First Day is Good!

Our first day was long but went well.  We left at 6:30am from Northwest Campus and drove to Vicksburg National Military Park and then the city cemetery.  While there is never enough time to see everything we had a good feel for the park and its many memorials.  Our bus drive Victor is wonderful and so professional and personable too!  Tonight after dinner we sat in the lobby and talked about what we had seen that day and our reactions to it as well as discussed the group projects the students will be working on while on the trip.  There were many good questions and while this first day does not yet allow for comparisons, the students have really begun to use the concepts we have been learning to help focus on what they are seeing at each site. 

We had a great moment at the end when a young lady who had been sitting in the lobby as well and just a guest at the hotel, asked Dr. Clark-Miller and I what class this was and where we are going!  She was fascinated by our discussions and focus and thought what a wonderful learning experience this must be.  We proudly told her about our travel study and Tarrant County College.

Tomorrow will be a great contrast to the very structured National Park as we head to downtown Jackson and Montgomery - sites of government and remembrance.  We are very curious to see if we might encounter protesters or demonstrations.