Observations on First Commute

It’s my first day commuting to my internship and I soon realize that as I commute from Union Station to my internship site in the Columbia Heights neighborhood, I am going against a large traffic of people. I am one of the few that is walking away from the capitol.

As I noted last summer when I was here, it is great to see the fashion that people practice as they walk to work-a nice business suit or dress and your choice of tennis shoes or flip flops! Pack your heels or uncomfortable professional shoes, you wear in your office building, and you’re golden. Even now with the humidity of the summer, put your dress shirt on a hanger and make your commute in a t-shirt or undershirt and like the shoes, put the dress shirt on once you have arrived to work.

Fashion was not the only observation I made on my commute. As I rode the metro towards the Gallery Place/Chinatown stop, transferred to the green and yellow line, I noticed various differences in the people around me. At the Union Station stop, there were individuals with business clothes, a few tourists, and the majority ethnic group was white. My commute continued, hopping from train to train, I noticed the decrease of white people around me. The majority had changed from white to African American. I even looked at the semi-full metro car and thought to myself, “wow, not a single white person”. I searched again-and found only one.

I had to ponder and analyze these circumstances. To me, it seemed that mostly white individuals were working on the hill while the majority of African Americans were still considered blue-collar workers or in poverty in many neighborhoods of D.C. This was further emphasized, once more, by my experience last summer. As I interned at the Superior Court, most residents that brought their claims were African American. Why is there still this socioeconomic difference between races? Why is it that there are so many poor and hungry individuals and families, not only on the nation’s capital but also in the nation as a whole? How can this be fixed? This is a subject matter that people have asked themselves throughout history.

I was told that the Columbia Heights neighborhood was up and coming, meaning; more yuppies had moved in-they had even installed a Target! On my short walk from the Columbia Heights metro stop to my internship site this notion was evident to me. I could see the (what I assumed to be) homeless or very poor individuals (again, mostly minorities) and the “yuppies” that added the white color into the mixture. This fed as well to my questions stated above.

These were complicated thoughts to have as I rode the metro to my first day of the internship. But I felt a little better knowing that the organization I am interning for helps the families in the Columbia Heights neighborhood to succeed by providing numerous resources.

CFC

Hitting the ground running

I arrived in DC, along with the rest of the WAIP fellows last Sunday. I was asked to come into work on Monday, to meet some people and get general tasks to do for the rest of the week because my boss was leaving town Tuesday and Wednesday. So after our long day of orientation, I ventured downtown for my internship with Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

When I got to the office, I shook hands and met what seemed like a hundred people. Upon telling them I go to Ohio State, I was met with a few different reactions:
1. Oh no! Ohio State!? I went to ________ (insert Michigan, MSU, Iowa, other Big Ten schools).
2. Ohio State?! No way! O-H!
3. Hmm… Ohio State. You mid-westerners are taking over the office.

Hearing me say I attend Ohio State had a much bigger reaction than I was expecting. One person in the office used to have a giant Ohio State flag, and upon hearing that I attend OSU, many employees brought me over to see it, only to disappointingly discover that it had recently been relocated in a move. Beyond that, my office has a semi-OSU legacy trend, as they’ve had interns from OSU for the past three summers. The DC office is getting used to having us Buckeyes around!

Back to work. What struck me almost immediately was the fast pace of my new workplace. These people in DC are busy! There are meetings around the clock, a different function or event every night and constant, constant emails. However, as busy as all of my co-workers are, they somehow have time to not only do everything on their plates, but they’re able to still somehow take a break to talk to me about where I’m living, what I’m studying in school, or how gross the weather is in DC in the summer. They have been exceedingly welcoming, and have made me feel right at home (which is especially saying something because I’m one of the last of about 20 interns for this summer).

The best thing about work is that although my nametag says intern, I really feel like part of the overall team. On my first day I was given actual projects with actual deadlines. I’ve got my own activities, as well as responsibilities to the group. I have a supervisor who I can consult, but I don’t have to worry about them constantly watching over my shoulder.

Overall, it’s a great mix. Crazily enough, I find myself wishing I was at work even in the small amounts of free time I have here in DC. This is saying something, because I haven’t even gone to the zoo yet!

LZ

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ for more information about all that Planned Parenthood does.

Hello Washington!

