Ambassadors and water lilies and Presidential Assistants Oh My! Emma Hedges

Saturday: After a morning spent lounging around the house pretending to accomplish, and occasionally actually accomplishing work, Olivia, Elvis and I headed over to DC Pride for their parade. Pride, for anyone unaware, is an excellent excuse to try out the ridiculous eyeliner ideas you've been pondering. I've got 99(+) problems, but owning colorful eyeliner is not one of them. The parade itself was a blast, despite failing completely to find any of the other WAIP people while we were there, we made friends with some slightly tipsy, slightly older yo-pros. One of them was kind enough to pass along some of the bead necklaces she caught. We were thoroughly well decorated by the time we had to leave behind the promenade of floats and supporters so Olivia and Elvis could make their dinner reservation, a mere two hours into the parade. I met up with Shelby and Kennedy and we struck out for Chinatown to revisit Chinatown Express. It was just as tasty as last time, although this time I tried their in-house made noodles rather than dumplings. They come in broth, but I opted for fried this time around, with pork as my meat de choix. This leaves me wiggle room to go back and try them in the broth sometime. Muhaha.

Sunday: In addition to my usual pilgrimage to whole foods, I got to meet my mentor for the first time this afternoon. She's very nice, works for IBM in defense contracting, which probably isn't a career path I'll follow, but she does provide a classic out-of-Ohio example to follow. Also real estate advice (Virginia not Maryland, no offense to any Maryland residents out there). I, with my usual grace and aplomb, arrived for our meeting drenched literally to the skin. Next time I'm running late-ish and think I can still make it on the metro rather than take and uber, I'm just going to take the uber, because clearly the universe took offence to my confidence, and also probably the fact that the metro was functioning properly. On a weekend no less. 

Monday: At the end of this week, we will officially be halfway through our time in DC. After this it will be counting down the weeks, rather than totaling them up. In the meantime though, we're looking at a packed week. Monday started us out on a fortunately fairly easy grade, although those of us in Prof. Gaspar's class had our second and final five page paper due in class today. Mine is a analytical discussion of US foreign policy in regards to Iran during the Obama Administration's first four years. Which is a complicated way of summing up an even more complicated issue. Yay. Class was interesting as per the usual, lots of policy discussion, lots of that stretched-brain feeling you get after a good discussion. Also drones are controversial. In case anyone had missed that.

Tuesday: Today, like all other Tuesdays, I went to work! After work I came home, pretended not to be broiling alive in my work clothes, and headed back out again to my policy paper one on one meeting with Prof. Gaspar.  That went well, he was able to point out a couple of research avenues I hadn't thought of.

Wednesday: The week is starting to pick up, not that Monday and Tuesday weren't already busy. This morning we had constituent coffee with Senator Portman (R-OH). It was interesting, though he chose not to address any of the hot button topics going through Congress right now. Instead he talked about his commitment to helping Ukraine, and in particular Crimea. He took the time to ask us about our internships, we took the obligatory photo (now trending on the Glenn College's twitter) and headed to work. Or, more accurately, swam through the air to work. In a panicked fashion. Not only was it humid enough for a fish to be content, I had to be at work by ten to watch a hearing. I skidded in (almost) in the nick of time. Wednesday didn't end there though, embracing Katy's 'yes intern' concept, one of the other interns and I cleaned out the work fridge (gross). On the upside, we got to leave work half an hour early, which came in handy since the WAIP-ers were all invited to the Ohio Society's quarterly mixer. Held in Tortilla Coast it was furnished with free food and acres of Ohio-ans. The food was excellent, and fried, and cheesy…..yum! The alumni (from all over Ohio, not just OSU) seemed very friendly, although mixing was limited since we were packed in pretty tightly.

