You Don’t Need to Be By the Reflecting Pool to Reflect on Your Life

I truly wanted to write my last blog post on all of the incredibly fascinating things I get to do on a daily basis as a Senate intern; from my riveting conversations with Senator Sherrod Brown to running through the Capitol Visitor’s Center with my intern friends to find Secretary Clinton roaming the halls (we were successful, btw.) I could go on for days about the last three months of my life and the experiences I never would have had without this program, but instead, I think I’ll talk more about what this summer has meant to me and what it means for me as I look ahead.

A little back story: Coming here, you have a ton of guidance from all facets, whether that’s your parents, your internship coordinators, or even the peers and friends you surround yourself with. All of that said, nothing really prepares you for the bright-eyed exhaustion that you face doing this work. I have pulled 16 hour days before in my undergraduate career, but this is completely different. 16 hours in this capacity is compiled of a full-time job, class/policy salons, study tours, 20-page papers, and policy briefs. This also includes exploring all the city has to offer and taking time to breathe. The latter doesn’t happen as often, though.

I’m writing this while sitting on the front steps of the Capitol Building as the sun goes down, staring at the National Mall in all of its historic glory. I haven’t really had much time to reflect on my time here and who I was when I got on that plane in early May to come to the District. I guess when time flies and you really are having loads of fun, reflection doesn’t seem necessary. I suppose I’ll start with the notion that, before coming here, I was afraid of failing. I was afraid that I would never be as smart as those who surrounded me in my major, in my classes, and in the professional world. Not only was I afraid of failing intellectually, I was afraid of failing myself and the people who were skeptical of me taking an unpaid internship in a city I didn’t know. Throughout my lifetime, there have been many truly defining moments that have helped me become who I am today. This experience has been the most ground shattering definition of change that I have ever seen in myself. Failing is one of the worst actualities a person can ever come to terms with, but once you realize that failing is so irrelevant in retrospect to the feeling you have when you succeed, you start to take more chances. I don’t jump out of planes and I don’t backpack through the mountains for weeks at a time. That being said, I have never felt more brave in my 21 years because of the risks I have taken and the time I spent failing and picking myself back up again throughout the last three months.

I feel humbled and blessed every second of every single day to be here. I want whoever is reading this to know that when you’re in an experience like this, that feeling never goes away. The night view of the Washington Monument still takes my breath away. I still have to pinch myself when I look out my window at night to the Supreme Court. This city has my heart and all of my ambitions and goals attached to it. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Who knew a girl like me, with all of her baggage and crazy life experiences, would finally know what she wants to do with the rest of her life. Thank you, Washington, DC, for changing me and making me feel strong again.

-Emily Underation

Ballin' on a Budget in DC

In DC there is always so much to do and take advantage of but in the process of all the fun experiences the money spent adds up really quickly. Here are some tips specifically for WAIP fellows, but that can also be used by anyone in the city for a significant amount of time. 

1.     Make new friends

   With new friends comes new and sometimes free opportunity. You get someone to        hang out with and maybe also a pool to use, and also access to their contacts and          events.

2.     Attend meetings, briefings, and events

     

     There are so many business/networking events that offer free breakfast, lunch and sometimes even dinner. Let your boss know you would be happy to attend a briefing or panel they can’t because you gain knowledge, contacts, brownie points, and possibly lunch. With all of the different groups in DC you can find something feeds your mind and your stomach.

3. Metro, Uber, Relay Rides and More!

          Not having a car in DC saves a lot of money in DC but also know your options for             transportation. The metro is extremely convenient but realize that if you have to ride           it to work it can also become extremely expensive.  Be willing to leave early to                   walk places that are a little further to save some money. You can also use Uber. It               can become a cheap resource if there isn’t a surge or if your sharing it with others.             If you want to go on a short trip look into Relay Rides where you use someone                   else’s car and pay a flat fee and fill the gas tank. Many times this can be cheaper                 than using a rental car and it allows more freedom for trips.

