Donnerstag, 5. Oktober 2023

Day 15 (September 30) - Last day in Boston - Return Day (M.M.)

 Today was the last day for all of us in Wakefield, which was rather a somber occasion. We had the freedom to spend this last day with our partners, so there was no class program.
Fiona, our friends, and I began the day at a diner, where about nine of us gathered, and we also met some others from our class there. The atmosphere in the diner was quite lively. At our table, we ordered items such as waffles, avocado toast, poached eggs, and bacon on the side. After our hearty breakfast, we divided into smaller groups.
Following a brief shopping detour, we arrived at Fiona's home. She had a secret task to complete, so I used the time to quickly create cards for her, her mother, and Vera, a friend from WMHS who unfortunately couldn't join us in the exchange program.
Meanwhile, everyone rushed to get food at Chipotle. I found it a bit too spicy for my taste...
Once everyone had packed, it was time to head to the airport. Saying goodbye was difficult for all of us, and many tears were shed. Some, like Fiona's mother and Vera, I probably wouldn't see again anytime soon, maybe never. I only realized this when we bid our farewells.
We had to wait for a while at the gate before boarding the plane. After a light dinner (couscous with chickpeas and a small cheesecake) on board, we all fell asleep.
















































Day 14 (September 29) (E.B.) Science Museum / Isabella Gardner Stuart

I woke up at 5:45 once again, and this will be the last time because tomorrow evening we will be flying back to Switzerland. At 6:50, we all gathered at the Oak Grove train station to catch the orange line to North Station, downtown Boston.
Since we had plenty of spare time, Uma, Roxanne, and I took a leisurely walk, savoring the city for the final time. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and stumbled upon a small street market where Uma bought a dragon fruit.
When our spare time had passed, we regrouped with the class to visit two different museums. Half of the group visited the science museum, while my group and I went to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. It was an impressive building with ornate rooms that reminded me of an Italian palace, which I found quite appealing. After touring the entire building, we were exhausted and found comfortable sofas to rest on. Finally, when it was time for lunch, we ventured to Chinatown with Mrs. MacFarland, discovered a restaurant, and enjoyed an authentic and tasty Chinese meal.


Later in the day, we returned home and had some free time before the Farewell Party. Each family contributed to the food, and my host mom baked a real American pie, knowing I had never tried one before. Spoiler alert: it was incredibly delicious!


The party was hosted at Nevis’ house, creating a cozy atmosphere with delectable food. However, we didn't stay long; after a while, people came to my house, and we listened to music, savoring our last evening together. We all gathered in the basement to avoid disturbing others, and the room was packed with people.
Once everyone had left, Sofia and I remembered our plan to finish watching the "It" movie together. We tried to stay awake, but our efforts were short-lived as we kept dozing off and eventually retreated to our respective rooms. As I lay in bed, I couldn't help but feel sad about leaving tomorrow, but fatigue overcame me, and I drifted into a deep sleep.
Until next time!









































































































































































