Last Day at AWL

Yesterday was my last day at Alaska Wilderness League. I did work for some of the time but most of it I was working on preparing my going away party (going with my boss to get some drink, and then trying to find limes). We hung out at the office until 7 when we left to go to a pizza place. It was so fun hanging out with the guys, I'm really going to miss them. After we ate it was after 11 so I was super tired. They really didn't want me to go but I just told them that I'd be seeing them soon, especially if I can convince them to let me come for wilderness week in March.

Overall, although I did a lot of data entry at the end, it was a great internship. It made me discover that lobbying and grassroots is what I want to do with my life. It was also a great experience at meeting some of my congressmen and women and lobbying them. Everyone at AWL was really nice also, which made anything I did great.

Now for this weekend, I'm just going to hang out with friends, pack my stuff, finish that research paper, and go to the vietnam wall which is the only site I have yet to go to. Oh and FDR's.

End of Semester

So I leave Washington D.C. in 9 days, 9 DAYS! I gotta say, I'm a little sad. I mean, I hate this University (nothing can compare to Ripon in my mind) and I really haven't learned anything from my professor or program. But I do love my internship, I absolutely loved my trip to Brazil, and I'm now inseperable with my class. And it's because of them, that I kind of don't want to go. I made such good friends over Brazil, and now we only have 9 days left together, it just seems so short. We do talk about getting a reunion set up (one of the guy's has a second house in Hawaii) and I truely think some of us will meet again, but it's just so sad.

However, besides that anxiety, the semester is still going great. I had such a good start on my research paper before leaving for Brazil that I'm not worried about it. I also don't have any finals, and only have one other 'reflection paper.' This semester has definately been the easiest semester I have ever had, and thus the best finals week.

Thanksgiving Break

So I returned from Brazil on Tuesday morning and by then everyone on campus had pretty much left to go home for thanksgiving. I was left here with one friend who also stayed the entire time and then some others that left and returned at different times. I thought the break would be a lot harder than it actually was. I think because I wasn't home it didn't really feel like Thanksgiving, so I wasn't really bothered by missing it all that much. Instead I just got a bunch of things in order (packed a box to send home, sent some packages and postcards out, did laundry, do some touristy shopping for the family) and then just slept, read, and watched some TV. On Thursday I went out to eat at a really nice place with my friend Mike. The only opening we could get was at 8 pm which was alright. The place we went to said we could watch the game so we were happy that it wasn't too coupley and familyish, however it was sooo the opposite. But again it was actually pretty fun, we're pretty close friends so we just talked about a bunch of random stuff. After dinner we went back and hung out with another one of our friends taht had come back early to work on his research paper. Overall it turned out to be a pretty good Thanksgiving.

Now, I'm just having so much fun with all of my friends. I'm excited to go to home and visit Ripon during finals week but yet again, I really like it here. Just hanging out with friends and not having a lot of homework and NO exams. It's so stress free, which is exactly how I like it.

Amazon = Amazing

These are a few excepts from my journal:

Nov. 3, 2007 - I went to the favelas (poor and dangerous community) and danced with the kids there and listened to some stuff about NGOs and took a bunch of pics. it was amazing, definately one of the high points so far. It was soooo unlike the movie, i didnt see any guns or drugs and i felt safe the entire time. they were pretty nice cloths and the buildings were pretty nice. it wasn´t at all as the movie. then yesterday we went to christ the redeamor, a big statue at the top of rio, again pretty cool. after we had free time so i went to one of the beaches with some friends and then did a little shopping on the beach (people sell stuff all over and come up to you on the beach, it get´s a little annoying but you can also get pretty lazy. Last night we went to a samba club and heard live music, it was soooo awesome, i drank and danced and went out on the balcony and just hung out with everyone. Today i did pretty much the same thing. Tonight i might go to a beach soccer game and then my professor is having a dinner on the beach tonight, which sounds really fun.