      4.Utilize Groupon

          Repeat after me Groupon is your friend. When you arrive take some time to look for           deals through the website. Everyone wants take in experiences in DC from concerts,           festivals, sports, to restaurants. Many times companies have discounts on groupon             for events and places we attend anyway, so why not pay less money? Multiple                   kayaking and other water sports companies have offered discounted tickets, as well           as concerts, museums, comedy shows, and more. Take advantage! 

There are so many other ways to save money so at the end of your stay you can splurge or be satisfied you didn’t bankrupt yourself.

-Morgan

Point Of View - Olivia Nejedlik

I'm just going to say it… I found the best bar in D.C.

Yesterday, after a long day of boozy brunches and museums with my Columbus roommate who was visiting for the weekend, history was made.  I had been feeling exhausted, slightly overwhelmed, and in need of Ohio.  While D.C. is amazing, the weather is the worst and the program keeps you busy and consistently too tired.  I had been looking forward to the end of a challenging summer, and the beginning of a school year that, crazy enough, will be more relaxed than these past 12 weeks.

My brilliant mother told me a few weeks ago that when her and my dad were here decades ago, they went to a rooftop bar that looked out over the White House.  Since she told me, I have been on a mission to find that bar.  I told my roommate, Annie, about this bar, and we looked it up and found a bar called P.O.V. on the top of Hotel Washington on 15th and Pennsylvania.  That had to be it.  She discovered that there was a dress code, so we put on heels and dresses and made our way over.

Getting into the bar was an experience in itself.  The velvet ropes and 5 bouncers were enough to show us how way out of our league this place was.  After getting our ID's scanned (yes….scanned) and being directed to an elevator, we went up.

I have never seen such a view.  The White House was lit up, and so close I could see into the side window.  The Lincoln, Jefferson, and World War II memorials were all visible, with the Washington Monument even closer.  You could see all the way to Virginia.  City lights twinkled, and I felt like I had joined an exclusive club of people that have seen the best view D.C. has to offer.

We both ordered drinks, the best drinks I have ever tasted, for the price of a good meal.  Sad, but worth it.  As we stood over the railing, staring into the city that has been my home for the past few months, my love was reaffirmed.  D.C. is a cool place, and I am lucky to be here.  

Baltimore Day

Earlier in July, our program had the opportunity to travel by bus to Baltimore. Once there, we toured Customs and Border Protection, ate crabs and other crab-related foods, and explored a beautiful part of the city called Fells Point.

The day started rather early; we were required to meet at the bus outside of the Hall of States at 7 am, much earlier than all of us start work. Somehow we all made it on the bus and around an hour later we arrived in Baltimore. We started our day with a tour of Customs and Border Protection. Honestly, I don’t think any of us really knew what to expect. We started off hearing from a few people who work for the agency in their downtown building. One of the employees showed us a box full of children’s toys that they could not accept into the country due to various copyright and/or safety reasons. For example, they check items to see if they would be a safety hazard for children, if they are infringing upon copyrights (i.e. faux-Spiderman lunchboxes), if they are classified correctly (something classified as a game is, in fact, a game), if they contain lead paint, and so on. The classifications are particularly important because the taxes on the imports differ depending on how items are classified.

After these first few talks and Q&A sessions, we continued on to the port itself. There, we caravanned around to meet some officers, learn about how they scan for radioactive materials, how they use the car-sized x-ray machines, and how one can become a border protection officer. Lastly, we traveled to the warehouses where we learned more about checking for radioactive items and what the agency does with all of the rejected imports. I personally went in to this tour knowing next to nothing about Customs and Border Protection, so I found it all rather fascinating.

Upon completion of this multi-faceted tour, the bus dropped us off at a restaurant in Fells Point, a quaint, cobble-stoned area right next to the waterfront. We then had a wonderful time eating crabs, crab patties, crab dip, and other delightful treats. After that, we had free time to explore the area, take some pictures, and wander in and out of the shops. We boarded the bus around 5pm to return to D.C., stomachs full and hearts content with the knowledge that someone out there is making sure our toothpaste is free from radioactive material and that our future children will be playing with lead-paint-free toys.

