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!