Good morning,
It is currently 6:00 am in Johannesburg. Oddly enough, it is the third day of my tour. It is a strange thing for me to be here, right now, writing this blog. I typically only write when I am on tour, but a few people asked me to try to put some thoughts together about this trip and I am going to try to accommodate.
The excitement for this trip began over a year ago. I was in the high school library chatting with Kate Payne, the librarian, and Angela Morando, one of our World Language teachers. Angela, as many of you know, is a veteran group leader for our international trips and she was telling Kate and I about this trip. Kate had been on safari before and was building the excitement level of the conversation. After just a little twist of my arm, I decided to enroll. It seems strange when I look back upon my year since then, but here I am...sitting in another hotel lobby. This time, however, it is the swank Protea Hotel Fire and Ice. (There is a photo shoot going on here, btw, 6am and everyone is dressed up and professional photographers are snapping shots).
This adventure didn't start here, though. It started in Boston, on Monday, at noon. Angela and I met up and were lucky enough to have day passes to the Delta Sky Club. We were treated to complimentary drinks and a small plate of food. Shortly after meeting up, I received a notification from another one of our travelers that she was at the gate and Angela and I decided to head there. Our flight to Atlanta was fine, not a lot of turbulence, and only about 2.5 hours long. We had a layover in Atlanta of about 2-3 hours, but the time, like us, flew.
The night before, Sunday night, was one filled with little sleep for me. I was too excited, I guess. I had a ton of thoughts jumping around in my head and I think I only got about three hours of sleep. I was worried that this might impact me on the fifteen hour flight that was ahead of us. In anticipation of that flight, I had visited my local doctor for some advice and a prescription, lol. On the flight, I opted for the fine chicken dinner. It was accompanied by couscous (I think). I watched a movie. I tried to sleep. It is amazing how medicine can help and, for the first time, on a flight, I slept. It wasn't the whole flight, but it was enough to get me by.
We landed in Johannesburg around 6pm. It was now the second day of our travels. We had a tough time getting through security as many of the customs people decided to take a break as our flight arrived, lol, but it wasn't too bad. Actually, Angela and I made it through quickly while the rest of our tour participants had to wait over 90 minutes to get through. We eventually met our tour director and got onto our bus.
The Protea Hotel is located at the Melrose Arch. I traveled 7,000 miles only to end up in Melrose, lol. Our dinner was served buffet style, but it was higher level foods. There were many different types of food available including a plethora of desserts. I will try to take some pictures tonight. After dinner, a couple of us decided to have a drink and get to know each other a bit.
It was really nice to unwind a little and get to know some of the people I will be sharing this experience with. There are teachers from across America here. The number of accents is astounding. I've already picked up some strategies that I can employ that will improve travel for kids later on, but more importantly, I am making friendships with people that I can bounce ideas off of for the foreseeable future. There is a tremendous value in that idea that I hadn't really thought about before.
And now, I find myself preparing for my first breakfast. Last night, I got only a few hours worth of sleep. My mind was once again racing. I thought about taking a pill to help me sleep, but I really don't like doing that type of stuff. Instead, I put on some ambient music and some headphones. The sleep didn't come, not because I'm nervous, but because I am excited. In a couple of hours, we tour the city of Johannesburg. We will see an Apartheid museum and we will see a neighborhood that will be drastically different than the posh hotel lobby I am currently sitting in. I may not have had enough sleep over the past few days, but that's okay. I will sleep when I get back.
For now, I am wide awake with enthusiasm. It is cool for me to be as excited about this trip as most of our kids our for their trips. I find myself in their shoes. As a group leader, I am constantly checking up on the kids, the itinerary, the weather, the meals, the tour director's instructions, etc...here, I am able to rest, relax, and take it all in. It is a nice change of pace.
I am not sure how frequent my posts will be, but I will certainly try to write daily.
Thanks for reading!!!