-Catherine

Escaping the Burbs Only to Return to the Burbs

The fast and busy pace of the city is always intoxicating to young professionals. It adds to the adrenaline and the excitement of a possible big future. Even the idea of returning to the suburbs sends itches up the spine. The life of settling down, walking the dog, manning the garden is one that at the age of 21 is not “the dream”. But, every so often it is nice to return to the burbs when being in the city for so long.

When learning about Old Town Alexandria I never thought of it as a suburban area. A few of us wanted to visit the area so we took the metro out to Kings Street. As soon as we hopped of the train we hiked all the way to the top of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, a historical site I never heard of that quickly became one of my favorites with its incredible view. After that we took the trolley up the main street to get dinner. We all had pizza and beer and it was delicious. The street was busy, but the area and places were so nice I did not care. Once we finished dinner, the group headed to the pier and walked around. I loved seeing all the boats and seeing the water again.  It was hard to leave the dock, but we had a mission.

That night there was a symphony orchestra concert with fireworks. After walking through the parks to get to the celebration area, I realized that the area we were in was suburban area. We got to the showing and the field was packed with families everywhere. We found a great place right by the stage and secured our spot. After many speakers and a band, the orchestra came on and started with the theme from Spider-Man. After that, the conductor announced how the whole concert would be superhero themed; I could not be any more excited at this point. The orchestra played everything from Lord of the Rings, to Harry Potter, and Pirates of the Caribbean. When it was time for the fireworks they play 1812 overture and used a real cannon. Fireworks are always an awesome view, but with the orchestra playing with them was incredible. That was one great night with good food and fantastic group of people to be with. Sometimes, the burbs are not too bad of a break from the city. I forgot to mention, there were FREE CUPCAKES!!!

-Alex Temple

Cupcakes: Mandy's Not So Guilty Pleasure

Every occasion calls for a cupcake. In need of a sweet treat after work? Eat a cupcake. Celebrating a co-worker's birthday? Pick up some cupcakes. Saying goodbye to a fabulous intern friend? Send her off with a cupcake. Casually wandering around Georgetown on a sunny Saturday afternoon? You definitely need a cupcake.

A good cupcake has just the right amount of frosting, is not too crumbly, and has the taste of a mini-cake but is just big enough that you can eat it in one sitting. The design should be cute and simple, and the overall ambiance of the cupcake shop can make or break your cup-cake eating experience. When it comes to cupcakes, I'm definitely a cupcake snob. Having ventured into many of the cute little cupcake shops in the District and having tried a variety of those delicious little cakes of joy, I now share with you my personal list of all the best cupcake places in DC:

Crumbs Bake Shop: Conveniently located inside Union Station (with other locations throughout the city), this place is perfect if you need a quick pick-me-up after a long day of work, or if you need to grab a sweet treat on your way to a co-worker's birthday celebration. Simply pick a cupcake and hop on the metro!

PROS: The cupcakes here are HUGE. There are a variety of sizes ranging from "taste" to "colossal."

CONS: The cupcakes can sometimes be dry and flaky, depending on the day and time that you buy your cupcake, making this place and its cupcakes the most inferior of any that I've had.

Bakeshop VA: Located in Arlington, Virginia, this place sells cupcakes, cookies, macarons, and a variety of other sweets. The office got these for an intern's birthday, so I haven't actually been to the physical location yet. 

PROS: Perfect size to eat 1-2 before, during, and after lunch ;) Cute swirls on top of the cupcakes, and pretty standard flavors.

CONS: Nothing too exciting though. The frosting is too sweet and buttery for my liking.

Sprinkles Cupcakes: Located on M Street in Georgetown, with other locations sprinkled throughout the city and around the country; this chain is not specific to DC and is one of many cupcake shops in the Georgetown neighborhood.

