Woman at the Washington Zoo

Goodbye for now…

2010-05-11T06:54:00.000-07:00

It’s official: I am no longer in DC. Cue the violin and sad music.

Last week was a crazy one, and I was lucky to mark Wednesday as my last day for the internship, allowing for more exploring, organization, and quality time with my fellow interns before we all left town, some with plans to meet up again in the near future, and nearly all with plans of staying in touch. I’ve already fielded calls (via phone and skype) to and from DC, facebook messaging from NYC and NJ, and an email from Bogota, Colombia. We TWC interns know how to take on the world (she says as she packs for Ghana…).

Without a doubt, I will miss virtually everything from this past semester. As I said, we packed as much into that last week as we possibly could, determined to go out with a bang. Sunday found me back at Grosvenor, then back to Dupont for dinner, frozen yogurt at Tangy Sweet, and hanging around the circle. Really, you’ll find that Dupont Circle is the best place to be – I somehow failed to make it to Georgetown this semester (luckily, I’d been there before, because you do have to at least check it out), but Dupont really just became the ideal hangout. One of those rare areas that I’ve encountered that could almost be an American-style piazza.

I didn’t think to take a picture of our regular hangout until one of our last evenings there, but glad it occurred to me before it was too late and subjected to memory alone; what a spot.

As our class wrapped up on Tuesday, those of us able to make it headed out to dinner in Ballston as a last hoorah. Because we’d had a relatively small class, it was easy to get into good discussions (or debates, as the case may be) and really get to know one another, so it was only fitting that we bid farewell over enchiladas at Uncle Julio’s.

Professor Henderson had planned on a farewell dinner since the beginning of the semester, and it was a great way to wrap things up. Our entire class is comprised of 15 students, from across the country and one Canadian for good measure, though not everyone was able to make it.

I did, admittedly, spend most of the week out and about, though I had a fair bit of food left to go through at the apartment and little funds for indulgence. The last week, however, left no room for sitting around doing nothing. Plenty of quality time spent over dinner, Larry’s, hanging around in Dupont, and enjoying the view from the balcony of a Grosvenor apartment, where we spent much of our down time. TWC apartments really are quite impressive, as I hope you’ll discover for yourself, though each of course has its ups and downs. My Arlington apartment, for instance, is wonderfully cozy, sunroom included, and a few quick stops outside of the city; something like Grosvenor, on the other hand, is about a nap’s-worth outside of the city (on the notorious red line, no less) but has the most beautiful little location, including plenty of trees, a pond, and a mini island for your star-gazing pleasure.

As my camera here proves wonderfully well, it is impossible to really capture just how impressive the view from the balcony really is; I guess 21st floor apartments will do that for you. Now there’s a place for some quality thinking and generally soaking it all in.

After a last dinner at Le Pain Quotidien and dessert at Larry’s (really, I will miss that man), Medha, Ian, Tony, and I drove back out to Grosvenor for a last bash and the balcony quickly filled with fellow TWC interns, set to the general atmosphere of music, conversation, hugging, and updates as to when we’re heading out and where we’re off to. The trip back to Arlington was truly one of the saddest Metro rides I have ever encountered, truth be told. I think I can speak for all interns when I say we’ve had a fantastic time, all the while getting to know some amazing people and truly enjoying the city for what it is. Case in point: some already have plans to come back to the city and room together once again, this time as college graduates.

In the mean time, for now, most of us have left DC after some rather depressing adieus, but look forward to the summer, staying in touch to relate our latest adventures, and ultimately meeting up once again. I, for one, am packing for Ghana, as I fly out this Thursday, but have already made plans for keeping in touch and an ultimate reunion when I’m back in the States. Anyone with comments or questions, please feel free to contact me, as I’d love to hear from you or help in any way I can – don’t hesitate to catch me on Facebook, twitter, skype, email, or whatever works best for you, really. I’ll leave my contact info. here at the bottom – hit me up. J I hope the blog hasn’t been a total bore for all of you and was mildly entertaining, if not useful; I actually plan on continuing to keep track of my adventures by blogging from Ghana, as well (those interested in watching me slowly melt on the equator, please refer yourselves to http://theghanaianmeltingpoint.blogspot.com).

Until next we meet, I wish you all the best of luck, and happy trails to you! My advice: pack light, enjoy the misadventures, listen more than talk, and always allow yourself to fly by the seat of your pants if that’s the way the wind blows.

Kate Musgrave
musgravk@dickinson.edu
musgravk@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/musgravk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/kate_musgrave
Skype: kate.musgrave

So little time, so much to do…

2010-05-07T06:36:00.000-07:00

My goodness, it’s been a while. Causes: internship, class work, work on TWC portfolio, applying for visa and grant for the summer in Ghana, being turned into a pincushion at the travel medical center (also in preparation for the summer), enjoying the last couple of weeks here in DC, and general insanity.

In the name of that insanity (and some annoying defects with my keyboard lately), we will be relatively short. As is all too often found, there is too much to do and too many people to see in too little a span of time. My past few weeks have been divided between one last visit to campus, wrapping up a policy proposal paper for my TWC course, and packing as many things into the days as humanly possible.

Thing one (we’ll go Dr. Seuss style): visiting campus. Prolonged hours back in the library (where, bonus, an interview that same weekend has led to an upgraded position as one of the student supervisors next year) to visit other relatively bookish friends and some not so bookish as we relocated to shoot some pool… chatting, catching up, and generally ignoring the fact that many would be gone next year, both due to graduation and study abroad. And so began the blocking out of impending goodbyes…

The view from our dorm on campus; as you may recall, quite the change from the view from the apartment in Arlington.

Thing two: after a pathetically long return trip to DC (nearly 8 hours total, if I recall correctly, due to various mishaps- it takes about 2-2.5 hours on average), I made my way to Medha’s apartment to be fed and recuperate before returning to Arlington. Found ourselves back there on Wednesday evening as we held a belated Tamil New Year celebration, comprised of a table full of (vegetarian) excellent Indian dishes and a dinner party of 4.

Thing three: our own form of “return to India,” this time TWC-sponsored, as I joined my roommates in checking out “Bollywood Night,” conveniently located in our building and offering free food and henna; can’t beat that. Civic engagement presentations the following day, at least for Medha and I, meant a continuation of this Indo-centric mind set as we told our fellow interns about our work with AID (those of you who will be in the DC area: marathon, anyone?)…. which was continued not long ago as we (slightly ruefully) woke up at about 5am on Sunday morning to leave the apt. by 5:30 and help at a race in preparation for the aforementioned marathon… talk about bright and early. Painful, but worth it: my civic engagement project turned into much more than I expected, and I’ll continue to help through AID and stay in touch with the amazing people that make up its membership here in DC.

Thing four: the cultural learning is sporadic throughout all of this, as it has been throughout this spring. If you’re not a fan of culture shock as I am, you can avoid it to a certain extent (ie not attending the fantastic bhangra parties), but the variety of cultures thriving here in DC is wonderfully unavoidable. Our fellow interns are an excellent means of practicing my now-rusty Spanish abilities, and last Friday night featured the long-awaited trip out for Ethiopian food. Hit up the U Street (esp. 9^th Street end) area for a ridiculous amount of choices between Ethiopian restaurants- apparently they’re hoping to be dubbed “Little Ethiopia,” and it was rather obvious why. Prime eating, no doubt.

Have no fear: if you’d rather sit in an average chair, they had many of those also available at Etete, where Tony, Medha, and I snagged the one such table set up on Friday night. Leave your inhibitions at the door; Ethiopian food is quite literally a hands-on experience and everyone shares from the same platter. Adds to the deliciousness.

And with that, time to head out for me – plans up the wazoo as we interns attempt to squeeze in as much quality time as humanly possible. I, for one, have left packing for the very last moment, and I have a feeling I won’t regret it. After all, I’ll have just 4.5 days between leaving DC and flying to Ghana for two months of the summer; if I haven’t learned to pack quickly and efficiently by this point, I’m doomed. To all fellow college students currently wrapping up their own semesters, I wish you the best…. And don’t begrudge me my lack of finals, please; making up for it with a monstrous independent study project.

In the mean time, stay classy.

Times of “too much fun”

2010-04-14T06:42:00.000-07:00

I have been accused of having too much fun. Too much fun, you say? I’ve recently been assigned a profile piece on a pet waste removal company. Don’t tell me I’m having too much fun. Out of the office, though... if it were possible to have too much fun, perhaps I’d qualify. Frankly, that’s ok by me. In fact, I’m rather proud of the fact.

Picking up where we left off finds me at the Nationals-Phillies baseball game: this, while a good excuse to get outside and chat with fellow interns, does not qualify in the “too fun” category. From my own experience, and as has been noted by a baseball-loving friend, unless you understand the sport, it seems to be a long session of guys standing around waiting for a ball. Indeed. Every once in a while, I must admit, I had to remind myself that there was supposed to be some sort of sporting event taking place on the field below us. Give me football, basketball, soccer, and I’m with you; baseball, not so much. Regardless, still a great opportunity, the weather was excellent, and the company was lively.

