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.)