On Friday, (July 15, 2011), students in the Cross-Cultural Internship Program (CCIP) visited Congressman Gary Ackerman's Office to observe and learn about the inner workings of the United States Government. Following the visit, students attended the Mets-Phillies baseball game at Citi Field, as well as the annual post-game fireworks show.
The visit to Congressman Ackerman's office was scheduled to begin at 3:30pm. The office is located on Northern Blvd. in Queens. The student met at the Flushing YMCA housing facility and travelled together by bus. Over 20 students participated in the visit.
Marc Haken, Community Liaison for Assemblyman Lancman's office, began by giving a thorough breakdown of the structure of American government, including an explanation of the election process in the US. Haken also discussed the background of Congressman Ackerman and went through the awards and plaques hanging on the walls in the office.
"There is an important difference between the American government and others. The American government works for the people, who have the right to choose who to elect in to office," said Haken.
After Haken's speech, Meghan McCormick Snell, Casework Manager and Office Manager, offered an overview of the day-to-day work in the office and explained how everything operates. After the presentation, she gave a tour of the office, providing an exclusive insight into how the government office functions.
Following the visit to Congressman Ackerman's office, the students headed out to Citi Field to take in a match-up between the Mets and Phillies. Before and during the game, the Mets and Citi Field honored the history and heritage of China, designated the evening "China Night." The night was capped off with a once-a-year post-game fireworks show.
Before the game, which began at 7:10pm, traditional Chinese songs were performed. The Flushing YMCA was also honored prior to the game. In between innings and in the middle of the game, Citi Field showed a presentation celebrated the history and culture of China. The game itself turned out to be an exciting affair, with the Phillies ultimately winning 4-2.
