Today was the first day of actual work. Bummer.
It started out with some regular old policy and procedure speeches about how to handle the media, etc. Some people from different departments got up and spoke--it was sort of dull after the first couple of hours, but I do hand it to them, they covered everything--even blogging about this particular organization.
Which brings me to my next point. I have to stop the blog here, or at least, stop talking about work. Because I am using H.'s internet and resources while I write this, I cannot risk writing the wrong thing and getting in trouble for it--or else getting H. in trouble if someone gets hold of something I say and misuses it.
So, you might notice I pretty much stop writing.
Dear family and friends, ill just email you :D
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
THE THIRD DAY on which we are oriented.
Today was epic.
We woke up around eight and started to get ready for the day. Business casual was the dress code.
All H. interns met in the corporate building and were told first and foremost that we are the best and brightest of our generation and a true success for being here. No pressure then, huh......
We heard a few speeches regarding the wonderfulness that is the H. internship and that our job is twofold, to work and to benefit ourselves. The rest was the normal sort of motivational speaking. I was pumped.
We then went as a group to the National Gallery and the National Archives. Many beautiful things to see in the Gallery--art, of course. We were given lunch at the Cascade Cafe in the gallery--the food was less than spectacular. The National Archives hold the Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights most importantly. AMAZING to look at the documents that I will be working to uphold and to remind America that it was founded upon.
The rest of the day was ours. My friends Renee, Adam, DJ, and Barrett and I went to Georgetown to walk around and have dinner. Thai food is amazing. Bangkok Joe's, specifically. We then came home. It was my first trip on the DC metro, which is less easy for me to navigate than the Rome metro, for some reason.
A late night visit to Capitol Hill proved to be the perfect end to today. I am high on DC and and have succeeded to surprise myself today. I found that I can indeed keep up with my peers in conversation. I am not as intimidated by them as I first was. They are normal people, I have discovered most pleasantly and I can actually fit in here. I will do my best in the future to keep my insecurity from getting the better of me. It is fast fading into my excitement at my own potential. I just might be able to do this.....
I really must find a post office tomorrow....
Still miss my parents, though :D
CIAO!!!
tomorrow I am wearing my suit and bringing my A game. I CAN DO THIS!
We woke up around eight and started to get ready for the day. Business casual was the dress code.
All H. interns met in the corporate building and were told first and foremost that we are the best and brightest of our generation and a true success for being here. No pressure then, huh......
We heard a few speeches regarding the wonderfulness that is the H. internship and that our job is twofold, to work and to benefit ourselves. The rest was the normal sort of motivational speaking. I was pumped.
We then went as a group to the National Gallery and the National Archives. Many beautiful things to see in the Gallery--art, of course. We were given lunch at the Cascade Cafe in the gallery--the food was less than spectacular. The National Archives hold the Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights most importantly. AMAZING to look at the documents that I will be working to uphold and to remind America that it was founded upon.
The rest of the day was ours. My friends Renee, Adam, DJ, and Barrett and I went to Georgetown to walk around and have dinner. Thai food is amazing. Bangkok Joe's, specifically. We then came home. It was my first trip on the DC metro, which is less easy for me to navigate than the Rome metro, for some reason.
A late night visit to Capitol Hill proved to be the perfect end to today. I am high on DC and and have succeeded to surprise myself today. I found that I can indeed keep up with my peers in conversation. I am not as intimidated by them as I first was. They are normal people, I have discovered most pleasantly and I can actually fit in here. I will do my best in the future to keep my insecurity from getting the better of me. It is fast fading into my excitement at my own potential. I just might be able to do this.....
I really must find a post office tomorrow....
Still miss my parents, though :D
CIAO!!!
tomorrow I am wearing my suit and bringing my A game. I CAN DO THIS!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
MORE ON THE SECOND DAY on which DC is our oyster
So, we walked. That is what we did.
After coffee and bagels, we walked from our apartment on the hill to the Capitol Building, then to some botanical gardens, then around the botanical gardens, then to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, then around that, then to an American Indian museum and briefly around it, then around China Town, then to a Trader Joe's to get groceries.
Needless to say, we took a cab home. We spent the late afternoon vegging out and watching Robert Redford movies. All in all, it was a fantastic day.
I have talked Renee into applying for a Liberty Camp in Slovenia. She will love it--assuming she can go, that is, which I think she will. She's awesome like that.
We have our work orientation tomorrow, which starts at 9am and will include much walking. Goodness only knows what that will be like. I should probably sleep now.
Missing the family. :D xoxox
After coffee and bagels, we walked from our apartment on the hill to the Capitol Building, then to some botanical gardens, then around the botanical gardens, then to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, then around that, then to an American Indian museum and briefly around it, then around China Town, then to a Trader Joe's to get groceries.
Needless to say, we took a cab home. We spent the late afternoon vegging out and watching Robert Redford movies. All in all, it was a fantastic day.
I have talked Renee into applying for a Liberty Camp in Slovenia. She will love it--assuming she can go, that is, which I think she will. She's awesome like that.
We have our work orientation tomorrow, which starts at 9am and will include much walking. Goodness only knows what that will be like. I should probably sleep now.
Missing the family. :D xoxox
THE SECOND DAY on which DC is our oyster
Well, we WERE going to go to the zoo....