Thursday: Brace yourselves for today.  My calendar was sending me alerts before I even woke up this morning, which is always nice and non-stressful to wake up to. I went it in to work fifteen minutes early in order to get my press clips and a memo done before I left for the State Department at 10. The State Department gives what they call foreign policy classrooms where they bring in a specialist and have them speak to the invited students about their specialty (thanks to Katy for the invite). The talk was on cybersecurity when I was there, which was interesting, in particular because he talked about how it relates to our foreign relations (career goals anyone?). After the talk I raced back to the office to make it in time for our intern lunch/informational interview with Adam Ereli, the former US Ambassador to Bahrain. After the interview I decided that I would like his life, thank you very much. He went to Paris after he graduated and worked there for three years before coming back to the US to go to grad school. After that he took the foreign service officers test and joined up in their public diplomacy track. After 23 years as a FSO and Ambassador he came back to the States and has been working in the public and private sectors ever since. He gave out a lot of good advice throughout the course of our lunch including the oft-overlooked reminder to be kind to everyone, regardless of their current job rank or place of work. In the oddly cutthroat/ supportive-to-those-you-know world that is DC, that’s a good thing to keep in mind. Today didn't end with lunch though, we the interns worked steadily through the afternoon, and were rewarded with office happy hour at five (so we got to leave work an hour early). We went to Del Campo, where it took me three tries to convince the bartender that, no really, I didn't want any alcohol in my lemonade. Other than that, the food was amazing, we had yucca fries, pork sliders, chicken sliders and steak-and-egg empanadas. I would've loved to stay longer but I had to scamper out a little after six to make it over to our policy salon of the week with Greg Schultz.  Greg is astonishingly down to earth for someone who works as a Senior Advisor to VP Biden and Special Assistant to Obama. An Ohio State alumnus, he initially wanted to go into teaching, but wound up in campaign work after he expressed his ideas on improving campaigns in Ohio to a high up in the Democratic Party in Columbus. This eventually led into helping on the Hillary's Senate campaign, and from there to Obama's 2008 run for president. Just wow.

Friday: My alarm went off at some ungodly hour like 6:45 (I've been on hiatus from my early running due to plague) so we could make it out to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens by 9 to lend our soft little office hands to service for the day. We got to suit up in some serious waders, grab some rakes and hop into a pond. The pond had a delightful 12 inches of mud to get trapped in and fall over into (not that I would know anything about that). It also turns out the WAIP is terrible at de-turtle-ing ponds, we only fished one out, but probably saw five. We were significantly better at removing invasive water lilies from the lotus ponds fortunately. After a fun few hours in the sun we broke for lunch with the park rangers and headed back into the city, leaving eau de pond in our wake the entire way. After some serious showering and restorative quantities of water Olivia and I walked over to Jazz in the Garden in the sculpture garden on the Mall. We met up with a couple other girls from our house and my fellow Mercury interns came over to meet up after they got out of work. We're already talking about going again next week, though there is jazz playing, its really more about the socialization, plus there's excellent people watching! 

apparently it is possible to catch a cold in the summertime- week 5 Emma Hedges

Saturday: Let me pose a question- what is the best way to start your Saturday? If you answered with brunch , you would be correct. If you answered brunch at Bernaise you'd be both creepy and correct.  Regardless, I heartily recommend it. Olivia and I, because we're smart, ordered the french toast and the ham and brie omelette and split them. Josh and his friend from out of town got the spinach and feta omelette and the croque madame, both of which looked excellent. My french toast was decadent and topped with blueberry compote, the omelette was fluffy, and I'm going to need to track down some brie to try making it for myself. The evening was dedicated to walking around the monuments, we hit the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and the World War II Memorial. As stunning as they all are at night, we managed to visit on the anniversary of D-Day, so that was particularly special. We ubered back to the house, because we are wimps.

Sunday: Whole Foods. Very hot out.

Monday: Probably sick. Library presentation in class, got some good research tips for subjects other than Anthropology, my usual research area.

Tuesday: definitely sick

Wednesday: Might be dying. Policy salon with Scott Greytak. Scott is deceptively youthful-looking for the very impressive legal career he's had so far.

Thursday: Still dying. Congressional baseball game in the evening after work! Obama turning up for a little while was probably the best part, although watching congressmen run around in their old college uniforms had a serious entertainment factor. Dems won. On the way home we found one of those fountains that just spray up from the sidewalk and pretended to be five year olds for a little while (or at least I did).

Friday: Study tours to Voice of America and NPR! But first, can we talk about how hot it is now? We sweated our way through the Voice of America tour, which was especially interesting for me since they were playing news in Farsi in one of the rooms we went through. I also discovered that I should probably practice my Farsi.  Regardless, we had a very nice docent who was very happy to share lots of history about VoA. We had our second Obama sighting in 24 hours when his motorcade came within 30 feet of running us down after the VoA tour. After a brief lunch break, during which some of us dashed home for a lighter change of clothes (again, what is this heat?), we met up at NPR. Upon arrival we were told that the gift store would be closed by the time our tour was done. Understandably, this was devastating news for some of us (me). I am the proud new owner of way too many monogrammed reusable shopping bags. The colors were irresistible. I swear. Yeah. My shopping bag addiction aside, the tour was amazing. For instance, did you know that not only do the NPR offices have a green roof, they also keep honey bees on it? They do! If I were to do something outside of foreign relations or something, I could probably see myself working there. That may just be my appreciation of their color scheme talking though.  The rest of the evening was spent in a charming state of collapse on the couches. This cough just will not be shaken. 