Nov. 7, 2007 - so i just got back from my boat trip. a lot of the time on the boat i spent reading, tanning, or napping in my hammock. on the trip i: hiked through the amazon where the guide showed us tarantulas and where at one point i had to plug my ears because we were passing an ant nest that the ants would crawl in your ear and lay eggs in your brain, went piranha hunting and unfortunately didn´t catch anything, fed and swam with pink dolphins, visited an indian village, and went crocodile hunting and held a 2 footer in my hands. it was all utterly amazing. tomorrow we leave for 3 days to go to a scientist field station.

Nov. 10, 2007 - I just got back from a biology field station in the middle of the Amazon. We hiked through the Amazon, learned all about different bugs and plants, espeically ants because it was one of the scientists speciality. Some people saw a snake but I had decided that hiking at night was a little too dangerous and turned back already. I also went swimming in what they called a pool but it was really just a blocked off stream. The whole time I was out side, I slept in a hammock with a bug net, no walls in the entire camp except 2 showers and 2 toilets, which got invaded by ants right before we left. It was sooo amazing, I´m thinking about getting information about it and will prolly keep it in my plans for the future.

Nov. 17, 2007 - hey so the last 5-6 days i was at an ecotourism place, it was pretty cool. I stayed at a community for a night and learned everything i possibly could about them. I also got drunk pretty bad 2 nights, which was really fun until the next morning when i was not feeling too hot. Now i´m staying at a really nice hotel. We have a free day today so i´m gonna do some shopping and swimming and just relax. I don´t have time to read all of the info but i will when i get back on tues.

It definately was the best three weeks of my life. At the time I kept on thinking "how does life get any better?"

Brazil Baby!

I left for Brazil on monday and Im having an amazing time, i love it here. its really the time of my life. i climbed a huge mountain today, went to the botancial gardens and then heard a lecture from a professor down here, i just ate (all the restaurants are buffet style and you pay by the weight of your plate) tomorrow i go to the city of god, and im soooo excited. but my friends down here are great, we all hang out together, and its just amazing.

hmmm

Well the Brazilian Embassy was really good. I got to ask questions about my research paper, which I can use as one of my interviews. Wednesday I had my internship. In the morning we dropped off a bunch of constituent stuff to senator offices. I was lucky and went into Feingold's office, and Barack Obama. One of the guys I was doing it with, Michael, said the last time he dropped off something at Obama's office, he was there and got to meet him. I was really hoping to get the opportunity, but I didn't even see anyone interesting. Thursday I had an exam, it was very very easy but the questions were very confusing because thats just how my professor is. We also had a speaker from conservation international. The guy was sooo interesting, he's been all over Africa helping to save rhinos, monkeys, goriallas. It was amazing, he's lived so much and I want to be able to say that i've done things like that too. Last night I hung out with some friends at an apartment in Maryland. It was on the 16th floor and they had a balcony. The view was amazing, you could see the Washington Monument way out in the distance. Tonight I think I'm going out for Halloween but I'm not one hundred percent sure.

Fashion Show!

Last week the main lobbyist at my internship asked me if I wante to help out at her sister in law's fashion show. I of course, said yes. It was last night, and it was a lot different than i expected. I though it would be hectic, stressful, and really crazy. Instead it was actually kind of boring. Myself and 2 friends were told it started at 6, so be there at 5. Well we stood about until 7, when it finally started. Once it did start, we just helped dress our designated model. It would have been pretty busy but all of the models that we weren't helping didn't have anyone to dress, so we were dressing our own models and then also helping out the others. I was really afraid that I was going to get yelled at by the models and everyon else for going too slow or messing something up, but it was actually really fun. All of the models were really appreciative and nice. Some even gave us hugged before they left. It was a great expensive, and I was very lucky; it was truly a 'wno you know' opportunity. And then of course we got paid, which was nice considering we stood around for most of the time.

Today, I'm going to the Brazilian Embassy, I'm so excited!

