Final Reflection
I actually did find the Boston trip interesting, and it was actually pretty nice to see some of the historical sights such as the Freedom Trail, Fenway Park, and the Salem Cemetery. Visiting colleges was something good for us to see and experience so we could get an idea of what looking into a college is like. It also helps us decide whether we would prefer an urban or suburban environment. It was also great to get a taste of Boston candy from places like Mike's Pastries and the oldest candy shop in Salem.
The best parts of the Boston trip, were always the nights. At the end of the day we always got to do something fun. The second night we went on that cruise ship, had a nice dinner, and we got to socialize with eachother. The third night we got to see movies and go have dinner at the mall. The last night we got to see a play called Shear Madness, which I liked because of it's excellent improvisation. Yes, visiting the colleges was boring, learning about some of the American history was boring, but we at least got something from it. The only thing I would really want different from the Boston Trip is that if enough people wanted to go to a redsocks game, if we got to sleep in, and if we weren't left in a town for 4 hours while the teachers get a "few" drinks at "Ye Olde Irish Pub".
The main thing I took a way from Boston is that it's city and the places around it are more historical than I initially though. The first thing I learned, and most importantly was in Fenway Park. It's that Boston Redsocks are better than every other team, the redsocks endured the curse of the Bambino for about 70 years, and that one the other side of the scoreboard, each redsocks player has written their name. We also saw the Boston Common, Paul Revere's house. Paul Revere got famous because his named rhymed with a poem that made him famous. We also went to Quincy Market and visited a Church with seperate cubicals that isolated families from one another. We also saw the graves of those involved in the Witch Trials and those who were executed within a 4 day time frame. This even included characters from the very novel we are reading in English class known as The Crucible. We also went to Lexington and Concord where we saw the memorial where 77 minute man stood against hundreds of British troops and "The shot heard around the world". We also visited the Battlesight of the Bridge that went to Concord and we saw a memorial to British troops. There was certainly something that we took away.
In our college visits, we went to Boston College, Boston University, and Harvard. Based on visiting those colleges, I learned that I am more likely to appreciate an urban city, because it a Suburban city you kind of feel isolated within the community. In an urban city, that's where the action is, and you meet a lot more people. Also the suburban setting, and the fact that B.C. seemed pretty right wing, and religious...which is not exactly what I prefer. I liked the sizes of the colleges, both in B.C. and B.U. Boston College was big enough so that you felt like it was really it's own exclusive community, but Boston University is a great size because you feel like your part of the city. Same with Harvard as well, I can't really complain about the size. The tours basically helped me understand that I would like a college near or within a city with people that are not only affiliated with the college. I thought I would be crazy if I applied to Harvard, and after that Harvard Tour, Steve even strengthened my opinion on not going to Harvard. Steve constantly ranted how famous patriots like George Washington, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams went to Harvard. Also the whole 150$ application fee, and 7% applicants are admited into Harvard just made me less likely to even think about Harvard. I still want to check out some other Surban Colleges, but it seems that I am more intrested in urban.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
September 25, 2008
This morning, we woke up and took a bus ride to Salem later than usual compared to the previous times. This time, we had to be at the Bus around 9:15. We visited the cemetary that had the graves of those who were involved in the Salem Witch Trials. This visit also included an individual section that gives the names of approximately 12 people who were wrongly executed in the witch trials, as well as a list of quotes said by those whom were wrongly executed. After that we went to a nearby Museum that had various forms of art from Asian art to modern paintings. We then walked over to a deli for sandwiches, and soon after we went to one of the oldest candy stores in Salem, and I got some chocolate taffy.
Soon afterwards we took a long bus ride to this town where we spent three hours. There were many ice cream places and other shops located within the small town. After a long while, we finally got a bus to take to the theater. We watched the play called Sheer Madness. The play was mediocre in the begining and end because the events in the play were all scripted. The middle was the best part because of all the improvisation and exchanges going on between the actors and the audience. What sucked about the ending was that the majority vote of the audience decided which character was guilty in the story line. This made me wander whether the same character was picked almost half of the time, despite of the "too obvious" character almost never ends up to be the real killer in a story. The play made the day a great last day in Boston. I have seemed to notice that each event that occurs before the end of the day is what usually makes that day great.