Sailing the Potomac

By Elaine Cleary

A few weeks ago I got up early on a Sunday and hiked the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, a 184.5 mile-long stretch of trail that spans from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland. Sometimes called the Grand Old Ditch, the C&O Canal shuttled coal from the Allegheny Mountains for almost a century before it shut down in 1924. It flows over the hills of Maryland and both Virginias, rising and falling over an elevation change of 605 feet. Its construction was Monroe's ambitious attempt to tame the mighty Potomac, an effort that took 22 years and the production of 11 aqueducts, 74 canal locks, over 240 culverts, and the 3,118 Paw Paw Tunnel. Today it flows quietly alongside the Potomac, overgrown with brush and trees, dotted with rusting bridges and locks. The old towpath that runs between the main river and the canal serves as the trail. The path starts out as a cobblestone sidewalk behind Georgetown townhouses, barely wide enough to allow hikers moving in opposite directions to pass one another, but it quickly widens into a gravel trail that merges with a paved bike path.

The first mile was hot and humid. The sun reflected off of the water and the buildings that ran alongside the trail offered little shade. Moving into the woods beyond Georgetown, the path opened up beautifully. It was cool, less trafficked, humming with birds and bugs, and teeming with trees and flowers and brush. I almost cried. I love D.C., but living in a swamp town can be a little claustrophobic. Running between the two waterways, lost in the woods somewhere near the Maryland border, I escaped the sirens and crowded elevators. Everyone in D.C. keeps telling us how to network, how to sell an image, how to create a brand that we can market. In the process of becoming the version of ourselves that is most marketable, it is easy to lose the pieces of ourselves that don’t fit. Getting outside, breathing the fresh air, I felt less stressed than I’ve felt since coming here.

At some point in our hike, we got to Fletcher’s Cove and found kayaks! I taught myself how to kayak and discovered that I am incredibly good at it and we had a grand old time. I can’t wait to go back.

On the Hunt for that Perfect Cup of Coffee

Let's face it - Washington, D.C. is a really exciting place to be. Each day is full of tempting opportunities to see, eat, or experience something new. The reality of being a WAIP fellow, however, is a substantial load of academic requirements to balance alongside that desire to make the most of a short semester here. With that in mind, 'exploring local coffee shops' became a convenient excuse for me to continue my District adventures while I got some work done.

 

First up is Busboys and Poets, a hybrid coffee shop, bar, lounge, and restaurant. I went to their U Street location (14th & V Streets NW) which was the first to open, but a handful of others are scattered across the city. The vibe was awesome - a great playlist of mostly 90's hip hop mixed with the conversations of a constant influx of new customers - but perhaps not the best for studying. I highly suggest checking it out for lunch with fellow WAIPers. 

 

Next up is Ebenezer's, a neat little spot that is conveniently located just a few blocks from our WISH housing (201 F St NE by Union Station). I have come here a number of times and it always has been the best for studying due to its calm atmosphere. All profits go towards community outreach projects which is a neat cause to support, and a basement area available during the day often turns into a small concert venue at night, although I haven't attended a show.

 

Okay, so this last one may be cheating, but I'll include it nonetheless. Another option well within walking distance is Starbucks, situated on Pennsylvania Ave and 3rd St SE. A nice patio provides a great opportunity for people watching on a busy thoroughfare, and the familiar menu can be convenient when you aren't in the mood to try something new and just want to get some work done.

Until next time,

Max

Baseball, Button Downs, and Barack Obama

Yes. I, along with my fellow WAIP fellows, was just rows away from POTUS yesterday. We were all enjoying- minus the heat that was killing us- the annual Congressional Baseball Game, where out of the blue, there stands THE President of the United States in the middle of the democrat dugout.  I remember shortly after I first arrived in D.C. I saw a post on a high school friend’s Facebook talking about how she finally saw the President “in real life” after 3 years of attending American University.  Looks like I beat that record! Sure, we were several rows away and he was in the same coffee shop a table away from her, but that moment just reiterates to me how small D.C really is.