Reggae

Last night I went to a reggae club with a couple of friends. It was an hour away on the metro, we got there 20 minutes before it opened, and one of kept extra money in our socks in case we were all robbed, but it was one of the best nights here. We went over to McDonalds, which was across the street, to hang out until it opened, and then once we got inside, we found out that girls were free which was really nice. We, were of course the first ones there so we all started dancing on the dance floor to the music and it was really fun. We were all just goofing around because no one was there to watch us. Then, of course, people started coming in, so we sat down. After a little while (we'd been there for an hour) we decided just to go because it didn't look like more people were going to be showing up. But it was still really fun.

Congressional Hearing and Bowling

Thursday morning I skipped class (class is usually boring and pointless) to go to a congressional hearing about global warming's future affects on poor communities. It was so amazing. The room was very grand and and just the atmosphere was very affecting. I was a little disappointed because in the beginning there were only 5 congress members of the Select Committee on Global Warming were present, but by the time I left (I left in the middle of questions because I had a group presentation for class) there were 8. The people that testified were Martin Luther King III, an environmental law professor from the University of New Mexico, a Alaska Native tribeman, and the assistent attorney general of the Maldives. Hearing their testimony on how global warming is already affecting their impoverished communities was very angering, because scientists have been warning the public and government about global warming for over 20 years and just now they want to do something about it. A lot of the time was spent urging congress to take global warning seriously and to heed the urgency of doing something that will be affective. It was a little scary also because a lot of people also voiced their anger against the current administration and although it was a step closer to solving problem with having this hearing, I don't think anything will be really accomplished by it until someone new is elected president.

Yesterday I had my internship. It was going pretty good, but then my boss and 2 other guys from the office asked me to go bowling. At first I turned them down but then later said yes. It was so fun, one of the best nights I've had here. Of course, they paid for my games and drinks, which was verry nice, but also, right away on my first ball I bowled a strike. It stunned them, and it was cool to see their faces because I don't think they were expecting me to be so good. Of course I didn't keep that up, but I almost beat my boss and did beat one of the guys. The scariest part of the experience was when they were asking me what kind of drinks I like. I told them my favorite drink was whiskey old fashions because I grew up sneaking sips from my Dad and eventually ordering them when I went out with my parents. They had no idea what the were. I was stunned, I knew that they weren't popular anywhere besides WI but I thought people knew what they were. It made me scared to move out of WI, I know that cheese isn't as good anywhere else, but cheese and mixed drinks. People from other states are really missing out.

Nothing new

Nothing really new here. I went to go get some hiking boots at REI, which was cool. And then also went to Betheda and visitid some thrift shops and a little artist market. It was nice and relaxing. It finally got colder here so now I can finally wear jeans and a jacket. Before it was too humid to wear jeans, it got really old after awhile.

But here's a picture of Sean, AWL lobbyist, a couple other Wisconsites, and myself with Russ Feingold.

Green Festival

Today I went to a green festival. I was there for about 2 and a half hours. There were so many booths: many with great samples of soup, lotion, and food and then many with great things for sale. I ended up going on a little shopping spree at all of the things that were handmade by indigenous people. I ending up buying a wrap skirt, purse, earrings, bracelet, and then 2 finger puppets. I figured it was all going to a good cause and that it was made very well. So after that shopping spree I'm going to go easy now, although it was my first shopping spree since summer.

Shots and Elizabeth Edwards

Today I got my shots, yellow fever and Hep A, for Brazil. They weren't that bad, except my arm is still pretty tender, considering they may save my life. Now all I need is malaria medicine and maybe a typhoid shot. I never knew vaccines were so expensive.

Tonight I listened to Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Senator John Edwards, speak at American University's main campus. I was looking forward to hearing this stance on many issues and start supporting or not supporting him, but he talk was all about her fight with breast cancer. Although it was very interesting and I like her very much, I wish she would have spoke a little about her husband's campaign.

Pictures #1

Eh, some of them are sideways but that's okay. I can only think of one way to fix it, and that would be going back and starting all over again, so you can jsut tilt you head to get the gist.

