On Tuesday, exchange visitors with the Cross Cultural Internship Program (www.theccip.com) gathered together to see the 9/11 Memorial Museum and travel up to the One World Observatory.

Opened on the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the museum provides a history of the two towers that fell after being hit by hijacked planes. The exhibits also provide insight into the day of the attacks and the restoration process. Outside of the museum, there are memorial pools with the names of every victim engraved into the surrounding walls.

Afterward, the group went to the observatory of the recently built One World Trade Center which provides a 360-degree view of the city.

This activity was coordinated by Valerie Chan and Jackson Lai, both students from the Open University of Hong Kong. They were responsible for getting activity tickets and arranging a meet-up for the group.

“It was really important for me to help organize this activity,” Valerie said. “That site is very important to so many people, and I think it’s necessary for us, as exchange visitors, to see those sorts of things and better understand what this country went through on 9/11.”

Jackson, in addition to coordinating the activity, is a group leader for the program.

“I like having the extra responsibility,” Jackson stated. “I joined CCIP because I wanted to improve my job skills, but also so I could gain new talents and become a stronger leader.”