Over the weekend, on July 21, 2019, group B of the J-1 interns of CCIP (www.theccip.com) visited the Statue of Liberty. This was the first time for many of them to view the impressive Lady Liberty up close.

The Statue of Liberty is located at Liberty Island which is in New York Harbor. It first arrived to the United States in 1885 as a gift from France and today it is one of the most famous attractions in the country.

The tour started out with a ferry ride to the island, where the students enjoyed the view of New York from the harbor. As the tour got closer, students took in the magnificent size of the statue and the rich history behind it.

Anson, who studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said, "The Statue of Liberty looks great! It is a well-known landmark, and indeed, a symbol, of America. It denotes the American culture which celebrates freedom, democracy and civil rights. It is also often seen in Hollywood movie scenes like The Day After Tomorrow and Independence Day – only that they were often destroyed by aliens or natural disasters, as a metaphor of the fall of civilization.On the cruise to Liberty Island, we have the chance of seeing the breathtaking skyline of Manhattan. It shows the vibrance and prosperity of New York. The Emperor State Building, the World Trade Centre and Trump Tower are readily visible from the ship. These are the fruit of the Americans’ hard work and, perhaps, the American dream!As the Statue of Liberty stands, it will back the world on seeking peace and liberty."

The event was organized by one of the student leaders of the program, Emily from the University of Hong Kong of Science and Technology.

"Learning about history by visiting this monument leaves a lasting impression and I would like to learn more this way. The view from above was amazing and I want to come back again!" said Emily.