Jenny and I stop outside for the typical photo opp. before heading in, at which time we promptly went the wrong way and circled the entire stadium before getting to our seats. The perk: we saw the stadium from all angles and found the closest Dippin’ Dots vendor.

As the [moderately boring] baseball game had cut in on other plans, rescheduling led to dinner plans for Friday, and random mentioning of mango lassi and biryani landed Tony and I in the Taj Mahal restaurant in Dupont Circle--I heartily approve. Good food, good company, and good conversation overruled the potential awkwardness of the quiet atmosphere and bemused sideways glances we attracted from an older couple sitting nearby, and the weekend was off to a notably promising start.

Now, it may be hard to believe people when they say that this city is small, but it truly is. Between the restaurant and the Metro stop (just up the street), we ran into friends and fellow interns on three separate occasions. Three! From there, it was up to Grosvenor to further kickstart the weekend with lively music and a friendly gathering hosted by Ian, fellow Dickinsonian and roommate of Tony (flashback to last week for those following the characters in this little narrative). It was an entertainingly varied collection of people, to say the least, and a grand look into the life of interns outside of the office.

Thanks to beautiful weather and Cherry Blossom Festival events, Saturday saw a massive influx of tourists (which group, thankfully, I no longer consider myself a part of - I’ve moved on to the “Washingtonians continuously disgruntled by unknowing and innocent tourists” group). Plans to meet up with a few friends visiting from Dickinson were slightly complicated by the insanity of Chinatown, particularly when it came to restaurant possibilities at lunch time. Thus, when my mother called in the midst of it and inquired as to where I was, the blunt and honest response was “Walking into Hooters.” Why? Because most of the tourists filling the streets and restaurants were families, and families do not dine at Hooters. Totally logical.

Next stop: National Zoo. Further insanity of the masses, plenty of people watching, occasional spotting of wildlife behind the walls of fanny pack-laden visitors as we attempted to pick our way through the crowds without tripping over small children leashed to frazzled parents. It made for a good stroll, though, and of course the entire escapade was free (one of the many wonderful features of this city).

Clearly, the animals weren’t the only creatures in the zoo worth watching…. Really, you bring it upon yourself when you wear ears and a tail. Come on now.

Sunday centered around wanderings with Medha and her friend Caitlin, visiting from Calgary. As the weather was top-notch, the first stop was the outdoor patio of La Tomate Bistro, one of many excellent options off of Dupont Circle. After a late and leisurely lunch, it was off to the National Mall for a trip to the National Gallery of Art via the sculpture garden. Admittedly, I’ve been in the National Gallery at least three times since arriving here in late January, and it never fails to pull me in. While I generally prefer going to museums – especially art museums – on my own (does that sound anti-social?), the company on this trip was great, and yielded all sorts of excellent, intellectual conversations that I revel in.

From there, rather than walking to the Tidal Basin from there, we jokingly considered snagging a rickshaw. Medha’s enthusiasm quickly turned the joke into reality (Uncle Julio style) and we soon found ourselves crammed into the back of a rickshaw, enjoying the ride as we cruised down the National Mall and the girl peddling in front of us did all of the work. What a way to travel.

Three girls in one rickshaw indeed; I had no idea three people in such a thing would be allowable. Hands down awesome way to see the city, though. Absolutely.

The rest of the week has been relatively uneventful so not much to report – TWC programming on Monday at the National House Builders Assoc., a few trips to the travel medical center to look into my likelihood of survival for a summer in Ghana, a fair bit of boredom at the internship (you’ll have that). Just one thing that requires noting in the books before I sign off, however: I tried goat for the first time! Yes, goat. And not fudge or cheese, mind you – I’m talking ground goat. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it; it may have been thanks to the impressive cooking skills of the Sethis, but the meal was excellent.

When I stopped by their apartment on Monday evening, I was just dropping in to borrow a sari in preparations for upcoming celebrations of Tamil New Year; ultimately, I stayed to visit for three hours and got home around midnight. Visiting led to chai, chai led to a snack of spiced and cooked tuber leaves, then homemade mango lassi, and by that point it was insisted that I stay for dinner – of course I didn’t argue. All excellent, as was, of course, the conversation… always a learning experience!

With that, a break in the babbling as I head back to campus for a final visit this semester and attempt to ignore the fact that the semester is speedily coming to a close…

From bhangra to brunch, a weekend of “chill”

2010-04-08T08:57:00.000-07:00

Once again, my failure to blog more rapidly is a sign of the craziness of the times… and my inability to keep my eyes open long enough to do it, quite frankly. It has, however, been a packed couple of days since last we chatted: panel discussion on peace in the Middle East at the U.S. Institute of Peace, bhangra party in Adams Morgan (a popular clubbing area in NW DC), and the rest of the weekend “eventful in a relaxed way,” to quote Tony, lead chef and co-host of our Sunday brunch.

The location and general summary of Saturday and Sunday: balcony, food, conversation, Medha relentlessly taking pictures. Apartment on the 21st floor and awesome weather made for an excellent brunch setting… until the attack of the bees, of course.

As I learned on Thursday, the current location of the USIP (at least, the locale of the panel discussion) was a bit tricky to find, in a poignantly ironic sort of way--I’d prefer that an institution apparently housing US peace be larger and obvious, wouldn’t you? Good thing they’re working on that. In any case, the discussion was interesting, though not exactly ground breaking; from my experience, such discussions reach the same stalemate every time--thus the problem. The gathering, however, was an entertainingly mixed one, including everyone from Jehan Sadat (widow of Anwar Sadat) and the Egyptian ambassador to media personnel to students and civilian blue hairs. Safe to say I was the youngest there.

Friday’s notable event also hosted a wonderfully varied group, though in a drastically different way: bhangra party at the Bossa Lounge! Yes, bhangra. Are you familiar with it? Think of the most stereotypical Indian dancing imaginable; be sure to include bouncing, dramatically large steps and shoulder shrugging, and constant extending and raising of arms. I was pathetically excited to receive an invite to such a thing, as it promised to be a colorful experience, and I was not let down. Really, you have to experience it to believe it. Quite the international gathering, though few Punjabis in sight--meaning few actually knew what we were doing, which of course made it all the better. We barely managed to catch the last Metro back (Metro runs until 3am on weekends), so you can imagine that it was a lively but tiring night… for further details, you’ll have to ask me off the record. ;)

Some friends and I had made two plans for the rest of the weekend: dinner of Ethiopian on Saturday, renting paddle boats on Sunday… neither of which we did. Instead, it was a weekend of going with the flow--“eventful in a relaxed way.” After some joking about the fact that there was a restaurant by the name of “Uncle Julio’s” near my apartment, we ultimately ate our words (by all means, guffaw at the terrible pun) when we discovered that it’s actually the home of some impressive Mexican cuisine. Once we’d packed up leftover enchiladas and guacamole, we stopped at the nearby Tivoli Gourmet & Pastry for mousse, tiramisu, and wine (for those of age…), and headed back to my apartment to relax, chat, and enjoy.

Tony, Medha, Ian, and I may not have made it out to Ethiopian or paddle boating, but when we learned that Uncle Julio’s had an outside patio, well, there was no getting around it. Foot in mouth for the unspoken understanding that a restaurant dubbed “Uncle Julio’s” would be absurd.

Drive to the Grosvenor area--which would’ve cut down on the Metro commute times had we not accidentally taken a detour down the National Mall--to switch hangout location, spend the rest of the evening chatting on the balcony while a gathering of Mexican interns partied inside, plans to return for brunch and paddle boating the next day, and we were set.

Little did we know the brunch on the balcony would turn out to be a wonderfully drawn out affair. Clean up and a morning run to the market next door, and we set upon creating our Easter brunch. Proud to report that, ultimately, we had quite the spread: fruit, matzah (and nutella and peanut butter), and hummus, brie, and crackers stayed with us on the balcony, while the buffet inside boasted French toast, sausage, scrambled eggs, beans, an intriguing take on hashbrowns, milk, juice, and chai. Not surprisingly, we found ourselves sitting around until 2-ish, snacking, talking, and enjoying the sun.

Kevin, roommate of Ian and Tony, joined us for our impressive brunch spread (really, we were quite proud of the results… for good reason, if I may say so). For the record: the beverage on the bottom right there was not a part of the buffet; innocent bystander…. ahem.

Though others came and went, I ultimately didn’t get back to my apartment in Virginia until after 9, a full 24 hours after my having left it… a bit of a shame that I didn’t fully take advantage of having the apartment to myself, but ultimately there were better things to do. Instead of paddle boating, Tony and I took a drive to check out a nearby Korean/International Market (does anyone know what a durian is??) and to scope the area, back for dinner and more chatting on the balcony, and a general continuation of the weekend’s token word: chill. Indeed, it was a “chill” couple of days.