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Thursday, June 9, 2016
2016 Belmonte Middle School DC Trip - Day 3: The Full Circle
What another amazing day in DC!!!
As per usual, we started the day with breakfast. Today, in addition to bacon, home fries, and eggs, we were treated with French Toast and Sausages. It was all quite good and gave us the fuel needed to continue on this whirlwind adventure.
Our first stop was the White House.
Standing in front of the White House is one of my favorite parts of this trip. I really love hearing the kids talk about how cool it is and how they want to go inside...some even talk about being President. There is a lot of negatives surrounding politics today and it is refreshing to hear kids talk about some of the positives. I've been fortunate enough to have a West Wing tour and I was able to chat with a couple of the boys about it. They were interested and asked me a ton of questions about what the inside looks like. I felt bad telling them that much of it looks a little old, lol. (understatement of the week)
After a few minutes at the Executive Mansion, our four buses took off for the Capital Building. Here, we posed for pictures as a whole school. I've written about the process before, but to sum it up quickly, the photographers have it down to a science. I recently looked at last year's picture with some of my 9th grade students and they all had fun pointing themselves out. It is amazing how much the kids change in one year.
It is very difficult on this trip to snap a picture of every single student. The group size is so large that these staged portraits can be the only way it is possible. I saw an opportunity as we lined up and did my best.
Just as I wrapped up, it looked like another bus pulled up. If I missed your child in all of my pictures, I am so sorry. I make a strong effort, while on a European tour, to make sure I get everyone, but I am fearful it is not possible on this trip.
We divided our groups by buses and took off for some cool sites around the Capital building. Bus 1 walked along side the building and up to the Supreme Court building. Afterwards, we made our way into the Library of Congress. I hadn't been to either site before and I was as excited as the kids.
When we finished with Capital Hill, we began to walk towards the Smithsonian Museums. Our first stop was the Air and Space Museum. Inside of this impressive building is one of the world's largest McDonalds. This is where we were going to go to lunch. We passed out the vouchers for all of the kids on Bus 1, but we were one shy. I bit the bullet and decided to forego lunch (at McDonalds). I had heard from our tour guide that there were a lot of food trucks just outside the museum's back entrance. I ran over quickly and grabbed a bite to eat from the Smoking Kow BBQ.
After eating my surprise lunch, I rejoined the group inside the museum. I had decided to try something different today. I am always running around the stops on this trip trying to catch pictures. I thought why not have the kids help me. I told them to tag my school Instagram account (mrlavoieshs) when they took cool pictures. I thought that this would help with the blog and assure that they were looking at things, lol. It kind of worked. I got a few pictures, but because the kids' accounts are mostly private, they couldn't send me images. They said that they would open their accounts on the bus ride home, but it will be a little too late for tonight's blog. Regardless, they took more pictures than the ones I am providing...please check them out.
After Air and Space, we walked over to Natural History, but before we got there I had an idea. We've really lucked out. There hasn't been much foot traffic in the city and lines have been much smaller than before. I thought, why not check out the National Archives. We arrived to find no lines whatsoever. We went right up to the Rotunda and began examining the most important documents in the country's history...maybe the worlds. The Declaration of Independence is one of my favorite primary sources ever. It is so beautiful. Many people grow to love Shakespeare, but I've grown to love the declaration. The Rotunda also has the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. You cannot photograph anything inside the Archives, but I am hoping the memory lasts with the boys I took with me.
It made me stop and think for a bit. In April, I stood atop the Acropolis in Athens. I wrote, that night, about the connections I was feeling between Greece and America. I felt them again today, half a world away.
From the archives, we walked through the Sculpture Garden to the Museum of Natural History. I don't have any pictures because of my contest, lol. The kids really liked it inside. Many of them shared their favorite exhibits with me. After that, we went to the American History museum. The kids really enjoyed looking at a variety of artifacts from the different eras of our history. I took a couple quick pictures in here...realizing that my game may have failed.
