Over 40 students from the Cross Cultural Internship Program (www.fusia.net) traveled to the nation's capital, Washington DC. The city is the base of the federal government, with all three branches - the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial - centered there. This visit offered the exchange visitors greater insight into the American government and a chance to expand their cultural experience.
Organized by six members of the group's Student Advisory Board, the students boarded a chartered bus early on Friday morning in order to arrive in DC to watch sessions of both the Senate and Congress.
Yilin Wang (Linda), who is interning with FUSIA Communications and was one of the activity's leader, was excited to see the process by which the US government passes laws. "In Asia, we hear a lot about the US government and the presidential election," Linda said. "Visiting DC in person made it feel more."
The students then met with Congresswoman Grace Meng, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives for New York State. She was available for a meet-and-greet in which the students had their pictures taken and were given a more detailed explanation of what a member of congress does. It was a chance to learn about the process of American democracy while gaining an understanding of the role of a politician.
After touring Capitol Hill, both the home of Congress and one of the city's most historic and famous neighborhoods, the group saw more of DC. "It's a beautiful city," said Wing Yan Li (Priscilla), an intern at Crystal McKenzie, Inc. "There aren't the tall buildings like New York has, so you can see a lot more of the city. Just knowing that the president of the United States lives here makes it feel special."
With cameras in hand, the students relished seeing the famous landmarks and visiting DC's many world-renowned museums. The capital is frequently ranked as the best city in the country for museums. With free admission at most of the museums and galleries of the Smithsonian Institution, everyone could find something that met their interests.
Yiwen Dong, one of the activity organizers, felt like the trip was a great success. "We did so much in just a couple of days. Planning this activity for such a large group, we wanted to see as much as possible and I think we did that. The group took a lot of pictures, so it will be fun to look back on these memories of this trip."
After two days in DC, the students returned to New York City where they are interning at various companies throughout the city, including engineering firms, advertising agencies, and government offices. Over the upcoming Fourth of July weekend, the students will travel to Niagara Falls and Boston.
