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'What I Did Over Summer Break,' by Sasha, Malia

From Kremlin to Paris and slave port, first kids get quite an education

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 2, 2009 11:56 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Sasha and Malia Obama might not be in school, but their summer vacation has been anything but lazy—the girls have seen the Eiffel Tower, the Kremlin, and Monticello as part of what the first lady calls “Camp Obama." And though there’s been plenty of fun, such as a recent Beyoncé concert, most activities have been educational and even somber, like a recent visit to a slave port in Ghana, the New York Times reports.

That trip was meant to teach the girls how “people were willing to degrade others because they appeared differently,” the president says. Still, not everyone appreciates the Obamas’ educational globe-trotting—Sen. Chuck Grassley knocked the president last month for his “nerve” in demanding Congress act quickly on health care and then going sightseeing in Paris.

President Barack Obama arrives on the South Lawn of the White House with first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia, left, and Sasha in Washington, Sunday, July 19, 2009.
President Barack Obama arrives on the South Lawn of the White House with first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia, left, and Sasha in Washington, Sunday, July 19, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Barack Obama, right, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha, second from right, on a tour of the Cape Coast Castle in Cape Coast, Ghana, Saturday, July 11, 2009.
President Barack Obama, right, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha, second from right, on a tour of the Cape Coast Castle in Cape Coast, Ghana, Saturday, July 11, 2009.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Malia and Sasha, arrive at the White House from Ghana, early Sunday, July 12, 2009, in Washington.
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Malia and Sasha, arrive at the White House from Ghana, early Sunday, July 12, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha on a tour of the Cape Coast Castle in Cape Coast, Ghana, Saturday, July 11, 2009.
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha on a tour of the Cape Coast Castle in Cape Coast, Ghana, Saturday, July 11, 2009.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
President Barack Obama, daughters Malia and Sasha, and first lady Michelle arrive at Pratica di Mare's military airport, near Rome, Friday, July 10, 2009.
President Barack Obama, daughters Malia and Sasha, and first lady Michelle arrive at Pratica di Mare's military airport, near Rome, Friday, July 10, 2009.   (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)
Michelle Obama and her eldest daughter Malia leave Rome's ancient Colosseum, Wednesday July 8, 2009.
Michelle Obama and her eldest daughter Malia leave Rome's ancient Colosseum, Wednesday July 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Malia Obama leaves the Giolitti Ice Cream parlour, in downtown Rome, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. Malia and sister Sasha had a go at making their own blackberry and banana Italian gelato with veteran ice-cream maker Nazareno Giolitti.
Malia Obama leaves the Giolitti Ice Cream parlour, in downtown Rome, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. Malia and sister Sasha had a go at making their own blackberry and banana Italian "gelato" with veteran ice-cream...   (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, their daughters Malia and Sasha, arrive in the Moscow Kremlin, Russia, Monday, July 6, 2009.
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, their daughters Malia and Sasha, arrive in the Moscow Kremlin, Russia, Monday, July 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/ RIA Novosti, Sergei Guneyev)
President Barack Obama kisses daughter Malia, who turned 11 July 4, as his daughter Sasha, 7, and wife Michelle stand after speaking to members of the armed services while hosting a Fourth of July party at the White House, Saturday, July 4, 2009.
President Barack Obama kisses daughter Malia, who turned 11 July 4, as his daughter Sasha, 7, and wife Michelle stand after speaking to members of the armed services while hosting a Fourth of July party...   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Barack Obama, with his daughters Sasha, 8, and Malia 10, participate in the 'United We Serve' service event at Fort McNair Fitness Center in Washington, Thursday, June 25, 2009.
President Barack Obama, with his daughters Sasha, 8, and Malia 10, participate in the 'United We Serve' service event at Fort McNair Fitness Center in Washington, Thursday, June 25, 2009.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Barack Obama stands with daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 8, and orders frozen custard at The Dairy Godmother in the Del Ray area of Alexandria, Va., Saturday, June 20, 2009.
President Barack Obama stands with daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 8, and orders frozen custard at The Dairy Godmother in the Del Ray area of Alexandria, Va., Saturday, June 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Michelle Obama with daughters Malia and Sasha, stands at the top gallery during a visit to the Pompidou center in Paris, Sunday June 7, 2009.
Michelle Obama with daughters Malia and Sasha, stands at the top gallery during a visit to the Pompidou center in Paris, Sunday June 7, 2009.   (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
President Barack Obama departs the South Lawn of the White House with first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia, top right, in Washington, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009.
President Barack Obama departs the South Lawn of the White House with first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia, top right, in Washington, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
cognitivefilter
Aug 3, 2009 12:18 PM CDT
i love these girls! would babysit for them anytime
Shannonals
Aug 3, 2009 3:40 AM CDT
Might be because they are the youngest children in the White House of any President in decades. Why does it bother you so much?
Robert_Dada
Aug 2, 2009 10:00 AM CDT
It's more refreshing than regularly reading about the Bush girls getting F'd up and making fools of themselves.

 
Barack Obama • Michelle Obama • family • Kremlin • Paris • vacation • Ghana • Obama administration • Malia Obama • Sasha Obama • Obama family

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