Twelve Hours Well Spent

The day of the Inauguration had finally arrived, and waking up to my alarm at 5:00 AM with a sinus headache was not about to keep me from missing this already historic event.  I donned several layers, including two sweaters and even a bathrobe, and gave my roommates some handwarmers my dad had given me for the big day.  Dee, my roommate from Florida, was especially grateful.  After loading our pockets with metropasses, ID, emergency cash, cell phones, cameras, warmers, and a nutrigrain bar each (we wanted to aviod carrying bags to get through any security checks quicker), Katie and I were out the door by 5:30 with a plan to view the ceremony and parade from the Canadian Embassy.

At that time in the morning the metro was crowded and slow to move through, but not completely unbearable.  The worst part for us was having so many layers of warm clothing on and then being stuck in a warm, crowded car for longer than usual.  Knowing that several stations would be closed for at least part of the day we tried to determine the best route to the Embassy.  Once at ground level again we quickly learned that our efforts would be greatly frusterated not just by crowds but also by entire streets being closed off.  After wandering for a bit we decided the best course would be to follow the crowds, as our attempts to go against the current were increasingly futile. 

Eventually we came to a standstill in a mass of people.  As we learned by asking around and eavesdropping just a little, we had found our way to an entrance which would open for general admittance at 7 AM, so we abandoned our plans for the Embassy and huddled up for what we were anticipating would be about an hour and a half wait.  We later learned that they had moved the time back to 8, and at 8:30 there was some stirring near the front of the crowd and people began filtering backwards.  The powers that be had changed the entrance to a “ticketholders only” entry point, and the majority of us had to find an alternate way in.  Naturally, the street right next to us was closed off, so instead of simply crossing, we had to walk about three blocks in either direction to get across the street.  We soon came to the realization that six blocks would pale in comparison to the multiple miles we would walk that day.

By once again following the crowd, we  found our way to a  tunnel which would let us out on the other side of the mall.  It was part of a four lane highway which had been shut down due to saftey precautions, and I believe it was about a mile long.  This was certainly a surreal experience, as we were surrounded by thousands of people and there were police everywhere on motorcycles and in cars with lights flashing.  It was very reminiscent of a disaster movie like I Am Legend or 28 Days/ Weeks Later where mass evacuation was necessary and people had abandoned thier cars.  It was actually kind of fun, becuase we were all united by our desire to share a positive experience, and shouts of “Yes we can!” echoed through the tunnel and helped motivate us to press on despite the cold and the crowds.

Once we reached the end of the tunnel, we walked the exit ramp and found ourselves on 3rd street, at an entrance that was once again reserved for ticket holders.  We were assured by a volunteer that 7th street would be the end of our quest for an entrance to the national mall, and after what we had just walked, four more blocks seemed like very little.  Of course, 7th street yeilded the similar fruit: we would have to go to 14th street if we did not have tickets.  Finally, after about 4 hours of travel since we had left the hotel, we got onto the National Mall, right in front of the Washington Monument. 

Katie and I then took a few practice pictures of each other and the monument behind us as we tried to pass the time before the ceremony.  We had a fairly good view of a nearby jumbotron, and we could hear everything very clearly as they replayed clips from Sunday’s concert.  Eventually they began live coverage of the dignitaries arriving and taking thier places, and finally it was time for the main event.

The swearing in itself was quite short, but the moment the oath was over and everyone around threw their hands into the air and cheered was deeply moving, as was the speech that followed.  I would have liked to have taped the whole thing, but the cold had drained the battery and I could only capture a few clips of it.  Fortunately, I’m sure the memories of that day will last, because it is extremely rare to be a part of a gathering of that magnitude to celebrate something so important to our country and to history.  It is somthing people will talk about for ages, and I feel so fortunate to have been able to witness it firsthand. 

Katie and I attempted to leave right after the speech, but because of the mass of people who had the same idea, we were still able to see and hear most of the rest of the ceremony.  I personally did not enjoy the poem, and by the time the benediction commenced I was more focused on not being separated from Katie and not being claustrophobic to really listen closely.  We got to a place where there was room enough to open a map, and decided to try and find a particular metrostation.  However, closed off roads and crowds once again frustrated our efforts, and we were more or less forced to try our luck at L’enfant station, where many people had lined up for literally blocks to try and catch a train. 

