Day 13 Thursday, September 24th (M.S.)

 

Today we had a very calm morning because we could freely roam around Boston. We took our usual morning train, and once we arrived in Boston, we dispersed quite quickly. First, my group went to a post office to buy some stamps. There, we met a Puerto Rican lady who worked behind the counter. She was lovely and very keen to chat with us in Spanish. We then walked to the Boston Public Market to buy some everything bagels with cream cheese, our new favourite. Then we wanted to go to the large park to enjoy our coffees and bagels, but got distracted a few more times along the way.

First, we saw the cop slide and had to try it. We then attempted to recreate Nemo’s performance of The Code on a spinning platform. Next, some of us visited the Boston Public Library. This building is one of the most magnificent I’ve ever seen. First, you see this grand marble staircase with lion sculptures decorating each side. On the second floor is the big hall of students and concentrated people. The intricate ceiling and green lamps on each long wooden table made us feel like we had gone back in time. We enjoyed a peaceful half hour in the hall, watching all the productive people, before meeting up with the class once again.

In the afternoon, we first did the Black Heritage Trail with a tour guide. She explained the neighbourhoods we visited and told us some fascinating stories about how Black people fought slavery and for their rights. One story stuck with me: that of a Black girl who couldn’t go to any elementary school, but had to walk across town to a segregated one. On the way from her house to the school, there were four other schools which she was forbidden to attend because of the colour of her skin. The discrimination this girl and other African Americans had to face is appalling.

Once the tour had finished, we visited the African History Museum. However, by that point, the whole class was very exhausted, so we didn’t stay too long.

Later on, I had a very enjoyable evening, as a group of us went for ice cream and then to play mini-golf.