Forty-three exchange visitors embarked on a two-day trip to Washington DC, the capital of the United States.

After leaving Flushing at 4am for a 9am arrival in DC, CCIP's elite scholars immediately made use of their time by going to the Capitol to watch both the Senate and Congress as they conducted business in session.

"Seeing the American government operate first-hand was exciting," said Erwin Wan from the National University of Singapore. "It was amazing to see how smoothly and agreeably the government operates."

Immediately following the visit to the Senate and House, the group of students met with Congresswoman Grace Meng, the first Asian-American woman to serve in the Congress. After a photo-taking opportunity, the group had time to talk with Congresswoman Meng before taking a tour of the entire Capitol Hill area arranged by her office. After the tour, the scholarly group enjoyed an intellectual discussion focusing on global issues such as climate change at the office of Senator Charles Schumer, the ranking senator from New York. The discussion presented a thorough analysis of America's role in the global community as worldwide issues are confronted among nations.

"Senator Schumer's office was especially illuminating for me," said Daniel Chia, a student from Nanyang Technological University. "It was both informative and enjoyable. We listened and were able to ask questions about issues affecting the whole world, and we learned about the American role in taking on these things."

The elite group then hurried to Georgetown for a late lunch. Afterward, they were able to relax a bit and take in the sights of DC's eclectic and intellectual Georgetown neighborhood.

On the second day, the group visited the Department of State for a foreign policy discussion. The security line made for a long wait to enter, but it was very worth it. The discussion was catered to the exchange visitors’ unique background and was tailored to answer their specific questions.

"The foreign policy engagement at the DOS was a great use of time because it was informative and worldly. I liked thinking about how the world can work together to solve so many issues that affect not just America but everyone," said Claudia, a Hang Seng Management College student.

After two busy days of discussions, visits, and informative meetings with government officials, the scholars finally had some relaxing free time. The group strolled around the area museums and landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the National Mall. The Jefferson Memorial's lakeside location was an especially popular locale for the elite group who enjoyed its relaxing atmosphere after such a busy two-day schedule.

"The museums in DC are second to none. It is truly a world-class city for learning and studying," said Thomas, a Hong Kong University of Science and Technology student who was also a student leader of the DC trip and an intern at the Queens office of Congresswoman Grace Meng.