FINALLY
You've asked. You've waited. You've been patient.
Finally I have a post up about Hannah.
I have not been negligent.
I've asked. I've waited. I am no longer feeling patient. But Hannah is a busy girl. She's running packages. And seeing famous people. And eating breakfast at Crepes-a-go-go every Saturday morning.
Busy. No time to write home.
You've asked. You've waited. You've been patient.
Finally I have a post up about Hannah.
I have not been negligent.
I've asked. I've waited. I am no longer feeling patient. But Hannah is a busy girl. She's running packages. And seeing famous people. And eating breakfast at Crepes-a-go-go every Saturday morning.
Busy. No time to write home.
Poor girl.
Well, so for the long awaited post about our girl that we left in the D.C. What an adventure. I still can't believe we left her there!
First of all - what a weekend we had. Orientation to a whole new life. She lives in a Page Residence Hall just off Capitol Hill. Guarded by the Capitol Hill Police. Really - there is a police officer with any variety of transportation about every 40 feet. So that is a definite plus.
We toured the monuments at night. Beautiful. Truly Beautiful. And I am not much of a monument kinda girl. But, still.
We made a big Target run to the 2 story Target(!) and tried to get her everything she'd need. And lugged it all onto the Metro. With much success! And lugged it all back to our hotel. And nary a bag broke! I've not walked so much since my days in college. 10.6 miles in one day!
And then it was Sunday and we got her settled in her dorm room. Her first room-mate's name is Priscilla. From Florida. Her stuff is all pink and she decorates with alot of Victoria's Secret bags and lots of BIG jewelry. Not exactly a like minded girl, but I think things have been good. Her other roommate came later in the morning - she is from Boston and her name is Olivia. Again, maybe not a perfect fit, but I think things have worked out. They keep these kids busy and tired! Not much time to hang out in your room!
First of all - what a weekend we had. Orientation to a whole new life. She lives in a Page Residence Hall just off Capitol Hill. Guarded by the Capitol Hill Police. Really - there is a police officer with any variety of transportation about every 40 feet. So that is a definite plus.
We toured the monuments at night. Beautiful. Truly Beautiful. And I am not much of a monument kinda girl. But, still.
We made a big Target run to the 2 story Target(!) and tried to get her everything she'd need. And lugged it all onto the Metro. With much success! And lugged it all back to our hotel. And nary a bag broke! I've not walked so much since my days in college. 10.6 miles in one day!
And then it was Sunday and we got her settled in her dorm room. Her first room-mate's name is Priscilla. From Florida. Her stuff is all pink and she decorates with alot of Victoria's Secret bags and lots of BIG jewelry. Not exactly a like minded girl, but I think things have been good. Her other roommate came later in the morning - she is from Boston and her name is Olivia. Again, maybe not a perfect fit, but I think things have worked out. They keep these kids busy and tired! Not much time to hang out in your room!
They swore them into office later that afternoon. Impressive to see all these beautiful kids from all of the country excited and nervous and raring to go. I was listening to Hilary Clinton be sworn into office later that week and they each said the same oath. Do no harm, yada yada yada. Not to diminish the importance of the oath of office, but we might be in better hands if these kids ran the country.
Tom left for home that afternoon and Hannah and I headed over to the Library of Congress for the Page School orientation. That was something else. To be in such a beautiful building - there really is a cool energy there. Her Principal - Mr. Sullivan is an interesting guy - school will be all about group discussion, read, discuss,think, group - George Wyeth sort of education. Hannah would like a work sheet. With math problems on it, thank you very much.
Her Bishop came to meet us that night, Bishop Scott Parker. He was wonderful. They traded cell phone numbers. And that was also wonderful. She will attend church about 7 walking blocks away at 10:00 am. I won't tell the grandparents that the church is behind locked bars. There are 2 other LDS girls - one from Utah, and one from Virginia. The girl from Virginia usually goes home on the weekends. I think Church has been a little unusual. There was a cross-dressing teenage boy there last Sunday. A little quirky, no?
I toured around on Monday by myself. Went to AT&T and got her set up with an air card, which has yet to work. Finding internet access has been difficult for her. Her dorm doesn't seem to pick up any signals. Tricky, but she seems to be managing. I'd like to have more communication with her, but she sounds good when we talk.
Maybe I'll just have to visit more often!
I saw the Holocaust Museum. And the National Gallery of Art. What an amazing city. It was beautiful and cold and I could have walked all day long. What am I saying? I did walk all day long!
And now I am home. I teared up on every phone call the first week. She sounded tired mostly. But now she sounds excited and confident. School is still not her favourite - mostly reading, but she is doing well. She has seen:
Barrack Obama - day 2
Blink 182 & Good Charlotte (bands, for those of you who don't know)
Katie Couric interviewing Nancy Pelosi
A real Shakespeare play (- as opposed to the fake stuff out here)
Denzel Washington
She can't wait to show Abbey and Camilla and me around the city. I think she has settled in!
1 comment:
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing! I'm a wee bit jealous of Hannah, I must admit! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and under very interesting, historic political circumstances these days.
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