Well, where do I begin. It's been one week in Washington, D.C. and I feel like I've already learned so much. I intern with Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and they were not shy about putting me to work right away. From drafting press releases and letters to the editor, to compiling information to put in databases, or calling reporters to pitch a media event to them (participating in Sen. Brown's weekly conference call), I have needless to say, been quite busy. I'm happy about this though because when you spend 8 hrs in an office, I feel it can be easy to become bored, but thankfully, I typically always have something to do. What my favorite part about last week was though, was definitely what happened on Thursday. First thing Thursday morning, I was sent off to a Constituent coffee with Sen. Brown for any Ohioans in the DC area. It gives them the opportunity to meet him, chat, and visit with other Ohio constituents over coffee in the Capitol building, for a little less than an hour. At first, I was uncertain as to what I should be doing. I stuck around some people I recognized from Sen. Brown’s office for awhile, adn got to know them a bit better. But eventually, I branched off and met some other people. I walked up to a group of Taiwanese people (two females, one male.) Two of them are currently in school in California, while the other is working in Indiana. They’re apart of a an organization focused on Taiwan-U.S. relations, a cause Sen. Brown cares a lot about. Anyway, I met a few of them (there were about 25 or so in the group) and they were fantastic. These people are incredibly smart, driven, and some of the most humble people I have ever met. I loved talking with them and truly connecting to them. For the first time I handed someone my business card, but this was only because I told them I’d love to travel to Taiwan one day, so they said “we know a lot of people” (obviously) and thus took my contact information.. just in case. Connecting with people is definitely the bes tpart of th ejob, and working in an office nearly all day doesn't always allow for such connections to be made, which makes me really happy I was able to attend the Constituent coffee.

The other highlight of the week was visiting the Library of Congress. I can not explain how excited I am to be able to do research there (yes, I, a college student am excited to go to a library and do research there) But to be honest, any person who spends even five minutes in the Lib. of Congress would share my excitement. It's a beautiful place. I wish my camera did a better job at capturing the beauty within the halls of that building because it's breathtaking.

What else is breathtaking is the botanical garden. I visited it this weekend and I fell in love. It's gorgeous in there and I recommend people go there if they haven't already.

Well that is all for now. I'm looking forward to week 2 in D.C. With the 4th of July being this weekend, I can only imagine all of the incredible festivities that will occur in our nation's capital as we celebrate America's birthday :)

-AEO

Ford's Theatre

Ford's Theatre was yet another must-see destination that I could not believe was free to visit.

In case you don't know your history, Ford's theatre is the place where Abe Lincoln was shot. He was then taken across the street to a local citizen's home, The Peterson House, where he later died.

Unfortunately, The Peterson House is currently under construction and will not be open to the public until at least late July. I'm hoping to still be living in DC when it reopens!

Ford's Theatre, though, did not disappoint. You begin your visit with the Abe Lincoln memorial museum, which is in the theatre's basement. I spent a good two hours in the museum before I even wandered up into the actual theatre. The museum has incredible artifacts. It even has a pillow that was under Lincoln's head as he lay dying. The pillow even has bloodstains on it. Shocking. It also makes the story of President Lincoln so realistic that it becomes impossible to see the events of his life as ancient history. The pictures and stories make President Lincoln come to life. By the time you get through the museum and are ready to enter the theatre, you feel a personal, emotional connection to his entire family.

The museum makes the theatre itself so much more meaningful. It has been renovated, but still looks exactly as it did the night that Lincoln died. The Presidential Box is decorated exactly as it was, and there is a museum worker stationed on the theatre’s floor, able to answer any questions visitors may have. During the non-busy months, visitors to the museum can actually sit in the Presidential Box. However, during the summer there is too much traffic to keep the box open.

Sitting in Ford’s Theatre is absolutely an incredible experience. I highly recommend it to anyone. Whether or not you are interested in President Lincoln when you enter Ford’s Theatre, you will be when you leave.

By the way, make sure you enter the lobby and get a (free) ticket before you go outside and stand in line to get into the theatre/museum! The museum “tour” begins every half hour, and you need a free ticket to get in!

Rachel

I will never get sick of the Natural History Museum. I was there less than two years ago and there again yesterday late afternoon. And in all honesty, I could go there again today and not be bored. There’s so much to see; I could probably live in this place and learn something new every day. The more you know, right? I always end up feeling like a kid in a candy store, or whatever they say, when I’m there.

Prior to the museum, my roommate and I literally walked around the National Mall for four or so hours. I don’t think my legs have ever experienced such pain in my entire existence. It was worth it, though. We got to see the Washington Monument, WWII/Vietnam/Korean War Memorials, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Library of Congress, Capitol Building, Supreme Court, National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, and all of the lovely vast stretches of green land that surrounded the fountains and ponds in the area.

We found ourselves at the Natural History Museum at the end of our excursion. The first thing you see as you enter the rotunda is a large, imposing taxidermied elephant. And by large, I mean probably the biggest elephant you’ll ever see. We proceeded to see a plethora of other beautifully persevered animals in the Mammals Room, which contained mammals from every continent and corner of the world. Some were enormously large, such as the bison (I would be terrified to see that thing in real life) and some were exceptionally small, such as the tiny wild hamster that was no more than three inches tall. So cute.

