Julie Majcher Learning in the Nation’s Capital As part of Eastern Michigan University’s Learning Beyond the Classroom (LBC) curriculum, I completed the Washington D.C. Experience course taught by Professor Bernstein. The course consisted of a week-­‐long trip to Washington D.C. in the spring of 2014. This was my first opportunity to visit our nation’s capital and it turned out to be a wonderful learning experience. In preparation for the trip, Professor Bernstein had the students read a book and write an essay. He also met with us several times prior to the trip to discuss the book and the planned activities in Washington D.C. Professor Bernstein structured the course to include the rich historical sites and speeches from Washington D.C. insiders about both political parties. We visited and learned the history of some of the most famous monuments in the Capital, including the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, U.S. Supreme Court building, and the National Archives. Standing on top of the white marble steps of the Lincoln Memorial and viewing the Washington Monument being reflected from the reflecting pool at sunset provided a magnificent view. We visited with Congressmen, heard from Congressional staffers, and met with political analysts. These were all informal sessions with just the guest speakers and our group. This setting provided an opportunity for the students to ask many questions and the guest speakers to provide in-­‐depth, detailed answers. Each day of the trip ended with an assignment which encouraged the students, including myself, to reflect on the day’s activities. There was an assignment to describe a hypothetical new monument. Another assignment was to take two pictures and write about how they symbolize the “hope” and “despair” in Washington D.C. As I completed the assignments each evening in the quiet of my hotel room, it gave me the opportunity to reflect on what I had seen and learned that day. We had many opportunities to discuss our experiences and observations at meal times and informal gatherings during the evening. We also tweeted our thoughts on a Twitter account set up specifically for the students. This gave me a chance to hear how fellow students viewed the experience compared to my observations. Spending a week in the nation’s capital with Professor Bernstein provided me with an opportunity to take in the history of Washington D.C. and to meet some very interesting people. The Washington D.C. Experience course has proven to be beneficial to my college experience. It has given me a better appreciation for the general education courses that relate to the United States as a country. The trip opened the possibility of having a career in political advertising after speaking with a captivating political analyst. I am very grateful to have had this opportunity to share this unique experience with fellow EMU students. Professor Bernstein’s Washington D.C. Experience course is a great example of learning beyond the classroom because our classroom was in our nation’s capital.