Today we started the day with working out at the gym with Ruuben. Then the regular blueberry waffel and Hilton coffee. Meagan and Monika picked us up and we headed to the AED to meet Dr. Gary Weaver, who gave us a lecture about the US society and culture. It was highly interesting and catching, a good introduction to the American society and a fundament for understanding their culture. Of course I conspected throughout the lecture, it's good to have everything written down, cause we are experiencing so much, that it's hard for me to remind the morning.
After the lecture we went to have lunch to an Italian restaurant Bucca di Beppo. Four courses, delicious food, a lot of talking. It seems to me, that the Estonians are the loudest group, we have really bonded and we have our own weird Estonian jokes, that others wouldn't understand anyway. During lunch I chatted with Greta and Benedikta. By the way, I forgot to mention the most exciting part. We got the information about our host families. I'm staying with Greta at a northwestern suburb of Chicago: Buffalo Grove. I looked up my house at google maps and it looks huge. The parents have three children: Jeff- 16, Lauren- 14, Alyssa- 11. They are interested in travelling, photography, horsebach riding, cooking, music, cheerleading, volunteering. They have hosted many exchange students and they are keeping close contact with them.
In the afternoon we had a meeting with a lady from City Year Washington, a volunteer community service organisation for 17-24 year old people. The basically commit a year to their city, working with students etc. The lady was sweet and we asked a lot of questions. But it seems to me, that it would be almost impossible for us, Estonians, to have a similar corps organisation, because volunteerism and community service has such a history and importance in this country and that's something we are learning here.
Done with our interactive sessions, we headed to the American History Museum at the Smithsonian. All the museums in DC exept Newseum are free, very cool! The museum was interesting, but I was expecting more. We saw the gowns of the first ladies and Americans in war and the first big Stars- Spangled Banner. I'll show you some pictures of the gowns. You can take a look at the rest of the photos at my fotki album (annasaarso). At the Black American history department it was nice to see black American families learning about their history and young African Americans saying: "Hey, look at this, this is were we come from!".
Michell Obama's inaguration gown
We wanted to visit the Air and Space Museum and the Indian American Museum, but they closed early on Monday. so we headed to the Mall. Not the National Mall, but a shopping mall near Pentagon. We metroed there and also took some time to observe Pentagon. There was a Memorial to those, who died in Pentagon in 9/11. A very peaceful and nice place. The Pentagon was huge but not high at all. There were a lot of militarists taking the metro nearby.
We metroed to the Mall, it was just above the station: huge, and I mean HUGE, all- American, lots of shops. We decided not to buy anything yet, cause we have free time during the last days of the program and also in Chicago. I rushed through the Mall visitin Forever 21, Banana Republic, Aldo, French Connection etc. Fab!!!I'm coming back with extra suitcases. I also went to the Apple store and played with iPad and iPhone 4, cute! :) The cheapest Apple laptop is $999.
Tomorrow we decided to go jogging to the city with Ruuben, it is very common among the local people. At 11 am we are leaving for Chicago to meet our host families. Washington DC has become our home very quickly. I don't feel like I'm in a big strange city. I know the metro system and the streets and the districts and all in all, it's a nice place to stay.
PS! I haven't had any burgers or french fries yet! :)
Tervitusi kodustele ja sõpradele. Kui keegi midagi Ameerikast väga ihaldab, siis andke teada. Ja kommenteerige kui viitsite, et millest tahaksite rohke kuulda.