Making our way to the station and waiting in the massive line took up about two hours, after which we decided to attempt a 45 minute walk to a station further away by way of a closed down highway.  We quickly found oursleves turned around and at the very end of the line we had just left.  Realizing the time and noting that the parade should be over soon, we went to Smithsonian station, which was set to open after the parade ended around 3.  This obviously was not the case, as we found out the parade had begun behind schedule and would not be over until about 6PM.  Not wanting wo wait there for three hours, we backtracked toward the Mall and wound up on a long walk to Arlington, VA to catch the train there, which was only one stop away from our destination, Rosslyn.

We were aided on our search for Arlington by a woman from Buffalo and her group of friends who also did not want to wait in line for hours for an overcrowded train.  By this time I was really feeling my cold taking off, but I also knew that if I stopped to rest it would make it that much harder to continue on.  Nevertheless, after being on my feet for ten hours straight taking a break was quite tempting.  Crossing the bridge yeilded some great pictures of the river and also of the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument together.  Once we finally reached Arlington Station, I took a short breather as Katie and I rode down the escalator sitting down, to the amusement of our walking companions who were a little ways behind us by that time. 

After a very full day with almost nothing to eat or drink, McDonalds was for once a welcome feast, as it was on our way to the hotel from our metro stop.  By the time we made it back up to our room, we had spend nearly 12 full hours out in the cold of D.C. and probably walked well over five miles.  It isn’t a terribly long distance, but after not sitting down for all that time either it is actually very straining.  I will always remember the rediculous travelling that day, but I the memories of what happened during the ceremony and what it meant to so many people and for our country will be so much stronger.  I know that as time goes on it will become even more worth it, and I look forward to seeing how the events of that day will shape our country in the coming years.

I would like to thank the Washington Center for hosting this seminar, they did a great job considering all of the events, speakers, and site visits they had to coordinate for all 750 participants.

And I would like to especially thank Dr. Brickman, who has been our fearless leader throughout the program.  Without her this experience really would not have been possible and I know all of us truely appreciate all the work she put in to give us this oppurtunity.

Free Days in D.C.

Sunday was spent unsuccessfully attempting to meet up with my sister Shannon and her group from Homer High School.  After getting some much needed rest and sleeping in a bit, we played a bit of phone tag and decided to meet at one of the many museums near the National Mall.  This led to my first solo excursion in the city, and despite being a bit apprehensive it went fairlywell.  I didn’t know exactly where I was going once I was out of the metro, but eventually found my way to the Museum of Natural History. 

That was when I received news that Shanny’s group had changed plans last minute, and I would be on my own.  Trying to make the best of things, I quickly bought a last minute ticket for the final showing of the day of the 3D Deep Sea movie others in our group had mentioned.  That actually made the whole trip worth it, as it was just as enjoyable and interesting as I had heard.  By the time the movie was over the museum was beginning to close, so I made my way back to the metro (with much more ease this time), and made a mental note of the drastic and sudden jump in population.  Of course that was only a small taste of what was to come on Tuesday.

Monday was even lazier than Sunday, sleeping in again and spending the day making various preparations for the Inauguration.  I visited the hotel’s roof level restaurant, which had quite a view of D.C.  After a nice quiet lunch there I met with Katie back at the room and we compared weather forecasts for the next day and talked about how many layers we thought would be prudent.  After that all that was left to do was relax and try to rest up for tomorrow’s action packed day of freezing temperatures and navigation through thousands of people.

Washington – Day 10 – The conclusion couldn’t have been beaten

Surreal. This is possibly the only word I can find to sum the events of our final day in DC. Chelsea and I had decided to catch the inauguration from the Canadian Embassy on Delaware Avenue. We left the hotel around 430 or so, and proceeded to catch the metro. The second I got off the escalator to reach the platform, I was hit with the reality of the immensity that this day would carry. Luckily we were able to catch the first train, but upon arrival at Metro Center we missed the first train, and barely made the second. Standing there, pressed between the door and at least 50 others, the only thought that crossed my mind was thank goodness that we get off at the next stop, hopefully we’ll get there before everyone else does.

Making our way from the metro to the Canadian Embassy was a story within itself. Chelsea and I walked up and down numerous streets, many of which were blocked off, in hopes of finding the Embassy. Well, that didn’t work out too well and we, abandoned our plan and stood in line with a group of, surprisingly, Canadiens as we waited to get into the Mall. Quickly the cold penetrated our many, many layers of clothes leaving us wishing we were back in the hotel.