Speaker at the Dept. of the Interior on Monday for TWC programming, back to the grindstone on Tuesday, and the week is off yet again. Happily, I was also off--that is, from my internship, of course. The glorious part of having little to nothing to do at the moment. On Wednesday, lucky duck that I am, I escaped the office around 10:30 (quite the record, as I got in around 9:15), headed back to the apartment to change and grab some lunch, and left once again, book in hand, destined for the WWI Memorial. Throughout the afternoon, the place was amazingly serene and peaceful, considering the fact that it’s spot in the middle of some of the most popular tourist destinations in DC. My only real interruption was a temporary invasion of eighth graders, the leading tour guide of which said at one point “No one ever comes here…. Well, except for one person (apologetic gesture towards me), who is unfortunate enough to be here when we are here.”… cue masses of stares in my direction.

Leaning on a pillar (moving with the shade), book in hand, water bottle at side… yep, it was a relaxing afternoon, minus the hoodlum interruption.

Of course, all of this was in the midst of a freakishly hot spell for early April. As one who grew up on the coast of Lake Erie, I’d say 86* in the first week of April is nuts. More on my battle against the elements later, though. It is now time to sunblock it up--I’m headed to a Nationals-Phillies game this afternoon!

In the presence of greatness

2010-04-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

Washington, DC, is the place to encounter people of greatness, as in the few who will pepper my blog post for today’s entry. My mother: brought me into the world, so I am required by rules of biology and society to classify her in this section. ;) Sandeep Pandey: Indian social activist, founder of ASHA, and recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay award in the ‘Emergent Leadership’ category. Don Belt: senior editor of foreign affairs at National Geographic magazine and all-around awesome and fascinating fellow. …and I think we’ll stop there for now and pick up where we left off after this coming weekend.

Person 1: last weekend brought to town my mother, her friend Sally, the start of the Cherry Blossom Festival, and a bit of somewhat less-than-ideal weather at times, as it travels with my family wherever they go (it sprinkled last time we were in Las Vegas). Still, we had no trouble entertaining ourselves, and luckily the sun had returned by Saturday and the remaining wind was perfect for the kick-off of the Festival, a kite festival on the National Mall.

After an initial introduction to the city via Dupont Circle (including dinner at Le Pain Quotidien and dessert at – of course – Larry’s, because I love that man and I flatter myself to think that the feeling is mutual), Mom and Sally hit up the usual touristy spots along the mall, for which I joined them on Saturday. The museums and memorials are, of course, the highlight of most trips to DC, but I think Dupont Circle should also be a requirement; it’s one of the main hubs of DC where you can really see the current life of the city, not just the history behind it.

Sally, Mom, and me ( and Medha behind the camera): four of the very few people not speaking French in Le Pain Quotidien. However, it was a good chance to brush up on some dusty language skills via eaves dropping and my first venture into mint lemonade was overwhelmingly positive (as was everything else).

Luckily, the AID meeting, usually scheduled for Saturdays, had been postponed until Sunday, so I was able to attend and, bonus, drag Medha along as well. Now, as you may have noticed, I’m pretty much in love with my civic engagement project to the point that it’s become much more than that. I go out to dinner with them, celebrated Holi, attended a baby shower, and generally have a good time… to the point that we’re planning past this semester, and even to the end of the summer and next fall, once I’m back from Ghana. When it was asked if I could help with something over the summer via email and when I get back, not only was I not surprised, but I responded with an enthusiastic affirmative. The cause is great and the people are awesome – more than fellow volunteers, they’ve become good friends.

Anywho, Sunday presented another great opportunity through AID, again involving awesome people: a visit from and long discussion with Sandeep Pandey, a well-known (and perhaps slightly notorious) social activist from India and founder of the nonprofit ASHA for education, among numerous other projects. When this barefoot, gray-bearded man stepped in wearing a white salwar kameez under an argyle sweater, putting his hands together and bowing his head to those of us already sitting cross-legged in a circle on the floor, he seemed to be some sort of modern-day Gandhi. The real tell: when one of his stories involved him sitting under a tree, having some deep discussion while an angry mass protested around them. Truly an impressive character.

Medha and I with Dr. Mohan Bhagat (left), key player in the creation of AID as it is today and general host/figurehead, and Dr. Sandeep Pandey (far right)… quite the impressive pair.

The next impressive character, with his own fair share of stories: Don Belt, amazing journalist and senior editor of foreign affairs at National Geographic magazine. As you can gather, it was a rather big week for me. Sandeepji on Sunday, our program toured ABC-7/Politico on Tuesday, and I spent several hours at National Geographic on Wednesday afternoon, chatting with Don and sitting in on his speech to current Nat. Geo. interns. Talk about stories; this man has a boatload of them. Even better – he’s great at telling them.

When I arrived at Nat. Geo., I met him at the elevator and we strolled to his office, sat to chat for a bit about what we’ve been working on and what is in the works (Ghana for me; Syria, Bangladesh, and who knows where else for him, of course). After some surprisingly familiar banter and the offer of banana and a bottle of water, we gauged two bananas for which was the lesser of evils browning-wise as if we were old friends and headed down to talk with the other interns. This, by the by, was all inspired as my informational interview, required for TWC. I was pathetically excited to hear back from Don, and all the more so when I actually had the opportunity to spend some time with him and chat before, during, between, and after sessions with other interns.

Though I’d visited National Geographic before, previously to see the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit, this was definitely a first for the insider’s tour.

Moral of the story, for both the interview and the civic engagement: TWC is what you make of it. Frankly, it is easy to cop out on both of those assignments; I, however, recommend that you not. Everyone is doing an internship, but not everyone gets such opportunities outside of that – the experiences of both Sandeep and Don are testaments to the fact that we can and must make our own opportunities. For someone occasionally laughed at when I admit that I’m hoping to get into the vastly changing field of print journalism, meeting a writer like Don was an unforgettable experience. And next time you have the opportunity to have chai with a major social activist, let me know what you think. Absolutely fantastic – but it’s all in what you make of it.

More escapades coming soon, no doubt. Until then, I recommend you see what sorts of adventures you can get yourself into… or even better, misadventures. In the words of the box of Sun-Maid raisins I cracked in to while talking to Don, “Stay curious and you will travel to the ends of the earth.” Fitting, was it not?

General insanity, joviality, and a bit of productivity…

2010-03-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

Those of you who may actually glance at this blog from time to time have probably gathered by the recent lack of posts that it’s been a rather busy week or so… indeed, you are correct. Spot on. If I had a prize, consider yourself winner of it. Things have been crazy!

The positive busyness:

a. finished the feature article mentioned in the previous article, and the other was approached by the senior reporter who assigned it to me, informing me that I am (forgive the language) “a f***ing awesome writer” and she’s “really excited for me”… highlight of the internship this week, I’d say. Exaggeration on her part, but still appreciated.
b. weather has been awesome! The place to be on a sunny day after work, as it turns out, is Dupont Circle, no question;
c. in the process of researching for a paper for my course on U.S. foreign policy (and an indep. study project) and thanks to the wonder of twitter, I ran into a recent alum from Dickinson now working at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, resulting in some awesome link and info. possibilities and an equally excellent lunch at Pasara Thai…should’ve been writing the paper instead of meeting someone for lunch, but I can’t say I regret my decision!

There is one thing I am torn about thus far, however. Can’t decide if I enjoy having a direct view of the weather from my desk or not- on one hand, the natural light is, of course, excellent; on the other, it’s ridiculously taunting on nice days. Last Friday (as in, quite a while ago… yes, I know, I’m behind. Remedy in the process.), quite honestly, I left the apartment at 9 am, not to return until nearly 1 on Saturday afternoon. Wait wait wait… jumping to conclusions, are you? Come on now, get your mind out of the gutter.

After work, Medha (fellow intern) and I met in Dupont for dinner and instead wandered about, stopping at a bookstore, Larry’s for ice cream, and then to the circle to enjoy said ice cream while people watching. It is a shame I couldn’t have taken a panoramic photo; the scene was just amazing. The weather was perfect and the entire area was teeming with people enjoying the amazing start to the weekend – sitting around the fountain, listening to street performers, playing Frisbee, walking dogs, little old men engaging in or observing chess battles. Stereotype to the max, but in a wonderfully breathtaking sort of way…the beauty of the weekend and the first signs of spring. From there, it was The Burger Joint to meet some friends, back with them to generally hang around, foosball battling, and a Mexican birthday party, where I found myself needing to translate… you never know when those language skills are going to come in handy, do you?

Note a. groupie on the bench, b. IAMS for his dog observing from the sidelines, c. chess players in the background, and d.general awesomeness of this guy, from “Sympathy for the Devil” (Rolling Stones, for those of you unaware) to “Ain’t No Sunshine” (Bill Withers, if I’m not mistaken).

