Wow! What a great experience it was to go to New York City, Washington D.C and Philadelphia. During the trip, we visited so many once-in-a-lifetime places, going from the United Nations Headquarters in New York City to the White House in Washington D.C.
We made many new friends from around the world during the course of our three-day MMUN conference! Creating resolutions on how to make a better world, which was then voted on at the United Nations Headquarters was both, thrilling and challenging. One of us, Nicholas White even received the great honour of having his resolution being read at the UN General Assembly Hall.
While we were in Washington D.C., we got to bowl in the Harry Truman Bowling Alley. We all agreed it was quite the experience! Our tour at the White House went through the main hall decked with photographs of Presidents and other prominent luminaries. After we finished our White House tour, we were informed that President Obama was in the building the whole time! Too bad we couldn’t meet him. Warmest thanks to Jonah Simpkins and his parents for making the White House portion of our trip possible!
Other highlights included participation in workshops at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History (on Geology) and the Newseum (on Media Awareness); riding on flight simulators at the Air & Space Museum; and walking along the Washington “Mall”, where we specifically stopped at the Vietnam Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial.
We also visited several historic places in the 
D.C. area such as Old Town Alexandria and Mount Vernon (George Washington’s Estate). Did you know that George Washington was instrumental in the planning of the city of Alexandria? He was only about 18 years old when he embarked on building the city! We came away with a much greater appreciation for George Washington – “the man who would not be king”.
We encountered more history in Philadelphia as we meandered down Elfreth’s Alley, America’s oldest, continuously inhabited residential street. One of our highlights was visiting Betty Ross’s house, where she sewed the first American Flag. We discovered that at the time, the flag only had thirteen stars because of the amount of states – and Betty was able to make a 5-pointed star with one clip!
We returned home with a deeper understanding of the founding of the New World, and America’s role in shaping the founding of our country, Canada. As is inscribed on the Peace Arch Crossing, we are truly, “Children of a common mother”, and “Brethren dwelling together in unity”.
It was such an amazing experience, and we hope to do it again in the coming years!
– Nathan W., Avery Q., Ariana N., Emma W., Scott T., Aleksandra M., Nicholas W.