Our buses picked us up and we departed for the hotel. The goal was to change for the dance, but traffic stood in the way. One bus only had 10 minutes to get ready. The kids really showed how good they've been in this scenario. They had plenty of reasons to complain, but they didn't. They just made it happen.
The Cherry Blossom is one of the highlights of this trip for many kids. It is easy to see how eager they are by how nicely they dressed for the occasion.
From all accounts, the cruise lived up to they hype. The kids danced and ate pizza and made new friends. They talked about it the whole way home. Home.
We will be making our way home tomorrow. It will surely be a long ride. The kids will be tired...and maybe even cranky, but they will soon be home. I wrote on Day 1 about how this is kind of a last hurrah for the BMS Class of 2016. I know they have some other activities planned, but this trip, and the trip home, encompasses something different for the kids. I've already noticed a change in many of them. After the cruise, while walking to the bus, one of my kids began asking me about the trips we have abroad at Saugus High School. He said he was interested in attending as a 9th grader. I was very impressed. He could very well become one of these kids who will always call Saugus home even though they are traveling the world. I've had several students graduate Saugus High School over the past few years who had visited a dozen countries each. Travel for them has become contagious, but travel for them, didn't start with me. It started in DC and with their 8th grade classmates.
I will be hosting a meeting soon to discuss the upcoming trip. If anyone is interested in attending, please email me at rlavoie@saugus.k12.ma.us. On the trip, we will be visiting four countries. We will the Berlin Wall, a Concentration Camp, and several Cathedrals...all things the kids were exposed to while they were in the 8th grade hanging out with their friends.
I am about to close, but I wanted to take a quick second to thank the entire Belmonte Middle School staff. They have been amazing, not only to me, but to the kids. They are a testament to this town. We get a lot of negative press, but it falls short of hitting some of the basic truths about education in Saugus. Our teachers are among the most caring professionals I've ever met. They have been bending over every which way to make sure all of these kids are having a blast. They have had many sleepless nights and early mornings, but they've maintained a positive attitude throughout. I am grateful to attend this trip, but I am even more grateful to work alongside these folks...as well as get to know many of them better. Thank you again for all that you do.
I will probably write sometime tomorrow while we are headed home, but for now...that's it.
Mr. Lavoie, typing softly as to not wake anyone up at the hotel.
As per usual, we started the day with breakfast. Today, in addition to bacon, home fries, and eggs, we were treated with French Toast and Sausages. It was all quite good and gave us the fuel needed to continue on this whirlwind adventure.
Our first stop was the White House.
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| A continual protest in front of the White House reminds us about our right to Free Speech |
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| A function prevented us from getting any closer, but the view certainly didn't disappoint. |
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| The statue of Lafayette stands across from the President's house |
After a few minutes at the Executive Mansion, our four buses took off for the Capital Building. Here, we posed for pictures as a whole school. I've written about the process before, but to sum it up quickly, the photographers have it down to a science. I recently looked at last year's picture with some of my 9th grade students and they all had fun pointing themselves out. It is amazing how much the kids change in one year.
It is very difficult on this trip to snap a picture of every single student. The group size is so large that these staged portraits can be the only way it is possible. I saw an opportunity as we lined up and did my best.
Just as I wrapped up, it looked like another bus pulled up. If I missed your child in all of my pictures, I am so sorry. I make a strong effort, while on a European tour, to make sure I get everyone, but I am fearful it is not possible on this trip.
We divided our groups by buses and took off for some cool sites around the Capital building. Bus 1 walked along side the building and up to the Supreme Court building. Afterwards, we made our way into the Library of Congress. I hadn't been to either site before and I was as excited as the kids.