After Friday’s bout of fun winning over productivity, Saturday was a pretense at being productive, and Sunday was back to fun for a baby shower, believe it or not. Yes, I’ve only been in this city for a short time, and yes, most of my friends here are interns, not expectant mothers… and no, I’d never been to a baby shower before. However- thanks to my involvement with AID, I’ve had the chance to get to know some excellent folks, not the least of which including Sonika and Dushyant (previously featured), hostess and host of the baby shower as they prepare for a new family member later this month. Excellent conversation, excellent food (ever had laddu? Indian sweets- check it out), excellent day….excellent form of procrastination.

To continue the general joviality of the weekend and further put off the paper looming over my head, Medha and I headed out for a late dinner at a Malaysian restaurant near Dupont Circle, Penang, thanks very much to a wonderful little thing called Groupon. What you do: go to the website, sign up for daily emails. Result: save money but still enjoy a night on the town, compliments of “groupon” coupons to local restaurants or pretty much anything else, different deal every day. We paid $15 for $35 worth of food, reveled in 3 appetizers and 2 desserts (because who needs entrees), and caught the last Metro to our respective homes. Metro stops running at midnight on Sundays; if you ignore everything else of my babbling (which you might as well), recall this much: stand on the right side of the escalators, walk on the left, and pay attention to when they stop running!

Sooo proud of our meal choices- even the fried squid, which was a first for me. Here you see one of our two shared desserts… I’d almost feel guilty for eating it, if it weren’t so delicious.

One of my various talents: looking unbelievably awkward in photos (a forced invasion of my personal space bubble). Also entertaining was the result of flash emphasizing contrasting skin tones… my farmer’s tan has not yet made its appearance this year, so I seem to reflect at times. It’s a problem.

Monday saw morning programming with a President's Lecture speech from the Deputy Secretary of State… which, frankly, was not nearly as interesting as I’d hoped it be. In fact, I learned nothing – though, to be fair, it was a decent reiteration of information you’re likely to already know if you’ve been following basic foreign affairs in any way. Rain, hunger, and unwillingness to return to our respective duties pushed a few other interns and me into a Corner Bakery, where we happily discussed our upcoming weekend plans for Virginia Beach (end of April). Then vague productivity in researching a paper through Monday evening and Tuesday morning, and break on Tuesday for lunch. Thank you, twitter, for enabling the extended conversation over massaman curry and fried rice – though we had mutual friends (and interests, thus the meeting), he’d graduated at the end of my freshman year and we’d never actually met. The 21st century is quite something, isn’t it?

Of course, it’s also enabling this lovely form of communication… with that, however, it is time for me to temporarily leave the virtual world. Will be back shortly to report on the latest weekend and the start of the Cherry Blossom Festival – happy spring!

“Helloooo, beautiful people!”

2010-03-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

As promised, we’ll start out with an internship update. The backdrop: I’ve recently been assigned a feature story for an upcoming issue of the Washington Business Journal, to be the highlight of the technology section, thereby requiring me to get in contact with the decided company (innovators and manufacturers in northern VA… sadly, I can’t technically give away who it was!) to set up an interview. Though this sounds relatively easy, it turned out to be a heck of a challenge; really, it’s tricky to talk someone into meeting with you when they aren’t particularly outgoing. After some assistance from an insider and numerous phone calls, however, I managed to schedule an interview… and reschedule it when I came down with a bout of apparent food poisoning the night before the interview.

Because it was to be an on-site interview- tour of the “innovation factory” included, which was a fun little bonus – I required the use of a car to get myself there, being that I have not yet mastered the art of teleporting and, in the US, anything not a major metropolitan area is totally lacking in public transportation. Borrowing a senior reporter’s car, FYI, is a bit of a nerve-wracking situation – especially when you don’t know quite where you’re headed and are more accustomed to two-lane traffic than four and five. Still, I survived to tell the tale and had an interesting and informative visit with my interviewee, the company’s cofounder. This week: turning it into a worthy article (and working on some other nonsense, of course).

For the rest of the evening, I joined Jenny, a fellow Media & Comm. intern and ‘nextfloor’ neighbor (Mr. Heckles style, that is, for the Friends fans out there), for a night on the town, PG and culture/food focused. After dropping in at TWC’s International Festival (on time to catch the last two performances but, unfortunately, too late to catch the food), we opted for a double-dessert dinner, first with a trip to the great Crepes-A-Go-Go, followed up by a trip to Larry’s Ice Cream on the other side of Dupont Circle. Larry’s is apparently well-known (and deservedly so) for having amazing ice cream, as the large, personable man behind the counter will proudly inform you after a semi-creepy “Helloooo, beautiful ladies!” (old man Greek accent included) – but really, what a fantastic way to be greeted.

The building was packed by the time we got there- a great sign of success for the event, but unfortunate for our empty stomachs, which had been looking forward to an international dinner buffet.

I was proud to be the cause for and witness of Jenny trying her first crêpe; a very successful endeavor as a whole. It seems that I’m determined to make everyone aware of the greatness of crêpes.

The next morning, Jenny and I met once again for a quick trip to the Old Post Office Pavilion and, the main event, to the American History Museum. As thorough museum-goers (Jenny more so than I, which is really saying something), we made it through only two full wings and a bit of a third, so a return visit will be required. The most popular exhibit there, interestingly enough: the First Ladies exhibit, featuring the inaugural ball gowns (or some other such impressive vestment) of First Ladies throughout history. What caught my attention the most, to be honest, was a sign at the end of the exhibit. “What did you think about this exhibit? Tweet your answer to @amhistorymuseum.” Hello, 21st century tourism.

The latest addition to the First Ladies exhibit, Michelle Obama’s inaugural ball gown. Must admit, I was somewhat taken aback by the level of sheer fawning over the dresses.

The rest of the weekend was a relatively routine one, aside from the inebriated crowds wandering about the streets and Metro decked out in green. Saturday afternoon featured a happy return to AID meetings, with the added bonus that, as it was my third meeting, I can now officially vote as a member of the chapter! As Dushyant pointed out after picking me up, I am officially a “member of the tribe”… and, I believe, the only non-Indian member, which makes me all the more proud, quite frankly! That night and the following Sunday, when not grumbling over the loss of an hour, I spent helping Dushyant with some editing and being productive in my own right.

Monday: programming. In short (because really, I should get to more immediate things than blogging and I’m sure you’re all ready for me to cut the babbling), we met at TWC, formed groups, and wandered off into the city with flip cameras and instructions to interview one another about our most memorable moments thus far. Caribou Coffee for the video shooting and picker-upper, Potbelly’s for lunch, back to TWC for a bit of a fiasco in attempts to convert and edit the footage. May have to post the link later for sheer entertainment value.

With that, I leave you with a lovely shot of fellow interns and interviewees Medha and Jenny, clearly enjoying our lunch break. What friendly and unique people we have here, no?

A Dickinsonian Weekend

2010-03-11T20:20:00.000-08:00

Where were we? Thursday, I believe. Well, shortly after the panel discussion, I returned to my internship to finish out a relatively normal day there, then all turned crazy. Why? Dickinson College, in a little town called Carlisle, PA…. Crazy in the best of ways, of course.

While my roommates here in DC have been bussing it back home pretty much whenever possible, my first weekend out of town was instead to visit my friends at school (presence requested for the all-college formal), just 2.5 hours north of the city. I took the Metro out to Shady Grove after whirl-wind packing, where a car-owning friend was nice enough to retrieve me… and so began the hugging.

Full disclosure: as many know, I have an issue with personal space. A big one…. as in, even more than your typical American (does that make me more British? From my understanding, they’re known for being averse to hugging, correct? haha). It actually goes so far that one friend likes to quote The Emperor’s New Groove and tease me with “There’s a wall there”… and not just in terms of literal personal space. Regardless, Thursday through late Sunday saw me the receiver of so many hugs it was nearing ridiculous, especially considering the fact that some people bestowed more than one. Don’t get me wrong, I missed them, but... arm’s length, please, as a general rule – and I have long arms.

Pause at Buffalo Wild Wings en route to campus. Left: Scott, car-owning Dickinsonian, ROTC, too proud to admit defeat by Blazin’ wings. Right: Phil, friend of Scott, not too proud to cry due to said wings…. literally. Photo taken by Danielle, entertained girlfriend of Scott.

The agenda? Very, very little. My only pre-determined plans for the trip included conversation over coffee with a prof. on Friday morning and instructions to call a friend when I got back on campus. The latter I failed to do immediately enough for his liking, apparently, as I learned later that he’d asked another friend about me, who’d asked my former roommate about me. I love being missed. This, of course, resulted in my calling at 2:30 in the morning, knowing that we were both up anyways, and, honestly, teasing on his part when he heard my only plans for the next day.

“Kate, you’re only here for the weekend, you’re not supposed to be meeting to chat with professors. You should be chatting with students!” To all who agree- very silly, you are. Interesting people are interesting people; good conversation is good conversation (even better, enlightening and entertaining). The important part is that all of the above apply, correct? Sure. And - in my own opinion, at least - it did. Matter settled, excellent beginning to the weekend.

