Students in the Washington DC share with us their experiences during a very busy Friday.
TIM ’27 & NICHOLAS ’27
Today we explored the White House and completed a self-guided tour, noticing some key details that illustrate the importance of democracy in the United States Government. The Greek and Roman architectural styles (e.g., symmetrical pillars and iconic portico) demonstrate their firm belief in democracy since the building’s origin; the information boards provided us with insight into different artifacts that underline the democratic journey through history; even striking a casual conversation with the agents inside revealed the day-to-day experience of being in the White House, promoting the importance of civic dialogue and open communication! After the White House Tour and a delicious lunch at Ben’s Chili Bowl, we were given a tour of the Chinese Embassy in D.C., on which we were introduced to the traditional Chinese-style decorations distributed across the building. We were educated on Leader Xi Jinping’s diplomatic philosophy of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation and also learned about the Confucian belief of “Harmony in Diversity”, an idea that still carries to our modern day, providing grounds for civil dialogue. Our tour guide, exhibiting professionalism and willingness, also graciously provided answers to our questions on US-China relations and gifted us a panda plush as a souvenir.
KATIE ’27
After filling ourselves with a delicious dinner from Farmers Fishers Bakers, we headed to the Kennedy Center for a captivating evening production starring Seth McFarlane, the American actor and singer well-known for creating the television series Family Guy and The Orville, and Elizabeth “Liz” Gilles, the accomplished American actress and singer best known as Jade West in the Nickelodeon series Victorious. As we settled into the bustling auditorium with people from all over the country, the duo mesmerized us with their exceptional vocal talents and engaging conversations between songs. All the songs that were performed were written during the 20th century, predominantly centered around the theme of love, intended for the upcoming Valentine’s Day. Witnessing couples deepening their affection for one another throughout the performance was a heartwarming sight, adding an additional layer of joy to the evening. The National Symphony Orchestra, providing background music for all eleven songs from their shared album Songs from Home and We Wish You The Merriest, also earned praise for their impressive display, with each instrument distinctly visible and audible even from the back rows of the auditorium. The performance came to an end with a resounding standing ovation from the audience, creating a truly memorable and delightful evening for the Deerfield group.
JENNIFER ’27
On our first stop in Washington, we went to the Council of Foreign Relations (CFR). The vice president of corporate affairs was generous enough to give us a tour around their office building and answered any questions the students had. The CFR is divided into more than 15 departments, and each of these departments has a different field of expertise. Departments such as Digital Content work to keep the most up-to-date information on global issues, and some of the important relationships were also published as books. The CFR was established after WW1 and has undergone a lot of modifications to try and acclimate to the ever-changing society. As it continued to evolve and include more variousness, their viewpoints became more diverse, but one thing that did not change was their unbiased political standpoint. The CFR cannot accept any money from the US or any other country’s government, which enhances their neutral stance but also limits their capability. This results in the CFR only having enough energy to tackle the more well-known issues like US-China relationships, the Russia-Ukraine war, or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while tending to devote fewer resources to studying regions like Central and Southern America.