Library of Congress Book Festival

On Saturday I didn't have have much to do and wanted to relax so I planned on going down to the National Archives and the Holocaust Museum. Both I have already been to but I missed parts or exhibits so I wanted to go back. The National Archives had a big line just to get into the door so I didn't go there and headed instead to the Holocaust Museum. On my way I went through The Mall where the Library of Congress was having a huge Book Festival. There were a bunch of authors giving talks all day and a lot of books for sale. I didn't buy any books but got 2 free bags and a free book. It was pretty cool to just find something to do that I wasn't planning on doing. After I went to the museum; it was pretty empty in the exhibits (Because it wasn't the main one) I went to which was nice because then I could take my time and read everything. After the museum I just came back here. Overall it was a great day, just nice and relaxing. And it's great to get some me time, which is hard to get when you have 2 roommates.

Russ Feingold!!!!

On Monday I sat and listened to many meetings and presentations on lobbying. It was interesting but very tiring. But that night, I went to the Embassy of Canada. We were able to go out on the balcony and take pictures and just look at the beautiful sights. The sun was going down and the whole city was lit it up. It was just breathtaking. On Tuesday I had three meetings with three Representatives from Wisconsin. I was able to meet Rep. Kind and Rep. Petri but not Rep. Kagen. It was all pretty interesting being in the meeting and hearing what their assistant had to say on the issues. Only Rep. Petri wasn't too keen on some aspects of saving the Alaskan wilderness. That night, I went to another reception in one of the Representative buildings. There were a bunch of congressman milling around, which is pretty unreal. Yesterday, I spoke to Senator Herb Kohl's assistant in the morning and then in the afternoon with Russ Feingold. Right when we got to his office, he came out. We just had enough time to introduce ourselves and take a couple of pictures. It was so amazing. I admire everything that he's done so far with campaign finance and the environment. It was really cool to meet with him but I wish we would have been able to actually talk to him about the issues. However, he did say that he wants to start on the offensive instead of the defensive and really make a difference with environmental issues, which was pretty cool. And on a side note, he was a lot shorter than I imagined him to be. Later that day I went on a tour with Senator Kohl's intern. I was able to go into senate chambers and actually see some speeches. It was just like CSPAN, Senators talking to no one. At the end, we saw Congressman Ted Stevens from Alaska. It was so funny, because we were hearing all weekend how terrible he is with Alaska wilderness and we were actually just arguing against one of his riders. Overall, it was a pretty starstruck couple of days.

I have to do a paper, so I'm not going to proofread this entry. However, I am told I have many errors in all of my entries, so no big deal.

Alaska Wilderness Week

Last night I went to the the Alaska Wilderness Week reception for my internship, Alaska Wilderness League. I met a bunch of people from all over the country and had a lot of fun. This afternoon I went to listen to speakers and hear different presentations on Alaska so I will be informed when I speak to my representative and senators(probably their staff). It was really interesting and I met some more people. I also saw so many pictures that I want to go to Alaska very badly, especially the Tonfass National Forest. Tomorrow I'm going all day to listen to different speakers and then go to the Canadian Embassy to have dinner. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday I'll actualy do some lobbying. It's a pretty interesting week, and luckily I don't have class Monday or Tuesday because I went to the Global Warming Conference las weekend.

Nothing much

So the last couple days have been pretty uneventful. Just going to class and my internship. On Thursday I listened to 3 speakers for class, they were pretty good but at the end of the day I was just so tired. Last night after my internship, I went to the National Sculpture Garden to listen to some jazz music with some of my friends from class. Unfortunately, I got pretty lost and by the time I got there the music was done. However, we sat around and talked for awhile. After, we tried to find something to do, but it was already pretty late and we couldn't get ahold of anyone. Today, I just worked on my paper and tonight I'm going to a reception for work. This week, is the big Alaska Wilderness Week, which means that I get to lobby and go to a bunch of events for work. Tonight the reception is at The Wilderness Society. I'm pretty excited.

Barack Obama!!!!!