PROS: Adorable yet simple cupcake designs. The lines here are not too long, the cupcake flavors tend to be on the safe side, and the sizes of the cupcakes are just big enough that you can eat 1-2 cupcakes without feeling guilty ;)

CONS: By far the sweetest cupcakes out of any that I have ever tasted. Depending on the type of cupcake that you choose, the frosting can be incredibly sweet thus ruining your overall cupcake experience. Also, the cupcakes are a bit on the crumbly side, so if you don't eat your cupcakes with a fork like me, have a couple of napkins on standby.

Georgetown Cupcake: Locals avoid this place like the plague. It's definitely overrated, but fun to try at least once. The interior of the store is so cute and preppy, with tiers of cupcakes hitting you as soon as you walk through the door. The packaging for the cupcakes are also super cute, making this one of my favorite stores just for the design & packaging alone.

PROS: Conveniently located on M Street in Georgetown. If you somehow know the super secret flavor of the day and can repeat it to the cashier, you get a free cupcake! There are also a variety of flavors that changes with each season, so each time you go in you're in for a treat. 

CONS: This place was popularized by its hit TLC show, so it is a huge tourist attraction. Do not be surprised if the lines are out the door and up the block -- the wait can range from 0 minutes to well over an hour! Do you really want to wait for hours in the hot DC heat for some overrated cupcakes? No, you don't. Which is why you move on to the next place on my list...

BAKED & WIRED!!!!!: AKA THE BEST CUPCAKE SHOP ON THE PLANET, HANDS DOWN. The Georgetown location is on Thomas Jefferson St., NW, right off of M Street. This little "cupcake" shop offers a delicious array of cupcakes ranging from simple vanilla to the Flapjack cupcake (with tiny bacon bits!) to my personal favorite, Uniporns & Rainhos (aka funfetti cupcakes). They also sell coffee, brownies, cookies, biscotti, etc etc

PROS: Eating a cupcake from Baked & Wired is like eating a mini cake and having a party in your mouth. It's that good. Great texture, not too sugary, and the perfect size. Have your cupcake with a cup of coffee from the specialty coffee shop conveniently located in the same building (sorry, separate lines though). The coffee here is also incredible.

CONS: This place is slowly starting to become more popular, so there might be a mini-line outside when you arrive (but don't worry -- it moves fast!). You might not be able to find a seat inside to sit and enjoy your delicious gift from the heavens but also don't worry! There is a super cute canal right next to the building where you can sit and enjoy your afternoon, alone or with company. :)

So, there you have it. Some of the best cupcake places in DC. Check them out and enjoy your cupcake-tasting adventures!

A Great WAIP Weekend in Annapolis

With all the busyness that comes with living in Washington D.C. for a semester, it can be easy to forget that other great opportunities lie outside of the District. With only a few weeks left, some of my fellow fellows and I decided that we needed to make at least one big trip outside of the beltway and really explore what else the East Coast has to offer. Having already visited Baltimore in early July thanks a study tour arranged by our supervisor, Katy, we chose to visit another nearby city: Annapolis, the capital of Maryland. Annapolis offers a unique glimpse into the early history of our nation, (given that it was the capital of the United States for about a year,) is home to the United States Naval Academy, and is a gateway to some top-notch east coast beaches.

First, we stopped by The Statehouse and the Old Treasury Building that is immediately beside it. Given the fact that they were both constructed in the 1700s, they make you feel as if you’re looking directly into history. Getting a daily firsthand look at the United States Capitol, I couldn’t believe that the old building is still being used as a legislature today. Nearby is the expansive Naval Academy. Although the Ohio State campus is near and dear to my heart, the layout and the buildings of the Naval Academy are on another level. The proud history and tradition of the midshipmen is showcased in various statues, decorations, and monuments. Although the Naval Academy’s colors closely resemble those of our rival Michigan, I couldn’t help but buy a coffee mug with the academy’s alma mater written on the back.

