Isabel and Steve at NZ Embassy after meeting with Ambassador Mike Moore

Jefferson Memorial

Steve and friend at Air and Space museum

Julia Child and her kitchen

Had a brilliant time the rest of our stay in Washington. Walked our way around the monuments, the Smithsonians, the White House. Went to various restaurants including a chinese in the former Boarding house of Mary Surratt, the first woman hung in the US. She was the owner of the boarding house where the conspirators met to plot the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Really enjoyed the fabulous weather in Washington and we walked everywhere.

Alas the Waikato team did not make it through but they all had a good time trying. Their presentation was excellent so they have some more work on their project selection when they get home. Still in NY. photos coming

We escaped LAX en route to have a mini stopover for 5 hours at Manhattan beach. Walked to the pier then out along the beautiful beach front promenade to Hormosa Beach for lunch and then back along for dinner in a little beach front sports bar. Taxi back to LAX to continue the trip to Washington landing at Dulles airport where you have to have the right change to get on the bus to the city. Our Washington Hotel was on the Potomac River next to the yacht marina. Very cool and not far from the metro into central although we usually walked into city and metro back. Washington is such a stately, orderly  city with massive classical Greek/Roman architecture.

Waikato University SIFE team completes

Waikato team choose to go up in the pool against Australia at the SIFE World Cup in Washington much to the delight of the audience at the pool selection ceremony. Around 2500 people are attending the event in the Washington convention centre  experienced unrestrained festivities at the opening cultural event. Waikato competed in the first round today and will find out in one hour whetherthey have beaten Australia to the second round. Steve

Tonight I went to the final NZ practice of the SIFE team at KPMG. They were well scripted and presented a really amazing story. Apparently they intend to practice on the plane going over. Hopefully not down our end

SOON TO LEAVE

Can hardly believe that there are only 2 big sleeps to go

Thurs 27 Sept  Depart AKL and spend 5 hours at Santa Monica beach on way to Washington  for Afternoon tea (probably lamb burgers!) with Ambassador Mike Moore at New Zealand Embassy. Then we take the students to Drinks and Dinner at The Front Page Restaurant and Grill then back to Channel Inn Hotel on other side of town. I have arranged for 2 US student guests from the American University to come to the Embassy function.

On Sat 29 we start our tourist thing on Washington DC Hop-on Hop-off buses. On Sunday visit the Smithsonian to see Julia Child's Kitchen, and in the afternoon we go to SIFE Convention Centre with 2500 other people for the cultural fair. Monday 1 October also SIFE and the opening round for the students.

 

Tues I visit Terry Holzheimer the Director of Economic Development at Arlington and then late afternoon hopefully the SIFE Awards Ceremony.

Weds 3 Oct we take the train for our first 3 days in the big Apple.