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| Room 1032 at Palomar Hotel - Washington DC |
It was Saturday the 24th, midday, when I arrived at Washington Reagan Airport and took the Super Shuttle (taxi colectivo for Peruvians) to the hotel I had reservations for. I was given the key and went to my chamber. Then, I unpacked my suitcase and decided to go for a walk to know the area.
To my surprise, just two streets away from the hotel I found a Police Station. At that point, I thought it would be great to practise my English and ask a police officer about some spots where to eat good food and where to get a camera. So, I saw a police woman and tried to approach her but she was in such a rush and entered the Station in less than a second. I thought to myself 'I'm here, I'll get in and ask.' I was one step far from the door when I read the sign next to the door "Gays and Lesbyan Liaison Unit" I usually consider myself open-minded but my idiosyncracy played a stronger role and I didn't go into the Station, I prefered to continue wondering around and find out by myself. It was silly to think I would be confused by a lesbyan.
After this event I suddenly realised that every 100 metres I bumped into gay couples who freely showed their love to each other. That's when I noticed I was not in Peru anymore. What is more the roundabout near the hotel called Dupont Circle and which I had surrounded and gone through is where gays and lesbyans usually meet. So, I switched off my conservative narrow mind.
Back at the hotel, a friendly voice said "Karen, from Peru?" I turned round ans saw a lovely middle aged Afro American woman next to a middle aged white-haired man who welcomed me to US. They were Barbara and Phill, two professionals addressed to take care of the group of International Visitors and the fulfillment of the Programme. These two, I'm sure will be difficult to see off at our departure.
So, I stayed in the lounge of the hotel with them waiting for other visitors. Here are the people from left to right : Rodrigo from Guatemala, Mr. Jim Nosal a specialist of the Office of Innovation and Improvement in the US Department of Education, Dulce from Mexico, Cleide from Brazil, Virginia from Dominican Republic, Mery from Honduras, Ricardo from El Salvador, Cecilia from Bolivia, Heyni from Venezuela, Bettina from Uruguay, Sandra from Costa Rica, another specialist (tall Afro American woman) from the Department of Education, Jose from Nicaragua, me from Peru, (sitting from left to right) Barbara our host, Luis from Argentina, Charlene from Trinidadad and Tobago and Olga from Colombia. Rich variety, isn't it?
Each of these people deserve an entire description of their professional background and above all a detailed description of the great qualities they have. So, I'll leave this for later.
As I had already had a walk around the area, I became a kind of guide for the first day of their stay. I may be the most absent minded person in the world but many may agree I have a great sense of space and can quickly locate places and different ways to get to the same place even if I've never been there before. Well, that's what I let them believe, but in fact I just like taking the risk and if I make a mistake, I know then, what not to do.
Day two: Sunday 25th
We were all taken to a tour of Washington. The photos of this tour will soon be uploaded in Facebook since I didn't have a camera at the time.
START OF THE PROGRAMME
Here things may get more academic. So the text in blue will be the 'behind the scene' description.
Day three: Monday 26th
- I first should say that on the 24th we had been given a book titled " America's Mid-life Crisis: The Future of a Troubled Superpower". So, this day we were to have a discussion about American Culture with the author of the book, Dr. Gary Weaver. He gave an amazing talk about what culture is for Americans, what processes the Americans have been through that made them changed their perspectives and how others may see the Americans. He was so clever to first apologise for using the word 'Americans' to refer to people from the United States and not us, the participants of the programme, by simply saying the English language doesnot let them have the right word. I will summarise the talk citing his words " For Americans, multiculturalism and diversity are not the same as separatism (...) rather they are a unique form of national cultural synergy in which the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. The richness (..) of the American mosaic (..) is based upon the contrasting colors and textures."
- In the morning we were welcomed by the authorities who are paying for everything we were and will be experiencing. However; the interesting thing was that the guy who gave us our expenses was a handsome, tall, Afro American called Akintunde Akinmade, Tunde for the friends. As I didn't have a camera I will be uploading the picture when given. Here, I should stop making comments otherwise divorce will be awaiting me at my comeback.
- After the talk, in the afternoon I was determined to get a camera and a netbook no matter how far I had to go for them. So, Dulce, Bettina, Virginia, Olga, Sandra and I took the Metro to Pentagon city, the shopping area of Washington DC. All of us had been advised to find a Best Buy to get electronic gadgets and so we did. We made two groups and agreed to meet up again in 45 minutes. Bettina, Virginia and I wanted to get a camera, a netbook or a mobile. We three separated in the shop and I found the Apple laptops section.
Here is a great difference with our stores in Peru. The laptos were tagged with the price and a sign saying 'Try me' and of course I obediently tried one of the Apple laptops. I entered my facebook and met my husband in the chat. I was so happy!! We chatted and chatted saying how much we love each other and had a little silly fight in the chat as not to miss each other... When I realised it was 50 minutes later since the two groups split to meet up again in 45 minutes, I said goodbye to my husband and quickly purchased a netbook and a camera. To my luck, these girls are so great that didn't make so much fuss about it.
A street before arriving to the hotel, we had a small sanwich dinner at a Subway. This food is so good and at reasonable prices, if once you go abroad and don't want to spend so much go there. Mc Donalds is the worst thing ever, the food is so fattening and not even tasty.
Day 4: Tuesday 27th
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| Before the talk with Dr. Levine |
- Afternoon:
1st: We had an appointment with Mr. Jim Nosal from the US Department of Education to talk about Federal Programs to promote English Language via learning History. It was so interesting but so short that the material we were given is a better summary of what they wanted us to understand. We were given the printed handout of the Common Core State Standards Initiative for Schools; however, this can be found in: http://www.corestandards.org/
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| Library of Congress W.DC |
- We had such quick lunch in the Earth and Space museum that not many of could finish the Mac Donald we bought and binned it to continue our visits. To be honest, that food was better in the bin than in our stomachs.
-Some of us got crazy in the souvenir shop of the Library of Congress. Some bought pencils, some chocolates but amazingly nobody bought a book.... as far as I know.. Well., we'll have the chance to visit other states and may find the books there as well.
- In the evening some girls went to an Italian restaurant for the third time in these few days and felt so guilty of eating so much. I promised Krist, my husband, to go to the hotel gym tomorrow morning;let's see if in the last day of my stay I go to the gym to burn those extra calories I'm consuming.
