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Return to Mari's page
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DC/G'town 1: June 11, 2001
Hi everyone. As I've told almost all of you, I'm going to write about my experience
in one email and send it to everyone at one time. The flight in was uneventful,
as my mother can attest to. We had to do a lot of walking and were in pretty
cramped seats, but it was a good way to get there. The only problem was that
I couldn't bring enough stuff! We are missing so much in the apartment, but
I'll touch on that later. We stayed at a hotel in Landover, MD which is supposed
to be near DC. To get to the Metro (the subway system) we had to take a bus,
and to get to the bus we had to walk 2-3 blocks. And it is on the other side
of the city from Georgetown, so we took a taxi to get my stuff (and me) over
here. It was a pretty weird experience. Before I had to move, though, we went
and did some site seeing/touristy stuff. We went to the National Gallery of
Art, which was really cool, but way too big to see and appreciate everything.
The gift shop was my favorite, but I refrained from buying whatever I wanted,
because I have to think about how I'm going to get all this stuff home. I
would have bought a really cute address book with different paintings, but
I wouldn't have been able to decide which artist, so I left it there. I may
go back if I keep thinking about it this much! ;) My mom and I also went on
a trolley tour of the city, and of Arlington Cemetery. It was fun and pretty
informational. We saw all the big monuments: Washington (although closed for
construction of a glass elevator, so we didn't go up to see the inside stuff
or the view), Lincoln, etc. We could only drive by the White House, and it
is VERY pretty in person. The capitol is also a beautiful building and the
theoretical center of the city. So the trapsing around DC was fun and it was
v. fun to be with my mom. Finally I got to move into the apartment and meet
my roommates. Diane and Amanda are from Georgia (but different schools) and
Saideh is from Kansas. I'm living in a room with Saideh, but I have to sleep
on the top bunk, which is an unusually rough task. I hate climbing up there
and there is no rail to keep me from falling out. I've slept for 2 nights
and it hasn't been too great. I like my roommates though. We share a kitchenette
and a huge living room, but the bedrooms are on the small side. there's plenty
of space though for storage, with a hall closet for our suitcases. Saideh
and I both flew out so we couldn't bring too much stuff. Diane came in on
the Greyhound (which she does not recommend) and Amanda drove in. This is
horrible to say, but I'm feeling a little upset that she didn't bring more
stuff that we could all use. We don't even have a trash can, we need a bath
mat, etc. These things are impractical to send, and I'm sure we can find some
place to buy them or do without. The apt. is very bright but not too clean.
It's not too bad though. It will do for 7 weeks. The program itself is very
messed up. I haven't gone to my internship yet. It and classes start tomorrow
and i'm so nervous. My mom and I had dinner tonight at Dupont Circle at a
place called the Front Page. I hope it doesn't come back up because of nerves!
(sorry for the grossness!) That's about all I can think of to write now, and
I need to go call my mom and make sure she got back to the hotel safely! I'll
talk to you all soon! ~Mari...
Hi again to everyone. This is "issue" two of the newsletter. I should be getting the Internet hooked up at work, and they said I can check email from there when there is time... Okay, I've started my classes and had 1 and 1/2 days at my internship. My boss is a really goofy weird guy and I like him a lot. So far I've just done some clippings from different newspapers (potential story ideas) and been reading the magazine (The American Enterprise by the way, www.taemag.com) to catch up. They just moved offices: from the 12th floor to the 10th so it's basically total chaos. Also, the in house editors have only been working for a month, so they're working things out too. There are two other interns working at the magazine, and 60 are working at the Institute that funds the magazine (one girl is in the IPCES program that Saideh and Amanda are in too). So it hasn't been too bad. Everything is pretty laid back, and I think it will be okay for me to wear my earrings (I have 7 earrings, if you didn't know that fact about me). They feed us all lunch and it's REALLY fancy schmancy and good.They have a master chef and you can get a hot or cold entree...mmmm. and it's FREE for interns.(only $4 i f not). If any of you are in DC and want a cheap good lunch, let me know and you can be my guest. :) Classes have been really hard so far. The econ class is going to be VERY demanding, the ethics class was so early this morning and they're both sooooooo long! (3 hour blocks twice a week!) And the books were SO freaking expensive. For two classes I paid about what I paid for 5 classes last semester at OSU!!! I'll have to work on a Mac at work, so hopefully I'l get that figured out soon! Stay tuned... Mari...