Around 7, still frozen, the crowed cheered because the gates were supposed to open at that time. Unfortunately for the close to 5,000 of us at that entrance, the gates didn’t open for another hour, and even when they did, they were only allowing a few ticket holders in at a time. As we inched our way up in line, word got to us that we would not be able to get in at this entrance. Furious at the lack of preparation for such an event, Chelsea and I followed the crowd along marked streets with people giving directions to the mall. About an hour and somewhere close to 3 miles later, we finally got our viewing spot for the inauguration, only one problem… we were at the Washington Monument… a mile and a half away from the Capitol. Needless to say we were quite irked, getting up so early to end up so far away from the actual swearing in. On the bright side, the ceremony was shown live on a massive jumbotron set up towards the front of the memorial, so we had a relatively decent view.

The actual swearing in happened in the blink of an eye. Although it was so short, I know I will remember those words for many years to come. President Obama’s speech was truely moving, envoking a strong response from the entire crowd. He made it clear that he wants to make numerous changes for our distressed nation, but that others must give and contribute toward progress. During the election, I had my doubts as to whether or not our President would be capable of making such change; after experiencing such an occasion as yesterday, I am looking forward to seeing what positive results Obama will have on our nation.

The trek back to the hotel took much longer than anticipated. Chelsea and I were among the first to leave the area, but ended up wandering aimlessly through the city for a few hours. After waiting in a monstrously long line at L’Enfant Plaza for about half an hour, we decided to walk. Of course we ended up getting really bad directions that basically had us walk around in a circle. Almost at wit’s end, we heard a woman with a group of people who were walking over to Arlington metro. Although we knew it would be a hike, we just wanted to get out of the city as fast as our weary legs could take us.

We finaly got back to the hotel, after a stop at McDonalds, about 13 hours after we left that morning. Irregardless of how frozen, exhausted, and aching I was, I would not have passed up this opportunity for anything. I hope that I can be a part of future historical inaugurations. This was one for the records, and I can gladly say that I was there when history was made.

Inauguration Day

       January 20, 2009 is a day I will remember for the rest of my life.  My roommates and I left the hotel at 4am and got to the Capital around 5:45.   The metro was so crowded to the point you could not even move your arms.  We were among the 995,000 people on the metro that day, headed to the National Mall.  Once we finally arrived at our stop, we waited in line for over two hours with our silver tickets secured in Jenn’s bag.  We were prepared for the weather and ready to witness this historic event.  As we entered the gate, we showed our tickets and had to walk through a long line of policeman.  Then we went to another line of security, opening our coats and going through medal detectors.  Once we went through, we ran an attempt to get close to the retaining fence.  The sun was rising and excitement filled the Mall.  

          We were directly behind the small reflecting pool and had a great view of the Capitol.  As our section filled up, the plastic retaining fence began to tear.  Soon people tore it down and ran into the handicap section.  I felt that security should have stepped in and stopped this from happening to prevent any injuries.  As I looked all around me I thought of how lucky we were to be able to witness the remarkable event.

          Over 2 million people filled the National Mall, waiting for Obama to be sworn in.  I could see tears streaming down the faces of those around me.  His speech was somber as well as moving.  He gave a great deal of hope to the American people, making  it an unforgettable day in the nation’s Capitol.  Once the inauguration ceremony was over, we went on the frozen reflecting pool in front of us, skating our way to the other side.   The Inauguration was a spectacular event that I feel privileged to be a part of.  My time in Washington, DC has been such a memorable experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. 

It is now time to head back to Bonas

It is now over.  We are all packing up and getting ready to head home.  Yesterday was a truly memorable day, one that those of us who got it see it in person will probably talk about for years (maybe decades) to come. 

Yesterday morning I was on the Metro at about 6 AM and headed toward Union Station to meet Dean Stahl and his family when they arrived at 8:15 AM.  Once their train arrived we took off at a fairly fast clip toward The Mall.  Unfortunately we veryquickly ran into a non-moving crowd of people.  As we inched through the crowd I was amazed at the attitude of those standing shoulder to shoulder in the freezing cold.  Rather than get aggravated and annoyed (even though we were aggravated and annoyed) people just kept moving and hoping for the best. 

We finally managed to extricate ourselves from that crowd and zigzagged through the streets of Washington to get to the far end of The Mall.  Our mission was to get to the Washington Monument where we knew we could watch on one of the many jumbotrons erected for the occasion.  We finally achieved our destination at about 11:30 AM, just in time for the ceremony to begin. 