After being shoved into the back seat of the car for a few hours trying to find an alternative to Sandy Point State Park, we finally arrived at the Northbeach, Maryland beach. Who would’ve guessed that Northbeach, Maryland is home to a beach? Even though we had to wait for a few hours for the beach to clear out a little bit, we still had a great time throwing a frisbee and discussing the highlights of our summer in Washington. And to top it all off we went to the greatest fast food restaurant of all time, Chick-Fil-A, to close out the day.

In closing, fellow WAIPer Tom Donadio already offered some great advice to future Washington Academic Internship Program students in this awesome blog post, but I will offer my own piece of advice to add to the list. Even though it is easy and tempting to sit around on the weekend and completely recharge from the exhausting week you’ve already had interning and going on study tours, take advantage of as many opportunities as you can while you’re here for the semester.  I never considered taking a trip to Annapolis until I was living a mere 45 minutes away from it, and it will forever be one of the highlights of my Washington experience.

Pictures from the United States Naval Academy

Post by: Andy Krupin

Study Tours at Work?

Study tours were one of the things that I was most excited about at the beginning of the semester, but I was surprised to find out that I would have the opportunity to participate in similar tours through my internship as well! In mid-June I was able to visit the Supreme Court with reserved seats to hear the Court deliver its opinions. Towards the beginning of July, I observed a sentencing at the U.S. District Court, met with Chief Judge Richard Roberts, and received a tour of the courthouse. Today, I attended a Congressional briefing on domestic terrorism at the Cannon House Office Building. Next week, I will be observing a trial at the DC Superior Court, meeting with Judge Jennifer Anderson, and receiving a tour of the courthouse. In addition to these tours that are scheduled as options for all of the FJC interns, there are also the education and training programs that the FJC Education Division hosts for federal judicial branch employees year round. As an intern, I have the opportunity to assist in the preparation for some of these programs and even observe some of the programs that I do not work closely with. Last week, I observed some of the programs hosted for a delegation of judges from Argentina. Earlier in the summer, I attended the Leadership Development Program. Later this week I will be attending the Quality Improvement in Federal Problem Solving Courts Seminar, which I have been working towards throughout my internship. Next week I will be observing the New Supervisors’ Development Program. These opportunities have really enriched my internship and overall experience while in DC. They have helped me to build some of the things that I wanted to do while in DC into my work schedule, allowing me to do more with my time here. I am lucky to have been given so many unique opportunities and experiences. 

Megan Hurd

Its late, but there are food trucks! - Emma

So I've been terrible about keeping up for the past couple weeks, but I'll try and hit the highlights.

Saturday: It takes a certain kind of person to get out of bed at 6:45 on a Saturday morning. To specify, it takes a crazy person. Call me crazy. Olivia, Alex, Robert and I all metro-ed down to Farragut and then walked to the docks. It just so happens that you can take a river cruise down? up?  the Potomac to  Mt. Vernon. The cruise itself lasts about an hour and a half and takes you past navy yards and a series of other interesting riverside spots. The notable landmarks are pointed out and explained by an overhead narration, which was fairly educational. The cost of the ticket for the river cruise also covers the admission fee for a tour of the house when you reach Mt. Vernon. We had some time before our assigned tour time, so we wandered past the slave graves, where they have a group of archaeologists (my people!) working on temporary excavations, and through the kitchen gardens before we went through the house. The house  tour is as brief as ever, but its always worth a spin through, if only to admire the fabric used for the bed drapes and the set up of the dining room. After the house tour we had enough time to catch the bus to another part of the property for a quick tour of the grist mill and the distillery. I definitely recommend leaving enough time for that if you're headed out there, but I would also advise packing your own lunch. The cafeteria is not the most fabulous and it is overrun with youths even on the weekend.

Monday: Back to the works, the only thing out of the ordinary today was meeting up with Katy for coffee in the courtyard for a catch-up talk. I grabbed some dumplings from Yumplings (food truck) before I met Katy, and they're good, but nothing on Chinatown Express. The chat with Katy was nice, we talked about my time in DC so far, and decisions I'd made as to the future. The time I've spent here so far has been wonderful, and the future remains hazy (but a little clearer!)