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| The Capital is being restored, but it is still impressive. |
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| I'm just a Bill... |
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| Inside the Library of Congress For National Treasure 2 fans, this should look familiar. |
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| I made a pun on Instagram...but the jury is still out on whether it was funny or not. The Supreme Court Building |
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| This Bible was handwritten. It is within the Library of Congress |
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| The line of Food Trucks was about 20 trucks long. |
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| The Smoking Kow BBQ truck was one of the coolest on the road. |
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| Brisket Sandwich with slaw and a side of Mac n' Cheese...very delicious |
After Air and Space, we walked over to Natural History, but before we got there I had an idea. We've really lucked out. There hasn't been much foot traffic in the city and lines have been much smaller than before. I thought, why not check out the National Archives. We arrived to find no lines whatsoever. We went right up to the Rotunda and began examining the most important documents in the country's history...maybe the worlds. The Declaration of Independence is one of my favorite primary sources ever. It is so beautiful. Many people grow to love Shakespeare, but I've grown to love the declaration. The Rotunda also has the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. You cannot photograph anything inside the Archives, but I am hoping the memory lasts with the boys I took with me.
It made me stop and think for a bit. In April, I stood atop the Acropolis in Athens. I wrote, that night, about the connections I was feeling between Greece and America. I felt them again today, half a world away.
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| Fountain within the Sculpture Garden |
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| Some of the boys resting their weary legs. |
From the archives, we walked through the Sculpture Garden to the Museum of Natural History. I don't have any pictures because of my contest, lol. The kids really liked it inside. Many of them shared their favorite exhibits with me. After that, we went to the American History museum. The kids really enjoyed looking at a variety of artifacts from the different eras of our history. I took a couple quick pictures in here...realizing that my game may have failed.
 |
| A cast of Lincoln's lifemask made shortly after his death |
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| A video camera used by the Naudet Brothers who documented 9/11 from inside the Towers It is an amazing film. |
Our buses picked us up and we departed for the hotel. The goal was to change for the dance, but traffic stood in the way. One bus only had 10 minutes to get ready. The kids really showed how good they've been in this scenario. They had plenty of reasons to complain, but they didn't. They just made it happen.
The Cherry Blossom is one of the highlights of this trip for many kids. It is easy to see how eager they are by how nicely they dressed for the occasion.
From all accounts, the cruise lived up to they hype. The kids danced and ate pizza and made new friends. They talked about it the whole way home. Home.
We will be making our way home tomorrow. It will surely be a long ride. The kids will be tired...and maybe even cranky, but they will soon be home. I wrote on Day 1 about how this is kind of a last hurrah for the BMS Class of 2016. I know they have some other activities planned, but this trip, and the trip home, encompasses something different for the kids. I've already noticed a change in many of them. After the cruise, while walking to the bus, one of my kids began asking me about the trips we have abroad at Saugus High School. He said he was interested in attending as a 9th grader. I was very impressed. He could very well become one of these kids who will always call Saugus home even though they are traveling the world. I've had several students graduate Saugus High School over the past few years who had visited a dozen countries each. Travel for them has become contagious, but travel for them, didn't start with me. It started in DC and with their 8th grade classmates.
I will be hosting a meeting soon to discuss the upcoming trip. If anyone is interested in attending, please email me at rlavoie@saugus.k12.ma.us. On the trip, we will be visiting four countries. We will the Berlin Wall, a Concentration Camp, and several Cathedrals...all things the kids were exposed to while they were in the 8th grade hanging out with their friends.
I am about to close, but I wanted to take a quick second to thank the entire Belmonte Middle School staff. They have been amazing, not only to me, but to the kids. They are a testament to this town. We get a lot of negative press, but it falls short of hitting some of the basic truths about education in Saugus. Our teachers are among the most caring professionals I've ever met. They have been bending over every which way to make sure all of these kids are having a blast. They have had many sleepless nights and early mornings, but they've maintained a positive attitude throughout. I am grateful to attend this trip, but I am even more grateful to work alongside these folks...as well as get to know many of them better. Thank you again for all that you do.