Hi again to everyone out there. This is this third mass email I've sent out. If you're missing 1 or 2 let me or my mom know and we can hook you up. (back issues you know). again, if you want to unsubscribe, just email me and i'll kick you off the list. it isn't a problem. so far things are still REALLY busy. work is okay. tomorrow i've got to fill in for the receptionist while she goes to lunch and i'm really worried that i'm going to screw up! aaah! my bosses are really cool, but also pretty busy trying to put this issue together. if you haven't looked at the website it's www.taemag.com. My bosses bio's aren't up because they're new too, but they're working on that mess too. classes are still gross to attend. the ethics class is totally not my style. the teacher just kind of ambles through things and there seems to be no order that i can pick out, the readings don't match with anything, etc. and he's supposed to be the best georgetown has to offer...WHATEVER. there's tons of stuff to do here socially. i've been hanging out at my neighbors' across the hall...they have a TV which is a major bonus. we also go out to eat some...there are a lot of great restaurants in G'town. Anyway, I've got to sign out for now. It's really tiring sitting at this computer and i've got to go do some studying, or watch tv at the neighbors'...whatever. talk to you all soon. ~mari... PS DADDY PUT MY CAR BACK AT GRAN'S AND DON'T DRIVE IT ANYMORE!!!
Two down, five to go. I'm actually enjoying myself much more than I expected to. As you probably know I'm not the most social person. And I'm getting a chance to really get to know some people, and I'm finding out that being around cool people isn't a bad thing at all, in fact it's really great. I'm being exposed to so many new ideas and cultures. It's just a good experience. I wonder what I'll be saying after 5 more weeks? I'll probably be sad to leave these people, and they're from all over the US, some all over the world. I don't get to hang out too much because we're all at work. But we have classes together and hang out and eat, watch movies, etc. So it's been really great peoplewise. I also like the people at work. My boss Ben is hysterical at times and I feel like I'm helping him out a little bit. I do some researchy stuff and have little luck. I'm hoping to strike Gold on Monday when I look for more stuff. I think his article was due last Wed. He's gone for the weekend! so there's no telling when it will actually get done. I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing. Classes themselves are time-consuming. I have an econ midterm on Thursday...so that's pretty scary. We work so much (I estimate 34 hours this week) and then have 9-ish hours in class, plus a lecture and it's just toooooooo much. We have so many books to read and no one is doing it. After being out in the "corporate world" (as we like to call it) all day, it's a drag to have to be a student too. But I'll figure something out and get it done. I have to start taking some pictures of things. I haven't done a lot of site-seeing, but Amanda (one of my roommates) loves to do stuff like that. I wonder if I could just send my camera with her and tell her to take some shots! So I guess everything is going okay here. Have a great weekend. ~Mari..
Greetings and salutations. I think this is the 5th message. I think you all understand that I'm having a REALLY good time. I almost feel like a different person, but at the same time, still me, which is comforting. This week went by really fast, and it was very stressful and hectic. If I'm not working, in class or at a site briefing (field trip type thing) I'm usually studying or getting a couple minutes of relaxing time or asleep in my bunk. This week we had two event/site briefing things plus I went to 2 lectures. On Wed. morning we all (as in all 3 TFAS institutes--250 kids) went to Capitol Hill at 7.00AM!!! My roommates all took the bus and metro, but it was crowded, hot and too early for that. I went with the neighbor boys and got a taxi. It took us 15 minutes to get there and we were right on time. We were all exhausted but we made it. I stress out way too much, and I got uptight about actually getting the cab. We're going to have to do the same thing next Friday when we all have to go to the State Department. Maybe it will be separated into programs. Who knows. Anyhow, we got to sit on the floor of the House of Representatives and 8 members spoke to us. Including Bernie Saunders of Vermont. He's a killer. He woke everyone up with his radical, loud speech and it was just entertaining. Otherwise it was mostly boring. I wish I were more interested in politics, but I just haven't gotten that excited about anything. On Wed night, after a half day work and a class, I went to an ICPES (another program in TFAS...Saideh and Amanda are in this one) lecture: the Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs spoke. It was pretty interesting, but again, I'm so out of the loop as far as political aspirations or even information go. Some people here are so smart and know everything about everything. and some still manage to be cool, likable people. Thursday at work, AEI had a special lecture series and Judge Robert Bork spoke. He's a weird guy, but SO smart! He's big on Antitrust law and it was semi-interesting to hear him speak. He's radical too...in the opposite way of Saunders. On Friday after work we went to different embassies. I went to the Greek embassy. It was a beautiful building, and the ambassador was nice and spoke about interesting things, but we were in very uncomfortable chairs, it was very hot...etc. David is this REALLY smart guy from next door... He was at the Greek embassy too, and he really loved it and thought it was so cool. So it was a good thing, I just didn't have the best time because I was also REALLY tired. (which I still am) Last night we (Diane my roommate, Melissa a really cool girl from class who lives downstairs who I LOVE, Brown (hair) Zach from next door (he is from San Diego and goes to Yale), Seth from around somewhere (goes to Tufts--Guster baby!), Leah from downstairs and some of her friends) went to a restaurant called timberlakes in Dupont Circle. We had food like they have in the cafe in I'town. cheese sticks, etc. Very yummy, but not really worth the busfair. (HAHAHAHA!) I think today I'll either do some shopping or go to a museum. I really need to head back and see what everyone else is doing. Or else I'll be going alone, which wouldn't be too bad. My boss gave me Thurs and Fri off work. (and I have July 4 off of everything) so I'm planning on sleeping in Thurs and hanging out at the neighbors with their TV. I'm so excited. I just have to figure out a way to get in their apt. without leaving their door unlocked. I have 5 days to contemplate that one. Hmmmm. They said it was fine, so we'll figure something out. I just haven't been lazy and watched TV in almost a month. So this will be great. Well I've got to go find out what's going on today. I'll talk to everyone soon. ~Mari...
