The visit took place on 6th February 2016. It was an honor to visiting the White House, where the United States President lives and houses his family and some of the governmental officers and servicemen. My tour was scheduled to last for one hour, but I was lucky to be in the compound and its environs for two hours. To get the tour, I had to submit a tour request through a Member of Congress, and I was lucky for it to be approved.
The White House was built from 1792 to 1800, and serves as the current workplace for the United States of America President Barack Obama. On arriving at the entrance to the location, I had to produce my valid governmental-issued photo passport, and verifications were done comparing them to those I had provided in my request letter. Next, I went through a screening process to confiscate some of the prohibited items (Kryczka). Some of the elements that were taken include; a video camera, tablet, pocket knife, strollers, back bag, and the food and beverages I was having. I was allowed to enter the premises with my smartphone, wallet, and compact camera. After entering the premises, I was shown the nearest restrooms that are in the Visitors Center. The guide instructed me that once I was in the building, I could not use any other restrooms or public telephones.
Once in the building, there is a waiting room and then a corridor leading to various rooms on the first floor and the building has five floors. On the hallway, there are numerous paintings and carvings of some of the US presidents. I was taken to the US Presidential Library that contains books and articles on various US historical events (Aaseng). The White House has the executive residence that is made up of the West and East Wing, and here all the daily activities are coordinated by the Chief Usher. The executive residence has amenities necessary for the president and his family such as dining room, central kitchen, hall, and library among others. On visiting the West Wing, there are the President’s office and some offices of his senior staff. On the East Wing, some offices host the workers of the First Lady (Gray). Outside the compound, there are grounds such as the North Lawn with large trees and various recreation centers exists such as basketball courts, lawns, football field among others.
Visiting the White House was an important achievement in my life since it left me feeling to have achieved my greatest wish. In the compound, I learned to respect others because the staffs I found in there were very respectful no matter their status. While in the compound, there were norms to observe and in the case of any misbehavior, there was the likelihood of being kicked out. This kind of setup is useful in human living situations since the strict rules and regulations ensure people learn to observe and respect the laws governing a particular place or structure.
When I received my approval to visit the White House, I informed my friends, and they were very proud of my achievement. After the tour, I was received by my pals who were amazed at the stories I narrated to them about the house and enjoyed the few pictures I was able to capture. With the extraordinary experience I had gained from the White House, I am more informed than my friends are, and most of them perceived me to have accomplished an important objective. With the respect received while in White House, I have learnt to respect others no matter my status, so I never boasted of my amazing tour.
Working in the White House can be the greatest goal to achieve in life. If given a chance, the experience I have gained to respect all people will be crucial because I will not find myself in misbehavior situations. The respect and know how I have gained from the building and its environs will be useful when moving around with my duties hence efficiency. If I have a chance to live in the White House, it will be a great honor and I will be respectful to all visitors and ensure the order of carrying out activities here is observed.
Inside the White House, I came across many carvings, paintings, and libraries holding the United States of America history. I interacted with some of the books and articles found in the libraries, and I gained knowledge of the existence of the White House, some of its developments, changes, and various presidents who have been hosted here.
The tour has been relevant in my life since I have gained history knowledge, behavioral norms, and interpersonal relations that are very useful in my life developments. People should learn to be respectful, always strive to achieve their goal, and when they meet them, they should not boast to others but share the experiences that can be very helpful if the same opportunity arises for their friends.
Work Cited
Aaseng, Nathan. The White House. San Diego, Calif.: Lucent Books, 2001. Print.
Gray, Susan Heinrichs. The White House. Minneapolis, Minn.: Compass Point Books, 2002. Print.
Kryczka, Anna. "Television And Taste On The New Frontier: ‘A Tour Of The White House With Mrs. John F. Kennedy’". History and Technology 30.1-2 (2014): 123-132. Web.
