Inauguration Day! Tuesday, January 20th

Martin's notes:

Today has been a long, cold day! We left the hotel at 5 am to travel to downtown Washington.

That being said, I have no student bloggers this evening as they are letting off some steam by playing games together and swimming. The trip has been fast paced and far busier than they could have dreamed it would be! I know they've had a great time but many of us are looking forward to the trip home to (snowy??) Myrtle Beach. We will be visiting the Capitol tomorrow and the National Archives followed by a bus trip home.





This morning at 4 my alarm went off and I hopped out of bed. It's not often that I can say that, but today it is the truth! I am a political junkie and being in Washington is just what I need every couple of years to get recharged. I think being at an inauguration will keep me going for a while... at least until the next one!


We walked the dark streets of Washington with hundreds of people who had also gotten up early to see this historic occasion. As we scouted out a location, we discovered that we were about as close as you could get without having tickets. It was disappointing to see as the ceremonies were taking place how much free space the ticketed area still had open. We began our long wait.


As the sun began to rise over the Capitol building, I truly felt it was a new day for our country. I was filled with a feeling of humility and honor- it was amazing to be standing there with 44 of Myrtle Beach's finest students. These kids are amazing... they all decided to go on the trip on their own. I know I couldn't have chosen a better crowd. They are funny, intelligent, and caring. Most importantly, they are curious. They want to know how, and why, and when. They point out small matters of interest to their friends and they're not afraid to ask questions about things they don't understand. These students will be leading us, sooner than you think.

We stood together in the bitter cold for 6 hours. We talked to each other and others around us. We sang, we played games, we tried (and failed) to sleep standing up. We met Samuel L. Jackson. We discovered how much personal space you have when you're in a huge crowd. (The answer? None. You have no personal space.) Mr. Wallace said that our kids were "just a good time, waiting for a place to happen" and we happened on the National Mall today.

Then we watched the inauguration. I was overwhelmed. I stood in the cold with a bunch of strangers for 6 hours for a 1 hour ceremony.

I'd do it again tomorrow.

What a feeling to see in action that anyone can be President. You can come from a difficult background and become President. I looked at my kids and though, they all, truly, can become President. Having spent the last 3 days with them, I wouldn't put it past them.

What a feeling it was to be one with America. We were standing together for the same reason.

To understand, as a government teacher, how infrequently power changes hands in countries around the world without bloodshed. And yet, we do it here every 4 years. How lucky we are. How amazing we are!

To hear President Obama say something that rang so true to me as a teacher... we will extend a hand if you will unclench your fist.

What an honor to be there with these students here today. What an amazing honor, one that I'll never forget.