Washington D.C. has lots of things to do, places to go, and people to see. However, when I visited this city with my family, we were given a backstage pass to the American political scene.

My cousin, G.K. Butterfield, is a congressman for the First District of North Carolina. Even though Congressman Butterfield, whom we call Cousin G. K., was raised in North Carolina, he is very proud of his Bermudian lineage.

As a congressman, one of his numerous jobs is to help with the process of making and passing legislation to benefit the people in his district.

I was very thankful that he took time out of his busy schedule to escort us on our tour of the White House and Capitol Hill.

On our first day in Washington, Cousin G.K came to escort my family on our exciting White House tour.

It was a cold, wet day, and there was a seemingly endless line to get through the complex security check.

However because he was a Congressman, Cousin G.K. was able to take us to the front of the line.

We passed through a series of airport-like security checks, and walked past armed, and slightly intimidating, secret servicemen.

Finally, we were able to wait in a large, open hallway that was full of portraits of the past presidents, many of which I had never even heard of.

Then, two men from the secret service pushed open the bulky white doors and the tour guide summoned our group into the next room.

We followed the tour guide, who began describing many details and facts about several of the decorations and paintings in the rooms.

He also pointed out some of the rooms which we weren't allowed to go into, like those where many of the TV interviews take place.

Subsequently, we went into a series of dining rooms, living rooms, ballrooms and hallways, including the red room, the green room and the blue room (there were a lot of rooms).

Once the tour had ended, and the rest of the group had left, Cousin G.K. had a brief conversation with the Chief Usher who is in charge of all the staff and operations at the White House and organises many of the events and ceremonies.

The Chief Usher took my family out through another exit that went through the main kitchen. It was a lot bigger than a normal kitchen and was only one of several kitchens.

When we finally passed through the various hallways leading to the exit, I was surprised when we came out through one of the rooms that we had not been allowed to go through at the beginning of the tour.

You can imagine how embarrassing it was to pop out from behind the screen doors, to see another tour group staring at you! Another interesting experience occurred when Congressman Butterfield escorted my family on a personal tour of the Capitol Building! The Capitol Building is where the US Congress meets to make laws.

He showed us around various rooms, told stories about things that had happened there and even showed us the hall where the US Congress and Senate often have debates.

However, the most interesting thing that happened while Cousin G.K. was giving us the tour, was when we walked in on Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, signing the historic Health care Reform Bill, the new law that would change the lives of many Americans.

The room where she had been signing the Bill was crowded with people talking among each other; there were television and newspaper reporters making notes and taking pictures, and of course, many important politicians.

It also just happened to be Speaker Pelosi's birthday, and for someone who is 70 years old, she seemed so young looking and enthusiastic.

Cousin G. K. introduced us to her once all of the commotion had died down.

She seemed to be very friendly and good-natured, and showed particular interest in my sister, who aspires to one day be the president of the United States.

I had had a busy day, and the perfect ending to it was when Speaker Pelosi greeted us with a cheerful "Come on in Dowling family!" as she welcomed Cousin G.K. to give us a mini tour of her personal chambers.

It inspired me that such an influential woman could be so welcoming.

As Cousin G. K. showed us out onto one of the balconies, I saw a beautiful view of Washington DC. At that moment I knew that the rest of my time Washington D.C was going to be a great experience.