I will probably write sometime tomorrow while we are headed home, but for now...that's it.
Mr. Lavoie, typing softly as to not wake anyone up at the hotel.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
2016 Belmonte Middle School DC Trip - Day 2: Paying Respect
What a wonderful day.
Before I begin tonight's blog, I wanted to share some information with you. This blog has had over 50,000 page views since its inception. We have had visitors to this page from over a dozen countries. Tonight's entry will be my 90th. I share this information with you because I am proud of how this blog has developed and that is has become popular enough for me to continue with it. I am aware that our readers do not just make up the friends and families of our current travelers, but those who have traveled on many of my trips. They check back, now and then, to see what is going on. I've read numerous comments about how the blog bring the kids closer to home while we are away and it shares our experiences with a larger community of people who care.
I started thinking about the idea of community this morning, but I am getting a little ahead of myself. I have a couple of things I like to do with this blog when I am overseas, but I find myself forgetting to do them on this trip. The first is that I need to complain about being tired. I have logged in almost 20,000 steps today and have walked almost 8.5 miles. I woke early and went to bed late. I didn't really catnap on the bus. I am tired, but it is a good tired. It is the type of tired you welcome because of how cool it was to get that tired. The second thing I like to do is talk about food. This trip doesn't quite match up to the cuisine I might indulge in while walking through Rome or touring Paris, but the breakfast far surpasses the typical European breakfast.
I entered the buffet line with low expectations. There was a cereal bowl and some milk, but I passed on that option. Instead, I went right for the hot stuff. Bacon, hash browns, scrambled eggs, and pancakes. They had warm maple syrup and glasses of orange juice poured at each table. I contemplated seconds, but my original portion was quite healthy and a rather large line had started to form.
I'll try to remember to talk more about food tomorrow. People seem to like to know what their loved ones are eating, lol. I also should mention that I am sorry for not using my Instagram account as much as I had expected. I am quite new to the 'gram' and find myself focusing on posting pictures to Facebook. I started posting #punsofinstagram in Italy and the kids really seemed to like it, but I am getting caught up in the sites and keep forgetting.
So, this morning, after breakfast, we boarded our buses. Our first stop was Arlington National Cemetery. To be safe, we reminded the kids about the solemnity that they would need while visiting this location. We explained what a caisson was and how we should not photograph one if we saw it passing by.
Our first stop within the cemetery was the John F. Kennedy grave and eternal flame. Our guide explained the importance of the Kennedy family and their impact in American politics. She explained who Jacqueline was and her impact in American society. We were really the only group there and it gave us the time to take some great photos, but also to reflect on the legacy of JFK.
JFK's brothers are all remembered at Arlington. Two of them are buried here, but one was missing in action from World War Two. After the Kennedy site, we walked through the burial grounds on our way to the Tomb of the Unknown soldier. It was amazing because of the ceremonies we witnessed. We saw a traditional changing of the guard ceremony and also a wreath laying ceremony. I tried to capture them on my phone, but if you watch them on your computer, you might need to turn the computer sideways.
The Changing of the Guard
A wreath laying ceremony
With our visit to Arlington National Cemetery nearly complete, we made our way to the memorials for the Space Shuttles. I explained to the kids that I watched the Challenger explosion while in the Cafagymatorium at the Waybright.
Our next stop was the Iwo Jima Memorial.
We were only there for a bit before we headed to the Holocaust museum. Inside, we were able to pass through the Daniel's Story exhibit. It is a moving experience and many of the Belmonte kids stopped to read passages of Daniel's diary. They learned about the rise of Anti-Semetism in Germany, the Ghettos and the Concentration Camps.
When our visit ended, we took off for lunch. I didn't snap a picture of my meal, but I had a gyro. I usually get them in Europe because they are cheap. In DC, they were $9 each. Fortunately, we had vouchers. I also noticed a Dunks just around the corner, so I refreshed myself with a large black iced coffee. I was no longer as tired.