About a week ago, I received an email from a man who rides the train with another man, who received an email from my father, about how I was looking to schedule some informational interviews over this summer with people who work in the environmental field.

Lets say that again…

My father kindly obliged to send a few emails to his friends who work in energy and environmental careers in the D.C area to see if they would know anyone in their office interested in speaking with me about potential career paths, job advice, or just to grab a coffee and talk about their professional journey. In asking my dad to do this, I did not expect more than 3 or 4 interviews to come out of it, given the busy schedule and time commitment it would be to speak with “just another intern”. I was almost overwhelmed with the amount of responses, and very thankful. Not even a day after these introductions were sent, I received an email from a man who actually works at a different office within the EPA (the department which I am working this summer) saying how he rides the train everyday with a guy who received one of my fathers messages, and wanted to know if I would be interested in learning more about what he does at the EPA. I was astounded at how fast word travels, even a very short email from one guy to another about his daughter.

In my time in D.C, not only have I first hand have seen how interconnected the entire city is, but I have also seen the vast amount of opportunities it has to offer. These experiences and so many others have shaped my postgraduate goals and really pushed me to work extremely hard this summer to make those goals happen. I have been so blessed at the amount of opportunities that have been given to me thus far, and I cannot wait to see what the rest of the summer has to offer.

Until next time,

Kennedy Kowalski

One of the definitive highlights of my time in D.C. thus far has been attending United States congressional hearings. I went to my first hearing during our second week here, and I have to admit that I was a bit nervous. I’ve been to plenty of hearings in the Ohio legislature, but this was a totally different ball game. The first hearing I got to attend dealt with the 21^st Century Cures bill, and important bipartisan bill that if passed would make a huge and positive impact on the world of so far uncured diseases, especially multiple sclerosis which I deal with directly in my internship. Luckily I attended a hearing towards the end of the committee process for this particular bill, and at the end of the hearing the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed it unanimously! The passage of the bill was a huge coup for the National MS Society, who has been working for its approval for two years.  

In addition to the exciting 21^st hearing, I also attended a Senate hearing on the status of the Health Information Exchange, which was very interesting and also very pertinent to our organization. The highlight of this hearing was seeing, and sitting very close to, Elizabeth Warren! I like to think of congressmen and women as “celebrities for nerds” and I am definitely a nerd. Being able to sit in on a hearing and watching her work was one of the coolest experiences thus far in my internship. And Senator Warren really rocks that purple blazer. 

-Shelby Berger

Colleen Craig

My internship has been one of the most enriching parts of my DC experience so far. I thoroughly enjoy every day that I go to work, and the hours race always seem to race by. This summer, I am interning at the Department of Education's (ED) Office of Post-Secondary Education (OPE) in the division of Institutional Service (IS). In case that sounds like a whole bunch of non-sensical jargon to you, I'm working for a division within the Department of Education whose purpose is to conduct grant programs designed to enrich and strengthen underserved colleges and universities around the United States, particularly minority-serving institutions (MSIs).

I have had the opportunity to work with some really wonderful and accomplished individuals at the ED, including my supervisor, who is an alumnus of Ohio State University! WAIP places a lot of emphasis on the importance of networking in DC (rightfully so) and the connections I've made with the folks I work with, just in the short time I've been here, are all so genuine and authentic. They all seem to understand the experience of being new to DC and are eager to lend a helping hand and words of friendly advice.

My primary duty at work is to assist with conducting the pre-screening process and reader panels for applications from universities we may potentially fund.  However the internship has also given me the chance to explore DC and learn about other organizations taking interest in Higher Education. I have had several opportunities to attend events, hearings, and meetings at places such the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Brookings Institute, and a panel at the Newseum hosted by the National Journal. The future of Higher Education policy is of particular interest right now, as the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) is past due for reauthorization by Congress, and some members have named the HEA a priority in the coming months. However, whether Congress can get itself together long enough to actually agree on the terms of reauthorization remains to be seen (hint: experts are not optimistic). However, that being said, this summer is an exciting time to be working with Higher Education policy, and I am eager to see how the rest of my time at the ED plays out.

Stay tuned.

-Colleen Craig

No Big Deal

We saw the President today. As usual, no big deal. It seems like that’s all I have been saying since I arrive in the nation’s capital. We have been in D.C. for 5 weeks now, and I am still not used to it. I think I can speak for everyone when I say we have fallen in love with the city. For me, the city is so rich with history and there is always something new. It will never get old walking past the Capitol Building and Supreme Court on my way home. From time to time you see really cool things, like the presidential motorcade.