This morning, we woke up and took a bus ride to Salem later than usual compared to the previous times. This time, we had to be at the Bus around 9:15. We visited the cemetary that had the graves of those who were involved in the Salem Witch Trials. This visit also included an individual section that gives the names of approximately 12 people who were wrongly executed in the witch trials, as well as a list of quotes said by those whom were wrongly executed. After that we went to a nearby Museum that had various forms of art from Asian art to modern paintings. We then walked over to a deli for sandwiches, and soon after we went to one of the oldest candy stores in Salem, and I got some chocolate taffy.
Soon afterwards we took a long bus ride to this town where we spent three hours. There were many ice cream places and other shops located within the small town. After a long while, we finally got a bus to take to the theater. We watched the play called Sheer Madness. The play was mediocre in the begining and end because the events in the play were all scripted. The middle was the best part because of all the improvisation and exchanges going on between the actors and the audience. What sucked about the ending was that the majority vote of the audience decided which character was guilty in the story line. This made me wander whether the same character was picked almost half of the time, despite of the "too obvious" character almost never ends up to be the real killer in a story. The play made the day a great last day in Boston. I have seemed to notice that each event that occurs before the end of the day is what usually makes that day great.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
September 24, 2008
Today we woke up slightly later than usual, so almost everyone wasn't as tired compared to yesterday. We got some breakfast and took the Bus to our first college visit. We first went to Boston University, and we met in the room where a man gave us a overview on the college, the classes they teach, the requirements to get in, and so on. Eventually, we walked out of the lecture room, and a representative of the college showed us around the University. A lot of the dorms were really high up, which seemed to be different from most other colleges. After the tour we took the Bus to Harvard University to get some lunch.
We arrived at Harvard, and Steve told us there was a Quiznos in the vicinity, so some other people and I embarked on an epic quest to find Quiznos but it failed miserably because Steve was thinking he saw a Mexican restaurant that happened to be called Quiznos. Eventually, Steve gave us a tour of Harvard University. The tour mainly involved Steve referring to all the significant people that went to Harvard. Harvard recieved a lot of praise for being a school full of geniuses. Steve says that it costs about 150$ to apply to Harvard and that 7% of applicants were accepted. I would be pretty suprised if someone in our junior year just happened to get accepted in Harvard, because the requirements seem really big.
We ended our tours of genius only colleges and proceeded by bus to the location where 77 minute man stood of against a huge army of British troops. There was memorial to them, and it shows those who were involved, dead, or wounded. Eventually we went to Lexington and Concord and saw the bridge where the American and British army where the "shot heard around the world" happened. It was the first time where any colony fired at their mother country. We eventually took a walk a long this pond and went to the movie theater. We got tickets to Righteous Kill, and we were lucky enough to find a Quiznos in the nearby mall. The movie was awesome, and it was a pretty solid day.
Today we woke up slightly later than usual, so almost everyone wasn't as tired compared to yesterday. We got some breakfast and took the Bus to our first college visit. We first went to Boston University, and we met in the room where a man gave us a overview on the college, the classes they teach, the requirements to get in, and so on. Eventually, we walked out of the lecture room, and a representative of the college showed us around the University. A lot of the dorms were really high up, which seemed to be different from most other colleges. After the tour we took the Bus to Harvard University to get some lunch.
We arrived at Harvard, and Steve told us there was a Quiznos in the vicinity, so some other people and I embarked on an epic quest to find Quiznos but it failed miserably because Steve was thinking he saw a Mexican restaurant that happened to be called Quiznos. Eventually, Steve gave us a tour of Harvard University. The tour mainly involved Steve referring to all the significant people that went to Harvard. Harvard recieved a lot of praise for being a school full of geniuses. Steve says that it costs about 150$ to apply to Harvard and that 7% of applicants were accepted. I would be pretty suprised if someone in our junior year just happened to get accepted in Harvard, because the requirements seem really big.
We ended our tours of genius only colleges and proceeded by bus to the location where 77 minute man stood of against a huge army of British troops. There was memorial to them, and it shows those who were involved, dead, or wounded. Eventually we went to Lexington and Concord and saw the bridge where the American and British army where the "shot heard around the world" happened. It was the first time where any colony fired at their mother country. We eventually took a walk a long this pond and went to the movie theater. We got tickets to Righteous Kill, and we were lucky enough to find a Quiznos in the nearby mall. The movie was awesome, and it was a pretty solid day.
