We began the trip in NYC, exploring famous landmarks and getting a feel for the culture and atmosphere of the city. Notably, we visited Ground Zero, marking the area where the Twin Towers used to stand, and the 9/11 Memorial Museum. This was an educational yet devastating experience as it brought to light the horrors of the 9/11 attack and how widespread the effects were across the US and globally. We were given plenty of opportunities to explore the city in smaller groups, shopping, trying new food, wandering through Central Park, etc. Highlights of the time in NYC were going to Times Square, the top of the Rockefeller Building, having a 360 view of the famous skyline, our ferry trip to Staten Island where we could see the Statue of Liberty up close, and Central Park.

We then made our way out of New York, seeing the beginnings of a Trump rally for the upcoming election as we left. We travelled through New York State, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and finally arrived in Washington D.C. We went on an amazing tour around the city, which was not only educational but incredibly interesting and a fun experience, visiting many memorials, such as Martin Luther King’s, Abraham Lincoln’s, the WW2 memorial and the Kennedy’s family grave plot (the eternal flame) in Arlington Cemetery. We also saw the Washington monument up close, the White House, and other political institutions like the Supreme Court and the Capitol building; where we received a guided tour through the House of Representatives and the Senate. We were lucky enough to also experience the passionate atmosphere of a Kamala Harris Rally. This was like nothing we had ever seen before and we could all feel the sense of community in what seems like a very divided country. On our last day we went to an immersive Spy Museum and ended the trip on a very positive, fun day.

Julia Neilson (Year 13)