CJA's Washington Trip Blog

May 12 2:30 pm

cjacieblog — Fri, 13 May 2011 02:58:10 +0000

May 12 2:30 pm

At about 2:30 pm our time, I spoke with Ms. Dare.

This morning they ate a picnic breakfast at the Historical Society Museum. Then they observed an excellent exhibition. Some highlights involved testimony from a Cambodian, a previous child soldier, who was adopted by an American family and now resides in the U.S., and the response of the citizens of Billings Montana in the early ‘90s to local Anti-Semitism with their famous public display of 10,000 Hanukiot.

While walking by the Capitol Building, our group was informed that the Senate was in session and they were permitted to sit and observe as senators entered and exited as the Senate voted on the appointment of a judge.

They were already very tired at this point but doing very well.

Their plan was to meet their bus to take them to Georgetown for dinner at 5:00 pm local time.

Tomorrow they will be departing their hotel at 6:00 a.m. local time to make their flight.

Lahitraot tomorrow

May 11 4:05pm Calgary time:

cjacieblog — Thu, 12 May 2011 11:48:43 +0000

May 11 4:05pm Calgary time:

I found our Grade 8s on the observation deck at the Kennedy Centre during intermission of their show, Sheer Madness. On the phone with Ms. Dare, it appears that students experienced an interesting day that began at 8:15 a.m. and their visit to the Canadian Embassy. Mr. Justin Meyers (CJA alumna), welcomed our students and led them to the theatre for a talk with Lt. Col. Douglas Martin, Canadian Forces Public Affairs Attaché and with Mr. Tristan Sanregret, Director, Alberta-US Relations.

After singing O Canada in the embassy rotunda, the group travelled to the Newseum. On their arrival, they were shunted off to another entrance and escorted directly to the 3-D theater to learn all about the news. Apparently President Obama was visiting this site at the same time as our grade 8s as there were many “men in black” located all over the Newseum and the media were outside.

From the Newseum the group visited the Jefferson, FDR and Lincoln Memorials and ate a picnic lunch. Students strolled through the war memorials of Korea, Viet Nam, Women Nurses, and WWII, and then wrote in their journals. From there they bussed over to the Kennedy Centre in time for the show, Sheer Madness.

Their plan from the show will be eating a pizzur dinner at the shopping mall and then return to the hotel by 9:30 pm.

Tomorrow will see them starting the day at the Historical Society’s Exhibits.

Lahitraot, tomorrow

May 10 2:15 pm and 8:00 pm Calgary time:

cjacieblog — Tue, 10 May 2011 21:46:28 +0000

May 10 8:00 pm Calgary time:

Ms. Dare and I spoke on the phone just now. Grade 8s returned from a fun time at the mall. They are currently enjoying some snacks in the hotel, one hour prior to bedtime. All are fine, in good spirits but very tired after a long day.

Tomorrow they plan to leave around 8:15 for the Canadian Embassy, the Newseum, a tour of the Monuments, followed by watching Sheer Madness at the Kennedy Centre and a pizzur dinner.

Although they are fatigued, it is possible that some may still blog before bed.

Lahitraot tomorrow

May 10 2:15 pm Calgary time:

In my phone call with Ms. Dare a few moments ago, the following came to light about our grade 8s in DC:

So far it was a great day but funny weather. After breakfast the group travelled to the Smithsonians starting with the National Museum of the American Indian and then Air and Space. Students ate lunch on the National Mall before continuing on to explore the Hirshhorn, the Freer and Sackler galleries and the gardens all around.

The group returned by bus to their hotel. At the moment they are in the hotel, and together with many other students, are engaging a guest speaker from the US Institute of Peace. Dinner is scheduled for 6:00 pm at the hotel and then it will be off to the other type of mall (for some retail therapy).

May 9:

cjacieblog — Tue, 10 May 2011 02:23:11 +0000

May 9 9:40 am Calgary time:

Ms. Dare spoke with me on the phone as most grade 8s were located in the Hall of Remembrance recording their reflections in their journals and two others were still lingering among the exhibits. The following are quotes from some of the students that Ms. Dare was able to locate after they experienced the fourth floor of the Museum. I am recording them as accurately as possible.

J.B.: I learned alot on how Hitler came to power. When the elevator doors opened, you could feel the different atmosphere.

S.O.: I learned how popular Hitler was to the German people.

M.G.: This Museum is different from Yad VaShem and it has more photos than Yad VaShem.

R.S.: [on the bridge where windows are engraved] I saw the name of my grandparents’ village.

N.L: Seeing all the photos helped me understand how young were the victims. They were just like me.

S.P.: [seeing the evidence] It was a “rush of reality”.

The students have more exhibits to explore including the Rwanda Genocide and Daniel’s Story.

The immediate plan is to eat lunch outside the Museum on the grass looking towards the Jefferson Memorial.

After lunch, they will re-enter the Museum to visit exhibits and then into the Meyerhoff Theatre to listen to a Holocaust Survivor.

Following that, they will travel by bus to the river cruise for dinner floating on the Ptomac, then return to the hotel by 8:30 or 9:00 pm for some free time and bed by 11:00 pm.

May 9 8:00 am Calgary time:

Ms. Dare emailed that they are on their way to the Holocaust Memorial Museum.Once they are settled and when our school completes our own Yom HaZikaron Ceremony, I will have an opportunity to receive a verbal update from our chaperones and post it on this site.

May 8 11:10 a.m.Calgary time:

cjacieblog — Sun, 08 May 2011 22:23:47 +0000

May 8 3:05 pm Calgary time:

I spoke with Ms. Dare. The group landed safely in Washington DC. They were on their bus and moving to check in at their hotel. All were fine and the flights were peaceful and normal.

Enjoy your evening.

May 8 11:10 a.m.Calgary time:

I just spoke on the phone with Ms. Dare. All landed safely in Minneapolis. They were already moving on the ground towards their next flight. Happy Mother’s Day to Ms. Dare and to all the moms in Grade 8.

Enjoy the day

May 8, 2011:

cjacieblog — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 04:01:33 +0000

Departing for Washington D.C

meeting at the airport . . .