Tuesday: Katy was kind enough to pass my information along to a friend of hers who works in cybersecurity analysis, and I met up with her for coffee this afternoon. CJ is funny and whip smart and she had a lot of valuable advice to give about DC, careers and life in general. This evening we had the Excellence in Public Service event. The Excellence in Public Service is an award given by the Glenn College to a member of the DC community that they view as fulfilling that lofty description. The award giving is accompanied by a little reception for networking and reconnecting. The College was kind enough to extend invitations to the WAIP students, as well as a few other Ohio State students in DC. Alongside eating copious quantities of coconut shrimp, we heard from the Dean, Senator Portman, and Congressman Pat Tibieri, this year's award recipient. It was a wonderful opportunity to watch full-fledged adults in action, and to do a little networking.

Wednesday: I took the opportunity after work today to check out a little jewelry shop that CJ recommended on Tuesday. Up off of Dupont Circle, Bloom is cute and stuffed to the brim with both inexpensive trendy pieces and a section of more unique imports from Turkey. Its on the would-recommend list if you so happen to be suffering through brunch or something nearby.

Friday: We had a double-whammy of study tours today,  starting out at the Federal Reserve in the morning and moving to the EU delegation in the afternoon. The Federal Reserve was a gem of a tour. It lined up perfectly with the book we were reading for class this week (The Alchemists), and was highly educational. Also they let us sit in the Board of Governor's chairs in their meeting room. Original architectural details and furniture were a highlight for the part of me that will always be an interior designer's daughter. After our official tour Katy's husband, who works for the Federal Reserve was kind enough to take us to one of the less intimidatingly important meeting rooms to answer our remaining questions about the Fed and the finance sector in general. For lunch I dragged a few of the girls, and a guy, in my wake to a line of food trucks that I'd spotted while we were walking in early and we enjoyed bento boxes (Tokyo in the City), bubble tea and fresh baked cookies (Captain Cookie) for lunch by an exuberant fountain. The walk to the EU delegation's building was a good way to start working of the cookies (which were amazing). While we didn’t get a tour of the EU offices we spoke with a member of their delegation who came to the US for first a semester of undergrad, and then grad school and never left after that. They're also generous with the swag (hello new map of Europe) and I at least, picked up some good info. For example, did you know the foreign service has a officer posted at the EU's headquarters in Europe? #lifegoalsformoi. After the EU I hightailed it back towards across the city to Paul, a French bakery for an informational interview with an FBI employee. Though his background is mostly religious, it was interesting to speak with him about his rise through the FBI and the opportunities available there for undergraduate grads versus people with master's degrees. He recommends the masters if you want to get anywhere. 

7 Pieces of Advice For Future WAIP'ers by: Tom Donadio

1. WAIP Is Not a Vacation

Once the honeymoon period fades and the initial excitement of living in the nation’s capital wears off do not be surprised when some stress sets in. Between interning, class, policy salons, study tours and personal life at some point it is likely you will find yourself feeling tired, anxious or just not yourself during the semester. Part of this is exacerbated by living in a new city, stepping outside of your comfort zone and leaving your closest friends and family behind. However, chances are that you are not alone and some other people in your program are feeling the same way. Find easy ways to de-stress and bond with your housemates whether it be grabbing an after work drink at Cap lounge, watching ridiculous reality television or going on a run on the National Mall.

2.   Stuffing Folders Builds Trust

As you probably already know interns are not always delegated the most glamorous work.  Depending on where you intern you will find yourself doing absolutely mundane tasks whether it be filling two hundred folders with packets of information, entering in a mind-numbing amount of data into spreadsheets or speaking with irrationally angry constituents. Most likely none of those responsibilities have anything to do with your policy interests and are way below your intellectual capability. However, when you stay in the office well after you were supposed to leave or you take the pressure off a fulltime employee by assisting them with a task, they will not forget that. Demonstrating that you are willing to put in time and effort to help the office (often with little or no monetary compensation) shows that you are a dedicated individual and can be relied upon. This helps build positive lasting relationships that you can tap into if you wish to return to D.C. after graduation.

