King Hutch aka John H.

This is our group picture. Notice the handsome man in the back row with the red shirt & ball cap!

So here it is, my final Philadelphia blog. I know you have been waiting on the edge, sitting on pins & needles just waiting to see what I would say. King Hutch, are you going to follow the “company line” and say that this was the best trip ever? Or are you going to go along with the crowd and find trouble even in paradise? Or are you going to find something in between? I like to think of myself as an optimist with the glass always at least ½ full. And that’s how I see this trip, that’s how I feel the trip went!

Yes we checked into our dorm rooms and they were not really clean. Yes we had to rise very early in the morning just to make a coffee run before our daily departures. Yes the food & service generally were not as good as we are accustomed to. Yes the subways were dirty. Yes many Philadelphians were not that friendly. Yes cliques developed among our group of teachers. Yes it was hot and muggy!!! Yes – Yes – Yes – Yes – Yes! But this trip was amazing, educating, exciting, stimulating, & fun!

I realize that the rooms we stayed in were not very clean. I hope everyone filled out that evaluation form they gave us. But when I think about our rooms, our food, our transportation, our schedule, and every other common complaint I heard, I just can’t help thinking about those men & women who helped forge this nation. How did they have it? Have there been others that have made sacrifices in order that I, and every other American can now enjoy what we have today? The answer is, without any question, yes!

I don’t see a dirty dorm room, bad food, miserable weather, or an uncomfortable bed, I see General Washington’s soldiers sacrificing at Valley Forge! They didn’t have dirty floors, they had dirt floors! Sleeping on planks & straw if they were lucky. We endured unbearable hot and humid weather during our stay in Philadelphia. But I see Washington’s men enduring a very cold and miserable winter of rain, freeze, snow, melt, repeat… over & over again. Yet they, the Army came back stronger than ever. With good training and discipline they became a fighting force that would go toe to toe with the mighty British Army. And it is true that some of the food and most of the service we received in Philadelphia was not of the finest quality. Yet Washington’s troops suffered from a poor run supply line and a severe shortage of meat.

The troops at Gettysburg also suffered in terrible conditions. They slept outside in the open with dirt, smoke, bugs, & hostile soldiers nearby. They ate army rations or “appropriated” crops, chickens, & beef when they had a moment of quiet. Yet this terrible battle of 3 days left little time for food & sleep. And both sides of this epic struggle suffered in unbearable heat while in full uniform. When I think about these sacrifices that were made so many years ago that allow us as Americans to be free, to live a life of our own choosing, I realize that I am living the American Dream and I have nothing that I can honestly complain about!

Many in our group of teachers have asked me if I thought this trip was as good as last year in Boston. Honestly I must answer no. Not because what of we experienced or learned, but because the logistics of this trip didn’t compare to the seamless flow of Boston. However, this was a fabulous trip filled with historical places which provided a deeper meaning and understanding of our American heritage. Who could argue with trips to Gettysburg, Valley Forge, Independence Hall, & Washington’s Crossing. These compare with the best Boston has to offer! There were other places on the agenda that I really was not all that excited to go to. How I was surprised with just how much I learned & enjoyed from these places.

One place I was astonished to find that I enjoyed and learned from was our trip into Lancaster County to see and experience the Amish culture. How beautiful the land is and how gracious the people are. These people do all their farming without the use of tractors or other common farm equipment. The Amish do everything without cars, electricity, and other modern devises. How can these people live without computers, ipods & television? My biggest thought after leaving this area was wondering if I could lead such a simple life after growing up in our culture filled with technology.  

Among the other expected or unexpected highlights of the trip was visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art & seeing the ROCKY statue, watching and visiting with historical actors in character, going to the Phillies game, exploring the Franklin Court and especially the Franklin Post Office, trying 5 Philadelphia Cheesesteaks (Philly’s Gourmet Café #1), visiting the Masonic Temple, exploring all around downtown as well as historic Philadelphia, and the countless times we were able to handle important historical artifacts.   

While dealing with logistic problems, filthy subways, early mornings, rude help, dirty dorms, and extreme heat & humidity; the Philadelphia Trip was still an outstanding opportunity to experience early American, Revolutionary, and even mid 1800’s history in a way that can not be duplicated! The chance to walk the same fields where Washington walked and Lincoln spoke, stand in the room where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were debated and signed, the ability to experience life of the Amish, and the ability to hold and examine important documents and artifacts of American history are a dream of a lifetime that I was fortunate to participate in. A big thanks to Matt, Jonathan, Scott, all the teachers, and especially the “Posse” of “Wild Blogs” who put up, and at many times rescued me.

Sincerely,     

John Hutchins

aka King Hutch, aka Smegel

These photos may -or- may not make the final cut: