I didn't want you to miss Mr. M's flight update, so I pasted it up front so no one would miss it:
Mr. M wrote:
So far, our schedule is on time. Please meet us at the baggage claim for AA 5572. We are scheduled to land in Saint Louis at 9:15. See you all then!
Mrs. P writes:
If you would like to track departure and arrival of this flight go to:
http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightStatus/flightStatusByRoute.do
There are delays at Dulles, however, this flight is scheduled to leave at 8:12 p.m.. The flight status shows the flight will arrive at gate C7 at Lambert at 9:19 p.m. (IAD is the airport code for Dulles)
If you would like to track this flight in the air go to:
http://www.helloflight.com/ or http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightTracker/flightTracker.do
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Today's Events
6:24 p.m. Christian Text
We will be boarding soon. All overwhelmed. Well, maybe someday it will all process.
5:59 p.m. Alex Text
Eric's paddle ball is fun
3:34 p.m. Eric Text
We just got out of the Holocaust Museum. It was very informative. We are on our bus and
headed to the airport. This was an amazing trip and I'm sad its ending.
1:37 p.m. Eric Text
We are now in the American History Museum. After this we will go to the Holocaust museum and then leave for our flight. The museum is quite interesting.
11:02 a.m. Eric Text
We are about to leave Mount Vernon, it was fun, and the sites they were cool. I bought a paddleball. It is fun, everyone loves it.
We will be boarding soon. All overwhelmed. Well, maybe someday it will all process.
5:59 p.m. Alex Text
Eric's paddle ball is fun
3:34 p.m. Eric Text
We just got out of the Holocaust Museum. It was very informative. We are on our bus and
headed to the airport. This was an amazing trip and I'm sad its ending.
1:37 p.m. Eric Text
We are now in the American History Museum. After this we will go to the Holocaust museum and then leave for our flight. The museum is quite interesting.
11:02 a.m. Eric Text
We are about to leave Mount Vernon, it was fun, and the sites they were cool. I bought a paddleball. It is fun, everyone loves it.
Homeward Bound
So far, our schedule is on time. Please meet us at the baggage claim for AA 5572. We are scheduled to land in Saint Louis at 9:15. See you all then!
Insightful Words from Mr. M
From Fantasy to Reality
When my family and I emigrated from the Philippines in 1985, we were hoping for a better opportunity in the United States than what we were experiencing in a country controlled by “dictator”. Through this drastic change, we were hoping for better career opportunities, better educational opportunities, and better opportunities to exercise our democratic rights as citizens in a free country. When we arrived in this country we experienced a major culture shock. All of the colorful books and magazines I read as a child in the Philippines about the Unites States were fantasies. We arrived during a dead January winter in St. Louis, Missouri. No warm beaches, no Hollywood Sign, no Mickey Mouse, no Michael Jackson, and no Madonna. After major adjustments, my family and I realized that the hope of a better lifestyle is not free in this country. We quickly realized that we would have to sacrifice and work for these better opportunities to be within our reach.
With opportunity I was given, I am now a proud husband, father, teacher, and a responsible citizen. But for the past eight years, our country’s approach was heading to the fantasies I experienced during my childhood. For example, when my wife and I were borrowing money for our first house, the bank assured us that we can afford a three hundred and fifty thousand dollar house. My wife and I realized that there is no way we could afford this mortgage payment in two teacher salaries. If we accepted the offer, we were going to live beyond our means. This is a fantasy. Another example is the broken program of “No Child Left Behind.” The concept is admirable, but the objective is fantasy. With all of the different obstacles my students are facing, with different intellectual capacities, with different economic status, with different family support, with a different ethnicity, race, and culture, not everyone will be academically proficient by 2014. We did not all start on the same starting line and some of us work harder and sacrifice more than other, so we will not all finish at the same time. The idea that we can all be proficient at the same time is a fantasy.
The Presidency of Barack Obama will change all of these fantasies to realities. During his victory speech, President Elect Obama stated that for our country to turn around we need “a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.” As I learned from my family’s success story better opportunities and change come about with many sacrifices. Therefore, I agree with Obama’s philosophy of hard work. I am hoping with more responsibility taken on behalf of the government and individual citizens, our economy will have the confidence and hope to recover.
Obama’s administration will also reform the broken program of “No Child Left Behind.” Obama would like an alternative way of measuring schools and the academic performance of students. He realizes that schools are only teaching students to beat the test and states are watering down education to meet NCLB’s standards. Obama proposes a well rounded quality education so our students can compete in a global 21st century. Obama hopes that they too will have endless opportunities to be productive members in a free, democratic society.
The most significant impact of electing Barack Obama as our 44th president is the concept of hope. It is the same hope I felt as I anticipated my family’s arrival to this country. With two wars and a financial crisis, I am confident that Obama will change the United States so that it will once again be revered as a land of endless opportunities, not a land of fantasies. I do realize that it will take time and sacrifices from all, but as Obama promises “we will get there.”
I am hoping with this historical election that my two year old son, Niño, will understand that he is fortunate to be born in this country. But not everything will be easy and free. With sacrifices and hard work, he too will have an opportunity to become President of United States, as a son of a Filipino immigrant.