3.   Take Advantage of Life on The Hill

I am not going to lie and say that from a day to day perspective that the Hill is the most exciting neighborhood in D.C. for a college aged person to live in. The area surrounding the Supreme Court/Capitol is very tidy, quiet and family friendly (aka the complete opposite of Ohio State). That being said take advantage of living in the political center of our nation by attending at least one congressional hearing, standing outside the Supreme Court when a major ruling is issued or go to a fundraiser/political event and meet a member of congress face-to-face. These are opportunities that you cannot get anywhere else which is why you came D.C.

4. Accept Your Living Situation/Be Mindful of People’s differences

Chances are you’ve never lived in a house with 10+ people unless you are involved with Greek Life. Even having lived in a fraternity house did not adequately prepare me for the lack of personal space and challenges that arise with intern housing. Having no room in the refrigerator for your groceries, having to wait to use the bathroom and sharing a bedroom for the first time since freshman year is not exactly an ideal situation for any college student. I 100% acknowledge that I am not the easiest person to live with and am by no means a model housemate (I snore loudly, I’m accustomed to clutter and my cleaning skills are a work in progress). The best way to navigate this unique living situation is to acknowledge where you fall short, make an effort to improve your behavior and recognize that everyone is coming from different backgrounds. Some of your housemates will be culinary experts (Emma/Josh in the case of WAIP Summer 2015) and if you are like me you will consider bagged rice that you put in the microwave for 90 seconds “cooking”. Set expectations early and if someone does not meet them do not be afraid to politely discuss what they are doing wrong.

5.  Utilize Uber When Necessary

If you know me at all then you know that I rely on uber way too much (65 rides, 173.5 miles, 12 hours and 7 minutes worth of ubering as of 7/16/2015).  I am not advocating that people use uber as much as I do since those statistics suggest that my friends and family should probably stage an intervention for me. Nevertheless, uber is a great app and service especially in a city like D.C. If you are cutting it close for a meeting do NOT rely on the metro to get you there in a timely manner. The red line functions when it wants to and if you are here in the summer it is likely you will show up looking frazzled and moderately sweaty. Uber allows you to split costs with your friends. This makes going out on U Street on a Saturday night a $3 or $4 ride from the hill, a very good investment in my opinion. Uber is not perfect and can be quite costly if you get hit with a surcharge (it alerts when there is a surge in pricing beforehand) so be mindful of that.

6. Personal Favorite Restaurants/Bars (If you’re 21) In No Particular Order

Brixton (U Street)- Pretty popular with people in the early to mid-twenties. Brixton looks like an old restaurant (cooler than it sounds) and is kind of a hybrid between a bar and a club. There are tables to sit at on the first floor if you want to chat with the friends, the second floor offers a DJ and dance floor and there is a rooftop area that is optimal for people watching.

Ted’s Bulletin (Eastern Market Area)-Vintage diner theme with excellent breakfast foods, homemade pop tarts and alcoholic milkshakes.

Scion (DuPont) - $13 dollars for a pitcher of all you can drink mimosas, a free fruit bar and delectable breakfast options, need I say more?

Ethiopic (The Hill) –Experience authentic family style Ethiopian food. Hearty food including flavorful lamb, surprisingly tasty vegetable dishes and other delicious things that I am not really sure what they were. Utensils are not needed and airy, thin sheets of bread are used instead.

7.  Be Proud

 If you took the initiative to apply and interview for this program and your internship then you already are well-ahead of average students. Hearing my friends/peers articulate what they are doing at their internship sites and their ambitions for the future makes me proud to be associated with such a talented and diverse group of people. Oh yeah, you also are lucky enough to attend Ohio State, one of the largest, most fun and opportunity-filled universities in our great nation. D.C. is chock full of alum that love talking about football, campus life and how back in the day the “gateway” area of South Campus was a good place to get shot (lol). Never lose your pride, represent Ohio State to the best of your ability and Go Bucks.