Dear Bhakti,

Thank you so much for inviting me and my mom to experience New York with all the nice people of Sargent Art. We have so many amazing memories to share with our friends and family from this interesting adventure. As you wrote in your letter to us, you would like 1r us to tell you about the wonderful experience we had in New York.

Some of the most distinct memories my mom and I had on this generous trip were the people. The other winners of the contest were so nice and really added to the enjoyment of the trip. Even though we only knew each other for a couple of days, we shared laughs and appreciated the company of each other. Most of us left with new phone numbers and e-mail addresses from our friends.

Not only the winners made this trip special. Bhakti, you were so nice and funny and really added to the trip. Without your humor the picture-taking would have seemed much longer and not as many laughs would have been shared, Also, your organized schedule and well thought-out water bottles and granola bars made the trip what it couldn’t have been without you.

Another unforgettable memory consisted of the excellence of the Broadway play, The Lion King. The actors captured your imagination and the experience of being in that theatre, the theatre where the best actors performed, was beyond words. The grandness of the theatre was almost overwhelming and the giant mask that hung over the carpeted stairs was a piece of true art. That outstanding production is a memory that I will always remember when I think of the summer that I was invited to New York.

Thank you so much for inviting me and my mom to the spectacular city of New York. It made my first visit special and my mom and I really appreciated your generosity and careful planning that went into this extravagant adventure. We had such a wonderful time and are thankful to you, Bhakti, and Man and the other people of Sargent An Thanks again.

Dear Bhakti,

Hello from California, Brooke and I are rested now and we are eager to write incredible experience traveling with your Sargent Art group was. Thank you for hosting Brooke as state winner - she very much such an honor.  And we thank you for your generous gift and kindness to us.

You asked us to write about memories we have taken home and the impact this trip will have on our lives. And so..

First: I very much appreciated the camaraderie within our group. What a great idea to have the student travel with the teacher - the three of USF Brooke, Mrs. Sherwin, and I developed a bond that is very unique and special. There was also a camaraderie between you, Janda Matt, and all the student winners, moms, and teachers. It was a special opportunity to meet other people with a common interest (art), from other states and walks of life, all who were very creative and talented. And everyone was so nice. Matt is perfect for your travel guide. He added to the “group” feel and made us feel so welcome and “safe”.

Activities: I honestly cannot say I didn’t enjoy any of the places we visited or the things we did. I loved it all! But my own personal favorite was the Lion King performance. I was blown away - the costumes, the color, the sets, the music, just all of it. The “love scene” and song where the two lions fall in Love was incredible. I have mental pictures of it all that I will never forget I love theater, and take my two girls to plays all the time In Los Angeles and Orange ‘County1 but NYC ‘Broadway can only be described as Spectacular!

That was so very nice of you to change plans on the last day to accommodate the requests of several of us. Being at St. Paul’s Chapel was a life changing moment for me. It is one thing to see history unfold before you from a TV it is another to be standing within the “history”, breathing the air, feeling the presence of what took place. I entered the church with curiosity… the air was stifling, the mementos heart wrenching, the pictures and testimonials overwhelming… I guess I would say, that I walked out of the church and away from the Twin Tower Site feeling very much an American,… I had felt the enormity of what had happened,… I walked out forever changed.

And I really enjoyed seeing Wall Street (there REALLY is a street that name!), the NY Stock Exchange Building, and the history of George Washington as president I was standing where American history was born!

I must also mention the MET. Wow! I never knew a museum could be so huge. One of the displays Brooke and I visited was the period rooms. Very interesting! Beautiful furniture, Incredible works of art, paintings, statutes, etc. The MET is on my list to visit again someday. I could have stayed there a lot longer and enjoyed every moment.

So again, Thank you Bhakti. It was such a pleasure meeting you. And Tony’s was the best! When I think of the ravioli, my mouth waters! If for no other reason, that will surely get me back to NYC someday.

PS - On our last day in NYC Brooke and I visited The Statute of Liberty and Ellis Island. That was so nice of you and Matt to give us the tickets. Also thanks to him, we knew to get there early. No lines - we just walked right onto the ferry. We spent the entire day enjoying even more history cm the two Islands. The Statute is incredible, I thought she looked velvety. A group of students from the University was excavating a dig in the grassy area behind the Statue. They were finding artifacts from the fort days. And below those items, Indian articles. They were fun to chit chat with. And the museum on Ellis Island was a special treat! Again, I just felt so American standing in the room where my family had probably stood as Immigrants from Denmark and Germany. So we put your tickets to good use - Thanks!