My favorite exhibit of the day, however, was the RACE Exhibit. It explores the origins of “races” through an anthropological perspective. The exhibit essentially educates people as to how race is a social and cultural construct, rather than a biological one. The concept of "race" was more or less created by us humans. Here is a website with some background information about the exhibit: http://mnh.si.edu/exhibits/race/

It states, “It's a simple truth. People are different. Throughout history, these differences have been a source of community strength and personal identity. They have also been the basis for discrimination and oppression. The idea of "race" has been used historically to describe these differences and justify mistreatment of people and even genocide. Today, contemporary scientific understanding of human variation is beginning to challenge "racial" differences, and even question the very concept of race.””

The exhibit was both educational and fascinating, although it may go over the heads of younger individuals. There were interactive activities, videos, and other instructive visual aides. Anyone with an interest in anthropology and social/political issues should check this out… pronto.

And if you’re not interested in the RACE Exhibit, there are rooms dedicated to the prehistoric world (including dinosaurs!), the human origin (lots of excavated bones), geology and gems (you can see the Hope Diamond!), and various other fun things.

-B.C.

Can you find Algeria on a map?

On my second day of work, I could have been in a potentially embarrassing, not to mention awkward, position when I was asked this question after my CEO had told a delegation of Algerian young political leaders that 9 out of 10 Americans cannot identify Algeria on an unmarked map. Luckily, I had paid attention in IR classes and follow the Arab Spring , saving myself some embarrassment and my CEO some forehead smacking about incompetent, young interns.

The organization that I intern for is focused on bringing in and sending out young political leaders in order to increase global awareness, emphasize the global character of policy making decisions at every level, and foster a sense of connectedness between American policy makers and foreign policy makers. With the Algerian delegation, I found that in some cases these young MPs and legal workers were more interested in what I had to say as a young person, a woman, an American, and a student of IR, than some of the prestigious, practiced experts that we met with at the AFL-CIO, Senate, HOR, National Democratic Institute, and the Woodrow Wilson International Institute for Scholars. It was a blast to go on these trips with the delegates, but an honor to participate in the interconnectedness that my organization emphasizes so passionately.

However, the highlight of my week was touring the Capital with the Algerians. I had never been to the Capital, just like these politicians, and there probably could not have been a more photo-enthusiastic group! I climbed the many, many stairs, admired the plaza, and toured the Rotunda with the delegates and learned some things about the heart of our government that I had never known.

For example, I did not realize the scale of the evolution of the Capital (it has been added to extensively!) or that it was designed by a French architect. I also got to see the first chambers of our government, famous oil paintings of Colonial America, and the dozens of statues of prominent Americans throughout the halls. It was also interesting to see the mural on the ceiling called the Apotheosis of George Washington that features the first president in a near godly state, as an example of the fledgling nation's attempt to establish legitimacy, lore, and heroes for Americans. I even got to stand in the middle of DC on a star in one of the halls. I also got to take pictures of all seven delegates in front of almost every point of interest. Exhausting!

There is even a ghost story to the Capital building. In one of the smaller domes, there are kitten foot prints in the cement that puzzled many people--how did they get there? There are two versions: a ghost story and the obvious. The story says that upon the election of every president, a small kitten trots across that hall. However, at some point that area was used as storage, which damaged the floor, leading it's repavement. When the cement was wet a security guard was forced to stand guard and make sure no little critters ruined the floor, which coincided with the election of an "unknown" president. The rumor is that the ghost kitten was half way across the floor when it saw the guard, changed into a panther, and lunged at the guard. Most likely the guard fell asleep and a cat strolled by, but the foot prints are distinct and every historic building needs a ghost story.

So many of the summer Glenn fellows have seen the Capital before, so that trip was the perfect opportunity to get a tour, snap some pictures, and enjoy some of the perks to my internship! I can't wait to see what comes next from this beautiful the city and my internship.

KMB

National Zoo!

The National Zoo in DC was, by far, one of the most amazing zoos I have ever seen.

And it was FREE!

For one thing, this zoo has pandas. Instantly remarkable.

Secondly, two litters of lion cubs were born at the zoo late last year! It was adorable watching little children talking about the "big happy lion family. Daddy and mommy and so many babies."

Truly though, there were two main aspects of The National Zoo (DC) that made it stand out from most others I have seen.

1.) Animal Enrichment Exercises. The zoo workers were very actively attempting to stimulate the minds of the smarter animals at the zoo. The workers informed me that they put so much effort into enriching the minds of the animals in order to encourage natural behaviors and also to keep the animals as happy as possible. The enrichment activities are scheduled and publicized, so that families may come watch the animals when they are at their most active. I was personally lucky enough to witness the giant octopus enrichment game, which that day consisted of a clear box with a hole in it. There was a large shrimp inside the box. The box sank slowly to the bottom of the cage (due to the placement of the hole in the box), and the crowd watched in amazement as the octopus began to sense the box and react to it. It suctioned around the box and played with it, to the enjoyment of the entire crowd.