Sunday I went to the Global Warming Conference all day, yesterday I had class in the moring and then worked on my research paper, and today I had class in the morning. But the real excitement was seeing and hearing Barack Obama. They had rally, Countdown to Change, in the middle of D.C. today. It started about 45 minutes late but when he finally came it was amazing. There were a couple of thousand people there and the whole crowd was cheering and clapping the whole time. He of course spoke about the war and health care but I mostly went to hear his views on global warming. They were of course, not as good as I was hoping for but atleast it is one of his priorities. He spoke for about 40 minutes, so I think I got my money's worth. Afterward there were too many people around so I didn't actually get a chance to meet him but I did get a lot of pictures.

War Protest!

Saturday I went to an Iraq War protest. Tens of thousands of people met at the White House and marched to the Capital and I was right in the middle of it, it was amazing. There were so many people there; people of all ages, races, and nationalities all promoting one cause, to bring our troops home. It was so empowering. In the beginning I just went to see it all but then by the end I was chanting and wishing I had a sign to hold up also. There were helicopters all over the place and so many police officers. There were anti-protesters who chanted USA and held up signs to bring our troops home and saying that we were the terrorists. I loved it because they just didn't understand why we were there and thought we were such a disgrace. It was so awesome to be there, to know what it feels like to be actually doing something to try and achieve change. I'm so happy I went instead of going to my conference for class because I'll attend conferences all of my life but I'll probably never get another chance to be in a war protest.

The conference, however, was pretty boring. Speech after speech telling everyone that we have to curb emissions (like we didn't already know that). There were a couple of good ones and I learned a lot of interesting facts but all it did was make me scared of what my life and my children's lives will be like. However, it did make me excited because in order to stop the polar ice from melting which will really mess up our planet we need to cut CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050, which means that really in my life time, I will be at the front of it all and doing it myself with my fellow peers.

Ahh...

So, Wednesday I had my internship. It went really well and now I find that the best days (besides the weekend) are at my internship and not at class. That night I hung out with a couple of friends. I met some of their guy friends and it was going pretty good but then one just turned into a really big jerk (the first one I've met here). So I left, because I figure I'm only here for 4 months and I don't want to spend it with anyone who's a jerk. On Thursday I had lecture from 10:30-12:30. Luckily we watched a film; it was pretty good but I just could not keep my eyes open. In the afternoon we went to the World Bank to see an author you knew Chico Mendes and wrote a book about him. Although it was nice to see the emotion of the author, it had nothing to do with us or what we are learning. It was a huge waste of time. Friday, again I had my internship. After I went to happy hour with a couple of people from class (I sat and ate appetizers since I can't drink) and then we all headed to a big global warming conference at George Washington University that our Professor is making us attend. I was pretty disappointed because what they all said everyone already knew; f we weren't interested in global warming we wouldn't have gone. But later Mike from my class said that it's all going in segments so last night was the first opener to get us scared, while the next parts will be more focused on different areas. Today I'm skipping the first half of the conference to go to a big against the Iraq War rally. I'm so excited. This is the stuff I came to D.C. to experience.

The 11th Hour!

This morning I went to The Library of Congress. The architecture and statues were amazing, and every room was so grand. We went into the main reading room; it was huge and beautiful. Also, they said that National Treasure 2 filmed a scene in there back in May, which will be so cool when I get to see it on screen in December after I've been in there. This afternoon I went with my class to see The 11th Hour. It was pretty good. I liked it how no politics were involved and it was just experts speaking about how we are going to eventually become extinct because we are too ignorant and lazy to do something about global warming (my words, not theirs). It was most about the ideology about how we need to change our culture and our way of thinking. I suggest it to anyone, and this time unlike An Inconvenient Truth, you can't say it's not true because it wasn't made by a former Vice President who lost the 2000 election to the current president...blah blah blah. The film actually made me pretty depressed at the time because I felt like such a hypocrite in my nicely air conditioned movie theatre watching a matinee that cost $7, which I thought was a pretty decent price, eating my 69 cents peanut M&M's in my nice, clean clothes that I really didn't need. But now, it makes me mad because atleast I know I'm a hyopcite, unlike someone I spoke to about the movie that said she doesn't buy into the whole 'global warming thing.' Jeesh, what ignorance!

