President
Clinton visited Northwest Arkansas on November 7, 1998, to open the NW Arkansas
Regional Airport. Spring International obtained special passes for our students
for this visit, which got them up close to the President himself.
Spring International Students
around President Clinton
After
President Clinton's speech, he talked to many in the crowd and posed for pictures,
including with Spring International students. Needless to say, this was the
thrill of a lifetime!
Last Friday was a
different day for me because I attended a different activity from the other
activities I have been doing since I came to the United States. The event
was the opening of the new Northwest Arkansas Airport (XNA) and the different
situation was that I met the President of the United States.
The weather was perfect
because the sky was without clouds and the sun was shining; in my opinion,
the afternoon that day was beautiful. At two o'clock, the President's plane
appeared in the sky; as a result, people started to get noisy and excited.
When the huge Air Force 1, the Presidents plane, came in front of us the band
started to play and one voice said by microphone. The President of the United
States. At that moment the President appeared and started to walk down stairs,
so because I had special VIP pass, I was sitting with my Spring International
friends near the podium and I could not believe I was there.
At two thirty the ceremony
began, five people from the government and other guest gave speeches to the
audience. It was great to hear and understand each word and comment they were
saying. At the end was Bill Clinton's speech; in my opinion, he is the best
speaker I have ever heard in my life.
It was about three thirty
in the afternoon when the ceremony ended. After that Bill Clinton started
to walk around the people in the audience saying hello and I was waiting for
him in order shake his hand. I waited about 30 minutes until the President
stopped in front of me and asked me my nationality because he knew that we
were foreign students. At that time I could not believe that I was in front
of the President of the United States. Finally, not only did I shake his hand
but also I took a picture with him.
I think that an opportunity
like this happens once in a life time and when you have the possibility to
be there just do it and that's it. Last Friday I had another plan but I changed
my mind in order to meet the President and I will remember that day forever.
I want to thank Michelle,
the SILC Activities Coordinator,for getting special VIP passes and giving
us the opportunity to be there.
Ricardo Hernandez
Venezuela
