Blog 10: Goodbyes and new beginnings

Well, The Washington Center program is over. These 10 week programs can be pretty intense. I guess it’s like leaving summer camp. At least if I ever need a place to stay in Florida, Louisiana, or Canada I know that I have somewhere to go. Same goes for many of the people I became close with if they somehow find themselves in Washington D.C. That is one of the benefits of something like this. Not just networking within your internship but also with people all over the country.

There is so much that this experience has brought me. If I had to I would do it over again in a heartbeat. Programs such as The Washington Center open a lot of doors. It is important for you to take the responsibility of walking through them. There is only so much others can do for you, it is up to you to create your own success. That is probably the most important thing I have learned during my time here. I am glad that I have had the opportunity to share my experience with all of you Washington Center hopefuls and I hope this blog has entertained as well as encouraged you.

Week 9: Real success is finding your life's work in the work that you love.

This has been quiet a week. My roommate Lauren moved out and went back to her school (Elon University) to get ready for the fall semester. I don’t like having the entire apartment to myself with an empty room across the hall; it just doesn’t feel right without my roommate. I have gotten used to our late night chats about our busy Washington Center days. I almost don’t know what to do without Lauren. It is so crazy to think how the summer is just about over. I myself will be embarking on a new chapter in my life and starting my Master’s degree program. I feel after this experience I am more prepared for the demands, time management, and maturity it is going to take to be successful.

I am currently getting my Washington Center portfolio together. Now that I see my work collectively I must say I am rather proud. It’s turning out to be pretty darn good. When I first came down here I thought that I would spend my days working at my internship and then my nights out on the town in Washington D.C. without a care in the world. Well that illusion was soon crushed. I’ll be frank… I was a little shocked when I first saw the syllabus. I was thinking in my head and probably actually said out loud “What are these Washington Center guys thinking?! They have got to be crazy!” It actually was not that bad though. Through it all I have definitely learned a lot more this summer than if I hadn’t put all this effort in. This Washington Center adventure certainly has not been all work. I have had a reasonable amount of time to do the tourist thing and even enjoy myself a little on the weekends.

This week at my internship we had Marshall Fest. It was an all-day BBQ with various sport challenges. They take the sports competitions pretty seriously and wining at volleyball is very important for the NESA Center… but we lost again this year! It was great to spend the day outdoors with the faculty and get to know them away from the cubicle. Then some of the staff took us out for “Intern-palooza”. I can’t think of a better way to end this internship then a day of sharing stories and creating new ones with the NESA Center staff. I will always have positive memories of my internship and of the NESA Center.

The NESA staff and inters trying there best at volleyball during Marshall Fest.

The NESA interns and Staff celebrating “Intern-palooza!"

I have had a few people contact me via Facebook and email. Feel free to keep the messages coming and don’t be afraid to ask deep questions about my experience. After all, I am an open book since I did decide to write about my experiences here on a public blog.

Week 8: The dance is a poem of which each movement is the world

It has been a busy week, as the time goes by it only seems to get busier. I can’t believe that there are only two more weeks left! I am working hard to get all my assignments completed. In fact, this week I had some down time at my internship and spent a lot of it writing. At the NESA Center the days when we were out of the office we went to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace for a counterterrorism law seminar. It was as usual another simulating seminar.

This week my dad, step-mom, step-brother and his wife came to visit. They stayed at a hotel in D.C. called the Beacon. I had the chance to play the tour guide for the weekend. We went to the US Botanic Garden, National Museum of the American Indian, The International Spy Museum, as well as the Capitol & Washington Monument. They were here for only three days and we were limited on what we could do, so I let my family choose. The Spy Museum was, well for lack of better word, badass. Initially I did not want to go because I thought it was going to be very childish. It was not; it has some kid parts like most of the museums here, but it definitely wasn’t an museum exclusively for children. There was a lot of reading, but if you don’t like that there are also several informative films. Overall I would give it a high rating. The National Museum of the American Indian is unlike anything I have seen thus far in Washington D.C.; even the outside is completely different. I could appreciate that one of the exhibits stated that the creators of history write from their own point of view and it may not be the truth. Then it goes on to explain that this is the history of their tribes told from their point of view. However at the end it also says to question and be objective about their story as well. There is a quote that I saw and wanted to share- I guess it goes with the Al Gore theme of last week.

