Atlantic City, Washington DC, Holocaust Museum, Georgetown, Smithsonian Museums, National Mall, WHite House, War Memoritals, Lincoln Memorial

Good morning from Washington DC.
We will be posting many photos this morning on the blog so please come back and visit to see some of the excitement.
We left New York on Sunday morning and drove out to Atlantic City. The weather was a bit cloudy so we enjoyed walking on the Boardwalk, watching the many people, checking out the outlet stores and having lunch along the beach.Our driver picked us up and took us by way of the scenic route, due to a detour on the highway.The students were challenged to tell us all the different states we have been in and today we had visited New York, New Jersey, crossed the Potomac on the Delaware Bridge, through Maryland to Washington DC. We have comfortable rooms here at the Days Inn and everyone has said how nice the beds are. I think we were all just a bit tired and were happy to have the big quilts and soft pillows!We had a wonderful dinner across the street from the hotel, where we ate Indian food and were treated like locals!!
On monday we took the metro to the Smithsonian stop and walked the short distance to the Holocaust Museum where we spent the morning. It was an exceptional museum and
the exhibits were filled with facts, photographs and memories of Holocaust survivors.Truly an overwhelming and powerful experience. I am sure it will make a lasting impact on everyone. We had a picnic in
the park and spent the afternoon on a walking tour. In the evening we had dinner in small groups. Some enjoyed chinese food, mexican food, and others went to a french restaurant where there was some musicians playing in a lively area called Adams Morgan.
Tuesday we spent the morning at the American Indian Museum which had incredible exhibits of many of the Native populations that make up the North and South American continents. It is here were we learned more about the first inhabitants of the USA and their many languages, songs, what they wore and how they lived. We saw a spectacular movie in a surround theatre tha was very inspirational. The afternoon included shopping and a trip to Georgetown. We had a dinner of a variety of dishes last night, and then boarded the bus for our night tour of Washington.
It was a beautiful starry night and some of us saw some meteors from the meteor showers. We were amazed at seeing the monuments lit up at night. We walked into the massive Lincoln Memorial and took a stroll through the Korean War Memorial. The statues of the soldiers were overwhelming and looked so real. Our guide also took us see the Lincoln Center, with it's hall of flags, and a view of the city including the Washington Memorial. The city under lights was truly memorable.
We are having a farewell brunch today, a walk to the National Cathedral and time for last minute. Tonight we will be going to see a baseball game where the Nationals will play the Mets. I hope to teach them the Star Spangled Banner and " Take me out to the ballgame" before we leave so that we can join in with the crowd at the stadium. It will be a true AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.
The students have come together like a mini United Nations and we have had many conversations where they have shared their life stories from their own homelands. I have learned a great deal from all of them and I know the rest of the staff has as well. We have all grown quite attached and we hope that we will be able to keep in touch. I will send another blog tomorrow after we send them off. I am sure it will be a sad moment, but they are also eager to come home and see all of you and share their stories.
Thank you for such incredibly mature and respectful sons, daughters and grandchildren. I truly believe that they are so special because of the caring jobs you have done as parents and grandparents. I hope you are all safe and talk to you soon.
Aloha from your director Tracy and Jennifer, Jeremy and Jennika.