So much!

So, I can't even remember what I did Thursday besides for having class all day (10 until 7). Friday I had my internship, which again, was great. Very chill. Friday night, I went salsa dancing at a club. It was really cool, I love to dance. I thought I'd be okay at it, but an old guy was trying to show me, and I just failed. He gave up on me right away. I liked the music and the people I went with, but it cost $20 to get in, which was way too expensive for me and thus, it really kind of brought the whole experience down. I also didn't like it how there were a bunch of old (like 30-35) guys there, it was pretty creepy. On Saturday I went to the National Gallery, it was so amazing. I saw Van Gogh's Self Portrait, and I saw a bunch of paintings by Manet. But the best part was that I saw a painting of Monet's flower garden and bridge. I was at Monet's garden 5 years ago in France, so it was just an amazing moment. I felt like I could leave D.C. right then because I had felt I accomplished so much. Then last night I went to a free Ok Go concert at George Washington University. It was pretty cool. Today I went to Arlington National Cemetary. It was amazing and so powerful to see how many men and women that gave up their lives for my freedom. Now, I'm just doing all of the readings that my professor has assigned over the weekend for the beginning of this week. It all totals about 400 pages, so I'm a bit on the pissed side. But oh well, what are you going to do?

My Internship

Today, I started my internship. The office was very laid back; I was wearing a black shirt, heels, and a button down shirt and I was the most dressed up by far. They have a keg and bottles of wine in the kitchen, there's a foos ball table in the middle of the office, I was told to go on Facebook or read online newspapers often, and there was a dog walking around. And I loved it. Although I think that if they buckled down and worked instead of played foos ball, they could be a lot more productive, it's the office I would like to work in someday. Everyone's friends and no one takes anything too seriously, and most importantly they have fun instead of getting too stressed out. Although I just filled in information on one of the websites and learned about the fax, printer, and phone system, I had a great time. I'm so excited to go back on Friday and I can't wait until I can go up on the hill and talk to Senators or sit in on a Congressional hearing.

Incompetence

Well on Saturday night I had a great time hanging out with kids from my class. I can't wait till we all go to Brazil because it's a great group of people from all over the country and a few from around the world.

Sunday I went to Dim Sueng (I don't know how to say it, so how can I spell it correctly?) with a couple of friends. It's like a chinese buffet expect they come around with a small portion of different dishes on plates and you just pick what you want. Luckily, two of the people I went with knew a lot more about the food than I did, so they just picked a bunch of things. Everything they picked was really good and now I know what they've been talking about for the last 2 weeks.

The rest of Sunday and all of Monday I read. After I read everything I could on Monday, I had wanted to go to the library on main campus to start my research paper. Unfortunately, it was closed. I understand it was Labor Day, but that only means that students are given a day off to work on stuff, but how can they work on papers and other homework when the library is closed? I was extremely upset then, and I still am today. Earlier on Monday, I walked with two other girls to the commons on main campus because it was closed here on Tenley. Unfortunately, they were working on holiday hours, so it was closed there too, but how would we know that? There were no emails, signs, or anything. It was a very upsetting day.

Today, I had class all morning and then I had a seminar this afternoon. Both were pretty good; the seminar was great because not only was the organization interesting but the speaker was a former Washington Semester Program alum. The only bad was that during the class part we talked about the research paper and other assignments, which was great but now I just looked at my email and found out that my professor has yet again, pushed things back. I hate that, because unlike many of my fellow students I don't procrastinate and I'm running on that schedule, but now, when he pushes things back, not only do I not get rewarded for my hard work and being on time, but it makes the second part of the semester where he is unable to push things back, stressful. Uhhh, the incompetence of it all.

(Jeez, rereading what I just wrote, I feel like such a whiner....but I'm not.)