"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children." -Ancient Indian Proverb

These are two exhibits in the American Indian museum that I really liked.

I thought these were pretty cool--they are dolls for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

I found the US Botanic Garden to be a refreshing relief from D.C. life. I will try my best to explain myself. I always grew up with an immense amount of land behind my house and my mother always kept a flower garden. Even the place I live now has a beautiful garden and a koi fish pond with a waterfall. I am obsessed with nature and its grandeur. Walking into the Botanic Garden gave me an instant relaxed and at home feeling. It is gorgeous. It is a great place to escape, in fact I will return soon to do some writing.

The US Botanic Garden

This is my dad and me in front of the Capitol Building.

I cannot wait to start working for the NESA Center. I am so appreciative of having this wonderful opportunity straight after graduating college. It is rare that someone finds a job within their major and to have it be something he or she would absolutely enjoy doing, well that is nearly unheard of. I find what NESA is doing to be incredibly beneficial for foreign policy and it's a place that I can fully get behind. I was a waitress for five years--and unless you’ve done the job, you would not believe how mind-numbing and unrewarding it is. I feel like I am actually working towards a goal at the NESA Center. I guess I have the fairytale story of internship experiences through The Washington Center. You never know, you may end up working at the place you intern. So make sure you choose the place wisely and give your advisor as much information on your goals and aspirations as you can so that he or she can find the right internship for you. I couldn’t imagine if I ended up at a place that I wasn’t pleased with. It would have made this whole experience very difficult.

Week 7: The Stone Age didn't end because of a shortage of stones.

I just got back from former vice president Al Gore's lecture at the DAR Constitution Hall. You can go here to read his full speech. He proposed that we switch to 100% renewable energy in 10 years. Mr. Gore made a lot of interesting and quotable arguments however I felt like it has all been said before. I also felt as though I was watching An Inconvenient Truth live. Hey, there is nothing wrong with that, but I was expecting something innovative. At least Al Gore is bringing media attention to a pressing issue, even if it is a little redundant. If you had asked me 3 months ago if I thought I would be in the same room as Al Gore listening to him speak about the climate and economy I would certainly have said no. I have had such incredible opportunities during my time here in Washington.

Right now I am listening to an Arabic CD that I recently uploaded onto my computer. It belonged to one of the participants at the seminar NESA hosted. The beats are intoxicating… I can't stop listening to it! I think it is driving my roommate Lauren nuts. Speaking of my internship...Right now we are hosting a seminar for the Lebanese Armed Forces. They are extremely funny and every chance they get they joke around. I guess when you live in constant chaos and war you'd either develop a great sense of humor or you would be a pretty depressed person. You have to admire the bravery of people who are able to do the former.

It seems like many of the other interns are growing restless. There are only a few more weeks left, but going home is all that they talk about. Lately all I hear from them is how much they want to return to their beach or their small town…and get back to things as they once were. However, I am currently looking for an apartment here in D.C. I have made the sobering decision to officially move here--and not just for graduate school either. I can see myself living in D.C. far into the future. I can't even fathom the idea of living out a happy life in Connecticut in the small town where I grew up. Not after this experience.

I was weighing my options and compiled a list of reasons why D.C. is the best place for a young professional like myself to live. Here are a few of them: I like the idea that if I didn't want to I would never have to drive a car again! How freaking great is that! That means no more road rage, speeding tickets, and no huge gas or car insurance bills! It also means a lot more exercise from walking and let's not forget the added bonus of never having to worry about a DD. The no driving reason alone was a selling point for me. Also, there are tons of job opportunities. Another reason is that this town if filled with young students and professionals my age- it is a great place to socialize and network. Washington D.C. is rich with history as well. Living here has reinforced my American pride, especially after celebrating the 4th of July in the city. That was just a few but there are countless reasons drawing people in. This weekend I am going home--I wonder how my choice of moving here for good is going to go over. I guess I will update you guys in next week's entry.

