Horizon Bound
horizon n. 1. the apparent intersection of the earth and sky as seen by an observer. 2. the range of one's knowledge or experience.Science...The Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the College Graduate. Her 10-week mission: to explore strange new press conferences, to seek out new research and new stories, to boldly write what no man has written before...
At 7:10 on the morning of June 5th, 2005, Continental Airlines flight 132 thundered into the drizzly sky above San Diego. I was on board, craning my neck to catch a glimpse of the approaching horizon through my tiny airplane window. 3,000 miles away, Washington, D.C. prepared a warm (i.e. humid) welcome for the arrival of its newest summer intern.
I'm here as a Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellow
with the American Association for the Advancement of Science...
...but I'm actually interning as a science writer with the
Voice of America. I get to work on short radio scripts aimed at informing people in developing countries about science news.
We got to stay in a really posh hotel during orientation --
not only did they fold the ends of their toilet paper rolls into a point, but they also used custom stickers!
After our 3-day crash course in science writing, I moved out of the hotel and into
a lovely house in Fairfax, Virginia. I'll be here for the rest of the summer.
The commute is a little annoying (essentially an
hour into D.C., when you take into account walking, riding the bus, and the long trip on the metro), but the backyard
makes it all worthwhile!
Upstairs there's a cozy living room (complete with
purry cat)...
and I have my very own kitchen downstairs!
My room, however, is TINY! It only has enough space for a twin bed, two night stands, a miniscule table, and my wardrobe.