness that it is our children who can lead us in ways other than war. Speaking of children…these who are traveling together are more delightful than I could have imagined. They are reflective, relentless in their questions, deeply spiritual, impressively informed, silly, and so very sweetly connected to one another. I now know that these kids will be connected forever.

Michelle

National Cathedral

Wednesday, February 25 Lexi Krueger

Today we all woke up really early and we attended the Ash Wednesday Mass service. I woke up earlier to take a shower. The shower was freezing!!!! But I am used to that because of Kenyan showers. When we got into the Crypt section our group had to break up to find seats…. I ended up sitting next to a very kind lady, who shared a bulletin with me. The priest gave his message, afterward we went up and received an ash cross on our foreheads. They said, “Remember that you are but dust, and to dust you shall return.” It was so interesting to just listen to them saying that over and over again and the meaning really started to sink in. We are dust and that God can do anything to us. After the mass, we went and had breakfast. After breakfast, we walked about a mile down to the metro station, got on and then headed for the Museum of American History. We all saw the original American “Star Spangled Banner” flag, then we all spllt up and explored the three different levels. Brendan, my dad and I started down in the transportations sections. It was so exciting to see how our lives have evolved with the inventions, such as the steam engine and the light bulb. We then made our way up to the part about the different wars. When we were walking through the different parts of the exhibits, it seemed as though you had already been there, when in fact we hadn’t. After we left, we walked to the metro station again and boarded, all ready to be going back. Part of the group (including me) almost missed the train, because the doors were almost closing. We were all freaked out because the lady had told us that the doors did not reopen, so if anything was stuck it was stuck until the doors opened again. Now it is a quiet time at the Cathedral, and we are all going exploring around.

February 25, 2009

Hello everybody!
Today we woke up at 7am (4am your time) and went to the Ash Wednesday mass. The cross formed from ashes is still on my forehead. Then we ate breakfast and went down to the house/dorm/place where the boys live and played a really stressful game of cards called, you guessed it, "Stress." Then we received "good and bad news." The good news was that "Jesus loves us," of course, and the bad news was that we would walk to the Metro Station, a mile or so away, to ride the Subway. I guess you can call me a wimp but that was tough. We played around in the station, against Mr. Harvey's wishes (although sometimes I think he wants to try to go up the "down" escalator too). The subway was really fun, but I fell once, much to the astonisment of the poor innoent passenger on whom I landed. Anyways, I think I may be giving a little too much information here. When we got to the heart of DC, we walked to the American History Museum. The size of that place amazed me. did you know that it would take 100 years to see everything in that museum? I had no idea. In three hours, I felt as if I had barely touched on all of the amazing things there. We saw Lincoln's top had and, although this may sound disgusting, it was really cool to see Laura Keene's cuff which his blood dripped on to. The First Lady's dresses were gorgeous. We probably spent forty-five minutes in the big gift shop. I bought something for my family! The man who worked the cash register was probably one of my favorite parts of the day. He started out asking us where we were from, and, upon hearing that we live near Seattle, he informed us on something we did not know: It rains in Seattle! I had no idea. We all laughed and he gave us a magazine about the museum for free and a new quarter made in 2009! I brought out the items I wanted to buy, which were a T-shirt, post-cards, and playing cards. Then we had a long conversation about how he didn't want me to start gambling. We talked about our favorite card games, and let me tell you, his favorite card game is very complicated. Actually that is all he told me, "It's complicated." But he was super sociable and I think I've made a new friend. O yeah, I forgot, we had lunch at the big cafe in the Museum. (Everything is big in the museum). Madeline and I split a pizza and chips. the class made a new friend here. Miss Dolores who was from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She had gone to the Ash Wednesday service that we went to and from then on, we all took a liking to her as she started talking. Actually, Madeline and I could barely hear her, being at the opposite end of the table, but the animation with which she talked was amazing. we took pictures with her and she told us about her aunt from Louisiana. Now, I am on the computer in the National Cathedral talking to you!

