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