Explore D.C. with Moore

Blog 10: Goodbyes and new beginnings

2008-08-13T07:44:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-08-07T16:58:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-29T09:12:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-07-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-07-16T05:03:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-07-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-26T07:46:00.000-07:00

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!

Hey!

2008-06-23T15:08:00.000-07:00

The past week brought relief from that horrid humidity that plagued the previous weeks. I had a spirited social weekend despite the fact that I have “the boot” on my foot. I had a good time at every place that I visited.

Friday night a group of us went to Mei n Yu. It has received a variety of awards in the bar and restaurant arena. This place is worth going to, even if it is just for the bathroom experience, because it is undeniably… an experience. I am not one to bring up my bathroom ventures on any normal occasion but this wasn’t normal. I would go into further detail but I’d like to let you find out for yourself.

I went to the National Aquarium on Sunday with Brandon and Steve, two interns from Canada who live in the same apartment building as myself. I only invited them to come because I like hearing them say the words “about” and “out”. Lol just kidding! To be frank the aquarium in DC is actually quite monotonous. It was one room and is one of the few “educational” places where you had to pay.

The best part of my Sunday was going to Ben’s Chili Bowl! Since the first week I came to DC everybody I’ve met has asked me if I had been there yet. I didn’t realize how notorious it was until we got there. There are photos of numerous famous people eating there including George W. Bush, Bill Cosby, Dr. Dre, and Hilary Clinton. Go! and when you do get a chili dog and cheese fries!

I almost forgot about our visit to the Washington Monument. I can pretty much see it from everywhere- the apartment complex, fort McNair, everywhere! But I’ve never realize how large it was until I was right next to it.

For my internship on Monday we had a tour at Capitol Hill. They are rough with the security there. They took one of the interns, Jeremy’s, peanut butter sandwich and then tried to confiscate my deodorant. Trust me… that would have been a bad idea for everyone around. Poor Jeremy though! I guess his lunch may have been a threat to national security. Thank God they got a handle on it before things got out of control. I hear peanut butter can be dangerous especially when someone is trying to make an important point and they have a spoonful before trying to speak! It could have held up the Senate for hours!

This is a little irrelevant, but I went to see The Happening last week as well and it was atrocious. It will go down in cinematic history. I think I might give it a rating lower than Mariah Carey’s debacle Glitter--but you may not remember Glitter as we all tried ever so hard to push it from our memories. If you like movies that feature characters who run away from wind then it is definitely your type of movie. I think I will stop there concerning the awfulness of the Happening as it does not warrant even this much contemplation. M. Night Shyamalan, the tally is in, and you owe me personally 27 dollars for The Village, The Lady in the Water, and now The Happening.

I have a very busy week with my internship coming up which I will share asap.

Week Two: About Setbacks and Success

2008-06-12T14:30:00.000-07:00

Success! Today I found Starbucks. Now, I don’t even really drink coffee, and this apartment complex provides a variety of flavors of coffee every morning, however this event is still fairly significant for me. Today was the first time I took off all on my own to do some exploring. I found a variety of cute shopping stores and interesting exotic places to eat. I must admit I was a little intimidated but now I feel relieved. I was able to conquer it with a ridiculous limp as well… this weekend I broke my foot on an escalator in the Metro! I broke three metatarsals in my right foot. OUCH! If I can hobble around the city and get around with ease then there is nothing for anyone else to worry about.

Wow is it hot! Today it was 96 degrees with ridiculous humidity. My internship advisor Wendie emailed me the uniform schedule about a month before I came down here. She wrote that it was going to be hot and humid down here. I never conjured up this type of uncomfortable weather! To add to the heat I am shuffling around in this cast/walking boot. As I began to walk around today with my injury I noticed something pretty profound… The people in Washington DC and Arlington are extremely nice and accommodating. If you are coming from a small town and are worried about the hustle and bustle of a city, or fear that fast paced urban atmosphere, there is one important thing to remember- most of the people here are also from small towns. This is a huge melting pot of characters. It is different from New York City where I have spent much of my time. The people there seem to be a tad bit jaded [no offense New Yorkers]. That’s something I have not encountered in Washington DC.