Class, National Art Museum, National Zoo

Jeez, I haven't written in a while and now there is just so much to tell, but really not enough time. Let's see, Thursday, I had class for 3 hours, and we finally talked about our research paper topics. He said that there might not be a lot of information on my topic but it's still doable. (My topic is going to be on how global warming will affect the Amazon and the people living there.) After class, I ran some errands and then that night I went with some of my friends from class over to the theology university, which is right by American University to meet some people. It was pretty cool getting to know the people I will be spending 3 weeks with in a foriegn country. Friday, I didn't have my internship so I went to The National Museum of Art. It was pretty cool going by myself, just going on my own rate. But then after 2 hours it got kind of boring so I'm planning to just finish up another time. Last night, I went with some friends who are on the Ultimate Frisbee team to meet the other players. It was nice meeting new people who aren't on the Washington Semester. Today, I went to The Zoo; we saw a bunch of animals, including the Giant Panda which was awesome. I guess there are only 1000 in the wild, and only 200 in zoos, which is terrible. Tonight I'm hanging out with some people from my class so that'll be nice.

Internship???

Today I woke up early, got all dressed up, went to breakfast, and got on the Metro, all to go to my internship. When I got off the Metro, I looked at my phone to see what time it was, and found a voicemail. I knew immediately it was Mark from my internship. I went all the way, only to be told that today was actually not a good day to start my internship and to instead come next Wednesday. He was really apologetic for the late notice, but it still kind of sucked. But instead, I just relaxed, went to the post office to get some postcard stamps, and went to Chinatown with some friends to go eat. The food was really good and afterward we went to a little shop where I bought a mug, and 2 purses for about $17. Tomorrow I have class for 2 hours and the rest of the day off which is nice. I also have Friday off, which I might spend going to a museum.

the Zoo...and boring lectures

Today my class went to The National Zoo to see the Amazonia exhibit. It was cool seeing the monkeys, but then we just saw fish, which was okay but I wanted to see some mammals. After the zoo, we had an hour and a half break before we had 3 hours of lectures. It was about interesting things, but it just droned on for too long. After the lectures, we had another little break before we had internship class, which really sucked for me because I already have an internship.

Besides for the lectures, I've been reading all day because our reading assignments have significantly increased since yesterday. However, the highlight of my day was when I received my package which contained my bedding, which is very nice to finally have.

Tomorrow I start my internship, it's going to be pretty easy, since there will be three interns in the office tomorrow. My boss told me that I'll be able to leave early, which is very nice.

1st day of Seminars

Yesterday, I went on the Metro all by myself for the 1st time to check out where my internship is. It's about a 45 minute commute, which really sucks. The trip on the Metro, itself, went pretty good. I was asked for money for the first time, and I saw a homeless person. I thought she was going to jump me from behind, but of course she didn't.

Today my class and I went to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum and met with an 85 year old woman who has been studying the Amazon since WW2. She was very old and I thought she was going to be a lot more interesting than what she was. She also didn't answer any of the questions that we had asked her. After, I went with a couple of other students and my professor out to eat. I thought it was going to be really casual way of getting to know everyone and the professor, but it turned out to be a little mini lecture that lasted about an hour and a half. It really sucked. Tomorow we are going to the zoo in the morning and then having classes all afternoon and evening. I'm already tired of the school aspect of this program.

Busy, busy

On Friday I went with my roommate, Ashley downtown to the mall. I brought my camera and was prepared to do all the touristy things, but unfortunately, Ashley wanted to go shopping. So we walked from The Mall all the way down to Georgetown, it was really far. Once we got to Georgetown, we went in all of these little shops, like Betsy Johnson and Bebe. After the first time I saw a dress I really liked and looked at the price tag, I realized I could either buy the dress or buy books next semester. Needless to say, I stopped looking to buy and started just looking at all of the interesting and very expensive dresses. That night, I emailed the Sigma Chi house on campus to see if anything was going on. They were having a party so all of my friends went. After a half hour, which was spent mostly in the corner outside because it was so hot and crowded, the cops showed up. After that experience, my friends and I decided to go to a club downtown. The club was pretty good, but we didn't want to get on the dance floor and get hit on by creepy guys, so we left and just went to bed.