After stopping in on two more professors (though both much more business-oriented, no-nonsense sorts of meetings, truth be told), the rest of the weekend was pretty much devoted to the “chatting with students” aspect. Continue to criticize, if you will, but much of that was actually spent in the school library, my previous (and future) place of employment and hang out, as it remains a place of employment for several friends… don’t judge, we’re surprisingly entertaining people. Bring in food, music, and conversation, and the circulation desk is a happening place.

…And in case you were judging anyways, plenty of time was spent outside of the library as well, of course. An extended battle of pool, movie watching, dance-going, poker playing, etc. Your typical weekend of very little productivity and even less sleep, quite honestly. Too many people to see, too much to catch up on - productivity was pretty much put on hold until the return trip via Greyhound.

Corinne, Morgan, and I – a roommate reunion – in our Formal garb…. Post-Formal, admittedly, as I was neither organized nor inclined enough to attend as early as they did. Instead, I arrived fashionably late after watching House and discussing the state of democracy in West Africa…. bahaha.

Kofi Agyare, perpetrator of the aforementioned lateness, fittingly displaying his Ghanaian pride. Hands down one of my closest friends on campus, and crucial link for my summer plans: internship in Ghana, during which two months I’ll be staying with his family.

Thus the weekend flew by much too quickly, and I’ve already been interrogated as to when I’ll be back on campus (relatively soon, hopefully… if not for the people, than for the scones and apple fritters). A three hour bus ride back to DC landed me around Union Station shortly after midnight, at which point a lovely car-owning TWC student retrieved me (metro stops at midnight on Sundays- be aware.), and after a bit of confusion we made our way back to Arlington without map or GPS. Needless to say, we were quite proud of ourselves.

(Former) Girl Scout’s promise, I will actually refer to my internship in some relevant capacity in my next post! Attention is rather divided, so you have to bear with me if you were hoping to hear about the latest in real estate in the greater DC area. So next time: TWC programming and event, interview (rescheduled following a slight bout of food poisoning), Association for India’s Development (woot!), and whatever other misadventures I come across. I get myself into those anywhere (yes, this is a good thing), but DC seems to welcome them whole-heartedly at times.

With that- goodbye for now, chale.*

*Multi-cultural lesson for the day: chale- roughly defined, a familiar term of endearment used between friends and such in Ghana… compliments of Kofi Agyare.

A World of Color… Holi Hai!!

2010-03-08T05:26:00.000-08:00

Just for your reference, when you pass out in the Metro en route to work, it’s time for a break. Thankfully, this is not something I know from personal experience; rather, it is something I, unfortunately, witnessed one morning when I heard a sharp intake of breath, a dull ‘thunk,’ and realized that there was one less head in my line of sight in the Metro car.

It was one of those impressive moments in which strangers necessarily ban together to face something greater than their own differences or discomfort. Is there a doctor nearby (no), do we pull an alert to stop the train (no, we’re almost to the next stop), help him up, give him a seat (several of which were immediately vacated), how far is he going (Metro Center), has this happened before (no), has he eaten anything today (no), does he feel dizzy (resounding yes), will he go to the hospital (no)? The previously silent train car had erupted in a bustle of concerned outpourings and questions, but the young man was determined to walk it off. Sometimes you’ve just got to recognize that health and mental sanity require taking a breather.

As I was reminded last Saturday, some people already have that down pat. Experience of the week: holi, the Hindu festival of colors! I can’t say it enough- the rest of the world has been seriously missing out on an awesome celebration. While there are various legends between the festival (the one I’ve heard most being in honor of Krishna), what it comes down to is a massive and carefree celebration of life, color, and friendship… and all that good stuff. Color is everywhere- in the air, on the ground, covering your clothes and face, in your hair and ears. You name it, it’s there. What’s more, everything is fair game; step on to the streets of Kolkata on the day of holi, and you will quickly find yourself accosted by strangers with water balloons, hoses, handfuls of powder, and pretty much anything else they can get their hands on.

The video is set to the song “Mujhe Rang De” from Thakshak. The film composer for this one, A.R. Rahman, is deservingly well-known (known best to Westerns for Slumdog Millionaire, but impressive throughout Bollywood).

Proof of my partaking, though still somewhat low-key as it is halfway through my first holi experience. Shout out to Sonika and her camera phone, with a bit of screwing around to turn blur into vintage. :)

How did I find myself with green hair, a bespeckled black pea coat, and red splattered jeans and shoes? That, wonderfully enough, is compliments of the Association for India’s Development and its members, who were more than happy to reel me in for my first holi celebration. As I’ve mentioned previously, I am gradually becoming involved as an AID volunteer, inspired as a civic engagement project for TWC but continued out of sheer enjoyment and interest. Honestly, what little time I’ve spent with the AID and the experiences resulting from that have been some of my favorites thus far.

Dushyant and Sonika Sethi, AID members and fellow Arlington-residers kind enough to offer me rides to AID meetings, entertain, educate, and feed me on Saturdays, and all around awesome people. Quality conversation and multi-cultural stories and experiences - doesn’t get much better than that.

This Saturday featured a stop at Patel Brothers for “colors” (the powder used for holi celebrations… and me unaware that I’d get to see them up close and personal), the meeting at Dr. Bhagat's house in College Park, followed by “playing holi” in the yard, then joining the Sethi’s for a trip to Starbucks to meet with a potential doula and dinner at a Malaysian restaurant in DC. Yes, in that order- meaning we were still slightly color-spattered for both the meeting in Starbucks and going out to dinner. As it turns out, Washingtonians aren’t accustomed to seeing people decked out in their post-holi garb, and it results in some staring and vaguely repressed smiles. In any case, we were thoroughly enjoying ourselves, from discussion of upcoming events and progress reports at the meeting to conversation over a late dinner of roti, curry, shrimp, etc.

To continue the food extravaganza, I joined Medha, a fellow Media & Comm. intern, later on in the week to take advantage of a prime deal at Zorba’s Café, a Greek restaurant near Dupont Circle. Thanks to a website called Groupon, we pulled in $40 worth of food for just $20 of our already limited funds… and I’d say we did fairly well making our way through $40 worth of tabouli salad, pita and hummus, falafel, souvlaki, and baklava. After all, one must pay due attention to various cultures, correct? Sure thing.

Medha, predisposed to documentation via photograph (especially when she realized how little I enjoy having my picture taken--thus the fruity expression), was quick to make note of our loaded table.

The next morning featured a temporary shirking of WBJ duties, cause being a panel discussion hosted by the Voice of America, “Rebuilding Haiti’s Media: The Lifeline of Development.” The program was announced through our program adviser, and I was quick to take them up on the invite. Not only was I interested for sheer interest’s sake (and not surprisingly so, as one hoping to go into journalism via international affairs and politics), but the panel discussion meshes amazingly well with my current independent study project, a required factor for my school credits while at TWC. …An excellent event, and well worth the time missed at WBJ.

The panel featured a last minute stand-in for the Ambassador of Haiti (as you can imagine, a busy fellow), the Creole Service Chief of VOA, and representatives from Internews, the US AID/Office of Transition Initiatives, and the CommGAP at the World Bank. The heads featured here are just bonus, so you feel like you’re there…. ahem.

More on that later, though, I’m sure… if you’re interested in hearing more about any of the above (planning your own holi celebration, perhaps?), let me know- I’m always up for good conversation. For now, though, it’s time to hold off on further verbosity. Next up: a weekend in Carlisle, PA. :)

A Taste (or two or three…) of DC

2010-02-25T04:57:00.000-08:00

A purple cow. According to my last interviewee, I am a purple cow - complimentarily analogous for “better than the everyday, annoyingly unoriginal black and white cow.” Need I say that it was an interesting and in-depth conversation? A “purple cow” of profile interviews, if I may.

That interview was both a ‘high’ in my internship thus far and a reminder of why I’m not built for desk jobs. Last Thursday also boasted a bright point in my experience with WBJ to this point, as the reporters and editors gathered for a weekly meeting. To witness the challenges facing print journalism and the interaction between writers and editors – this is why I am here. Though the regular reporters seemed to dread what was coming as they wended their way to the conference room, it turned out to be one of the most enlightening experiences thus far.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that internship and work are only part of the experience. Thus, if you don’t mind, we’ll skip along to more diverse and… colorful… experiences. The weekend was nothing if not colorful. Let’s say we structure it as we structure days: around meals…

Saturday, eight hours of which I spent as virtually the only non-Indian in sight, featured a South Indian vegetarian restaurant, with appearances by iddly, samosas, and masala dosai. I can’t take credit for the menu, as it was wisely decided upon by the young Indian couple virtually hosting me for the day; I had no idea when I left the apartment at 1:30 that attending a meeting for the Association for India’s Development (AID), scheduled for 3, would keep me occupied until 9:30 that evening.

