Day 5 (September 20) - Visit to State House in Boston and Duck Tour (N.H.)

Today was our first field trip to Boston. We all woke up early and got a car ride to Oak Grove Station, where we would meet at 7:30 to hop on the Orange Line, one of the city's subway lines. We got off at North Station and had some extra time before our first official stop. Many of us went to Faneuil Hall to get food and souvenirs. Some bought T-shirts, and I got a cool new sweater!

We reconvened at Haymarket at 10 o’clock and walked to the Massachusetts State House. It's a large building in Boston, next to a park, where many political meetings concerning Massachusetts take place. After passing through a security check, we went on a guided tour of the building, learning a lot about its history and the state itself. The tour concluded in the room of representatives, where we met Mr. Donald H. Wong, the representative of the 9th Essex District (around Wakefield). He shared insights into current political debates and surprised us with an invitation to a quick lunch at a nearby coffee shop.

After lunch, we had a scheduled duck boat tour. It was my first time on a duck boat, and I was quite excited. Duck boats are like large bus-like vehicles that can operate on both land and water. Our humorous tour guide entertained us with stories about the city's history as we enjoyed views from the Charles River and Boston streets.

Following the duck boat tour, our group split up. Some returned to Wakefield, while most of us stayed in the city. I walked along Newbury Street with my exchange partner and two other pairs, exploring various stores until we were exhausted. Then, we headed back to Oak Grove station, where we were picked up and driven back to Wakefield. Although we had initially planned to go to the beach with some classmates in the evening, we decided to save that for another day.

Despite the day’s exhaustion, it was an immensely enjoyable experience and an excellent first field trip to Boston, making me even more excited about the upcoming ones!