Arrival

It's slightly past midnight here in Pennsylvania and we just made it to the hotel. Great news...it's very nice lol. The bus ride, although long, was actually very enjoyable. We laughed, watched movies and slept,,, a lot. What I found most memorable though, was the few times that as a bus we discussed our experiences so far. Our discussions ranged from many issues that affect us as a group and how an experience like this is both historic and life changing all at once. There is more than excitement in the air...there is a great sense of anticipation. Everyone is looking forward to something great, something monumental and I am certain that we will all get what we are searching for. This inauguration marks so many historic moments and I am honored to be able to be here to see the swearing in of the first African-American president of the United States of America. In true nerd fashion, I have been reading The Audacity of Hope this week leading up to the trip. I've followed the campaign and most news coverage of President Elect Obama but I wanted to get a more intimate and informed look at how he views our society and how as President he plans to change it. It is my plan to finish the book before returning to school as a symbolic completion of this cultural excursion. As we sat on the bus I kept having flashbacks to election night. It seems that that evening was so long ago. As I looked around the bus I saw that these were most of the same people that I experienced that night with. After reporting at the school's radio station, I met with friends at the African-American Cultural Center and with hugs, tears we celebrated the election of Obama in the streets of Champaign. That same morning, my roommates and I awoke at six to go vote early and were surrounded by so many more voters young and old. This election has changed and revitalized a generation and as I embark on this trip I expect that this inauguration will continue to ignite greatness in all that are able to experience it. That's all for now...gotta head to bead...off to Washington at four in the morning! **Erica**