Photo: http://www.indianfoodforever.com/

The wonderfully massive South Indian version of a crêpe: dosai, flanked by lentil soup and chutney.

Knowing a “civic engagement” project was a TWC requirement and hoping to combine my interests, I managed to stumble across information for AID, contacted a local branch member, and ultimately found myself hitching a ride to the first Saturday meeting post-blizzard. After spending much of the afternoon discussing some of the organization’s causes and most recent projects, the Sethi’s and I hopped back in the car, by this point more than ready for dinner. The result? My first trip to an Indian grocery store, followed by the aforementioned dosai at Woodlands. Did I get a few goofy/intrigued look as a non-Indian hanging around such places and accompanied by a pair of natives? Sure, a few. Did I enjoy every second of the company and the experience? You bet.

Sunday continued the culture fun, this time including a somewhat random mixture of Chinatown, Burmese, and French crêpes. In celebration of the Lunar New Year, Chinatown hosted a massive parade and fireworks displays, and massive crowds to accompany the hoopla.

A fellow Media & Comm. intern and I met at the Chinatown Metro stop and, upon reaching the street, found ourselves facing walls upon walls of people, bustling amongst the oddly mixed but pervading smell of Chinese food and smoke wafting from the firecrackers.

As the streets began to clear of fireworks, we decided it was high time to fully enjoy the atmosphere by partaking in the most common sign of Chinese culture in the US: food! Of course, being that everyone in the region even remotely interested in Chinese culture was already packing both sidewalks and restaurants, we instead – semi-logically – wandered into the one Burmese restaurant in Chinatown.

En route to the creatively named “Burma Restaurant,” we dropped into the nearby Temple of Cun Yum… just because we could, and it looked like an intriguing educational opportunity. We were correct.

Dessert: quality time with a few more fellow Media & Comm. interns, along with our program adviser, at the monthly debriefing dinner, this Sunday perfectly situated at Crêpes-A-Go-Go. Anyone who would turn down a trip to a crêperie is not to be trusted. After discussing recent events over a few platefuls of fluffy deliciousness, we broke for the evening, to meet bright and early the following morning for the usual Monday programming.

Monday boasted a full schedule, beginning at the Capitol Building, pausing for lunch, and meeting back up for a tour of XM Satellite. Tuesday moved to food for thought over simply food as we discussed developing countries and democracies in my weekly course; as it turns out, we Dickinsonians know the democratic peace theory like nothing else. Try pulling a fast one on us and covering only one side of the argument, and we’ll call you on it. Can’t decide if I’m more proud of that moment or of the instance of referencing Thucydides in an earlier class…. a nerdy toss-up.

Much of the aforementioned class met once again on Wednesday to visit the traveling Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit at the National Geographic museum, certainly worth the extracurricular time for those of us who opted in – history staring you in the face. Somewhat unfortunately, I must admit that, once again, socializing centered on food, as I found myself at yet another crêperie (Crepeaway), this time with fellow classmates.

On the whole, the DC experience thus far has been a colorful and wonderfully multi-cultural one. Though I’d have to admit to missing Dickinson a bit - and nearly had a visitor one evening, thanks to potential stranding… the visit and conversation would have been more than welcome, without a doubt, though probably for the best that the stranding remained “potential,” not actual - I’m certainly enjoying the break from campus while it lasts…. visit pending for the near future

Filling my shoes… or trying to

2010-02-17T07:35:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, inevitably, we feel as though we are incapable of filling the shoes we’ve stepped into--especially in a new work environment and new city, surrounded by new people and new opportunities. So it was for me: I was incapable of filling my own shoes... no no, quite literally, that is. Aside from the live entertainment I offered everyone commuting from Ballston to Rosslyn around 9 on Tuesday morning, stopping every two steps to fix my shoes, I’ve been quite comfortable.

That comfort level - aside from the shoes - has increased over time, as may be expected. It didn’t take long to get settled into the internship, and I’m proud to say that I’ve become a rather practiced Metro rider and city navigator. The “snowpocalypse” has pretty much subsided and, in most areas, it is once again possible to pass someone on the sidewalk without having to step knee-deep in snow banks. After a barrage of snow-related articles here at the Business Journal (how has the snow affected recent productivity, sales, budgets, etc), the obsession with precipitation is slowly but surely leaving newspapers to their usual beats.

While the Sculpture Garden is more logical in the spring, it turns out the area also features an ice rink during the winter – smack in front of the National Archives, home of the some of history’s most important pieces of legislation. Welcome to Washington.

As to my own “beat,” so to speak, mixing things up has become a goal both in and out of the office. While at my internship, I continue to work on various “executive profiles,” speaking with local business leaders making a mark in their fields and assisting where necessary outside of that (checking event calendars, making phone calls, what have you). I’m getting to know the people I work with all the better, which makes for a much more positive, entertaining, and occasionally enlightening experience!

Outside of the office, however, is where the real fun begins - let’s not kid ourselves. While I enjoy the experiences I have the opportunity to garner through the internship, I’m not built for sitting at a desk and working at my computer all day. Time to go out and do things, see people, speak with them, experience that which I read and write about.

With this noble goal in mind, my roommate and I headed out to test the samosas at one of the several Indian restaurants in the area, Cafe New Delhi... a successful outing as a whole, I’d say, and it definitely put me in the mood for some Bollywood (confession: I’ve become a huge Bollywood fan; Abhishek Bachchan is my hero.). Sunday added to the cultural extravaganza with a trip to the National Gallery of Art, which museum alone includes two buildings and a sculpture garden, and will definitely require a return trip - particularly when said sculpture garden is not buried under snow. Still, an awesome experience, complete with gazing adoringly at Monet paintings, craning my neck, agape, to get a better look at huge Caldwell mobiles, and ultimately purchasing a mug featuring the Michelangelo quote “I am still learning.”.... that’s right, I’m cool.

The National Gallery of Art is absolutely beautiful- and not just the pieces housed there. Requires at least one trip, if not more.

The East Wing of the National Gallery of Art features contemporary pieces, from Warhol and Pollack to this awesome Caldwell mobile. My advice: do not attempt to get a good look at it while going up/down stairs or escalators; you run the risk of tripping…. ahem.

By the time I’d had my fill of the National Gallery of Art- for trip 1, at least - it was late afternoon and I wasn’t quite up for rejoining the crowds of families, school children, and elderly couples on their Valentine’s Day outing, all packed into the Metro. Thus, after much inner debate (to the point of passing the museum then thinking better of it and turning around), I headed in to the American Indian Museum.

My discovery last time I was there: the building itself is awesome, the idea is awesome, the gift shops inside are awesome but (of course) pricey, and the stairs can be a bit daunting, and the actual exhibits seem rather limited. Though all of the above still stands, for better or worse, this time I had serendipitously stumbled upon an annual, two-day celebration at the museum, “El Poder de Chocolate.” For the non-Spanish speakers out there, that’d be “The Power of Chocolate”- ah, es la verdad. Even better: I was right on time for the performance, an Incan “Scissor Dance” native to Peru, and performed by three ridiculously flexible and energetic young men accompanied by two brightly garbed musicians. Hands down, the most interesting visit I’ve had at the American Indian Museum... third time really is a charm.

What source of serendipity pushed me toward the American Indian Museum at just the right time? I know that as well as I know where those guys found their seemingly endless stores of energy… a non-blurred photo (at least with my camera) was impossible.

Other than that, not much to report and little planned for the rest of the week (for now, at least). Presidents’ Day on Monday meant another day off for many (again, not including myself), half of which I spent at WBJ, the other half of which I spent picking up my freshly repaired laptop and conducting a third failed trip to the Ghanaian Embassy in preparation for my summer internship there… since when do Ghanaians celebrate American Presidents’ Day, really?! Between that and extracurricular drama (four girls in one apartment, and you’ve got to be prepared for such nonsense), I was nearly ready to throw a shoe – a big one! Luckily, such mishaps are rare… and, as much as I hate shoes, the Payless across the street can help me fill my literal shoes as I hope to fill my figurative ones.

Rudolph in February

2010-02-13T12:32:00.001-08:00

A man in the Metro this morning was singing “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.” Yes, it is February.

As I sat perusing a book of travel essays and the girl beside me worked diligently in her French textbook, this man entered the train car, calmly but dejectedly stepped toward the nearest handrail, gripped it with both hands, closed his eyes, and rested his head, down turned, against the pole. Under his large knitted hat, his face was worn and his beard was scraggily; the backpack strapped on behind him was equally worn and moderately full, disregarded as his coat hung at his sides and he stood quietly at the end of the train. After a mass exodus at one stop left few people and many empty seats on the car, he slowly opened his eyes, glanced around, and took the seat behind me. When I began to hear him speaking, I left the book, temporarily ignored, open on my lap and instead looked intently towards the window, trying to make out just what he was saying. It wasn’t until we neared my stop that I heard “All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names…”

From what I could tell, no one in the car reacted to this murmured rendition of a Christmas carol on a cold February morning. Honestly, I had the urge to sing along but limited myself to looking back and offering a sad sort of smile before getting off at my stop. I was returning to my high-rise apartment in Ballston after spending the morning at a Starbucks downtown, where my class met for coffee and discussion of our latest readings on ancient Chinese and Roman politics. And here this man sat behind me, a deep, tired baritone quietly singing a childhood classic.

