The Capitol Building, by Noah Hellriegel

            First we walked at least five (hyperbole alert) miles from Union Station to the Rayburn House Office Building.  We later learned that a less roundabout path took only about a mile.  We had to go through innumerable (hyperbole alert) metal detectors and x-ray machines before we arrived at Congressman Jay Inslee’s office.  There we met with Achille who was an awesome intern.  He took us through underground tunnels that led to the Capitol itself.  There we went through more safety measures and then experienced our government at work, as Achille left and we waited for forty five minutes (hyperbole alert) before he returned.  Another walk through hot, probably lead lined tunnels brought us to more security before entering the Capitol.  The obvious reason for this security is to catch the people who either bored into the tunnel from the surface, or tricked the first machine (this being the government, all the security was the same type).  After finally getting through security and surrendering our coats and cell phones, we explored the many rooms of the Capitol.  One of them, the Old House Chambers, (Now called Statuary Hall) had a very interesting acoustic feature.  Although the room was very loud, if you stood in one part of the room, you could hear quite clearly a person talking in a quiet voice from far across the room.  It is said that John Quincy Adams took advantage of this phenomenon to eavesdrop on other members on the other side of the room.