September 23, 2008
We spent our first night in Boston and woke up fairly early. We all woke up and took some very cold showers, and they provided us breakfast downstairs. We took the bus to go on our first and more interesting tour. It was a tour of Fenway Park, and what made it interesting was the tour guide. He was a hardcore Boston fan and he was on something that's not good for him....or he's just crazy. Fenway Park was pretty much what you would expect from any ball park, except what made it highlighting was that it was the oldest park. The tour guide of Fenway Park made the tour interesting through yelling and bad puns. We eventually took a drive around the Freedom Trail and Steve, the Tour guide, pointed out various important landmarks such as the Boston Common. We even went to a Church, which consisted of tiny boxes that seclude families from each other so that families could connect. The best part, before the church, was Mike's Pastries which had the widest assortment of delicious sweets. We were recommended the chocolate conollies and I didn't hesitate to get one.
We went to the Quincy market and grabbed some pizza. Soon afterwards, we visited Boston College, which didn't really appeal to me. The three things that made me not so interested in B.C. was that the school was religiously dominated by Christianity and seemed to be on the right wing of politics. Also, though I wasn't bugged by it, the college itself has its' own police force....which is kind of absurd. It all seems very tense, but at least it gives us a brief image of college and their tours. We eventually took a quick look at this naval ship, and went on a cruise ship. It was the best part because we got a nice dinner and it was a time to socialize with everyone else. Next time, we are going to take a tour of Boston University and Harvard University.
We spent our first night in Boston and woke up fairly early. We all woke up and took some very cold showers, and they provided us breakfast downstairs. We took the bus to go on our first and more interesting tour. It was a tour of Fenway Park, and what made it interesting was the tour guide. He was a hardcore Boston fan and he was on something that's not good for him....or he's just crazy. Fenway Park was pretty much what you would expect from any ball park, except what made it highlighting was that it was the oldest park. The tour guide of Fenway Park made the tour interesting through yelling and bad puns. We eventually took a drive around the Freedom Trail and Steve, the Tour guide, pointed out various important landmarks such as the Boston Common. We even went to a Church, which consisted of tiny boxes that seclude families from each other so that families could connect. The best part, before the church, was Mike's Pastries which had the widest assortment of delicious sweets. We were recommended the chocolate conollies and I didn't hesitate to get one.
We went to the Quincy market and grabbed some pizza. Soon afterwards, we visited Boston College, which didn't really appeal to me. The three things that made me not so interested in B.C. was that the school was religiously dominated by Christianity and seemed to be on the right wing of politics. Also, though I wasn't bugged by it, the college itself has its' own police force....which is kind of absurd. It all seems very tense, but at least it gives us a brief image of college and their tours. We eventually took a quick look at this naval ship, and went on a cruise ship. It was the best part because we got a nice dinner and it was a time to socialize with everyone else. Next time, we are going to take a tour of Boston University and Harvard University.
September 21, 2008
Today is currently the day before the day I depart for Boston. One of the bigger things I am looking forward to on the trip is the tour of Fenway Park. However, I am even more exited about the fact that we might get to go a Red Socks game. Some things that I am currently worried about is how much our day will be occupied with tours that serve the purpose to educate you, and a little less of fun. I am looking forward to this trip and it could possibly be one of the better out of all fall trips that take place in Marin School. That is, if it doesn't end up like last year, but there is still fun to be had. Tomorrow we will have to wake up fairly early to get to our flight which leaves around 8:00 A.M. I can't exactly recall the time. I am ready to have some fun, it will be nice to check out the East Coast.
Today is currently the day before the day I depart for Boston. One of the bigger things I am looking forward to on the trip is the tour of Fenway Park. However, I am even more exited about the fact that we might get to go a Red Socks game. Some things that I am currently worried about is how much our day will be occupied with tours that serve the purpose to educate you, and a little less of fun. I am looking forward to this trip and it could possibly be one of the better out of all fall trips that take place in Marin School. That is, if it doesn't end up like last year, but there is still fun to be had. Tomorrow we will have to wake up fairly early to get to our flight which leaves around 8:00 A.M. I can't exactly recall the time. I am ready to have some fun, it will be nice to check out the East Coast.
Monday, September 15, 2008
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