Week 6: Happy 4th of July!

This weekend was extra special, not only did a couple of my friends come to stay, but it was 4th of July weekend! It was a pleasure to have them here to be a part of it. Where I come from there are always fireworks and BBQs but in Washington D.C. it is different. There is this excitement in the air that is hard to explain. I did my best to show my guests around D.C. We walked down to the Lincoln monument and saw the Washington Monument. Despite the rainy weather there was a sea of people dressed in red, white, and blue. Before the fireworks began there was a live concert by the National Symphony Orchestra on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building. My friends from home, some other TWC interns, and I also went to the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. It had some seriously interesting exhibits-- it’s very unique and part of the Smithsonian so the gallery is also free.

While participating in The Washington Center program, I've enrolled in a module called Diplomacy and Proper Professional Protocol. Modules are offered during the summer for some students--they're like a class but only have five sessions and you do not get credit for them. The Washington Center requires that all students have some sort of academic component to their summer to go along with their internships. In the class module, I’ve learned about appropriate etiquette when it comes to interacting with the staff and participants at my office. During these first few weeks in Washington, I have already been putting what I have learned to good use. If you can, I would suggest signing up for a course or module that relates to what you are doing in your internship. It will enhance your Washington Center experience by allowing you the chance to apply what you have learned.

This week is going to be another busy one—Midterm evaluations, research paper draft due, and my civic engagement project!

Week 5: Halfway Mark!

The NESA Center hosted a potluck dinner after work at the Resident Inn. I have been to a few potluck dinners in my day, but this one took the cake. Specialty dishes from 22 countries! I’m talking Italian, Indian, Egyptian food all made by the participants or sent over by their embassies. There are a lot of restaurants in and around D.C. that feature food from different areas of the world but they do not compare to having a native of the country personally prepare the dish. If you are looking for a taste of something different, there are plenty of websites geared toward cultural restaurants in the area. I have found this website to be useful.

Friday I got the day off from work! I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially after working ridiculous hours during the last few weeks. To go along with our internship The Washington Center has us doing a large amount of academic work. To name a few, we have a research paper, civic engagement, and an informal interview. Needless to say, I sought after a day of complete relaxation. I made time to do some shopping in Georgetown. For lunch I ate at Five Guys—it’s not bad for a quick burger. Then Friday night a bunch of us went to Rocket Bar. It is a space-themed lounge with pool tables, good drink specials, and 3 bars! I would recommend it to someone who doesn’t like to just sit around because there are copious amounts of things to do.

Saturday morning some fellow interns and I made our way to the Holocaust Memorial Museum. It was larger than I expected and there were lengthy lines, so give yourself some extra time when scheduling your trip. After the Holocaust museum we did something a little more upbeat. We went to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall. It featured Bhutan, Texas, and NASA.

I went along with a couple of other interns to the National Zoo Sunday morning. This is unquestionably one of my favorite zoos. It is superior to the zoos I have been to up north. At the start I thought the trip was going to be a wash since the heat caused some of the animals to stay inside or lay hidden in the shade. It was not long, however, that we saw many unique animals.

Afterwards we went to a Mediterranean restaurant for Funday-Sunday. Where the drinks and appetizers are 3 dollars all day every Sunday! It is a fabulous place for interns on a budget; I am always looking for a deal. The décor was relaxed and it was a marvelous location to unwind after a day of walking in the heat. It’s conveniently located right next to the Woodley Park-Zoo Metro too.

I feel like I go on and on about all the exciting and interesting things I am doing, but I want it to be known that it requires a lot of first-rate time management to makes things work here. You must have the ability to balance a full-time internship, a weekly class, and The Washington Center assignments. Once you master time management you can, if you have the energy, allow yourself some leisure. It would be such a waste to come to Washington D.C. and stay in your room hunched over your computer the entire time. THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO!