When my family and I emigrated from the Philippines in 1985, we were hoping for a better opportunity in the United States than what we were experiencing in a country controlled by “dictator”. Through this drastic change, we were hoping for better career opportunities, better educational opportunities, and better opportunities to exercise our democratic rights as citizens in a free country. When we arrived in this country we experienced a major culture shock. All of the colorful books and magazines I read as a child in the Philippines about the Unites States were fantasies. We arrived during a dead January winter in St. Louis, Missouri. No warm beaches, no Hollywood Sign, no Mickey Mouse, no Michael Jackson, and no Madonna. After major adjustments, my family and I realized that the hope of a better lifestyle is not free in this country. We quickly realized that we would have to sacrifice and work for these better opportunities to be within our reach.
With opportunity I was given, I am now a proud husband, father, teacher, and a responsible citizen. But for the past eight years, our country’s approach was heading to the fantasies I experienced during my childhood. For example, when my wife and I were borrowing money for our first house, the bank assured us that we can afford a three hundred and fifty thousand dollar house. My wife and I realized that there is no way we could afford this mortgage payment in two teacher salaries. If we accepted the offer, we were going to live beyond our means. This is a fantasy. Another example is the broken program of “No Child Left Behind.” The concept is admirable, but the objective is fantasy. With all of the different obstacles my students are facing, with different intellectual capacities, with different economic status, with different family support, with a different ethnicity, race, and culture, not everyone will be academically proficient by 2014. We did not all start on the same starting line and some of us work harder and sacrifice more than other, so we will not all finish at the same time. The idea that we can all be proficient at the same time is a fantasy.
The Presidency of Barack Obama will change all of these fantasies to realities. During his victory speech, President Elect Obama stated that for our country to turn around we need “a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.” As I learned from my family’s success story better opportunities and change come about with many sacrifices. Therefore, I agree with Obama’s philosophy of hard work. I am hoping with more responsibility taken on behalf of the government and individual citizens, our economy will have the confidence and hope to recover.
Obama’s administration will also reform the broken program of “No Child Left Behind.” Obama would like an alternative way of measuring schools and the academic performance of students. He realizes that schools are only teaching students to beat the test and states are watering down education to meet NCLB’s standards. Obama proposes a well rounded quality education so our students can compete in a global 21st century. Obama hopes that they too will have endless opportunities to be productive members in a free, democratic society.
The most significant impact of electing Barack Obama as our 44th president is the concept of hope. It is the same hope I felt as I anticipated my family’s arrival to this country. With two wars and a financial crisis, I am confident that Obama will change the United States so that it will once again be revered as a land of endless opportunities, not a land of fantasies. I do realize that it will take time and sacrifices from all, but as Obama promises “we will get there.”
I am hoping with this historical election that my two year old son, Niño, will understand that he is fortunate to be born in this country. But not everything will be easy and free. With sacrifices and hard work, he too will have an opportunity to become President of United States, as a son of a Filipino immigrant.
January 21 A.M. Post
Eric 6:43 a.m.
In the hotel getting ready to leave. We have checked out of our rooms and now we are meeting in the lobby. Its going to be a busy and fun last day.
Christian 7:41 a.m.
So, we are watching this video on Washington, our 1st prez that is and he gave up his power to the people... and yet today, the prez flights for more power than Congress.
Work with and for, mes amis!
With and for!
Well, it's not like I know, really.
Emily N. 8:21 a.m.
The inaguration was so crowded. I have never seen so many people at once in my life. People were actually climbing trees to see the speech.
Megan 8:45 a.m.
Yesterday, was an experience indeed. Hearing such powerful words from Obama made the trip worthwhile, but also brought up some great questions and discussion at dinner with Mr. E.
Posted by Mrs. P
In the hotel getting ready to leave. We have checked out of our rooms and now we are meeting in the lobby. Its going to be a busy and fun last day.
Christian 7:41 a.m.
So, we are watching this video on Washington, our 1st prez that is and he gave up his power to the people... and yet today, the prez flights for more power than Congress.
Work with and for, mes amis!
With and for!
Well, it's not like I know, really.
Emily N. 8:21 a.m.
The inaguration was so crowded. I have never seen so many people at once in my life. People were actually climbing trees to see the speech.
Megan 8:45 a.m.
Yesterday, was an experience indeed. Hearing such powerful words from Obama made the trip worthwhile, but also brought up some great questions and discussion at dinner with Mr. E.
Posted by Mrs. P
A couple late post
The cell providers must have been a peak capacity yesterday because I received this morning a couple of text from Jan 19 at 8:39 p.m. from Emily N. and another text from Eric yesterday at 5:40 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. I didn't want to miss any of your text so here they are:
Emily N. texted:
Getting into DC was hectic, but it was a bunch of fun once we got there. (I think this text was from Emily N.) Mr. E and Ms R got pooped on. Now at the hotel, finally at the end of a long day. The beds are HEAVEN!
Eric texted:
We stopped at a McDonalds. It was 3 stories. Apparently can serve 1000 people in an hour. We got to eat as much as we wanted. Still on our way.
We are having a good time. We just ordered a pizza. It took 30 minutes because we don't know the area so we guessed every time we called. It was fun.
Posted by Mrs. P
Emily N. texted:
Getting into DC was hectic, but it was a bunch of fun once we got there. (I think this text was from Emily N.) Mr. E and Ms R got pooped on. Now at the hotel, finally at the end of a long day. The beds are HEAVEN!
Eric texted:
We stopped at a McDonalds. It was 3 stories. Apparently can serve 1000 people in an hour. We got to eat as much as we wanted. Still on our way.
We are having a good time. We just ordered a pizza. It took 30 minutes because we don't know the area so we guessed every time we called. It was fun.
Posted by Mrs. P
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