My experiences in DC thus far have been fantastic. I love that I met with my professor and fellow students to discuss politics in a coffee shop on a Saturday morning; I love that I will be at the Journal office on Monday (though it’s a holiday) to work on an article before heading to the Ghanaian embassy with a few visa-related questions. I love that my roommate and I watched the opening ceremony to the Olympics in the “clubroom” of our apartment building, where we found ourselves in conversation with some random guy who joined in about halfway through the program. I love experiencing this city and the many things it has to offer (not the least of which being an Indian restaurant we’re headed to this evening). The most important aspects of any experience, though – at least the way I see it – are the everyday observations.

The classroom and internship opportunities, the museums and deep-rooted history at your fingertips, enjoying the various nightlife options in the DC area – all of these things are great, and they form a large part of the TWC experience…. but there’s more to the city than that. There’s more to every city than that. People from all walks of life can be found here, in this moderately sized city on the Eastern seaboard, the political capital of one of the leading countries of the world. Tourists come from all over the nation and world to see the memorials and museums, have their picture taken with a backdrop of the Washington Monument, and glimpse the White House from Lafayette Square. How many people come to see the man singing “Rudolph” in the relatively warm refuge of the Metro?

An English and Political Science major currently interning with a newspaper and taking a course on foreign policy, I hope to one day see much of the world, writing about international affairs and politics as I experience them firsthand. In moments like the one I experienced this morning, however, I can’t help but find it a bit silly. We sit high-mindedly discussing Sun Tzu over smoothies and croissants, linking timeless and universal matters of international relations back to the many issues the upcoming generation will have to face, then quietly ride the Metro back to our respective apartments, in the meantime passing by the very people who embody those problems facing today’s society.

While I certainly see the use in studying ancient history and international politics as they stood centuries ago, it feels somewhat absurd when faced with reality: a tired, middle-aged man singing “Rudolph” in February, looking as though the heavy world around him has battered and beat him into this faux state of uncaring tranquility, one quiet voice amidst a silent train car while we sped under the countless memorials and museums that hold the apparent wealth of this country, “leader of the free world.”

*Disclaimer: No, my apologies, this is not your typical blog. There are no pictures, and the one central anecdote isn’t all that funny. My instructions, however, were to write about my experience here in DC. If you ask me, this – unfunny as it may be – is a central part of that. In the classic movie “Dirty Dancing,” the character of Neil Kellerman, the owner’s son, makes one moderately intelligent statement in the entirety of the movie: “Sometimes in this world we see things we don’t want to see.” When given an opportunity to spend some real time in places like DC (or in Ghana, where I will be spending most of the summer), one of my main goals is to get a feel for the area as it truly is, not just the touristy spots. While the courses and internships offered through TWC are incredibly helpful and make for a great life experience, keeping your eyes open at all times is equally important, if not more so. There’s more to traveling than taking pictures and sharing misadventures in the form of entertaining anecdotes. …I do, of course, plan to share more of those next time; this is just a food-for-thought sort of moment between regular postings.

Continued (mis)adventures in the snow belt

2010-02-11T05:48:00.000-08:00

I am amazed; absolutely amazed. Not by the amount of snow we’ve received in this “Blizzard of 2010” or “snowpocalypse” (the name of which, as it turns out, is absolutely fitting- by the local reactions to it, you’d think the world was coming to an end), and not even really by the resulting run on grocery stores and general shutting down of the city. No, I am amazed that I have not yet ended up sprawled out on the ice. For someone often lacking in grace, it is quite the miracle. Yesterday, of course, nearly ended the otherwise positive record, but I ultimately managed to catch myself on the side of a snow bank, all I have to show for it now being a short walk and conversation with the sympathetic guy who, lucky for him, walked by me just in time to catch the show.

Few braved the snow, but the majority of those who did expanded the “sidewalk” boundaries to the road itself. Hey, if cars aren’t using it, pedestrians might as well take advantage, right?

Random encounters with strangers, however, are great for breaking up the day and putting a smile on my face, if nothing more. Last Wednesday, for instance, was full of such encounters; after spending the early afternoon at the Israeli Embassy, speaking with students from the IDC (outside of Tel Aviv), I headed to my internship, planned for my semester’s involvement with the Association for India’s Development as my TWC civic engagement project, and brushed up on my Spanish on the way out of the building. *Top notch day.*

The story: as I entered the elevator, an elderly woman standing inside continued complaining about some “crazy woman” to her fellow custodian, a younger man who awkwardly glanced over at me as if to ensure that I didn’t understand the Spanish conversation taking place beside me. My staring straight ahead with as straight an expression as I could manage must have convinced him of my ignorance – at least enough to prevent him from interrupting the woman’s ranting. Reaching their floor all too soon, the woman babbled along as the young man quickly looked back into the elevator. We made eye contact; he smiled; I responded with my typical smile/smirk combination and declared “¡hasta luego!” Needless to say, the brief moment of surprise and succeeding laughter that erupted from him (followed by a similar salutation) was absolutely priceless.

As much as I’ve enjoyed my internship, it’s only fair that I admit that such breaking up of the day is very much appreciated on my part. Last week, for instance, I was out for much of Wednesday for the visit to the embassy, then on Thursday morning for the actual student dialogue about the Arab-Israeli conflict, and everyone headed out early on Friday in deference to the upcoming “snowpocalypse.” While I am at the Journal, though, I’m comfortably established at my own desk, working diligently at research for an upcoming piece, doing a brief web write-up, scheduling or conducting an interview with a local business honcho, or contributing to any other task that is in need of assistance. The people I work with are great – friendly, personable, helpful, and much more entertaining than one might expect at a business-focused publication, truth be told.

Still, it is experiencing the city itself, and the many cultures and opportunities it has to offer, that I have appreciated the most since arriving here. The visit to the Israeli Embassy was an awesome opportunity, as was the chance to speak with students in both an informal setting (over lunch on Wednesday) and in a more structured dialogue (Thursday). Israeli society and politics form just one aspect of my interest in international affairs and learning about other cultures, and having the ability to see the embassy and speak with Israelis on a one-on-one basis was an excellent way to apply what I’ve learned in class and followed in the news.

I headed back to “International Drive” after Wednesday’s visit to get another look at the various embassies in the area, this time with my camera. Advice: bring as little to the Israeli Embassy as possible; no need to unnecessarily alarm the Mossad (only partially kidding)!

Snow meant that much of the weekend was spent inside, including some quality roommate bonding, practicing our cooking abilities and ultimately frying up some frozen samosas, compliments of the aforementioned roommate and her mother’s excellent Pakistani cooking. Saturday turned more to the Indian side of things as I staged a conference call with local members of the Association for India’s Development (more on the civic engagement project later), and Sunday had me getting restless from being inside for so long, ultimately bundling up and heading to the snow-covered National Mall.

The Smithsonian was closed due to weather and I literally couldn’t feel my toes, but I’d say it was worth it: as beautiful as the city is under cherry blossoms, it can be just as impressive under a blanket of snow…. and based on the number of people building snowmen on the Mall and skating on the Reflecting Pool, I’m not the only one who’s enjoying the fluffy white stuff.

Proof that I wasn’t kidding about skating on the Reflecting Pool. Clearly there’s no way Jenny could’ve waded to Forrest through that.

The World War I Memorial was actually my main destination on Sunday’s visit; it looked all the more quaint and forgotten under the blanket of snow, calmly nestled away from the snowball fights taking place elsewhere along the Mall.

Let the games begin

2010-02-02T06:56:00.000-08:00

Sometimes--or, in my case, often--life finds us in unexpected circumstances. Writing last week's blog post, for instance, found me sitting on the floor of our bathroom at 2 or 3 in the morning, in search of a quiet space in which I could focus without disturbing my sleeping roommate (don't be fooled by the time of the post). Last Wednesday found me briefly touring the White House with fellow disillusioned Media & Comm. students; Thursday found me filing my first web story, conducting a phone interview with a major company president, and then darting between socializing local business leaders at the Washington Business Journal's Book of Lists Celebration, attempting to be invisible as I made a bee-line for the buffet. If you’ve never tried “baked Alaska,” please do yourself a favor and procure some.

Photo courtesy of http://alaskaoffer.blogspot.com/2009/08/baked-alaska.html

While the Book of Lists Celebration had networking as a top priority, I'm not ashamed to admit that the baked Alaska dessert was pretty much the highlight of my evening.

