In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Hello Class,

First I want to tell you I'm sorry I haven't written you sooner, but I've really been very, very busy traveling and sightseeing. Wait until you see all the pictures and postcards and souvenirs I've collected since I came to South Carolina.

My friend Josh brought me from Wyoming to Kentucky at Christmas. I spent Christmas with Josh and his grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Wow! What a lot of different people I met! After Christmas, Josh's parents put me in their car and took me home with them to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. What a long right it was. It took us ten long house in a car to go from Kentucky to South Carolina. We traveled from Kentucky

to West Virginia

to Virginia

to North Carolina

and then finally to South Carolina.


After I got to South Carolina I went to school at Saint James Elementary, where I visited a third grade class. This class told me a lot of interesting things about their state. I've enclosed it along with all the other things I've collected from South Carolina.

Be sure to check out the really cool sea shells I found while I was at the beach. I sent two sand dollars so you could break one open to see the three doves inside it. Also remember to put the big shell with the open side up to your ear and listen. Do you hear anything? You should hear what the ocean sounds like. Isn't it neat? Here are some sea shells I collected along the ocean. I brought plenty so everyone can take one, also wait until you taste the candy I found. It's really yummy!

Well, I have to pack now class so I'll be ready to catch my plane tomorrow. I can't tell you where I'm going buy I'll give you a clue... It's really cold there most of the time and there is a lot of snow. You'll hear from me again real soon.

So long for now,
Teddy






Hold it up to your ear! You can hear the ocean!



Sand dollars



Shells I picked up along the beach.



I sent home salt water taffy for all my classmates.

Washington, D.C.

Dear Fifth Graders,

The package you sent (with me inside it) arrived at the Old Executive Office Building next door to the White House before Christmas.  This building was built in the 1870s.  It served as the War Department in those days, because the Pentagon hadn't even been built yet.  Now it houses the offices of the White House staff, all the people who work hard everyday to serve the President, Vice President and the American people.  Photo 609 shows me enjoying the sunshine on the staircase entering this historic old building.
 
One day I got to visit the West Wing, where the President and Vice President have their offices.  I got so excited I climbed a tree!  From my perch (Photo 608) I saw a lot of important people who came to see the President.  I saw the President of Poland, the King of Jordan, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and many more.
 
Then I visited the Vice President's office.  He let me sit at his desk (Photo 604), which is an antique desk used by several presidents and vice presidents.  It was cool!  What's so special about this desk is that the floor of the center drawer was signed by these men as they left office.  If you look carefully, you can find signatures of Presidents Taft, Eisenhower, Wilson, Harding, Truman, Hoover, Kennedy, and Johnson, and Vice Presidents Rockefeller, Mondale and Gore.  I guess Vice President Cheney will sign the drawer before he leaves office, too.
 
So thanks for sending me to Washington.  I had a good time but I did miss Wyoming.  I'll see you soon.
 
Teddy




Looking out of a tree at the entrance to the West Wing of the White House



The old Defense Building next door to the White House



Sitting in Vice President Cheney's Desk

San Francisco

I had a brief stop back in San Francisco to recover from my wild adventure. I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, rode a cable car, and saw Alcatraz from across the bay. It is such a beautiful city. I wish I could stay for a few more days, but I must keep travelling...

Going Halfway Around the World... Cambodia and Vietnam

What a great great opportunity! I was offered a vacation in Cambodia and Vietnam, so of course I jumped at the chance! I took a flight from San Francisco to Saigon. I had a layover in Hong Kong. I even got to travel in style... business class!





I got to see these really neat temples in Cambodia. I was in awe of how the temples were built so long ago and are still around today. It gave me a sense of peace to be in a place so rich in history.













Getting sea sick on the Mekong River!