Renee and I woke up and decided that smelly polar bears were not what we were in the mood for this early in the morning. We will meet up with Renee's friend/s later. Meanwhile we have been bumming around the apartment--sort of getting ready to go out--sort of doing nothing.
I'm guessing the first thing on our list will be coffee and bagels at this little bagel shop next door to the H. building. I'm excited.
Renee and I woke up and decided that smelly polar bears were not what we were in the mood for this early in the morning. We will meet up with Renee's friend/s later. Meanwhile we have been bumming around the apartment--sort of getting ready to go out--sort of doing nothing.
I'm guessing the first thing on our list will be coffee and bagels at this little bagel shop next door to the H. building. I'm excited.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
THE FIRST DAY on which we move in
Mom and I had been in DC for two days, bumming around, seeing the sights, and visiting friends. Today, my "vacation" ended and intern life began. Move in day in the J. building reminded me of my first day of college. It wasn't as nerve-wrecking as I had anticipated (insert huge sigh of relief).
We got here first. My roommate Renee was flying from St. Louis to Baltimore and then taking a shuttle. She arrived a few hours after us. Checking in was pretty routine. I was given my room assignment and keys and info packett and shown up to the apartment. I say apartment because there is no WAY this place constitutes a dorm room. Not a chance. We have a living room, bathroom, bedroom, two closets, and small kitchen. We don't have a stove or oven but we do have a washing machine. Figures. Looks like we'll have to get creative with the cooking. They gave us a full size fridge and a small toaster oven. We shall see what can be made of the situation.
Mom and I went to Union Station (right next door) and ate at Corner Bakery and then mom took off for the hotel (she leaves early tomorrow morning. I tried not to get weepy---but nerves were setting in full force and I can't say I wasn't itching to go back with her.
I went back up to the room and waited for Renee--who I still hadn't met in person until today. She turned out to be absolutely charming--THANK GOD! We are extremely similar and both like coffee, walks, and old movies. She's very easygoing and easy to talk to.
At 5:30 it was time to go downstairs for a mandatory pizza and housing meeting. The pizza was pretty fantastic--I must find out where they got it. It was scrummy!!
The meeting went pretty ordinarily. We went around the room and introduced ourselves. There are something like 65 people living in this building and 54 of us work for H. Everyone is super friendly, but they always are on the first day--for that I am always thankful.
There are a lot of econ people here, and many from up North. Many people are from St. Louis, like my lovely roomie, or from Michigan. I seem to be the only Texan in the building. I plan to milk that one for all it's worth :D
They mostly went over rules and regulations and then set us free.
Renee and I decided to do some exploring, and on our way we ran into a few other interns. Adam is working in my department (Government Relations) and Barett is working in....um....I don't remember. It's difficult to keep names and departments straight, but I'll get there eventually. The guys were friendly, and very quick witted. We ended up stumbling upon several dry cleaners, conveniance stores, bars, and an ice cream place (where, of course, we indulged THOROUGHLY). Eventually we wandered back to the dorm and chatted with some of the other interns in the common room before going to bed. Now, unfortunately, I must end. Renee and I are going to the DC Zoo tomorrow morning and I am wiped out. I have been walking so much in the last couple days, I better have thighs of steel by the time I leave.
CIAO!!!
We got here first. My roommate Renee was flying from St. Louis to Baltimore and then taking a shuttle. She arrived a few hours after us. Checking in was pretty routine. I was given my room assignment and keys and info packett and shown up to the apartment. I say apartment because there is no WAY this place constitutes a dorm room. Not a chance. We have a living room, bathroom, bedroom, two closets, and small kitchen. We don't have a stove or oven but we do have a washing machine. Figures. Looks like we'll have to get creative with the cooking. They gave us a full size fridge and a small toaster oven. We shall see what can be made of the situation.
Mom and I went to Union Station (right next door) and ate at Corner Bakery and then mom took off for the hotel (she leaves early tomorrow morning. I tried not to get weepy---but nerves were setting in full force and I can't say I wasn't itching to go back with her.
I went back up to the room and waited for Renee--who I still hadn't met in person until today. She turned out to be absolutely charming--THANK GOD! We are extremely similar and both like coffee, walks, and old movies. She's very easygoing and easy to talk to.
At 5:30 it was time to go downstairs for a mandatory pizza and housing meeting. The pizza was pretty fantastic--I must find out where they got it. It was scrummy!!
The meeting went pretty ordinarily. We went around the room and introduced ourselves. There are something like 65 people living in this building and 54 of us work for H. Everyone is super friendly, but they always are on the first day--for that I am always thankful.
There are a lot of econ people here, and many from up North. Many people are from St. Louis, like my lovely roomie, or from Michigan. I seem to be the only Texan in the building. I plan to milk that one for all it's worth :D
They mostly went over rules and regulations and then set us free.
Renee and I decided to do some exploring, and on our way we ran into a few other interns. Adam is working in my department (Government Relations) and Barett is working in....um....I don't remember. It's difficult to keep names and departments straight, but I'll get there eventually. The guys were friendly, and very quick witted. We ended up stumbling upon several dry cleaners, conveniance stores, bars, and an ice cream place (where, of course, we indulged THOROUGHLY). Eventually we wandered back to the dorm and chatted with some of the other interns in the common room before going to bed. Now, unfortunately, I must end. Renee and I are going to the DC Zoo tomorrow morning and I am wiped out. I have been walking so much in the last couple days, I better have thighs of steel by the time I leave.
CIAO!!!
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