I feel like everyone in D.C. is so full of life. People who work here move with a purpose. Tourists come at all times of the week and are giddy about all the monuments. How cool is it that we get to be like that every day? I mean to me the vibe in the city is so contagious. Plus I am also learning some major life skills. I am very proud of my metro navigation skills. I truly think they are the underappreciated things in life.

If I had to say one thing that wasn’t so attractive about D.C., besides the awfully hot weather, it would be that everyone here is so accomplished, and being around that can put a lot of pressure on the person. I love seeing all these people who have done some great things, young and old, but it is like a constant reminder of the need “to be great”. On the other hand, it is advantageous. The best part of the program is being able to network with incredible people.

All in all, my time here in D.C. has been nothing short of great, and we still have 7 more weeks left. That sounds like a lot of time but I am actually freaking out on the inside because it’s not nearly enough. The experience has been a lot to juggle but fake it till you make it because it’s actually no big deal.

 -Us chilling at the Pentagon, NBD

--Kierra Ross 

24 Hours-Josh Ferencik

D.C. Moves fast, I walk fast, things happen fast.

Yesterday after work all of us W.A.I.P.ers attended the congressional baseball game. It was my second time in the Nats Stadium in 7 days. My mentor took Ole'Max and I to the game last Thursday. I think I've watched more baseball in those two outings than I have since middle school. Anyways, the Congressional Game was a great time. It was almost like watching 6th graders play. The number of errors were quite awesome and I can't imagine how great its got to be in session the next day to know you kicked the guy across the isles ass. The most exciting moment of the game wasn't even baseball related. Shelby and I were trying to buy some nachos (thats probably the second most exciting thing) and some guy starts talking about how the President was in the dug out, we thought he was just trying to get us out of line. He wasn't. Down in the democrat dugout there he was. I was super surprised since the security was so lax coming in, the people at the metal detectors were hardly paying attention. Thats the first time I've seen him in person so, chill.

Fast forward pass the Cavs loss, making Ole'Max almost pop an ulcer, and a tour of Voice of America, we are walking to go grab lunch, minding our own business, and then get screamed at by Capital police. There goes Obama's motorcade! The 30 some cars and escorts turned down the street next to us. Within 50 yards of the president 2 days in a row, can't complain.  After brunch we got to go to N.P.R and I kinda geeked. If you don't know I probably listen to 2 hours of NPR produced or distributed content a day. The facility was incredible, like something out of Silicon Valley. I think I got to see Lakshmi Singh who always seems to find her way onto my NPR One app (download that, I implore you). Then we got to venture to a studio used to produce a handful of shows, one being Tell Me More. The coolest part of the day though was getting to take a picture behind the Tiny Desk, standing in the same close quarters as so many incredible artists.

There is a heat advisory now though, so today might slow down, but I'm sure that the next month and a half will fly by as a whole. There won't be enough time to do everything, so I might as well find a job and try to stick around.

Here’s a Little Briefing from Alex Temple

At one point I just ignore my awkwardness and decide to walk into a room with a lot of officials and take notes, this happens more than once a week somehow. The first briefing I went to I took 10 pages of notes detailing every word and making sure nothing was missed. Now, in my 5^th week, I only listen for what really matters and type on my phone instead, not caring what others think. One week I attended a briefing on the future of nuclear energy and my eyes opened up to a whole new field. There were many experts in the field that talked about what was needed to be done and all the possibilities of the future. Possibilities were talked about, but there were many actions that would need to take place to make them a reality. The next day I went to an event on the history of the Manhattan Project. To my surprise, it was very interesting. I talked to a lot of retired scientist and learned about the many laboratories involved. I truly learned that to know the future, you must know the past. Seeing these events back to back was incredibly interesting. These hearing, events, and briefings make Washington D.C. the hub of knowledge and I feel so lucky to be a part of it for this brief summer.                                                       

The Food Here Is Great!

Written By: Michelle Bennett

The longer I live in DC the more I discover wonderful food places and coffee shops. Last week I was introduced to Astro's Doughnuts and Fried Chicken. A piece of fried chicken and creme brûlée donut on National Donut Day is enough to make anyone's week. I love when people recommend coffee shops or restaurants because it gives me a reason to venture to a new place and familiarize myself with different areas of DC. I am also very thankful for the people that like to tag along on these adventures, because enjoying a decadent dessert is always better with a buddy.

