The Return to Normalcy

I walked outside yesterday and I had to jump into my car, there was snow on the ground, and when I took a deep breath, no smoke formed just outside of my lips as the hot air hit the freezing cold air. My schedule was once again run by bells. My homework had piled up and I spend twenty hours finishing my power point presentation and my "book" that was simply suppose to be an outline of my program. My room was a mess and the daily demands of work beckoned as my group of 16 students turned into 200.

However, I do not mind being back at home. While this trip turned out to be a success despite the circumstances that tried to make it otherwise, the comfort of home can never be overcome by the adventures of travel. There is always a sense of relief when you come home and your dog is waiting, wagging her tail, greeting you as you walk through the door.

My final photos from the trip are logged with a few pictures from a student who did a series on the weird positions I, as the photographer, took as I tried to get the right shot. I thought it was funny as the photographer became the photographed. It's quite nice.

To close out the DC trip, our team took home 14 of 16 awards and won the small school delegation award in commanding style, taking home three gavels, seven outstandings, two commendations, and one that is still pending. It was amazing when the pre-week discussions seemed about dreading conference while the actual performances turned into more than the amount of effort I expect to see from the students.

In any case, we made it home safely after visiting the Jefferson, FDR and Lincoln Memorial, and walking on the frozen reflecting pool, as we reflecting on one of the wackiest trips we've ever had at Cerritos MUN.