2.) Free Range Orangutans! No joke, there are 3-4 orangutan houses throughout the park, all connected by a series of poles and high wires that look quite a bit like telephone poles. There are no cages surrounding the wires, they just hang high above the park walkways. You look up, and there are orangutans above you! Just climbing along, back and forth between their many houses across the park. It was an absolutely amazing sight. And it was wonderful to know that these apes were living with so much space in which to climb and move around.

I highly recommend the National Zoo (DC) as a day trip for everyone!

Rachel

Perfect First Day of Summer (And Internship!)

I ended up going out to a congressman’s dinner party with Mr. Kinghorn, of Kinghorn, Hilbert & Associates, the lobbying firm at which I have just begun working. Amid the old school shag band, a throng of yuppies and various important people, shrimp and grits with breaded catfish, and my glass of chardonnay, I found myself enjoying the company of the politicians I had only previously heard about in the news. I appreciated Mr. Kinghorn introducing me to a blur of men in suits as “his intern, who has only been on the job for one day!” Overall, the shrimp and grits were good (as well as the “nanner” pudding—oh, you Southerners), but not exactly worth the $250 it cost for me to be there. Luckily, Mr. Kinghorn covered that charge. I figure he’s in a better financial situation than I am. It was definitely a new experience, being at a cocktail party with a bunch of politicians. It’s something I think I can get used to it…

My first day at KHA Consultants was surprisingly good. By the end of the day, I felt right at home with the small crowd of warm, sociable employees. The first person I met was Grace, a young associate who originated from London. She’s a charming, pretty girl with the most adorable British accent. I then talked at length with Christine, the personable woman who is mainly in charge of the interns. She’s friendly, open, and very helpful—definitely someone I can see myself working for. Both Kinghorn and Hilbert were welcoming—in fact, Hilbert and Chris, another employee, are both OSU alumni and instantly decided that they liked me. Jake, who I did not have the pleasure of meeting, is a Georgetown grad and Michael, another employee for whom I did a memo, has his J.D. and was a practicing lawyer.

I definitely got along really well with the other intern, Cameron. Cool guy. We apparently like to tease each other a lot, but I can live with that. His best friend actually went to my high school, which is strange because he knows him through his college in Pennsylvania. Together, we spent hours putting together the most tedious memos on TATRC and research grants for PTSD/PCS/TBI/fitness programs/military-related distress. I never thought I’d get sick of Googling, but… I’m sick of Googling. It’s all good, though. Client research is just part of the job for us interns and I don’t think anyone in the WAIP program has managed to get out of doing it, regardless of the organization he/she is working for. At least I got plenty of coffee and Chipotle (at Union Station, of all places… my favorite!), which kept me pretty wired.

Overall, I literally can’t believe how easygoing and friendly everyone is around here. Washington D.C., unlike some other East Coast cities, is definitely livable, in my opinion. It’s like the suburbia of the urban world. There are little to no skyscrapers—just pleasant 4 or 5 story buildings (think the Supreme Court) that allow the sun to shine over the city. There’s green all around! Parks, trees, stretches of lawn that allow the city to keep a natural, refreshing element. There isn’t terrible traffic (although it isn’t great either). It’s not that populated—at least not anywhere near as bad as NYC. It’s just beautiful and fast-paced and professional and invigorating. As of now, I’m entirely smitten. I can definitely see myself living here for at least a few years upon graduation.

The Washington Intern Student Housing (WISH), where I live, is located in the absolute perfect place. It’s on Constitution Ave., right at the intersection of Massachusetts Ave. All I have to do is leave my apartment, make a left turn, walk a hundred feet or so, and turn right onto 2nd Street, NE. Five minutes down the street on 2nd, I pass Union Station, which not only has the metro, but also delicious food and an amazing shopping mall. Another ten minutes down 2nd brings me to my workplace, which is conveniently located within walking distance. I feel like I am on a college campus that just may be slightly more lovable than OSU. In fact, Capitol Hill is literally like OSU: the yuppie version. I can’t even walk two blocks without spotting a swarm of young professionals and frantic interns. I love it. I feel as if I am constantly surrounded by charismatic, intelligent, and passionate individuals.

Speaking of such people, the students in my internship program are great. My roommate is smart, put together, and easy to get along with. Oh, and she suggested that we watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 the weekend it comes out, so obviously she’s someone I adore living with. I was already friends with another girl in the program, and had a good time last night at dinner with her, my roommate, and some other bright albeit fun people. I can tell that the nightlife and dining here is fantastic, just based on last night and the previous two days in the city with my family. If I had an endless supply of money, I would definitely eat out at a new D.C. restaurant for every single meal and get fat. Well, that wouldn’t really happen due to the fact that I have to walk several miles every day. So hey, it all works out.

-B.C.