With all my heart I can say that it was one of the most amazing experiences of my
life and I am very, very thankful for every person that put their time and energy
into providing the money for me to go.  With that said, I would LOVE to come and
speak at the speak off when you select next year's delegate. And if there is anything
else you would like me to do for you, the delegates, anyone...I would love to help. 
We have an assembly coming up for ASB and I'm sure that I could get a time slot in
there so I could tell the entire school about it. I also read the morning announcements,
so I will be sure to slip a brief infomercial in there ASAP.

About my trip experience though, I can't even believe how incredible it was. Apart
from all the amazing things that I got to learn about at the UN and other sites we
visited, I met some of the most wonderful people. I am still in close contact with
about 7 of them, and I hear from at least 3 or 4 different people from my bus every
week.  Thank Heaven for email!

As I sat down to write this and figure out what I would say about the trip, a flood
of memories came back to me. Memories of walking on Ellis Island... sitting in the
spot of where a leader from Swaziland would sit at the UN, trying to learn Swedish
from my new friend Stefan, or a cool Switzerland clapping game, getting caught in
a HUGE rainstorm in the middle of time square after seeing The Phantom of the
Opera (which was AMAZING!).  Seeing Niagara Falls for the first time, the humidity
(ahhhhh, so hot for a native Oregonian!) and so much more.

I was talking to my English teacher after I got back (the one who told me about
the trip and persuaded me to try for it) and we couldn't believe everything that I got
to experience for just writing an essay and giving a speech. I felt like I should have
done much more to deserve something like the trip.

At the end of the trip, when we all had to say goodbye at the Philadelphia airport and
go into our different terminals, I absolutely BAWLED. I cried and cried and cried the
whole time we were checking our luggage in, because I had to say goodbye to two
of my Swedish friends that I had become extremely close with. Fortunately the
majority of people on my bus were from Oregon and so I have gotten to see them
since our return. Two of my best friends now are from the trip; Sarah from Troutdale
and Stephanie from Ione. It's amazing what two weeks together can do to people.

The photos on the left of this screen can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Picture 1: Sam & Sarah "interacting with history" in Philadelphia.

Picture 2: This is a group of friends before we go on the tour of the United Nations.
The picture we are standing in front of is of one of the original UN reps from Sweden
and since we had four Swedes on our bus, we couldn’t resist the photo op. 

Picture 3: Paying my respects and Ground Zero. We all had a very reflective time
there; it really brought it closer to home.

Picture 4: Niagara falls!

Picture 5: My dear friends and I outside the White House. WooHoo!

Picture 6: Sarah and I ready for dinner and The Phantom of the Opera.

Picture 7: We got caught in a thunderstorm in Times Square after the play. 
It was picture perfect!