Me and My Roommates

John Chen (From China), Me, Nikhil Chinmaya (From India) 

Great Friends

Not only were the simulations and other activites we participated in as real as I'll get out, but the people were the greatest. I had a roomate from India and China (Living in Delaware and New Jersey respectively). I met a really great friend, Javiera (at right) from Chile (That's in South America just west of Argentina). I met friends from Puerto Rico, as well as all across the U.S.

I also learned a lot more about government than I already knew by acting as the Secretary of State in an executive branch simulation; as Supreme Court Justice Souter in testing the constitution (The case was Kilo Vs. New London); and as the main advocate for the passing of an amendment for Faith Based drug rehabilitation programs (we were a part of a caucus and I presented my arguement in committee as well as in front of the entire 500 people group). Thanks for reading :P 

The Trip of A LifeTime

I got back from Washington, D.C. on Sunday evening exhausted - but at the same time euphoric. My NYLC (National Young Leaders Conference) had come to a close, and I was sad to see it go. The trip was from Tuesday to Sunday and I enjoyed every darn minute of it. The realism with which we simulated all our problems was just like the real deal. The sites and memorials we got to see and be enveloped in made me think of the price of freedom -- and how great men and women have served this country to achieve and hold onto that.

I also met some of the greatest people ever. I met people from America, South America, Europe, Asia, all over. All of the people there were very intelligent and wanted to be there as much as I did and wanted to learn as much new stuff as I did. I would wager a guess that about half of the people there were bilingual -- a truly astounding number when you think about how few people in the U.S. can even have a small conversation in another language. 

The Capitol