My internship is going very well. Despite my initial doubts about the placement process they nailed my interests precisely. If you are interested in global affairs and relations with the Middle East I would highly recommend you apply for this particular internship. Sometimes I feel as though I should be paying them to work there. I am able to sit in on discussions between experts regarding topics that I have only read about in class. It is an absolute pleasure. This week for work we had a reception at the Willard; an extremely historic and picturesque place. It is known for many things among Lincoln’s ten day stay and features the Thomas Jefferson Suite which is 2200 square feet! We also have plans to visit the Pentagon, go on a tour of Washington DC, and visit Capitol Hill. With an internship like this who needs to plan tourist trips? Hopefully my leg will improve and I will be able to make it for the excursions.

I had planned on posting photos from a variety of sites that I had visited this weekend but with the accident the only pictures I would have been able to take would have been at the hospital and me sleeping in my bed. Personally I did not think those would be as interesting. So I will cross my fingers for this weekend, otherwise you’re getting the sleeping photos. haha

Introducing Heather Jane Moore

2008-06-09T10:31:00.000-07:00

Well, my name is Heather Jane Moore. I come from a small town in Connecticut. It’s the type of place where you pretty much know everyone and their business. I would say the exact opposite of Washington DC. haha.

Washington DC...When I say or think about the city name it brings about so many different ideas and feelings. When my friends heard about the internship I was applying for and the city I would be “deserting” them for each one of them had different advice and words to share. The frequent commentary seemed to based around three general themes. “Wow, there is a lot of crime there, BE CAREFUL!” [thanks, mom!] was number one on the list. Then, “You’re going to meet a great man to date and have tons of fun down there!” was the second. Last but not least people said, “You are going to learn a lot--take advantage of it.”

I thought about DC in some kind of mixture of all three. Crime? What crime? We moved in right behind the police station! So far I haven’t found very bad parts of DC, but I have not wandered off too far yet. The housing that TWC provides and area it is in are insanely beautiful. As for the great men… well there aren’t any yet, just a bunch of friendly interns. As for the last comment it appears that I am already learning all types of information to guide me in the right direction.

Going entirely back to the beginning now, when my professor recommended The Washington Center program to me, I never imagined it would be like this. The initial process of picking a topic to write my essay about all the way to my phone interview with my [hopeful] internship advisor was nerve-racking to say the least. I just kept hoping that my application was good enough to get me a rewarding internship. Through it all I ended up with an internship I desperately wanted at the NESA center/National Defense University. However, during the whole process there was a lot of doubt. For a vast amount of time you do not know where you will be placed, what class you will get into, and who you will be living with. These were all great stressors to me but it worked out well in the end. The Washington Center really hooks it up with a place to live, especially if you are coming from a dorm. On move in day I was singing that theme song from The Jeffersons… “Movin’ on up! To the East side- with a deluxe apartment in the sky” haha. No, but seriously check out the pictures. There is a really nice view from the apartment.

Unfortunately for the first few days during orientation I was extremely ill and feeling a bit down. As I lay in bed I kept thinking, “How am I going to be able to navigate the Metro?” “Will I be able to find the grocery store?” Today, however, as I walked back from the grocery store, with my new friend Casey, in the warmth of a Sunday evening, I really appreciated where I am. In this short weekend, I have met people from all walks of life, from California to Florida, each one of us as eager as the next to see what opportunities await us. There is such a clever bunch of people here. I can not wait to hear what all of them have to say about the places they come from and what their plans are while they are in Washington. I was initially worried that I would not know anyone and would have to go this alone...boy was I wrong. My roommate, well, I definitely got lucky; she is a doll. Before all the work started we were able to spend some time at the mall and by the pool (the sun is super strong here!). I was a lobster for my first day at work. I guess that it was not too bad though because it hid my red face when I tripped over a step in front of another intern. haha.

I have a tip to offer and I am not sure if I will be doing it every week but I feel that this is important. I would suggest that when you come to the TWC you take advantage of the orientation days to talk to as many people as feasible. Get numbers. Get lunch. Get connections. Make a little network for yourself as early as possible. It will really make a difference in your quality of life while you are here.

Well here goes nothing… I’ll leave you with some pictures. You can definitely expect more!!

This is my first taxi ride alone. Apparently I am pretty excited over it.

This is me my first day at work with my face still red from the day before.

A couple of the guys I intern with on the way down to the Metro after work.

This is that sick view I previously mentioned.