Air and Space Museum

Today I was fortunate enough to visit The Air and Space Museum, which was pretty great. The stark reality of the war exhibits brings into perspective the horror that war entails and is often overlooked in history books. I've read about wars, various destructive bombs, war casualties, etc. and while I respected what war entailed, it remained something discussed in books. However, at the museum today, while looking at the life-size fighter planes and the real bombs that were used in WWII, and reading all the excerpts, I got a morose feeling of how devastating war must be...and I do not even try to understand how horrific it truly is for all those involved as I feel that would be extremely ignorant of me to assume I could understand something I have not experienced. Having visited the National Holocaust Museum in the past and WWII museums in England, when I combined the imagery from all the exhibits together, I was given a sick feeling of the devastation that occurred, and all I could do was observe it from the outside and still not achieve any sense of what it must have been like to live in such an environment.
The new exhibit, Beyond, in the "space" portion of the museum was amazing as well. The "artist" had taken a variety of pictures and data of the planets and solar system and compiled them into awe-inspiring pictures that are visually fascinating and intriguing. The other exhibits were entertaining as well....although not as much as when I was younger. I regret that I've apparently reached that level of adult-hood where I can no longer be intrigued by displays and huge amounts of information. It is a pretty great museum though and I would like to go back before I leave.

C Caldwell

Washington D.C.

I used to live in Maryland and often came into D.C. with my mom and sister to explore what the city had to offer, but being only about nine at the time I didn't comprehend the amazing array of possibilities that this city has to offer. Being 22 and being here alone I have an entirely whole new appreciation for this city. Every night I walk around the capital and surrounding area reveling in the majesty and beauty of the city...if you have not traveled outside at night to look at the monuments, they are like nothing else. There is definitely something to say about the fantastic culmination of history and politics that is combined in every inch of this city and manifests itself in so many different forms, and me being the super dork I am cannot get enough of it :) Every weekend I've taken part in one of the numerous activities that is offered here and cannot wait to further explore. I love Eastern Market...and the reasonably inexpensive products compared to that of the grocery store. The Smithsonian museums speak for themselves and I cannot wait to go to each one. The amount of outdoor activity possible here is great as well...without it I would not be able to fit into my clothes. The one thing that I do not like though is how expensive fresh food is...and for someone who eats a lot it has taken some major adjustment, but I'm learning. I cannot wait to explore this city further!

C Caldwell

This Week In Washington

This week I worked Monday through Thursday at the Library of Congress and was able to see documents from Franklin Roosevelt, Jackie Robinson, the NAACP, Babe Ruth, JFK, Andrew Jackson, and George Washington! The first couple of weeks at the Library I have been simply working the reference desk, but this week I get to start answering reference questions and conducting research on requested documents. Oh, and also this week I was part of a search for the oldest call card in the manuscript reading room's possession. The oldest I was able to locate was September 15, 1910! And, here I am, sorting through all

of them! Anyways, this weekend has been fun and filled with lots of things. Saturday morning began with a stop by the botanical gardens. This was somewhere I had never been in D.C. and enjoyed walking through the various stages from Jungle to Desert, etc. Next, we were off to the natural history museum. Here, I found the Hope diamond to be as mesmerizing as ever, but upon an extended search of the gems room I think I found a new favorite item or two. After the natural history museum it was off to the Washington Monument and then the White House. As a side note, for nearly the entire time we were on the mall we were in the midst of a large rally! This made walking from place to place a little more difficult than usual. Anyways, after the White House it was time for a nice meal at Pentagon City. Then with Sunday morning, came more touring! Sunday began at Arlington Cemetery. After walking in

near silence past all of the white headstones we arrived at the Kennedy gravesite. From the Kennedy's we walked to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and witnessed The Changing of the Guard. After Arlington, we were off to the Korean memorial, Lincoln memorial, Vietnam Wall, and World War II memorial. This concluded our weekend of touring and we headed up to "We, The Pizza" and were let down when we found out about it's closure on Sundays. Anyways, we settled in at Co Si, just a restaurant away and brought week number two in D.C. to a close.

B. Hutchison

This past week was really busy at my internship in Congressman Boehner's office since Congress wrapped up session. I was able to give a few tours to constituents. One tour was with an older couple from western Ohio - they have been my favorite so far! The husband was a dairy farmer his entire life and always dreamed of visiting the Capitol building. They were a very patriotic couple and the man actually became emotional once we stepped into the Rotunda. It was a blessing to be able to show him around the place he waited his whole life to visit.Another group I had the pleasure of giving a tour was four Vietnam veterans from Ohio. They were in D.C. visiting a soldier at Walter Reed who was severely injured in Afghanistan. The honor and patriotism these men showed was incredible. They were willing to drive ten hours to visit a

wounded soldier, whom they had never met before, for a short hour or so in order

to show their thanks and offer the young man support. Meeting these men was a wonderful experience and reminds you of the importance of public service and doing good for others.

This week at my internship should be interesting - especially because I will be going to a Supreme Court argument! Looking forward to it!!

My weekend was fantastic as well! We spent Saturday and all of today (Sunday) acting like tourists and visiting memorials.

Saturday we practically walked the entire city and saw the sights. Our walk included the Botanical Gardens, a quick browse through the Natural History Smithsonian, the Washington Monument, White House, and the WWI monument.

