Friday…the
last day at CWF!! Today was all play, and no work!! Each delegation chose where
they wanted to see the sights, and our leaders had decided to go to the
Washington Monument, the Holocaust Museum, and the Smithsonian. We had the
option of either the Holocaust Museum, or the White House, but since we didn’t
get an actual tour of the White House, I chose the Holocaust Museum. Other kids
opted for the White House, since they didn’t feel emotionally okay to see the
Holocaust Museum.
(Remember
that “better shot of the White House” I promised?? Here you go, straight from
my bus seat.)
This
is the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. It is “America’s national
institution for the documentation, study, and interpretation of Holocaust
history, and serves as this country’s memorial to the millions of people
murdered during the Holocaust.” This is the most sobering museum I have ever
toured. I don’t have any pictures of it, because many of the exhibits and
artifacts are borrowed from other museums. And honestly, I’m glad I don’t have
any pictures to show my friends and family. Not because the exhibits are
revolting and too realistic, but because you won’t completely grasp all of the
solemnity through a book or someone else’s pictures. You can find out more
information at their website, United States
Holocaust Memorial Museum, but I highly recommend that you put this on your
itinerary if you’re in D.C.
So
after a dose of sad, cheerless history, I got a dose of good ol’ Americana
history via the Smithsonian.
12:28 p.m. The Holocaust museum is so
depressing. So sad. But we’re at Smithsonian Museum of American History eating
lunch, and I can’t believe people pay this much for food every day! It’s nice
to be with people who like to be frugal with food money. (No, I wasn’t a
cheapskate when it came to iconic meals and such, but when it was just a
cafeteria, you better believe I watched my money!)
(Here’s
the front entrance.)
About
11 years ago, my family and I went on a big trip to Baltimore, D.C.,
Philadelphia, and Gettysburg. In Baltimore, we visited Fort McHenry, where the
original Star Spangled Banner was displayed. (You know, the flag that was
actually flying when the song was written.) Anyways, I got to see that flag for
the second time in my life at the Smithsonian.
(Well,
the actual flag is kept in special, no-camera conditions because of its age,
but the front of the exhibit was cool.)
The
next three pictures are some old cars at the museum. I took pictures because I
wanted to know what the cars were, and no one’s been able to tell me yet. So,
anyone wanna divulge me??
(This
is not an old car. This is, from L to R, Clay, Greg, Jesse, Victoria, and me in
an old subway car.)
(These
are the [one of many, actually] pair of ruby red slippers that Judy Garland
wore as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.)
That’s
all the pictures I took at the Museum. There was seemingly no end to the
exhibits. It would take me years to actually see everything in the
Smithsonian’s collection of museums. After the Smithsonian, we went to the
Washington Monument.
(Disclaimer:
this was not my idea. I just took the photo. This is, L to R, Victoria, Jesse,
and Madelaine in their sunglasses and Confederate hats.)
(This
is the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II memorial from the top of the
Washington Memorial.)
(And
this is the Capitol and several of the Smithsonians from another window at the
top.)
(Inside
the top of the monument is a large pillar, and then a walk space around that
pillar where you look out the windows. This is one side of the pillar.)
This
day was the last day we spent with our amazing Program Assistant, Dani Hopper.
Dani was a great PA: patient, fun, flexible, and chock full of information!
5:50 p.m. Why does my bus have to have the
idiots? Alex Jenkins just drank a mixture of all the soda, ice cream toppings,
ketchup/mustard, pickle juice, and tomatoes. For a $2 bet. Yikes and ick. Why
us?
After
an amazing day of touring our beautiful capital, we headed back to our beautiful
conference center for a little more fun. Namely, the Talent Show. Remember I
told you that I auditioned with a sign language solo? Well, I did qualify, so
along with about 14 other kids, I performed my talent in front of nearly 600
people.
The
song I signed was “He is With You” by Mandisa, and I wanted to do it because
this song held a lot of significance to me in 2011. Since I was representing
Missouri here, and Joplin’s tornado was still fresh on our minds, I dedicated
my performance to all the people affected by the tornado. (You may want to turn
your volume WAY up. My camera’s not the best; sorry!)
(By
the way, all the credit goes to Daniel and Tonia Walker, my ASL teachers. They
literally taught me everything I know!!)
And
remember that newsletter we sweated over?? Here it is!!
We
ended our day, and our week, with the Closing Ceremony. All of the PAs gave
their goodbye speeches to their delegations, and we reflected on everything we
had learned here. At CWF, I met so many exceptional kids (as well as some real
duds, but I just ignored them) who give 4-H a good name. I learned way more
than I had expected to learn. I went on some once-in-a-lifetime tours, which
are so special because I don’t know when I’ll be back to the East coast. I had
nothing but good things to say about this conference.
But
hang on a second…my trip’s not even over! We may have been finished with
Washington, D.C., but the Missouri chaperones had something extra up their
sleeve. Tomorrow, we would leave the conference center, and head…not home, but
to Philadelphia, and then to NEW YORK CITY!!
My
lesson for Day Seven started out sobering, but I can’t be serious for long:
Never forget those who suffered a tragedy at the
hands of evil. And always watch where you're going. (I cannot stress enough the
importance of this concept.)
No comments:
Post a Comment