I will start by saying that never did I believe that I would see an African-American elected president in my lifetime and I never thought that I would have the opportunity to be in Washington when he was actually sworn in.  The crowd was absolutely amazing, and the silence surprising as the crowd listened to President Obama’s inaugural address.  You could actually feel the hope and acceptance of his message by the crowd as he spoke.  I have watched  many of Obama’s speeches on television but it is amazing to actually be there in person and hear him speak (even if you are a mile back in the crowd of almost 2 million people).

As with the We Are One concert, it is one thing for this many people to move into a confined area over a course of many hours, but moving out of that area was an entirely different thing.  We were able to keep moving (for the most part), and people were still remaining orderly and joyful so the experience was not anywhere near as bad as it could have been.  As a matterof fact, it was reported on the news this morning that there were NO arrests at all yesterday in D.C. 

We began our journey back to Union Station so the Stahl’s could catch their train.  We finally parted ways in Chinatown where I decided to pick up some last minute gifts for people back home before I headed to the Metro.  By the time I arrived at the Metro the crowds had thinned out and I was actually able to get a seat and enjoy my final ride back to the hotel. 

One final thought:  I would like to thank and commend the students who came on this trip.  You have been a great group and I really enjoyed working with you.  I’m glad you had the opportunity to take part in this historic moment and I’m sure we will have lots to talk about when we get back to Bonas.  Have a safe trip home.

I am back on the road to Olean in about an hour and hoping to make it home in time for the basketball game tonight – time to get back to the real world.

Inauguration Day…WOW.

Now, as Inauguration Day comes to a close, I still cannot quite put together the words to describe today.  Everything had been building since the election season began nearly two years ago, and suddenly it’s over.  Let me start from today’s beginning.

My roommates and I woke up around 3:30 A.M. and left our hotel just after 4 A.M., for the Metro.  We got off at Federal Center SW and took our place in the line, which was surprisingly not bad.  We were among the first in the gates waiting for the security check points.  We kept ourselves amused by jumping in place and stepping up and down on the curb.  A little before 8 A.M. we were allowed to go through security, where we then sprinted to the Silver seating area by the Capitol.  We were pretty close to the fence (maybe four people deep).  However, a group of people broke down the plastic fence and stormed into the handicapped area to have a better view…except 5′4-”me did not get a better view.  The sun came up and helped warm us as we were packed like sardines.  It was becoming more and more worth it as time went by.

Because of my restricted view, Dan would give me updates of what was on the nearby jumbotron, such as who was arriving or taking their seat.  Just as planned, the event began promptly at 11:30 A.M.  I was deeply moved to see the transformation of power first hand.  However, I was not pleased with the section of the crowd that sang “hey, hey, hey.  Goodbye” to President Bush, as he arrived.  Moving along, I found myself choked up to hear now President Barack Obama recite the oath of office and give his inaugural address.  Like many of his other speeches, he focused on the need for the American people to step up and help.  It was very inspirational.

When the ceremony came to a close, we crossed the semi-frozen mini reflecting pool in a skating fashion.  It was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.  After revisiting my childhood, we started our approximately 6 mile walk back to our hotel in Rosslyn, V.A.  We found ourselves in several “people-jams.”  During our walk we also saw Marine 1 take off with President Bush and Mrs. Bush from the Capitol.  

After FINALLY making it back to Rosslyn, we stopped at McDonald’s to finally have a meal.  We went back to the hotel and watched a little bit of the parade. One of my roommates received two tickets to the “Neighborhood Ball” and I was fortunate enough to be her guest.  We had barely started to watch the parade when it was time to get ready for the ball.  I had never attended one before and was pleased to no end with the event.  

Several musicians performed at the ABC televised event, such as, Sting, Maroon 5 and Alicia Keys.  Beyonce sang the song “At Last” to the new President and First Lady, as they made their first appearance (of 10) at the official balls.  Hearing “Hail to the Chief” brought chills to my spine, which only continued when I realized how close we were to the couple.  Thanks to Cara for the ticket…it really meant a lot and I had a total blast tonight.  

Right now I’ve been awake for 21 hours.  I’m not entirely packed yet for returning home and I certainly have not absorbed all that happened today.  I think that will take some time.  Thanks to Dr. Brickman for taking on the challenge of bringing 13 students to D.C., as well as to the Washington Center for an 11-day experience I will never forget.  I can’t wait to get back home and share my stories and photos.  As for returning to D.C. in the future…I don’t doubt it.  Plus, I have approximately $5.00 left on my metro card…

The Inauguration of our 44th President!

