MOHAI and EMP

Thursday the 4^th of November we went to the MOHAI, the museum of History and Industry. It is located in downtown Seattle, so we had to get there by bus. We left school at about 8:45, but because traffic was so massive at this time, we did not arrive at the museum until 10 o’clock. It is more than twice the time it normally takes.  

The museum is the region’s largest private heritage organization and has a great collection of artifacts, books, costumes, historic treasures, and has more than 4 million historical photos- one of the largest historical photo collections on the West Coast.  

Even though we did not have a guided tour of the museum, I thought it was interesting. I especially found the section about the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 interesting. I find it thought-provoking that heating glue over a gasoline fire could cause 25 city blocks, including the entire business district, four of the city’s wharves, and its railroad terminals to burn down to the ground. The fire is called the most destructive fire in the history of Seattle. Despite the massive destruction of property, only one person is known to have died in the fire, a young boy named James Goin. The museum had gotten hold of a letter written by a 15 year old girl, Helen Anthony, to her uncle in Munich. In the letter she describes her experiences during the fire. It was really interesting reading a first-hand source from the fire.   

Afterwards we when to Downtown Seattle, because we did not have any school that they. There some of us ate at the Cheesecake Factory. Oh my god! Their cheesecakes are so good! 

When we were done we when to the Experience Music Project. We were seven girls who did not want to walk all the way. So we decided to take the Monorail. We had to stand in line to buy a ticket, and I happened to be the last in the queue. When it was my turn, I paid for my ticket and turned to the train. In the same moment the doors closed; the other girls in the train and me at the platform. I could do nothing, but watch the train go by with 6 laughing girls inside…    

Halloween Dance

On Friday the 29^th of October the school had arranged a Halloween Dance for all students. Almost everyone from my class wanted to go. It is not every day you have the opportunity to attend an all American Halloween Dance, and I never turn down a chance to dress up.   

Maja, me and Emma

After school that day I went to Emma’s house together with Emilie, Alexander, Nicolai and Maja, so we all could get ready together.  Maja was to dress up like the girl from the Temp commercial, Emilie as a vampire, Emma was a hippie and I was a member of the American mafia. Nicolai and Alexander were going to dress up as some kind of punk/rock musicians. It was really hilarious watching them put on pantyhose and make-up.

Nicolai and Alexander

Just as we entered the party the fire alarm went off. We all knew that it just was the smoke machine that had started the alarm, but we are in America, so we all had to be “evacuated”.  When we were standing outside the building, a fire engine arrived. When the security people had secured the building, we were allowed to go back in. The party was alright, but it cannot be compared with the parties back home in Denmark.  

Concert with God

Sunday the 24^th of November my host family invited me to a concert at their church. I thought it would be interesting to try, so I accepted the offer. I was expecting something like a gospel concert with a piano and maybe a couple of string instruments. I was definitely in for a surprise! When I walked in to the chapel it was as if I had walked in to a rock concert with light in different colors and a band on a stage with a drummer, a bass player, two guitarists, a pianist and a singer.

The floor in front of the stage was covered with people. When the music began they all began to jump and sing along. The only thing that told me that I was in a church and not at a rock concert was the lyrics. They sang of Jesus and how big the lord is. I am not a particular religious person, but I really had a great time. It is really interesting to experience how people express their beliefs differently.       

Hoedown

Friday the 22^th of October most of my class went to an Old Fashioned Harvest Hoedown. It was to celebrate putting down the hoe after harvesting.  We were invited by Kokulan from our class whose host-aunt’s church had arranged this night. They had work together with ISS (the international student service) so we got to meet a lot of other exchange students. After we had arrived they served an American barbeque with baked beans, chicken, cornbread, coleslaw, and chips. To set the mood a country band played during dinner. We our self had also tried to set the mood with our clothes. Most of us were dressed in check shirts, cowboy hats and scarves. 

Emilie, me and Sara

After dinner we had to learn square dance. They told us that square dance is the national dance in the United States and in Seattle. It was so funny! The dance itself was pretty simple, but when you had to coordinate with your partner, your quadrille and the music, it became almost impossible. Even though we had no idea of we were doing it right, we were all laughing and enjoying it.         

“Boeing City”

Thursday the 21th of October we visited the Boeing Plant and the Future of Flight Aviation Center. We arrived 30 minutes before our tour started. This time we spend in the gift shop. It is amazing what you can buy for money. Most of the things in the shops had nothing to do with airplanes, but it was funny way of killing some time. 

Steffen and I 

Before we were allowed in the showroom we had to undergo a security cheek. We were not allowed to bring any electronic devices such as mobile telephones, iPods, and cameras. We were let in to a room that looked like a movie theater. Here they showed us a short film about the Boeing Company.

After the movie the real tour began. It is absolutely outrageous how gigantic Boeing is. The Boeing building is the largest building in the world by volume. The guide told us that if you place Disneyland on top of the roof of the building, were would still be about 3 hectares of space left.  It is a complied city with cafeterias, their own staff of doctors. The only thing missing in the “city of Boeing” is ironically enough their own airfield. We saw airplanes such as the 747, 777 and 787 in various stages of flight test and manufacture for airline customers around the world. I was a really great experience and I can only say that Boeing is diffidently worth a visit.