b'Jennifer, who I would be following for the next three days, and we got to know the dynamic in American schools. It is worlds apart from the dynamic of a British school! It was so eye-opening to see how the American pupils behaved, such as being on their phones while the teacher is talking or no one stopping talking in class. It was also surprising that the people there were lovely, very welcoming and loved my accent!After meeting teachers and participating in more lessons, we headed back to the hotel for a quick change before going to Main Event Entertainment. It is similar to Star City with arcades, laser tag, bowling and pool. My group and I mainly didFrom there, we moved on to learning how laser tag before playing pool. Finally, weto perform an exterior check of an aircraft, went back to the hotel for a much- checking to make sure no bolts are needed sleep.missing, no parts are blocked and that The fourth day started DAY 4 out the same as theeverything is free and correct. We also previous day with me following mystepped inside the flight deck of a plane partner, Jennifer, around the school toand checked that out before my favourite attend lessons. However, after the school day,part, the flight simulator! We performed a we played the Dulles High School footballWe left the NASA Johnson45-minute flight around the Houston area (which they call soccer) team in two friendlySpace Centre to go to a Texan favorite,and towards the coast on a simulator and it football games. In the first game, weBuc-ees! It is basically a huge petrol stationwas so immersive. Afterwards, we had a tour conceded goals very quickly, initially becausethat sells everything, from drinks, to clothes,of the different aircraft the museum had before of me but we rallied and ended up winning theto fresh cakes; you name it, Buc-ees sellsheading to the interactive exhibits, where we second game! After this, we returned to theit. Finally, we finished the day by going to ancould participate in some aerodynamic hotel for a shower and relax before visiting theAmerican diner for dinner. games, based around physics. nearby First Colony Mall and then theWith another early start, thisThen, our time at the Lone Star Flight Cheesecake Factory, which was so good. DAY 6 was our last day at the school.Museum was over (or so we thought) as We said goodbye to all our friends and thenwe boarded the bus again and were taken On this warm day, we went to DAY 5 NASA Johnson Space Centre.watched a musical called Clues, which wasto a nearby US military base. Major Hawn, As usual, we got on the yellow school bus andperformed by some of the students. Theyour driver, served in the US military and picked up the American students on the way.taught us a dance routine and played sometherefore had access to the base, providing When we arrived, we passed by severalgroup games with them. Upon leaving thethe teachers could get approved. They all rockets and replicas and I was surprised byschool early, we visited Houston Policedid, and so we got to explore what a live US how big the complex wasit was huge! OnceDepartment, where we met the officers, whomilitary base had to offer in case the USA was inside, we split up into groups to explore thelet us see their handcuffs and tasers. Iattacked. While there, we visited the shop at different exhibitions available. We learnt aboutrecommend not wearing them because theythe military base, which had everything on the different space programmes such as thehave blood, sweat and tears on themofferthe usual food and drink all the way Apollo programme to the Moon and thebecause the officers cannot be bothered toto cases to keep your grenades in After International Space Station. Also, we saw theclean themtheir words, not mine!this, we travelled to the coast and the Gulf of actual mission control consoles, a sample ofLater on that day, we visited the HoustonMexico, where we visited the Galveston pier, real Moon rock, rocket parts and the best ofGalleria Mall and went in a diverse range ofwhich was very relaxing and a fantastic way to all, a full-sized space shuttle! This spaceshops. It was incredibly fun and my friendsend our time in Texas!This was our final day in the shuttle was on top of a real plane that wasand I enjoyed wandering around. After that,DAY 8/9 USA, and after a quick used to carry it from the shuttles landing sitewe went to watch a high school Americanshopping run in the morning, we sorted out to the launch site, ready for its next mission.football game. It was very entertaining and Isome final things, weighed our bags and left After this, we walked through the NASA Hall ofwas surprised how none of them ended up inthe hotel. It was quite a sad day to be leaving Fame, a tribute to famous astronauts. We alsothe hospital, considering how aggressive theirafter such a fantastic trip! Once we had visited the memorial that commemoratedtackles were.checked into the airport and cleared security, those who lost their lives doing their jobs at It was the last full day! We woke NASA, which was very eye-opening.DAY 7 up at around 9am to go to thewe had some time to relax. Finally, we After exploring the main exhibits, we went on aLone Star Flight Museum. As before, weboarded the plane back to London Heathrow, tram tour of the private NASA buildings. Alongboarded the bus and picked up our Americanbefore catching the coach back to with a tour guide, we were taken around thefriends, before making our way to theBirmingham upon landing, where my parents grounds to our first stop, the astronaut trainingmuseum. When we arrived, we were split intocollected me. complex, which is where real astronauts trainthree groups to do a variety of activities. We for their missions to space. We saw a mock- firstly did some basics of flight training, where up of the International Space Station and, asmy partner and I learnt about navigation; we we moved along, we saw engineers workingalso learnt what is the optimum speed for aCONCLUSION:on different things and it felt very official!plane to fly at and what angle is the safest.This was a very memorable trip and it was definitely worth the money as I got to see and spend time with people who I never thought I would ever meet! With my friends, we laughed and enjoyed every bit of this trip. I would 100% go on this trip if it were available again!Suhaib Ahmed, Year 1047'