I have never been so awake, waking up at quite possibly the earliest time I have ever awakened. Waking up knowing that you will be sacrificing your comfort level greatly to witness history and a turning stone in American history is a very easy choice to make. Mindy, Duffs, Adam, TJ and I made our way (unchecked by security) into the first block of the National Mall, about as close as we possibly could have gotten without tickets. We actually were not that far away from first tier of inauguration tickets that stood just after the reflecting pool in front of the capitol. We were probably 400 yards away from where it all happened. As for the lack of security on the mall, I was a little shocked and dismayed by the potential danger poised to our new President.

Upon arrival, there were hundreds of people camped out and sleeping on cardboard boxes and in sleeping bags. We actually moved quite a bit closer once everyone actually stood up. By the way, I think that anyone over 12-years-old should respectfully stand up so that the crowd can move smoothly and comfortably in the same exact temperature that the rest were enduring, but overall, things smoothed out. By 9:30 AM, they decided to play a repeat of the Inaugural concert which really helped pass the time and kept everyone moving and warm. Thank goodness for Garth Brooks’ exciting performance =). At around 10 AM, we started to see clips on the teleprompter of various public figures arriving to the Capitol. It was actually relieving to see the arrival of Arnold Arnold Schwarzenegger because it meant the show would be on the road soon. By that time, my toes felt like they were going to fall off but I knew it would be worth the while. I mean, it was better than standing in three feet of snow in Buffalo.

At 11 AM, the House members, the state senators and the state governors started to arrive. We saw John Kerry, John McCain, Ted Kennedy and others as they arrived. We also saw the arrival of Martin Luther King III and Muhammad Ali. The excitement on everyone’s face, especially our well-known leaders really lifted my optimism for the future of our country in the hands of the Obama administration above and beyond an already rather optimistic view. It was really nice to see everyone come together was Americans, young, old, rich, poor, black, white, Christian, Muslim, etc. All party labels diminished in this focus of transition chosen by the American people. The excitement of the millions of people around me was just overwhelming and created one of the most memorable atmospheres of my life.

The swearing in of Obama really just became a sweet strike from reality. It finally happened. Hope, renewal and optimism for America. Obama’s passion for what is truly American will make us grow together as a people and make us a prominent force globally once again. For once, cheers for someone meant a lot, because it was for the leader of our country for whom we support.

Obama’s speech was absolutely breathtaking and could not be any more perfect for the time in which he has arrived. Government is not against us like previously felt, but with us and for us. After walking away after the speech to go home, the shared calmness and appreciation felt by everyone around made it feel great to be an American again. For once, I can really say, yes, we are one.

The three mile trek back to the hotel actually went pretty quickly, considering we had to walk through brush, over barriers, through masses of people crammed on small streets going the opposite direction, up hills and over bridges. What an exciting, cold, optimistic and uniting day. I am so grateful that I was able to spend this historic moment in Washington, DC with my fellow St. Bonaventure friends and that I was able to share this experience with my family and my community, as well.

Thank you Dr. Brickman, St. Bonaventure University and the Washington Center for all your hard work to give us this unforgettable opportunity!

Here is a link to the satellite image of the Presidential Inauguration crowd on the National Mall and beyond provided by CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/44.president/inauguration/mall.satellite/

Standing on the National Mall at 4 AM

Right before the swearing-in ceremony

Right before the swearing-in ceremony

Mr. President has arrived!

People walking on the highway out of the city.

A Day To Remember

A 3am wake-up call did not seem like a good idea when the alarm rang this morning. I did manage to get up and moving though. A bunch of us headed for the metro station at a little after 4 this morning. We got ended up closer to the Capitol building than I had thought we would. We didn’t have too much trouble seeing the ceremony since we were right next to a big screen. The morning went by very slowly. We were standing in our spots at a little after 5am and quickly started to freeze over. Once everything went numb it didn’t seem so bad. It was cool to watch the sun rise and also feel the little bit of heat that came from it. After awhile the screens started playing the “We Are One” concert from Sunday. Having the music really woke up the crowd. People were singing and dancing with the songs.

Bearing the crowd on the way out was a different story. It was complete insanity; which was to be expected. There were 5 of us that stuck together and we navigated our way back from the Capitol Building to the metro stop in Arlington and finally a ride back to our hotel.

