Fresh Meat in Town

Embrace it.  That's the phrase I keep telling myself on a daily basis since my arrival in the district a week ago. From always getting slightly lost to being caught in a rain shower hauling my groceries home to traveling in a very obnoxious 12 pack on a Friday night, I will never be able to recreate these experiences of being the new kid. 

Figuring my way around my spectacular new neighborhood of course comes with its bumps but it's an easy adjustment. I miss being a pro at using public transportation like I am with COTA back in Columbus but I know it will get smoother over time. My first week in DC has given me plenty of new experiences and mini challenges that again, I am choosing to embrace and soak it all in. Here's a quick list of my learning and "embracing" moments:

• We overshot the walk to orientation and learned a valuable lesson of the three or more street intersections of DC but hey, I walk past our nation's capitol to get to the WAIP classroom.

• This city definitely tests my ability to recall the alphabet and my sense of direction. Every day I always get turned around commuting to the office but now I know the area around Farragut North & West metro stops very well and granted, I tried a different route/ method going to and from work everyday.

• No, I don't live around the corner from Kroger anymore but I do live moderately close to Eastern Market which is way cooler. Saturday morning grocery trips are enormously much more enjoyable now.

• I don't have wifi at work and gmail is blocked but I do get to intern for a federal agency, sit in an enormous office cubicle, and get a snazzy government ID badge.

• I have the most patriotic mornings as I start my days jogging past Capitol Hill, the Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress.

• My roomies are very involved with Planned Parenthood and I attended my first PP rally in Virginia today with them. It was an awesome experience and I got to meet Virginia Senator Janet Howell, who proposed about seven months ago an amendment that would require men to take rectal exams and cardiac stress tests prior to receiving prescriptions for erectile dysfunction medication. Regardless however you stand on the mandatory ultrasound bill prior to an abortion you gotta give this woman credit, along with the many others such as Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner, who have the leadership to stand up for sexual health equity.

• Finding the local music scene is a bit tricky when most blogs online gets clouded with tourist tips but I can definitely still use that information and picking up the local papers helps out a lot.

Looking forward to another week in the district!

- Amber Seira

The Best Place to Visit in DC

            After getting the tourist out of your system and when hosting visitors, it’s crucial that you offer your guests a unique experience of DC. After Googling “non-tourist” destinations for DC, I found some great recommendations. The destination, hands down, is Dumbarton Oaks. This botanical garden-like place was far and away the most breathtaking place in DC. It’s located close to Georgetown so there is not a tourist in site and there is even a Starbucks located a couple blocks away. Dumbarton Oaks is only open from 2-5 p.m. most days so do not plan on spending an entire day there. However, I do recommend spending at least a couple hours there to properly take in the very unique views. If you visit the Oaks you and your guests are sure to be astonished by the caliber of experience. It’s also quite surprising to find this original and little-known attraction tucked away in a very quaint neighborhood. Be sure to spend your time well in DC and visit Dumbarton Oaks.

-Anthony DeThomas

Presidents Are Awesome

            The Smithsonian museums are as much a part of Washington, DC as any other monument. They are some of the best museums in the world and they offer incredible exhibits on a variety of topics, people, events, and ideas. As someone who has an affinity for history, I was drawn to the Smithsonian Museum of American History. While exploring the large and sometimes confusing exhibits (I lost my direction while viewing in an exhibit about transportation), I came across a very detailed and interesting exhibit on the presidents of the United States. Like many people, I am very interested in the highest position in the world and the lives of the men who have held it. This exhibition explores the personal, public, ceremonial, and executive actions of the 43 men who have had huge impact on the course of history in the past 200 years. More than 900 objects, including artifacts from the Smithsonian's presidential collections, are presented. The exhibit, called "The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden,"perfectly illustrates why the office of President of the United States and the men who have held it are so incredible.

-Anthony DeThomas

Goodbye D.C.

My summer in D.C. has been more than I could have ever imagined. These nine weeks have changed my life in so many different ways. I have grown to love D.C. and absolutely have enjoyed every minute I have spent in the nation’s capital. I am thankful for the experiences and friends that I have made here. I am going to miss my daily commute through Union Station, the wonderful restaurants, my internship, the monuments, and the liveliness of the city. The buckeye community here has been overwhelming and their presence has made me feel right at home. This program has introduced to the fast paced life in D.C. and I can’t wait to return someday.  As much as I will miss my time D.C. I am ready to return to Columbus!

As always, GO BUCKS!

Ceara C. 

Nine Weeks Later

Well, it is hard to believe that my time here in Washington, D.C. has come to an end. It was just nine weeks ago that I was anxiously waiting to see what this summer would bring. This experience as a Glenn Fellow has been incredible and I am so honored that I was able to be a part of it. I have met so many wonderful people, whose friendships I can’t wait to take back with me to Ohio State. We have all had the opportunity to participate in many different events and network with numerous people as well. We even had the chance to spend an afternoon talking with Senator and Mrs. Glenn.