We drove down Embassy Row and marveled at all of the different nations represented. We then arrived at the National Cathedral. The photos don't do it justice.
A guide had told the kids to expect to be wow'd and they were. The kids loved it. I kept on looking at other Saugus groups, and they were like mine, smiling and paying attention. We had had a long day, but this cathedral had awaken something in them.
Two more memorials awaited us before the Newseum.
The first was in honor of MLK, Jr.
The next was to remember FDR.
The Newseum is a really cool place. It is a traditional museum, but modern, and geared towards the news. There are all sorts of neat exhibits, but our time was limited. I spent most of my time in a new exhibit that looks at the FBI. I am sharing some photos with you.
There is also a large section of the Berlin wall inside the Newseum. I've been to the original wall (and I'm going back in April with SHS) and this large segment gives a great sense of realism to those learning about a divided Berlin and the Cold War.
We eventually had to call our visit to the Newseum complete and head towards the ballpark. We hit some traffic, but we all made it to Camden Yards. We had a blast. The O's came out on top (which isn't a good thing for the Sox, but it made the night more fun). We ate tons of food, sang Take Me Out To The Ballgame, and ate more food.
I mentioned earlier that I was thinking about community earlier today. It kept resurfacing in my mind as we traveled from spot to spot. I think I will write more about it tomorrow, but I wanted to explain part of my mindset. We are here representing one community. We share a common bond with each other, but we are all individuals. We care about different things, but we have similar philosophies. Many of the sites we visited today are foreign to our kids. They have heard names, but they don't know how important JFK or MLK were to this nation. They saw headstones and graves and remained silent for heartfelt presentations. They walked in the shoes of a boy named Daniel and among monuments of fallen soldiers. They removed their caps in the cathedral and put them on after the National Anthem. In a community, we learn societal norms. We learn compassion and how to care. Today, these kids showed me that they know how to respect things that need to be respected. The lesson has been echoed by the number of times I've heard them thanking our bus driver, our tour guide, and us chaperons. It has been a pleasure so far and I cannot wait for tomorrow.
Mr. Lavoie, laying comfortably in bed as he finishes his blog...no lobby for him tonight!!!
Before I begin tonight's blog, I wanted to share some information with you. This blog has had over 50,000 page views since its inception. We have had visitors to this page from over a dozen countries. Tonight's entry will be my 90th. I share this information with you because I am proud of how this blog has developed and that is has become popular enough for me to continue with it. I am aware that our readers do not just make up the friends and families of our current travelers, but those who have traveled on many of my trips. They check back, now and then, to see what is going on. I've read numerous comments about how the blog bring the kids closer to home while we are away and it shares our experiences with a larger community of people who care.
I started thinking about the idea of community this morning, but I am getting a little ahead of myself. I have a couple of things I like to do with this blog when I am overseas, but I find myself forgetting to do them on this trip. The first is that I need to complain about being tired. I have logged in almost 20,000 steps today and have walked almost 8.5 miles. I woke early and went to bed late. I didn't really catnap on the bus. I am tired, but it is a good tired. It is the type of tired you welcome because of how cool it was to get that tired. The second thing I like to do is talk about food. This trip doesn't quite match up to the cuisine I might indulge in while walking through Rome or touring Paris, but the breakfast far surpasses the typical European breakfast.
I entered the buffet line with low expectations. There was a cereal bowl and some milk, but I passed on that option. Instead, I went right for the hot stuff. Bacon, hash browns, scrambled eggs, and pancakes. They had warm maple syrup and glasses of orange juice poured at each table. I contemplated seconds, but my original portion was quite healthy and a rather large line had started to form.
 |
| Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!!! |
I'll try to remember to talk more about food tomorrow. People seem to like to know what their loved ones are eating, lol. I also should mention that I am sorry for not using my Instagram account as much as I had expected. I am quite new to the 'gram' and find myself focusing on posting pictures to Facebook. I started posting #punsofinstagram in Italy and the kids really seemed to like it, but I am getting caught up in the sites and keep forgetting.