I thought Obama had a well done speech. I truly enjoyed listening to it. Overall, I felt that the day was worth it. Everything that we have gone through over the last week has been invaluable. I wouldn’t trade it in for anything. We were able to experience a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am exptremely thankful that I could take part in it.

A part of the whole day that surprised me was the lack of security where we walked in. We heard from others that up front they had to go through a security check point. We had none of that where we walked in. I didn’t see any effort of security farther back.

I loved every minute of being in Washington DC but I am still happy to be getting back to a bed with sheets and a room with heat.

Inauguration

Today was the perfect cap to our trip here in D.C.  We woke up around 3:15 to get ready and catch the Metro when it opened around 4a.m.  It was a madhouse underground and patience was needed.  It took a lot of crowd-manuvering before emerging above ground again and we had to run to get in line before a great many other people.  Before the sun rose we had moved beyond the entrance, and after sunrise we went through the security checks.  We were completely patted down and checked before we all ran to get to the fence.  We were about 5 people back from the fence right after the reflection pool in front of the Capital.  I couldn’t even lift my arms we were so crowded.  After about two hours, the people in front of us broke down the plastic fence and the crowd took us to the edge of the frozen reflection pool.

Around 10 a.m. a children’s choir sang some patriotic songs, followed by some other instrumental singing.  As the Congressmen, Senators, Cabinet, and other high ranking officials came to sit down, they were announced.  One man behind me gave frequent “Bush updates”  - telling us the last minute of the Bush presidency.  There were loud cheers for former Presidents Clinton and Carter, and when President Bush was announced the crowd gave a sea of boos.  The crowd even sang “Nananana Nananana Hey Hey Hey Good bye” for a brief time.  When the Obama and Biden families were introduced there were loud cheers and the crowd chanted “O-ba-ma” when he came out.  Following an invocation from Rev. Rick Warren, Joe Biden was sworn in as Vice-President by Associate Justice John Paul Stevens of the Supreme Court.  After another song, Chief Justice John Roberts sworn in Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.  It was an extremely joyous moment for the whole crowd and the atmosphere was one of optimism.

Turning around and looking at the crowd was really humbling – there were just hundreds of thousands (probably over a million) people waving flags and cheering.  It was really a sight to see.  After being sworn in, President Obama gave a great speech about coming together to do work and bring the nation out of these hard times.  One line that sticks out to me was “We are willing to stretch out our hands, but you must be willing to unclench your fist”  in reference to people outside of the United States.

After the rousing speech people started to go – which led to mayhem.  We traveled across the frozen reflection pool to Independence Ave.  It was mass confusion as we traveled through intersections as the police tried to drive cars and trucks through.  I could just lift my legs and be swept away, so it was a trick trying to keep everyone together.  We walked all the way from the Capital, across the Potomac River into Arlington and then to McDonald’s for some food – which took us to about 3:15.  My legs are like jelly from standing for so long and then walking about six miles.

It was at that time I took a hot shower and then a glorious nap.

I would just like to thank Dr. Brickman and the Washington Center for bringing us to D.C for this event.  Also thank you Jenn for the tickets and the Hartnett’s for thier driving.  Tomorrow it is back to Bonas to get back to school.

An Invaluable Experience.

Today was the big day the nation has been waiting for for months, and for some years. We got up at 3:50 with hopes to board the metro at 4. When we arrived at the National Mall, I thought the pedestrian traffic was not terribly overpowering. We got a great spot, fairly close to the capital. Once I arrived, I quickly became extremely cold. For me, it was unbearable. I left and thought I would just get back to a Metro Station. I was so foolish. Authorities had locked us in with gates. I was unable to get out and ran in circles until finally I found a really nice National Guard’s officer who was very kind to me and let me out.

I visited three different entrances to one metro station before I was able to enter it to return back to Arlington. While I was at the one standing in line,  a lady fell into the tracks and was hit by a train. Authorities soon closed this one as well. I was very frusterated. I finally was able to get onto the metro and watched the Inaugural Speech from my hotel room, which was just as well.

In concluding the events of the past week, I will say it is a priveledge  and a challenge to be in Washington during the Inaugural process. It has been an experience I will never forget. What I valued most about this trip is getting to understand the hope and enthusiasm people have for Obama in this time of economic uncertainty. It has undoubtedly helped me to understand the 1933 Inauguration. It is an invaluable experience.