The weekend, thankfully, found me relaxing and preparing for the coming week, as Tuesday will find me back at WBJ with another interview, Wednesday will find me visiting the Israeli embassy, and Thursday will find me in a dialogue with a group of Israeli students, discussing the high-tension topic of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Whew. Please pause as I catch my breath and grab a plate of tikka masala chicken and rice (which, I am pathetically proud to report, I made in the comfort of our apartment), because some form of food is required to boost my energy in the midst of this whirlwind.

In the mean time, I should note one thing: the laptop I am using currently is not my own, which is currently traveling the nation compliments of the Geek Squad. Thankfully, my lovely roommates have graciously leant me theirs. Don’t ask me why, but TWC lists “laptop” as something to either send for or purchase after arrival (though, freakishly enough, toilet paper made the list of things to bring with you)… I know, I know, people have different priorities. My recommendation, though: bring your laptop, buy the toilet paper. Logical? I think so.

Thus I spent part of the morning growing accustomed to a foreign laptop- foreign to me and foreign to this country. Admittedly, I didn’t notice the peculiar keyboard until I began typing and was horrified to see the number of typos involved. It was then that I noticed the “fin” instead of “end,” placed a few keys to the right of the “Ñ” and the “ç.” Indeed, Spanish; just one of the numerous new cultural experiences I’ve enjoyed since my arrival.

Look closely, please. Non-English keyboards, for the record, are a bit off-setting! I couldn’t help taking a picture for posterity… absurd.

On the first day here, my parents and I went out for lunch at Chevy’s Fresh Mex restaurant just across the street, where we were helped by an excellent Indian waiter by the name of Deepak--a token beginning to the wonderfully multi-cultural region of DC. My first international keyboard was, in fact, preceded by my first time trying eggplant (which, warning, can smell semi-foreboding in the process of roasting it for baingan bharta), my first time being hit on in Spanish, and my first dinner at a sushi restaurant, to name a few. The new experiences and getting a taste of different cultures (literally) are definitely part of the fun of being here.

Speaking of new experiences, my placement as Washington Business Journal’s editorial intern is moving along at a speedy but relatively exciting clip. I was assigned my first piece within half an hour of arriving for my first day, and since then have published my first web story, interviewed a local business honcho and set up a second interview with another such important fellow for the coming week, not to mention getting a feel for the office and jumping (being thrown?) right into WBJ’s biggest event of the year, the Book of Lists Celebration at the National Building Museum. The building was absolutely decked out, as were some of the attendees; quite frankly, I was rather out of my league.

National Building Museum= 100 percent impressive. Pillars, fountain, delicious buffets, and many business-sorts mingling about and exchanging business cards: I give you the Book of Lists Celebration at its finest.

The rest of the week has been equally on-the-go, but nothing too crazy to report here. Honestly, there’s little point in my informing you that taking a “tour of the White House” is not at all as exciting as it sounds, as my fellow Media and Comm. students discovered last week after choosing not to fully believe me. Really, it’s great for saying “I’ll be back in a bit; I’m going to tour the White House” (which, let’s admit it, is fun to say), and it’s great for checking out dishes and furniture that once graced presidential presences, but they’re not about to allow you to case the joint. Our next program bonding time was an optional dinner at a sushi restaurant in Arlington, which was fairly entertaining, regardless of the fact that virtually everyone was notably late and I don’t actually like sushi. It made for great company, great conversation, and a generally positive experience, raw creatures of the sea aside.

The coming week will hold plenty in store, not the least of which will include the visit to the Israeli Embassy and dialogues (compliments of additional TWC programming), getting better acquainted with my placement, and hopefully doing some more exploring. These flighty city folk have been easily scared off by the roughly two inches of snow we’ve received in the past couple of days; an Erie, PA native, I’d say their fears are a bit over the top. This fluffy stuff is what makes the cold of winter worthwhile – time to get out and enjoy it!

¡Hasta luego!

The beginning of a beautiful friendship…

2010-01-27T15:01:00.000-08:00

My incurable disease: referencing. Anything. Socrates or Chris Farley, Tolstoy or Friends. The blog title, for instance, is an appreciative nod toward Marjorie Williams’ book of political essays. It is only fitting, then, that I (somewhat paradoxically) begin my blog with a famous last line. Though this is my fourth time in DC, it will most definitely be the longest and most memorable; this time, I will get to know the city- and it will be a beautiful friendship.

The necessary profile facts: I am a sophomore at Dickinson College, here slightly earlier than most as I plan to graduate early. With a double major in English and Political Science, I am a voracious reader, an avid people-watcher, and a cynical yet verbose psychoanalyst. Now a student in TWC’s Media and Communication Program, I will spend the next fifteen weeks interning with the Washington Business Journal, taking a course on U.S. Foreign Policy in the 21st Century, and generally enjoying various misadventures in and around the city.

If you’ve ever seen Passport to Europe, you’ve learned at least one thing: the view from your room is absolutely key to enjoying the experience - odd, really, as most of your time should be enjoying that which lies beyond the walls of your room, but important nonetheless. Thus I was delighted to find that our 12th floor apartment offers a spectacular view – even better, the view was of the mall located directly across the street. Location, location, location. Fifteen minutes outside of the city, and I’d say we’re off to a grand start.

Though most of the next few months will be spent outside of the apartment and actually exploring the city, it’s nice to know that I can enjoy it so thoroughly from the inside, too.

Something to learn quickly in DC: people know where they’re going, and they don’t stroll en route. You’ll learn quickly because you must learn quickly. It is a busy city full of apparently busy people [though frankly I doubt that they are quite as high in demand as they fancy themselves to be]. For instance, pre-emptive research yields more than once that, when on the escalator in Metro stations, stand on the right, walk on the left. Seems like common sense, right? Sure it is… but one doesn’t realize until they’re in the thick of it just how seriously taken this unspoken rule is. Beware, these city folk have no compunction when it comes to shoving.

The Metro, doubtless, is a spectacular place for people-watching… and for losing one’s bearings, but try to focus on the former and avoid the latter. Just as intriguing as the people, however, are their overarching actions, the understood etiquette of public transportation in the heart of American politics – rapid movement, stoic silence, swaying and speed walking in unison, avoiding eye contact. Welcome! Before you get too disheartened, though, keep your eyes peeled and you’ll be rewarded by small signs of humanity; the girl who accidentally steps out of her shoe and must backtrack and attempt to look calm and collected, the retired couples on vacation, the guy who gets flustered when his partially crumpled farecard doesn’t go into the turnstile on the first try. Don’t let the bustle fool you; this city has a large heart for those who take a good look at it.

…And what better, heart-felt welcome is there than a massive protest? None, I tell you! On our first full day in the city, we witnessed one of the most massive demonstrations I’ve ever come across. Speaking of Metro rides – try taking one brimming with pro-life protesters, bundled up in scarves and wielding massive signs and banners. Quite the experience, but I preferred the view from the top of the Newseum – which, in my opinion, was unrivaled as prime observant tower in such an instance.

The protesters (noisily) made their way to the Capitol building as the massive crowd wound back and spanned across the National Mall. Amazing view compliments of the Newseum balcony.

The Newseum, part of our program orientation and a means of forcing us to spend time together – luckily it was a success – was the first truly touristy activity I partook of, not including my temporary stint of being lost en route to TWC on Friday morning (warning: if you exit at Farragut West, hang a right). Saturday, however, offered a great opportunity to expand upon those typically DC activities. After wandering around the Newseum together for a bit on Friday, another Media/Comm. interns and I planned to spend the following morning together, little realizing that it would turn into a much lengthier outing.

Though Medha and I planned for a quick shopping stop, one touristy stop, and lunch, we ultimately snagged our roommates and spent the entire day out on the town, beginning at the Fashion Centre Mall, moving to Arlington Cemetery, then to the Ballston Mall, and finally back to TWC housing to make dinner by 11 pm.

Arlington Cemetery is a must-see, of course, especially on a clear day. Please, please do yourself a favor and skip the shuttle possibility – suck it up and walk. Believe me, it’s worth it. The best way to experience most places is, after all, on foot. The grounds are beautiful, they offer innumerable photo op.s and awesome views of the city, and the sheer serenity can only be experienced and appreciated up close and personal.

The amphitheater, located behind the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, is just one of several breathtaking must-sees in Arlington.

Monday morning saw more orientation (overwhelmingly dull, truth be told, until the key note speaker), then yet another afternoon free to ourselves. I went the cheap,-slightly-anti-social route and headed back to the apartment for lunch, then out for a solo trip to the American Art Museum. While I love company, art museums are often best experienced alone – that allowed me to practice my intelligent-and-thoughtfully-mature expression when desired and skip the less thought-provoking busts of the likes of Yogi Berra when desired (no offense to the great Mr. Berra).

Tuesday marked the beginning of both the internship and the course, Wednesday promises my second tour of the White House, and Thursday will boast the Washington Business Journal’s Book of Lists 2010 Celebration… but more on all of the above later. Until then,

Good night and good luck!