If you have not spent a summer in Washington, you might be unaware of the constant, unpredictable weather that occurs here during this time of year. As we marched our way toward the mall, chattering about what to expect, we did not know that the skies that were soon to be lit up with fireworks were about to put on an entirely different show. We approached the corner of G Street and 21 st, halfway between New Hall (our George Washington University dorm) and the National Mall, when dark storm clouds headed our way stopped us in our tracks. We turned around and headed back to our building to enjoy our “picnic in the lounge,” and enjoyed fried chicken as Italy beat Germany 2-0 during overtime in the World Cup Semi-Finals. While in the shelter of New Hall, we escaped the hail which caused the mall to be evacuated and forced people to abandon the coveted spots that they had staked out all day.

Now, what do fried chicken, Italy, and hail all have to do with 4 th of July in Washington D.C.? These things were all a part of the unconventional celebration that was the Machon Kaplan program’s Independence Day. We may not have gotten to enjoy dinner around the Washington monument, but when we finally arrived, the rain had stopped and we joined the crowds of people across the lawns and watched others filling the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The night ended as a beautiful fireworks display lit up the sky and patriotic music echoed in the background. It was the uniqueness of the day that made this, our first 4 th of July in DC, an experience we will never forget.