So, this morning, after breakfast, we boarded our buses. Our first stop was Arlington National Cemetery. To be safe, we reminded the kids about the solemnity that they would need while visiting this location. We explained what a caisson was and how we should not photograph one if we saw it passing by.
Our first stop within the cemetery was the John F. Kennedy grave and eternal flame. Our guide explained the importance of the Kennedy family and their impact in American politics. She explained who Jacqueline was and her impact in American society. We were really the only group there and it gave us the time to take some great photos, but also to reflect on the legacy of JFK.
 |
| Our view when first entering Arlington |
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| The organization of burial plots is simply amazing |
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| Our guide explaining who JFK was and what we were about to see. |
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| The eternal flame |
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| The final resting place for Camelot |
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| Apparently, JFK loved this view so much that his final resting place was selected here |
JFK's brothers are all remembered at Arlington. Two of them are buried here, but one was missing in action from World War Two. After the Kennedy site, we walked through the burial grounds on our way to the Tomb of the Unknown soldier. It was amazing because of the ceremonies we witnessed. We saw a traditional changing of the guard ceremony and also a wreath laying ceremony. I tried to capture them on my phone, but if you watch them on your computer, you might need to turn the computer sideways.
The Changing of the Guard
A wreath laying ceremony
With our visit to Arlington National Cemetery nearly complete, we made our way to the memorials for the Space Shuttles. I explained to the kids that I watched the Challenger explosion while in the Cafagymatorium at the Waybright.
We were only there for a bit before we headed to the Holocaust museum. Inside, we were able to pass through the Daniel's Story exhibit. It is a moving experience and many of the Belmonte kids stopped to read passages of Daniel's diary. They learned about the rise of Anti-Semetism in Germany, the Ghettos and the Concentration Camps.
 |
| The Entrance to Daniel's Story |
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| Learning about Daniel |
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| Signing the guest book |
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| Paying respect |
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| The Holocaust Museum |
We drove down Embassy Row and marveled at all of the different nations represented. We then arrived at the National Cathedral. The photos don't do it justice.
 |
| A hand carved pulpit showcasing the growth of the printed bible |
 |
| The Science Window |
 |
| Woodrow Wilson's tomb |
Two more memorials awaited us before the Newseum.
The first was in honor of MLK, Jr.
The Newseum is a really cool place. It is a traditional museum, but modern, and geared towards the news. There are all sorts of neat exhibits, but our time was limited. I spent most of my time in a new exhibit that looks at the FBI. I am sharing some photos with you.
 |
| The Times Square bombers car |
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| A model of the shoe bombers plans |
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| Wreckage from 9/11 |
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| DC area issues |
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| Boston |
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| A news copter hangs in the entrance. |
I mentioned earlier that I was thinking about community earlier today. It kept resurfacing in my mind as we traveled from spot to spot. I think I will write more about it tomorrow, but I wanted to explain part of my mindset. We are here representing one community. We share a common bond with each other, but we are all individuals. We care about different things, but we have similar philosophies. Many of the sites we visited today are foreign to our kids. They have heard names, but they don't know how important JFK or MLK were to this nation. They saw headstones and graves and remained silent for heartfelt presentations. They walked in the shoes of a boy named Daniel and among monuments of fallen soldiers. They removed their caps in the cathedral and put them on after the National Anthem. In a community, we learn societal norms. We learn compassion and how to care. Today, these kids showed me that they know how to respect things that need to be respected. The lesson has been echoed by the number of times I've heard them thanking our bus driver, our tour guide, and us chaperons. It has been a pleasure so far and I cannot wait for tomorrow.
Mr. Lavoie, laying comfortably in bed as he finishes his blog...no lobby for him tonight!!!
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