Living in Washington for the summer was something I had always dreamed of doing, and participating in the Washington Academic Internship Program allowed me to do so much more than just simply live and intern in the city. I am so thankful to all those who have made my time here so magnificent. I will forever look back on this experience and all the amazing things it had to offer.

It is sad that the time has come to say goodbye to the people and places in D.C. Never again will I walk past both the Capitol and the Supreme Court twice a day, both to and from work, everyday. This summer has flown by, and for future Fellows, take in every opportunity thrown at you and take advantage of this great city and program. It is very surreal that in just a short time I will be back in Columbus and no longer have the beautiful view of Capitol Hill out my window. It has been an extraordinary nine weeks that I will never forget. 

-Ariel Cohen

An Event Honoring Arun Majumdar

This previous week I got to attend a Council event, as the Council photographer, at Capitol Hill. This event was honoring Arun Majumdar. Majumdar is the man who has been dubbed America’s “Green Czar.” He was Barack Obama’s president nominee for Under the Secretary of Energy. Although he is no longer at the position the events was intended to serve as a thank you for all that he has done for American energy policies. The current Secretary of Energy, Dr. Steven Chu, spoke at the event along with the President & CEO of the Council on Competitiveness to personally thank him, as a close friend and a colleague for all that he has done. I found this event to be extremely interesting because in this large room, which was filled with people who all have made large contributions in their own way to American public policy. Yet, they all were gathered to thank Arun and his wife for the time they dedicated to public service. I was honored to have been able to attend the event and proud to be a part of the Council.

Ceara C. 

Places of Worship

On my last weekend in DC I decided to visit various places of worship with my roommate. Since religion is such a big part of people's lives and their decision making I think it's always vital to learn more about the places they worship in. 

First we visited the Islamic Mosque and Cultural Center. Neither of us had visited a Mosque before. While we weren't scared or hesitant, our biggest fear was being inadvertently disrespectful. Luckily, we had some knowledge on the culture of a Mosque. Upon arriving we talked to people in the visitors center and we were able to get head coverings so we could enter the Mosque. Inside, it was absolutely stunning, beautiful, and peaceful. There were very few people inside, however you definitely got the sense that this was a very important facet of their lives and a very meaningful place. 

Our next stop was the Washington National Cathedral. The Cathedral, which is non-denominational, is a huge, gothic style building. We were able to receive a tour by docent; it was easily the best tour I received in DC. The guide was highly knowledgable, funny, and enlightening. I highly recommend visiting the National Cathedral as a group for a study tour or on your own. We learned that the Cathedral was damaged greatly by the earthquake in DC last summer and that it now needed billions of dollars worth of repairs. It was hard to believe that a place so majestic and grand was in need of so much repair. At the end of the tour we were able to go up to the top floor of the Cathedral for a breathtaking view of the city. 

Finally, we stopped at the Basilica Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. This church was also huge and featured numerous murals, statues, and religious memorabilia. Front ancient murals or articles of clothing from various popes, in every corner there was something amazingly brilliant to be discovered. Mosaics covered numerous walls and you could hear Since I was raised Catholic this place or worship was definitely made me feel the most at home. 

Overall this was one of my favorite days. It was great to visit different places of worship, learn about different people, and see the beauty that each place had to offer. 

- Jenn Meyer

Boehnerland Poem

My office has all of the interns write and read a poem out loud to everyone your last day. This is the one I wrote thinking only other interns would read it. Little did I know everyone would listen to me read it.


My first time through the Republican cloakroom had me floored,
it’s funny when constituents think they must knock on our door.

I’ve walked the same hallways a thousand times,
Hopefully I’ll walk them a thousand more, getting paid, in my prime.

Young interns give tours better than old folks,
We just need one power point to be better than Red Coats.

You feel so important when tour groups ask for your picture or card,
being an intern here makes you sing the Whisper Effect like a bard.

It’s St. Nicholas and Christmas when you tow back a sack of candy,
Sour Patch Kids were so good they made me want to have a family.

The Speaker’s Balcony is superb but the dome tour wins,
why must people insist in sending petitions in such big bins?

When you feel like your hard work goes unnoticed and you don’t get the respect your due,
try to think of this internship as a long term job interview.

But what are you doing still reading my poem?
Go stock the fridge and stop those eyes from this ro--am.


- Alexander Hurd

Moroccan Meal

       When my parents visited I could finally afford to go out to a nice meal. And by I, I mean they could afford to. We went to a Moroccan restaurant called Marrakesh and it was the most amazing meal I’ve ever had. I lived in Rabat, Morocco for five weeks during High School so my parents really wanted to eat some Moroccan food. After we had completed our Segway tour we invited a Belgian man named Tim to come with us out to dinner. He accepted without any idea of what was in store for him. We entered this restaurant after knocking on its outside door and being allowed entry. It looked like a regular Moroccan building surrounded by American ones. We came in and weren’t even given menus. Instead they just washed our hands and started serving us 7 courses. We started out with pita and veggies, moved on to chicken, some sort of cinnamon and sugar potpie, beef and chicken kabobs, and ended with fruit.
       We also drank a copious amount of wine with our meal and somehow ended up in a religious discussion which was awkward because me and Tim aren’t very religious whereas my parents are. Most of Europe and I are pretty cynical about the whole God thing. Anyways about midway through our meal a belly dancer came out and they dimmed the lights and people clapped jovially for her. I didn’t realize or intend for us to go to such a nice restaurant but I’m happy that we did. Apparently it’s one of the places to go to dinner in D.C. because the bathroom walls were lined with pictures of every celebrity imaginable like Brad Pitt and of course John Glenn.

