With the majority of the energy team out of the office, and a hectic day of panels, spreadsheets, and a much anticipated (and unfortunate) goodbye coffee with a WaPo reporter vet-turned-CAP fellow creeping up on the horizon, I let my supervisors know that today would be the day to take them up on a "Zach's mental health/Zach needs to do his homework" vacation.
So I am doing just that -- enjoying a quiet morning to myself, with only a 15-page tome of policy analysis, blaring car horns on Massachusetts, and a welcomed friend to distract me in the room. No, not Elliot; this other roommate wakes up at exactly the same time each morning and refuses to sleep in past its alarm. Loyal, sometimes a little too weak, and always appreciated, this friend is coffee.
Notice the mug's placement: at the right hand of the computer, practically an extension of productivity. Although I did not start drinking this godsend of a beverage until the summer of sophomore year (due to early morning shifts at work), I am thankful that I have had coffee to bond with and over since those dark days of coffee-less existence.
Don't drink coffee?
Start now. Even if it is with one of those calorie-laden, barley-any-coffee-is-actually-used-in-the-product drinks.
I prefer mine black.
While the majority of Americans may believe that Washington runs on corruption, greed, sex, and under-the-table corporate donations, I would make the argument that DC really thrives on coffee. Like most locations in the world, Washington is pelleted with a Starbucks on every other corner (every opposite being a food truck or an overpriced, poorly staffed "local/alternative/organic" restaurant -- here's looking at you, Sonoma). Coffee is in no shortage here; the only difficulty is finding a reason to get it.
For some of us in the group, coffee at Starbucks represented a paradise of free wi-fi -- an oasis in the desert that is the Congressional's abysmal internet speed. Personally, coffee is an addiction (I have already brewed my way through two 1.5 pound, low-quality containers of the stuff over the past two months, and get a painful headache without it), as well as a perfect reason to catch up with acquaintances who I hope to get to know better.
Tomorrow I'll be chatting one last time with an amazing 30-year veteran of USA Today and the Washington Post who has reported out west for the majority of his career; I made the mistake the last time he was in town of turning down his invitation to grab coffee elsewhere, opting to drink the office's brew (which is also good, don't get me wrong -- nice, overly-roasted and very strong Starbucks). This time, the change of atmosphere will be welcomed.
So a challenge to all of you WAIPers (present and future) before leaving DC: find someone at your internship to grab a coffee with this last week. There's always that one person at the office (or maybe multiple) whose brain you'd like to pick and hear a few of their stories. It will be worth it.
[And no, not with the intention of adding the guest to your impressive list of 500-networked friends who could loan you $20,000 at 2 AM, which I feel is unnecessary and most likely a complete fabrication (if you don't understand, read this cheesy looking networking advice book). Simply meet with the reason of getting to know your coffee-drinking partner a little better.]
ZR
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