Erected in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers, the One World Trade Center now stands in their place as the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Tens of millions of visitors from all over the world have come to the 9/11 memorial since it opened in 2011.
On Tuesday evening, exchange visitors from the Cross Cultural Internship Program (www.fusia.net), an EVP J-1 intern program sponsored by FUSIA, gathered in Manhattan after their respective internships to visit the building along with the 9/11 Memorial Museum.
The activity leaders arrived early to get complimentary tickets to the museum. The 9/11 Memorial plaza consists of two reflecting pools and waterfalls, each about an acre in size, that sit in the bases of the fallen Twin Towers. In the museum, the students witnessed solemn memorials to all those who lost their lives in the attacks as well as a historical exhibition outlining the events of the day and the history of the buildings.
"We reserved the tickets ahead of time. I am grateful that we had the opportunity to come and see this exhibit for free as I learned a great deal," said Zhaoyi Ye, a student leader who studies at the University of Macau.
After the museum, the group crossed to the One World Trade Center and rode the high-speed elevators to the observation deck. The exchange visitors excitedly took photos as the sun began to set in the distance, creating absolutely stunning vistas as far as the eye could see.
For the exchange visitors, this evening was a chance to learn both about the city's tragic past and its resilient spirit. It is an experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives.
"The city is impressive from any height," expressed another student leader, "but seeing it from 100 stories up was amazing. I was in awe."