Hailey

Ash Wednesday

February 25, 2009

Today was awesome; it might just be the second best day. We went to Ash Wednesday at the National Cathedral. It was very long, and I felt very out of place, because everybody knew exactly what to do, and I had never done anything like it before. We then left the cathedral and went to the Cathedral College and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast. We then went home changed into some casual clothes and played cards for about an hour. After this, we walked to the subway and took it to the Smithsonian Museum of American History. I started in the bottom floor and worked my way up to the third floor.

An estimation states that if you were to spent a minute at each thing in the museums, it would take about 100 years to go though them all. (Mel told us that)

By the end of looking at stuff at the museum, my feet were soar and I had only gone through three of the six exhibits: Presidents, American Wars and Politics, and Transportation and Technology.

We came home, blogged a little, and we are about to explore the cathedral where we attended church this morning.

Our Day in Arlington

Hello, this is Dalis and Makenzie!
Yesterday was a busy time. After a long day of standing in the cold and laying our wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, we went to Cathedral College and we were assigned roommates and dorms. We had about 45 minutes to unpack and then we headed to the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts where we saw the “Al Farah” choir. They are from Syria and most of the songs were in Arabic but everyone loved it. As soon as that ended we started walking to Bangkok Joe's, a Thai restaurant. When we sat down, everyone was buzzing with excitement for the new food we would soon taste. Half of the students used chopsticks to eat their meal. After delectable feasting, we walked outside to the Potomac River and enjoyed seeing the sites Washington D.C. has to offer. As we were returning to the Kennedy Center parking lot, we came across a red light with no cars. Some student illegally jaywalked.

Don’t Worry, the Adults are Still Here

Hi, everyone. Someone suggested that one of the parents write an entry also, just to reassure everyone back home that the chaperones are still alive and with the group. I am here to tell you that yes indeed we adults are still here, and we are in awe of how great a group of kids we are traveling with. But don’t just take my biased word for it. Today, while touring George Washington’s home, no fewer than three guides (there is a different guide in every area of the house) commented on what an outstanding group of kids this is. They were listening to the guide, asking pertinent questions and interested in the answers; they were polite and enjoying each other’s company. I suppose this all sounds a little too idyllic, and I guess things are never perfect, but it would take me awhile to think of any troubles we are having. So, you parents, rest assured that things are moving pretty smoothly so far, and take satisfaction that you have done (at least!) some things right in raising these great kids! Mary Corbin
(Or, maybe this is really Brendan, merely POSING as Mrs. Corbin.)

Doughnuts!!

Doughnuts!
This is Bailey. Today, while on our way back from Mount Vernon, Joe decided to start hugging Emma and Dalis, being the closest to him and torturing every one else in the car. Earlier while on our way to Mount Vernon, we saw a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop… Dalis started yelling, “Crispy cream! Crispy cream! Turn left!” Emma stared to say “OOOOH, they are all hot, they have just been made, see the sign!” We passed it with a chorus of moans and groans and went on to Mount Vernon. But later, on our way back, we saw it again, and again Dalis started yelling, “Crispy cream! Turn right! Turn right! You have to turn right! We’re too late they’re all cold!” We were following Mr. Ekin in the van ahead of us when they pulled in, Dalis started yelling once again, “Yeeeeeessssssssssss!”

Hi Cardenonians! This is Joe...

Hi Cardenonians
This is Joe and I am writing from 3000 miles away on a Highway outside of Washington D.C. Today we spent the day at Mount Vernon, George Washington’s farm. We had beef stew for lunch on the property and took a tour with an enthusiastic tour guide named Tony. We visited all the outside grounds and learned about George Washington’s history. Then we took a tour inside the mansion. The house has 13 fire places, four floors, more than 6 bedrooms and we saw George Washington’s private study but we did not see any bathrooms. We went and saw George and Martha’s tomb and Hailey and Emma placed a wreath in the tomb. After that we went into the museum and watched a movie about the Revolutionary War. When the cannons fired the seats shook and during the battle of Trenton the ceiling snowed on us. We miss you so much and look forward to see you soon. Tomorrow we will place a wreath at Arlington to honor people in the military. Hi Mrs. Lund! We look forward to your amazing language lessons and we are thinking fondly of you.