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The president-elect of the United States, Barack Obama and his family arrived early at Chicago on Friday after 12 days of vacation in Hawaii. The family plans to go to Washington on Sunday, as the couple's two daughters, Malia and Sasha, 10 and 7 years respectively, begin classes on Monday at the Sidwell Friends private school.

Shortly after his arrival in Washington the president-elect will meet with congressional leaders to discuss his economic stimulus plan and other legislative matters, according to a senior assistant to the average Democrat in Congress. Obama will talk with the leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Harry Reid, and with the chairman of the House of Reprsentantes, Democrat Nancy Pelosi. Later he will meet with both leaders and Republican lawmakers, said the assistant, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak officially about the plans.


Obama also plans to speak with President George W. Bush and several former presidents on Wednesday at the White House.

Obama, his wife Michelle and two daughters of the marriage shall be established temporarily in a hotel in the city of Washington until moving to the White House in final form on January 15. The family will stay at the historic Hay-Adams Hotel near the White House.


During his break on the island of Oahu, the Obama kept a low profile. Apart from the daily trips to the gym and the golf courses, the president-elect rarely left his holiday retreat, a luxurious rented house near Honolulu.

When he came out of his routine, it did something to eat ice scraping, a local custom, visit the zoo or take some other excursion for children.