One of my favorite experiences has been studying in the Library of Congress. Initially, I had no idea people could use the main reading room since it was such a large tourist attraction. Studying in the main reading room felt like I was in the presence of all information in the universe, which was very empowering. The Library of Congress is home to so much history and I wish I had time to learn it all. I have also enjoyed trips to Georgetown and to little coffee shops to study and read. It is fun to be in a new city and find my new "regular" spots.

Without a doubt, this city is full of life, but for me there is something missing. People here are ambitious and working with them on The Hill has definitely been motivating. I love the working environment in DC. People have goals and they set out to reach them. They are professional and hard working and I enjoy that type of stimulating environment. One thing that I have noticed though is that DC does not really have a native culture. People are here to work and I can feel that everywhere. I never meet people that are from DC. Most of them are from other parts of the nation -- mainly from the Midwest. This is not a bad characteristic in the least, but to me DC feels like an opportunity, not a home. I could see myself spending time here for a couple of years, but not forever. Granted, five weeks is not enough time to make that kind of decision, but for now this is how I feel and for now I am incredibly happy and grateful to be right here, right now.

I guess DC has "great food" in a literal sense and a metaphorical sense. DC is delicious and I enjoy being here, great food and all.

Community Crops, Captivating Cupcakes, and Constituent Calls - Robert McCarthy

Just over a month ago, we "WAIPers"- a group of Ohio State juniors, seniors, and whatever Max is- sat down for our academic internship orientation with the lovely Katy Hogan. Among other things, Katy made clear that no matter how hard any of us tried, we wouldn't be able to visit or experience all of the things Washington has to offer. This realistic, learned advice meant we might have to eliminate certain things from our grand schedule of busy summer activities. Obviously, I scoffed at this advice initially. I was determined to do and see everything.

Yet, here I sit, barely getting my blog done on the day it's due: the same night of the Congressional Baseball game, as well as the Cavs game, worrying about whether I'll have it done by midnight. I've since limited my list of things "I have to do" to a much shorter list which I vaguely remember off the top of my head. Three months in D.C. sounds like an eternity to someone from the great city of T-Troit, and it wasn't until a month flew by that I realized D.C. moves at an unreal pace. In that time, the typical academic stress bomb began to develop, readying itself for the impending deadline of our Capstone. Now, having to readjust, I question what I’ll actually have time for. Will WISH ever fix our cable? Will we ever go to a bar other than Shenanigans? Is Jazz in the Park ever going to happen? (Not holding my breath, Josh)

The truth I've faced is that I can't do it all. I'm too tired after the combination of work and class, and shoving too many things into one smaller  However, despite the onslaught of activities, I've recognized that we Waipers have had a quality time together. The resident lover of dad jokes established himself in Alex Temple, we can always count on Tom for happy hour  reports, and we’ve come to count on Max’s wisdom he’s garnered through 40-some(or however old he actually is) years of life. Thankfully, we’ve quickly developed a cohesive group in the realm of Constitution Avenue NE.

And now, almost entirely to fulfill the purpose of the title that I thought of prior to writing the blog, the three things which I find summarize my experience in Washington:

Cupcakes: The crowning glory, in my personal opinion, of Washington is the glorious array of cupcakes that D.C. has to offer. I have to agree with Mandy Chen that Baked and Wired takes the cake (pun intended) for the best cupcake I’ve experienced yet. Crumbs takes a very close second, with convenience playing a major role. I’ve yet to experience Georgetown cupcakes, mostly because the line is far too long to bother with. Either way, my extreme sweet tooth has been satiated by the delectable dessert.

Community Crops: No, I don't mean Communism. Prior to leaving for D.C., my parents insisted that I not stock up on canned goods and that I elect for farmers markets. The initial stigma of a farmers market being, well, a farmers market, made me slightly nervous. However, my first experience with the Eastern Market immediately dissuaded those concerns. Never had I seen such a wide variety of vendors selling local art, hot food, and fresh vegetables. My only problem is that I didn’t realize fresh food goes bad much quicker.

Constituent Calls: Real Talk- I’ve developed a relationship with certain constituents. Some will just call in with a set spiel, complaining about a variety of topics that don’t make up a flowing, logical, thought process. I never get enough time to ask them for their names because they’ll talk without interruption; I do, however, remember what their voices sound like, leading to the inevitable gasp when I hear them on the other end.  If I have the time to get down a constituent’s name and information, it means that they’re not memorable enough.