Yesterday, three friends and I went down to The Mall and took a bunch of pictures and did all of the touristy things. It was so hot, we were just dripping sweat. We finally made it to the Holocaust museum, where we had all wanted to go to because it was air conditioned. The museum itself, was amazing. It was so quiet out of respect for the victims, and it was just soooo powerful. I think every person on earth should go see it. After the museum we went to chinatown to get something to eat. There were so many restaurants to choose from, I had never been to a real chinese restaurant so I just let my friends choose. It was all really good. Last night, I went with some of my friends and the foriegn exchange students (mostly french, some germen, and one netherlands guy) to a club downtwon. When we got on the metro at school, it had stopped raining, but when we got across town to where the club was, it was pouring. At first we walked but then finally we just got a cab. Waiting in line and seeing all of the people, I realized clubs are just not my thing. However, we got in the wrong line, which was the guest line, and we were about to go in, but then my friend who didn't think she needed her ID because she's under 21, couldn't be let in because she couldn't prove she was 18. So a couple of us went back with her to school. It was already pretty late so we just went to bed.

Today I'm just going to go and look around the American University. After the last 2 days of being really busy and doing a bunch of stuff, I really don't feel like doing anything to big.

Orientation nonsense

Today I had orientation for 3 hours, it was so boring and really scary. They kept on talking about drinking and doing something stupid while interning and having it all bite you in the rear. After that, I had my first class where, again, the professor just talked about the seminars, the internship, and the research paper. I knew when signing up to do the paper, which is 35-50 pages, it would be kind of hard. But when they kept on talking about it today, I got a little overwhelmed. But I just keep telling myself that I am not a proscrastinator. Tonight the friends that I've made already went downtown on the metro to try and get in a club. Unfortunately, it was already 10:30 and there was a huge line and we had to get back on the metro before 12(it stops at 12), so we just came back. But it was a nice little adventure. However, it was cool because in the background was the white house. No one else was in awe as I was, they must already be used to the fact that so much history and power is all around and just hanging out in the background.

D.C.!!!!

I flew to D.C. today, all by myself. It was very scary being from a small midwestern town, where there is absolutely no crime. But it went very well, I got my room number and all of my information, and started unpacking. The room is very nice, better furniture than Ripon and a very nice, big closet which is very different than the dreaded closets of Johnson. I also met my two roommates, one is from Texas and the other from New Hamsphire, so we are a pretty diversified group. I've already been to the National Cathedral, which was beautiful but no where near as beautiful as Notre Dame. I also went out to eat with my two roommates, which went very well. The only downer is they are both 21 and I am still 20 so they keep talking about going out. But I found one girl who is from Wisconsin-Milwaukee who is only 19 and she seems very nice.

Before I came to D.C. I visited Ripon for 5 days. I didn't know how hard it would be to leave. Just driving into Ripon I started feeling that little euphoria I always get whenever I am in that city. After four days of spending time with my friends and boyfriend and then having to say goodbye, it was really hard. After saying goodbye to all of my friends, which was very hard, and then saying goodbye to one of the fraternities, it became very hard to leave knowing that I will be missing so many moments with them. Driving away from Ripon, I honestly thought I had made a mistake, but now being here and meeting all of these nice people I know that I made the right decision.

Preparing

I'm leaving for D.C. in 5 days. Right now my two huge suitcases are way over 50 pounds, which makes me very stressed out. I, like many other girls, have way too many clothes and shoes. This leaves me with the only option of having my mom send the rest in the mail, which isn't too bad because I'll still be in the continental U.S. instead of abroad.

Although the packing situation leaves quite distressed, I know it is only temporary and also very superficial. However, I am pleased to say that I am very happy to be stressed out about packing instead of finding an internship. This is because I had a very promising phone interview with Alaska Wilderness League. I am very excited because it seems like a great organization which, if I obtain the internship, I could be going to congressional hearing, making presentaions to high school and college students, and meeting many influential and important people.

Right now, however, I am visiting my friends at Ripon for one last time before I make a whole new batch of friends from all around the U.S. and maybe some from other countries.

Ta-ta for now