Sunday we started the day out with a metro trip to Arlington National Cemetery. Arlington and the World War II monument are the two places I feel the most patriotic at. I sometimes become a little shaken up by t

he emotion felt while standing in both the middle of the WWII monument and trekking my way across Arlington. My grandfather served in WWII and passed earlier this year so I definitely feel close to him at both of the memorials. Walking along the cemetery, I find it most interesting to read the names on the tombs as I walk along the path and try to imagine what each soldier was like and all the things they must have experienced. Sometimes you see a soldier's tomb and look at the date only to realize they were killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. These hit home as well because they are from my generation.

The changing of the guard is an emotional experience as well. The feelings of pride and honor you receive from watching the ceremony is priceless.

After Arlington, we made our way (on foot) to the Lincoln Memorial as well as the Vietnam, WII, and Korean War

Memorials.

L.Wilson

I am beginning this blog post before Chandra and I head out to the Air and Space Museum. I have taken two quarters worth of introductory astronomy during my college career at Ohio State, and I greatly dislike all things about outer space. I am willing to give the museum a try, however, because I hear good things. I am curious to see when I get to the museum if anything I see or read pertains to what I have learned in class. My prediction is no. I will be back in a few hours to complete this post.

After visiting the Air and Space Museum, I was happy to find that a majority of the museum is focused more on air than space. Even the space parts weren’t all bad. My favorite part of the whole museum was probably the exhibit Beyond Earth, which had amazing photographs of earth, planets, and other planets’ moon in outer space. Additionally, seeing John Glenn’s name and items in the museum inspired a little pride in being an Ohioan and part of this program. It was funny to hear people around us comment on his accomplishments and wrongly characterize him as a current U.S. Senator. Overall, it was a good trip to the museum and I recommend others should check it out as well.

T.Brenner

So far Washington D.C. has proved to be an interesting and sometimes unusual place. My internship in Senator Brown's Office has definately been alot more educational and enjoyable than I expected. On Wednesday, Senator Brown was nice enough to take the other interns and I to the gallery of the Senate Chamber and tell us some interesting stories about the history of the Senate. We arrived just in time to hear Harry Reid say a few words before the opening prayer. Afterward, we all went back to the office where Senator Brown allowed us all to pick his brain for a few minutes. With so many interns and only one Senator I definately anticipated that it would be hard to get a word in edge wise. But luckily everyone was pretty hesitant about speaking and so I was able to get a few questions in. I asked him if he could point to one moment that compelled him to purse a career in public service and although he couldn't point to one point in time, his story about how he entered politics was quite entertaining. Apparently, when he first ran for office as a state representative he lived with his parents and basically got elected by going door to door and talking with as many people as he could. He also said that he had no idea what he was gonna do with a degree in Russian Studies and so he might aswell seize the opportunity to run. Finally, I asked him what he thinks about the level of islamaphobia that our nation is currently experiencing. He said that he believes there will always be a minority of individuals in the United States who seek to suppress diversity out of fear. Unfortunately, he left before I got to ask him, "Browns or Bengals?" but I was definately satisfied with the fact that I got to ask a Senator a few questions. In addition, the staff has been kind enough to provide me with some opportunities to research legislation and draft some letters to constituents. I would definately reccomend interning in Senator Brown's Office to future Glenn Fellows. The environment has been really cool and the staff seems to go out of their way to make sure the interns get alot out of the experience.

A bug is going around my office. Expectedly, I contracted it. I've been popping Vitamin C tablets every day and going to bed at 7PM whenever possible, but it hasn't seemed to remedy the illness and I'm a walking zombie most of the time. How pleasant.

One would think that the best thing about Saturday mornings is having the glorious opportunity to sleep in after a long and strenuous workweek, especially when one is sick. That's not usually the case in Washington; even though the days are getting markedly shorter, weekends are still when the city opens up like a spring flower. Once every seven days, DC's busiest inhabitants (like the John Glenn Fellows) finally get a chance to explore what surrounds them and really take in what the capital has to offer.

The biggest reason for me to wake up on Saturday, I've discovered, is to make my way down to Eastern Market. I go for the grocery shopping (the produce is mostly local and seasonal); I go for the atmosphere; I go for the interesting art. But mostly I go because it's a great excuse to pick up a delicious, piping hot crepe. Mitch, who runs "Crepes at the Market", the ultimate food cart, toils away all morning and afternoon over three hot griddles, folding sweet and savory crepes like a true culinary artist. Being first in line for this Parisian treat is [almost] the perfect reason to wake up early on a Saturday morning.

And so I ventured out yesterday, not planning on letting a mere virus stand in the way of realizing my WAIP experience to its fullest. I threw open my blinds, gargled some antiseptic, closed my laptop, and walked eastward to the market. I went straight to the crepe tent and ordered the first scrumptious option on the list du jour. I waited patiently in the bright sunlight, casually noticing a kit of five or six pigeons eating out of a dog food bowl (though this may have been a fever dream, induced by illness combined with the heat of the nearby stove). I was eventually handed a beautiful newspaper-wrapped, walnut-raspberry-chocolate stuffed pancake. Two bites into it I realized, sadly, that Mitch's creativity was no match for the common cold: despite the usual transcendent flavor of these crepes, I simply could not taste mine. At least, I hoped, they possessed the power to cure all disease - never underestimate Crepes at the Market. I still made sure to pick up a half dozen oranges on my way out, just for good measure.

JCanfil