In October, 31 of us were lucky enough to go to the USA on a combined history, politics and economics trip. The trip was expertly organised, and although we came back every day extremely tired from walking around, we were able to fit in so many interesting things in just a week. A personal highlight for me was seeing the Museum of African American History in Washington DC, which had 3 floors of history exhibitions, spanning from colonial America and slavery to the 1968 Civil Rights Act and beyond, and 3 floors of the cultural impact of black Americans, including sports, arts and military history. 

In Washington, we were also able to see the memorials for WW1, WW2, the Vietnam War and the Korean War, which were incredibly powerful tributes to those who died in conflict. Mr Mead provided important context for each memorial. On our final day in DC, we visited the Capitol. While a fascinating symbol of American democracy, it also acts as a symbol of the rise of populism, reminding us all of the events on January 6th 2021, especially potent as Trump heads for another term in the White House. 

On our way to New York, it was interesting to visit Philadelphia and look out for posters and billboards for both Harris and Trump. To visit the largest American swing state so close to the election was a lucky experience for us all. In New York, we visited Liberty and Ellis Island, providing a fascinating dichotomy of the freedom the US offered to immigrants and the intense disparity between richer and poorer immigrants. A visit to BNP Paribas gave us the views of the bankers on the American presidential election and how it will impact the economy. Observing the presidential election with the context of our recent trip was an unforgettable experience.

Odette, Year 13