Washington D.C.
Throughout our lives we go on many unforgettable, life changing adventures. We have dreams about wanting to see the world, visit places, taste the different varieties of food and meet new people. Most of all we go to have fun.
When I was attending high school, during my sophomore year I had the chance to precede my adventure. My teacher from Polish Club decided to take the top ten students in her class who were mature enough to go and visit Washington D.C. I was thrilled when I got chosen. I knew that this trip will change the way I look at America and what has become of it. My friends and I were extremely anxious to visit the capital, and out first thought was will we meet the President? We could not wait to go and see the place where our country was created and walk to same grounds as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Our trip took place during the month of May, and Washington D.C. could not look more beautiful in my eyes. When we arrived, we took a stroll through the city. When we went to see the Jefferson Memorial, everywhere you could see the cherry blossom trees in their fullest bloom. It was unbelievable and it took my breath away. At the Lincoln Memorial, you could see Abraham Lincoln sitting in his chair facing the Washington Monument. The view of the reflecting Monument in the water was incredible and all you wanted to do was sit on the stairs and enjoy. At the Roosevelt Memorial, the large statue of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his dog was beautiful, including the quotes carved on the wall.
When we visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, I was shocked when I saw the wall stretching 75 meters long. The wall honors members of the U.S. Armed Forces who had died in service during the Vietnam War. It is a peaceful place. The wall makes a mirror image and it is magnificent. I loved the quote at the Korean War Memorial which stated that “Freedom is not free,” because I strongly agree with it. One of my favorite places to visit was the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial. The image of the soldiers raising the flag is from the battle for Iwo Jima during World War II, and is also dedicated to all those who fought since 1775.
As we continued our tour, we passed by the Pentagon, but I was disappointed when I learned we can not see it from up close since it was still under construction. When we visited Ford Theater, I had a spooky feeling, since it was the place where President Lincoln was assassinated. Many people said they have even seen his ghost. Later on, we stayed to see a play and I absolutely loved it. When we went to explore the Capital Building, we saw how the House of Representatives and the Senate work. The building is a huge symbolic architecture of our nation because this is where the House of Representatives and Senate have been meeting for the past two centuries. This is the place what our nation depends on.
I even got the chance the see the White House, the house of our President. We were not allowed to go inside, but it still looked stunning for where I stood. Places like the Smithsonian, the Art Museum, and the Garden of Statues were also wonderful. I saw many famous landmarks and different art structures that are all over the city. I saw the first flag of the United States and visited the Money Maker Industry. Seeing the U.S Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, the Louisiana Purchase, the Gettysburg Address and many more documents became one of my greatest experiences throughout my trip. I got the chance to see the original papers, the ones that we learn so much about and study in our history class. It felt like I was seeing “the living document” being signed. I have never forgotten this feeling.
My most favorite place of all was the Library of Congress. There is not a single word I could use to describe the Library. This place is just incredible. It is after all one of the most important libraries in the world. There are over 30 million different books and about 470 different languages used. Everything you ever wanted is there; maps, articles, newspapers, films, comic books, sheet music, and much more. The inside is charming and filled with many wonders. If I could, I would do anything to live there.
My adventure in Washington D.C. was my life changing experience. I have learned so much about the nation’s history that I could never imagine learning in class. The only way to really understand something is to be a part of it.