Day 13 (September 28) (G.A.) (U.R.) Salem

 Today, my classmates and I gathered in the high school cafeteria after our host sisters dropped us off. For them, class starts at 7:30 a.m., but our bus was scheduled to depart at 8:30 a.m., so we had some time to spare. When the classic yellow school bus arrived, it was a 30-minute drive from Wakefield to Salem.
Salem is renowned for its famous witch trials in 1692. Back in Basel, we prepared for this trip in our English class by reading a book called "The Crucible." In the book, we learned about the witch trials, during which a mass hysteria erupted, leading to 200 people being accused of witchcraft. In the end, 19 innocent men and women were executed.
Our first stop in Salem was the memorial for the 19 victims of 1692. The names of the victims and the details of their executions were engraved in stone. Seeing this made me realize just how real the event was, and the characters were more than just names in a book.
We sang for Selma, whose birthday it was, and were invited for coffee by our teachers. It was still early, and there weren't many people in the streets, making it more relaxing to browse the shops. The stores were filled with crystals, tarot cards, and all sorts of items related to wizards, witches, and mystical beings. Some shops even offered psychic readings or specialized in helping you find your perfect wand.
Salem was adorned with decorations in preparation for Halloween, and as the day progressed, more tourists filled the streets, making the shops more crowded. You began to see people walking around in wizard hats and robes or dressed up as various monsters. The more shops we visited, the more repetitive their merchandise became. It was a great place to purchase souvenirs.
We also visited the witch museum. It started with a significant exhibition. We were seated in a large, dark room, and the narrator's voice began to narrate the history of Salem witch trials over the speakers. With each new chapter, the lights shifted to another part of the room and revealed a reconstruction of the moment they were discussing. When we first entered the room, you could only make out the silhouettes of the mannequins, which created a bit of anxiety that they might start moving.
Our visit continued in the second exhibition, where the history of witches worldwide was discussed, and it concluded with a visit to the gift shop.
Afterward, we had more time to explore Salem, and I found a few more souvenirs to buy, but it wasn't as relaxing as before due to the increased crowds. At 1:00 p.m., the bus picked us up again, and we returned to the Memorial High School of Wakefield. Today was a more relaxed day compared to others. Once we were home, my host sister and I watched a movie. All in all, it was quite a calm day. (G.A.)
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today was a special day because it was Selma's 17th birthday! Her host sister allowed her to start her day with some sweet American donuts for a birthday breakfast.

Then, we all gathered at Wakefield High School, where we had to wait for our bus to pick us up. In the typical yellow school bus with limited legroom, we drove to Salem, the village famous for the witch trials of 1692. We had read "The Crucible" last year in class, which deals with this very topic. During these trials, 16 women, two men, and two dogs were executed on charges of witchcraft. There's a memorial stone for each of these individuals, and people still place flowers there. We took a moment to pay our respects, but soon it was time for a coffee break.

We all sang a birthday song for Selma, and luckily for all of us, Mrs. Mac Farland and treated us to coffee in honor of Selma's special day. Some had Matcha, others Chai or regular coffee, and then we headed to the witch museum.
The witch museum turned out to be a bit different than we expected. We sat in a dark room, and a voice narrated the story of the witch trials while different installations of dolls illuminated to help us better understand this tragic story.

After the museum, we had some free time to explore Salem on our own. There were many stores with quirky witch-themed items, as well as plenty of charming coffee shops and restaurants. You could even have your tarot cards read or get your palm read.
Later, we regrouped and, as usual, had to wait for the bus. Then, we headed back to school, and everyone returned home with their host sisters, enjoying one of the last afternoons in Wakefield. (U.R.)












































Day 12 (September 27) (L.P.) JFK Library

 

Today, we met again at 6:50 AM at the Oak Grove Train Station and rode into Boston, as we did almost daily. Once in Boston, we had some time to purchase our lunch or grab breakfast. Sofia and I visited a quaint café after securing our lunches. We savored Shakshuka and French toast, both of which were exceptionally delicious and provided an excellent start to our day.
At 9 AM, we regrouped and took both the train and, for the first time, a bus. After a while, we reached the JFK Library, situated slightly outside the city center. The building is quite imposing and some even remarked on its futuristic appearance. We had 90 minutes to explore the exhibition. I gained substantial insights into JFK and the American political system, which proved to be very engaging. I particularly appreciated the photography and style from the 1950s and 1960s. I was also unaware that nearly every president donates a building of some kind to the public.


Following our Library visit, we had some free time in the afternoon. We strolled along the shoreline to a beach we discovered on Google Maps. We found numerous beautiful shells along the way. Upon reaching our destination, we enjoyed our lunches. I had a vegetarian bánh mì with teriyaki tofu, and it was so delicious that I dozed off. When I woke up, it was time to return to the city center to reunite with the rest of our class, allowing us to head home together. The route to the nearest train station was intriguing, as we had never ventured into that part of the city before.


It was a wonderfully serene day today, and I'm thrilled that I had the opportunity to visit the beach before our departure!