Busy Busy Busy

Where did my week go?! I have been so busy with my internship that it seems to have flown by. For example--having to wake up at 4:30 and leaving for work at 6 a.m. Monday, then not getting home until after the lecture/seminar until about 6 p.m. because of a torrential downpour that began almost exactly as we were dismissed. This is not even an exaggeration, but the wind began to blow, and for a second I thought I saw the Heavens open up and dump the entire Atlantic Ocean on D.C. Okay, so that was a slight exaggeration. Anyway, the speaker was Colman McCarthy. He asked the audience, in a Christopher Walken sounding voice, if they had ever taken an alternative to violence or a peace course and very few of the other interns had. He makes a good point though. Peace classes are rarely offered at school although there are always an abundance of choices for classes about wars. Conflict resolution is an important subject to be acquainted with, especially in our ever-shrinking world. It was an interesting lecture despite the fact that I did not completely agree with some of his opinions. It is essential to keep an open mind though. I am glad The Washington Center is a non-partisan organization and that they provide different points of view even if I do not support them all 100%.

Last week I was feeling a little cynical when I sat down to write my blog. Today as I type I am in a positive mood. I am on lunch break at my internship with NESA. That stands for Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies U.S. Department of Defense/National Defense University. Yeah that is a mouthful. They do a lot of incredible things worldwide but they are a non-attribution government organization and I cannot talk about certain details of my internship. Honestly, if I released the name of some of the participants in our executive seminar, they could be killed in their country. I doubt that my blog is on the favorites list of a computer user somewhere in Iraq and that they are constantly checking for my weekly updates--but I think it’s best to be safe. That makes my internship sound so much more covert and dangerous than it really is. Today I sat in on a breakout group and listened to the participants play out a scenario of a smallpox outbreak resulting from bioterrorism. The participants developed an international emergency plan. My job was to help them set up a PowerPoint slide show to present in front of the entire group. I look forward to this type of work at my internship the most. I get to hear firsthand personal views about issues I study in school from colonels and other mid- to high-level military and civilian personnel. It is a pleasure. Afterward I was walking home from the Metro, limping and sweating from the heat, but I could not stop smiling from thinking about how I spent my day. So I promise this entry will be much more optimistic.

Also at my internship we spent a lot of time out of the office last week. We visited The Department of State on Tuesday. On Thursday we took an overnight trip to Philadelphia. On the trip for dinner we went to The Union League of Philadelphia. That place is astounding; it is such a stunning place. The speaker told us about his thoughts on the future of the Middle East. It is always interesting to look around the room at the participants’ faces, from 22 different countries, when speakers are talking about their region. The best part is that afterwards I get to sit down with them in an informal setting [at breakfast or lunch] and ask them their thoughts on the lectures. We also took a short trip to Gettysburg. I just want to add that all of us interns got our own hotel rooms for the night…on the NESA Center’s tab. I am not going to lie; I felt pretty important. Haha Needless to say I now have a new set of travel size shampoos and soaps.

Friday night I checked out Hawk and Dove for the first time. I would definitely go back despite the fact that it was a trek. It has a nice atmosphere. The downstairs had an old bar tavern-esque feel and upstairs was like a dance club. Hawk and Dove is 18 and over so if there is someone in your group who isn't 21 they can still come out. There were a lot of interns there too. Saturday night I went to Clarendon Ballroom and Liberty Tavern. At Ballroom it was 80s night so they played only the best music ever all night long! Ballroom is a good place to hang out on weekends. There are 3 floors including an outside patio on the roof.

Sunday I went to the mall off the Pentagon City stop! There is a lot of good shopping around here. After my little shopping trip I took the Yellow line and meet a few other interns at The National Gallery of Art. Unfortunately it closes at 6 p.m. and there is so much to see there that I felt rushed. I plan on going back if time permits.

I am really interested in being blatantly honest about my experience here. If there is anything you are curious about feel free to leave a comment and I will try to address it in one of my future entries. If you'd like to be slightly more anonymous please e-mail me at mooreh9@ndu.edu

Ah! I have to go work on my presentation for class tomorrow!