I am 100% smarter about early American history now then before I went on this trip.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the speakers and tours.  I am sure that my students are going to hear the “When I was in Philly….” example at least every other  day.  Unfortunately, I think I have hit maximum capacity.   I don’t think there is an empty space in my brain that could hold one more tidbit of historical information. 

Regardless of that fact, I will always remember walking down Elfred’s Alley and thinking of how much it has changed, yet how little it really has.  I’ll never forget the memorial to the Irish I saw at Penn’s Landing and what a vivid story it told without words. 

I can still hear the reenacters music as they marked the kids off to war with their patriotic parade.  I want to give my students that experience.  I am going to look into reenacters that I can get to come to the school.

 

I can still feel my feet ache after Sherri drug me up and down and around Philadelphia until I begged Matt to save me and take me home.

All in all, I have had the time of my life.  Thanks Matt, Scott, and Jonathan.  Thanks Philly.  Thanks to all the cool teachers I got to know.  Thanks to the Feds…without you, none of this would have happened.