-Alexander Hurd

The Gallery

The national gallery of art is beautiful to say the last. I love going to art galleries. You can always tell such much about a person depending on what they paint. There is so much more history behind the painting than what you can see with your eyes. You can see a person’s culture, where they are from, what they have seen, what they have been through, and feel their emotions. A painting of a woman is not just a picture of a nameless unknown soul. You can tell by her wedding ring painted in the shadows that she is married, from the way the light bounces off her clothing, silk, she is rich. You can look at her bonnet and tell that she was a supporter of the French Revolution. The sewing needle in her hand in sync with her stern looks gives her a somewhat prickly demeanor. Finally, her upright position in the chair shows she has no time for rest, and the chair, embroidered, she is wealthy indeed. Its a shame to think I could have missed getting to know that woman had I simply browsed by the picture.

The gallery by the former OSU student George Bellows was especially amazing. He painted the 20’s. The building of Penn Station in New York. You could see the struggle of the workers if you looked close enough, and the snow made you shudder. It is a shame real life can’t be painted as beautifully. I do not think I will ever understand how artists are able to paint a busy street, waves crashing into the shore, or the emotion in a person’s face but I can tell you I have nothing but envy for that talent.

-Evan

Wrap Up

It’s a little weird seeing my desk all clean after filing my exit memo to my coworkers at Partners for Livable Communities. My working list of projects has been cleared out, I’m enjoying the last bag of popcorn that I brought to my desk’s snack drawer back in June, and I’m beginning to realize that I still have to finish my paper…



But all things considered, it was a pretty great summer. I enjoyed my job (even though it had its slow moments), I feel confident that the improvements in my resume and skill set justify the expense being here, my paper topic interests me and I think it’ll be a piece I can be proud of, and I’ve made a few friends that I look forward to seeing back on campus in a few weeks.



Now I can’t help by wonder what’s next on my docket. I’m close enough to being done with my undergrad that the end is in sight, but too far away yet to know what the end looks like. Grad school? Non-profit work? Being discovered and staring in a reality T.V. show based on my life? All the options are exciting (and scary) in their own way. But regardless, I feel more confident in my future after being a Glenn fellow, and in the end that’s exactly what I was looking for in WAIP.

Devin Benson

An Ode to Gift Shops

 
   For my final blog post of the Summer I wanted to talk about something near and dear to my heart, gift shops. Since I was a boy, I have been a gift shop fanatic with a primary interest in books and cheesy novelty items like Supreme Court gavel pens. Obviously, a city like Washington D.C. is one of the greatest gift shop destinations in the world, so to inform other I decided to create my gift shop power rankings for Washington D.C. If you are not familiar with the concept, power rankings are just rankings, but for some reason every sports commentator calls them power rankings so I am going to follow their lead.

 Gift Shop Power Rankings:
     1. Newseum: It speaks to the greatness of this gift shop that it is ranked #1 despite having to pay to even enter the building and have access to the gift shop. There are two floors, five rooms and pretty much everything you could ask for. Books of all types, t-shirts about different eras in history, cheesy gift shop items about the news and more. The undisputed champ.
      2. Supreme Court: A personal favorite has all of the books you could ever want on the history of the court, its justices and the law that they have interpreted. In addition, there are leather bound journals (a weakness of mine), glassware, great posters, a collection of ties and the aforementioned gavel pens. A must visit.
      3. National Archives/Library of Congress: Great selection in both couldn’t choose between them. The Archives obviously have a better selection of document memorabilia, but the Library has the best selection of books in a gift shop in D.C.
      4. American History Museum: Only one floor, but there is something for everyone. There is a great Republican/Democrats section, the best selection of posters in D.C. and some really cool glasses for each state that were handmade.
     5. Congress: The two gift shops in the Capital Visitors Center are a solid collection of clothing, books, pictures and glassware. The gift shops in the Congressional office buildings are much better, but those are not really available to the public.
     6. Air and Space Museum: Two floors and probably the most child friendly gift shop. The bottom floor has the best selection of shirts, cheesy gifts and collectables.
     7. Lincoln Memorial: I really like everything in the gift shop, it has a great selection of books, but there is room for like 10 people inside it. Found the coolest bookmark ever here.
     8. Washington Monument: Since the monument is closed the gift shop is in the hut at the bottom of the hill on the east side of the monument. It’s pretty small, but there is a good selection of Washington (the President) and Washington (the city) memorabilia.
     9. Jefferson Memorial: Similar to the Washington Monument, but smaller. Nothing really special to note of here.
   10. White House Visitors Center: I went to this gift shop the day it closed for repairs this summer, so it is in this final spot completely out of spite, I have no idea what it is like.

AH