Friday, August 28, 2009

2 weeks

So, I've been here two weeks. I've been in DC for two weeks.
Classes have started, the professor is pretty cool.
I'm super excited to be going to NYC.
I've had just about four interviews.
I interviewed at this larger PIRG.
I interviewed for this really small two person org that is just starting out
I interviewed for a more intimate laid back place that I really wasn't interested in at first, but seems super amazing now
I will be interviewing at my "first" choice, very international like.
Meaning i have a "memo" that will get me into the "compound."
I'm not sure which now i want to work for. the intimate amazing one, or the "first" choice now.
We're doing a scavenger hunt. it's interesting. one of the members in my group is from norway.
We're also going to see Taming of the Shrew tomorrow.
It's friday, and I am exhausted.

I've met so many diverse people.
I've met so many strange people.
Well, not so much "met" the strange people
as seen them on the streets.

I went to a "happy hour" sponsered
by one of the orgs i wanted to interview with.
They haven't gotten back to me.
But the one girl was super cool
and introduced me to some law students
and I'm now dead set on going to this
one law school. It sounds amazing.
They have the joint degree I want.

I'm learning the metro now.
And I rode the bus.
And I found my way to all
of my interviews.
Only got lost once.
Seriously lost once.

it's really hot here.
our AC broke.
But i love our house.
For all that there is more
people here than i am used to living with
Everyone is awesome.
And I love it.

Just wishing I could find
a paying job.

Friday, August 21, 2009

It's almost been a year

but I finally made it to DC!

I'm so excited to be here, but it's so different! I was expecting that, but seeing tons of homeless people everyday, asking for money, it's weird. And being stopped and looked at, I'm afraid to take out my camera sometimes because I don't want to give away the fact that I'm not from around here, because I've laerned that if I do, I get targeted for being someone likely to give money to homeless people.

And, it sounds horrible, but really, they are everywhere, and I've learned to just keep walking. My housemates are super cool, and we're all very impressed with where we are living. There is ten of us, and the town house is three stories, and is very cute. For all that the rooms are small and awkward, the common areas are very spacious and make up for it. There's fireplaces and chandelliers and a huge kitchen. We even have a "backyard" of sorts. We can see the capitol building from our front yard, and are within walking distance of the library of congress, the senate and house office buildings, the white house, and so much more! Being downtown, and in the thick of things, is very overwhelming at times.

The metro is interesting, it's definitely a new experience. It's soooo far underground. You have to go down a one story set of escalators, and then go down another set of escalators that we estimate is 3 stories. That's four stories underground. We secretly wonder why it's so far underground, if it's because there are secret underground tunnels linking all the big important buildings.

Internship hunting is going nowhere, and it makes me sad. I've sent out dozens of applications and resumes and cover letters, and i've aquired my nessesary references. There is a bazaar on Monday, and I'm hoping to get one then if nothing comes through. I would love to work with ADST or with the CFR or with the Taskforce or FMF.

I can't wait to go to NYC and Europe! Europe is going to take up almost all of November, and I haven't decided if I am going to come home for thanksgiving or not, yet. But NYC is October 4-7, meaning, yes. I will be celebrating the best way possible.

The Professors seem really awesome, really funny, and really smart. I like the mix. And I was able to get the huge thick book with teeeny tiny print and thin pages all on International Law that was 100+ dollars for 16. So amazing.

Hopefully my new credit card will get here soon, and I can start establishing a credit history while here, so I can get more student loans in the future. Woot.

Oh, and the one night, we went to this "Classy Joint" called The Ugly Mug and met two people who work in the Department of Labor, it was soooo cool! And when we have class and we have guests speakers, we aren't allowed to tell anyone what these speakers say, cause it's all top secret confidential information!

I am so excited, and I haven't really had time to think about how fast this is going to go by, and how amazing it is that I am here, and I definitely haven't been thinking about the fact that i have a roughly 50 page research project due November 6th.