Western Gala

Tall buildings, red carpets, dizzily lights, loud music, fancy dresses and impeccable tuxedos… On the 20th of January all of it was brought together to produce a beautiful Western Gala. Over the course of the night US President Barack Obama and his wife US First Lady Michelle Obama attended 10 Galas, among which was the Western Ball. Not surprisingly security was extremely strict checking tickets and purses. Right in front of me there were couple senators who had their ID cards and handwritten papers that they persistently tried to use to get to the ball. Even after recognizing them security disagreed to let politicians in, explaining to them that “the rules are the rules.” On my way to the ball I had to pass three ticket check points, which didn’t last for too long.
The second I entered the ball at the Washington Convention Center I felt great energy surrounded by glamour. For a couple moments it reminded me a prom or a big wedding celebration. There were not a lot of dancers; however Marc Anthony’s and Jennifer Lopez’s performance doubled the number of people on the dance floor. I will admit I wasn’t expecting them to perform, somehow I thought there would a classic instrumental music (for these ideas I blame my European imagination and Disney movies.)
Definitely the highlights of the ball (and probably the main reason why most of the people came) were the appearances of Bidens and Obamas. It is impossible to describe the feeling I had when I saw the President of the United States so close to me. After such a long day and incredible emotions experienced at the Presidential Inaugural Ceremony a lot people felt weak and overwhelmed. Not surprisingly there were couple persons who fainted at the ball. When President Barack Obama came he gave us a short speech concluding that The First Lady Michelle Obama can do everything the President is doing right now, only that she would be able to manage it while wearing high heels. After those words they started dancing. It was beautiful.

Five days later

It is strange to enter Indiana’s airport after experiencing Washington’s chaotic rush. Honestly, it feels amazing not to be rushed and keep running while bumping into stressful visitors. Also I feel relieved not to have to spend enormous amount of time standing in never-ending lines. It is over! Right now, despite unusual inner calmness, for a second I stop breathing and shortly push revise button to relive the highlights of this journey. Eh… millions of people, long lines, angry taxi drivers, swollen feet, traffic, exaggerated prices and huge lack of sleep were worth it. All of it made my visit real, and even sweet-bitter physical exhaustion was one of the reasons for me being happy. I still remember a mixed feeling of burning thighs and face after entering hotel, and swollen feet when trying to fit them into a new pair of shoes with high heels. Every moment when I felt tired, cold or desperately lost in Washington DC (which I am good at) I reminded myself that this week the entire nation is focusing on the events I am attending; while others are watching television, I am so fortunate to be “stuck” in the middle of it all! In five days spent in the United States’ capital I slept around 16 hours. Also, in those five days I witnessed firsthand the 56th Presidential Inauguration, I saw my old friends from all over the United States, and I made some new ones. During those five days I got really mad – when I was hungry, late, tired, freezing (more than eight hours outside) and lost, when every single person I talked to wasn’t local, and mysteriously enough I was able to lose my map. However, in those five days I was also inspired and touched, not as much by the speakers Al Gore and Colin L. Powell, but by people who were surrounding me during the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony, people who also appeared to be cold, late, confused and maybe even lost somewhere in-between tricky Washington’s streets. People who sacrificed their time, money and rest to come here simply because they CARE and BELIEVE. I will never forget meeting an older Asian gentleman at six in the morning right before leaving my hotel to go to the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony. He was freezing and for this reason time to time kept jumping and clapping his hands pretending that it could make him feel a little warmer. He told me that he went to the gates of general admission at 12AM to have a better standing spot during the ceremony, sadly enough that night was extremely cold, and poor man had to give up at around 5AM. Six extremely cold hours later the man was still smiling when he told me that now he is going to drink a hot cup of tea and go to bed. And then it hit me – there are so many amazing things, opportunities, events, people to be appreciated in our lives. And it really doesn’t matter if you have “that ticket”, or if you are at “that state”, or even if you happen to meet “that person”. It doesn’t matter what and how much we have because at the end only we are capable to let ourselves to be happy.
Right now I am sitting at the coffee shop in Indiana’s airport. My flight leaves in 40 minutes. I am extremely exhausted but fortunate to be able to leave Washington DC on time this morning; bunch of my friends had to stay in Washington DC due to the long long lines (it took approximately 3-4 hours to get through the gates.) Luckily enough I decided to arrive to the Reagan’s airport, which wasn’t as crowed as others, for which reason I easily, escaped that stressful rush madness.
Couple more sips of already cold green tea and I am ready to go to my last flight. I take all my magazines with Barack Obama’s face on their covers, check if I have an IPod, which is essential during my travels, and make a phone call before turning my cell phone off. Looks like I am ready. It is so strange to know that here, at Indiana’s airport this short but powerful journey ends. Everything happened so fast, I wish there were 48 hours in one day, maybe then I would have been able to remember every smile, word, name, sound… Right now I have a huge collage of colorful memories stuck in my head, and I know I will be playing with its little parts for awhile.

I am grateful that this journey wasn’t just vacation; it was an amazing growing experience that brought me one step closer to understanding my surroundings and most importantly – myself.

The time is NOW!

Good very early morning. It is 4:14AM, and in seven hours I am going to witness being made - the Inauguration 44th President of the United States! Honestly, I still cannot believe that this day is finally here. I will confess that I am a little bit scared to walk the metro station due to the enormous crowds of people, however, at the same time I am super excited to leave my hotel and finally do it. I really do like that weird feeling when I truly don't know what to expect. Those situations are filled with surprises, hopefully today will be completely filled with amazing, beautiful and inspiring moments that will be impossible to forget.
After putting on ten layers of close I think I am finally ready to enter busy Washington's streets and see Our almost President Obama. O-BA-MA!