G'Town/DC 6: Independence Day Special
Everyone wants to know how the July 4th celebration was: one word: WET!!!
It rained like nothing else I've ever seen. It was worse than Orange Peel,
Sarah! We were wet and we stayed out there and saw the best fireworks show
of our lives. It was awesome and patriotic and we all bonded like crazy.
It was so fun. I'm glad to be dry now, and I don't know if I could handle
it again, but we made it and it was great. I don't have much time to write
more about the update. I was going to call my mom today, but didn't get
a response about times at work and instead went shopping at Pentagon City...had
a blast just being by myself (during the day of course) and then had class
tonight...ugh. I have a site briefing tomorrow and then the afternoon free.
More details about the 4th this weekend when I find the time. We've got
Orioles baseball and a museum on Sat. but Sun. may be a studying/emailing
day. We'll see...somehow that never seems to work out. Talk to everyone
soon and sorry this isn't longer or more informative. ~Mari...
Hi again. I don't have much time today, as per norm. We have a huge exam tomorrow night and I haven't studied much for it. I don't think I announced the results of the last Econ test. To put it in perspective, the class average was 60. I made an 87 (not bad, but not necessarily good by my standards), but the professor was in the gift-giving business so everyone got 10 bonus points. So I've got a 97 sitting on my grading scale. So I just need to start studying more and getting my act together. We have another econ test on Thurs (Mon night is an ethics exam...grr) and we have an econ paper to write (5-7 pages) by the following Thurs. I haven't even gotten my topic approved because our professor obviously doesn't check his email, and it's a pain in the neck to talk to him after class along with 87 other kids (or however many it is). Last night was the Orioles game. It was pretty fun. They beat Philly, who is supposed to be a great team. It was pretty low key and enjoyable...a nice diversion from the studying I'm NOT doing. I really cannot believe myself here. It's bizarre that I'm not more obsessed about these grades. Grr. I want to be my old, freaked out self, but I find myself only worrying about it the same, and not taking any action to make better grades or easier tests happen. We'll see how much I can get done today. I'd rather do touristy stuff...see another museum, etc. But I'm dedicated to my studies, so hurrah! This week is a full one, with lots of stuff to do. I haven't even looked at my schedule much. My break was fun. I didn't ever hang out at the boys to watch TV. I went shopping most of the time instead. I got some really cool stuff...but I've got to start controlling spending. This city is turning me into an entirely different person. Weirder than I thought I could be. :) Anyway, I just wanted to send a quick update since I haven't been supergood about writing anyone individually. I miss my car and I miss my computer especially---I could stay in much better touch if I had my eMachine. Anyhow, I'll talk to you all soon. Have a great week. ~Mari...
Week 5 complete. Probably the hardest and longest so far. Let's just have
a quick rundown of the schedule.
Mon: work all day, ethics midterm at night. The test kicked my booty. I
really don't think I did well because it was theoretical plus memorization
and to be honest, i didn't spend enough time studying for it. i've become
a much poorer student here, in terms of the amount of time i'm willing to
spend to get good grades. there's always the option of not transferring
the credit home. I don't know if it will even affect my GPA if I do send
it back, but I'm sure it can't be that bad. Just hope I did better than
I think.
Tues: Work all day, econ class for 3 hours. My friend Leah's birthday was
the 11th, and one of her friend's bday was the 10th so they had the party
on Tues night. I hung out there for a little while after class, and ended
up going to bed semi-late. (class ends at 9:15, so any longer is late).
Wed: at the press club at 7.30 for breakfast, then a lecture and 3 hours
of ethics class. Then to work for 4 hours and back to the press club for
a formal dinner (lobster, steak and delicious cake and coffee). I'm turning
into a food snob with the AEI lunches and now 3 course fancy meals. It was
great. My liberal friends were joking about becoming republicans if this
is how they get fed! It was a really long day and we watched a movie called
Dogma when we got home around 10! Ben Affleck (who's in dogma) was in DC
on Wed and he testified in front of Congress. Some of the people who are
interning on the Hill said he was really funny. I'm bummed that I didn't
know he was here until after the fact. There's a celebrity I'd like to see
in person!!! So much for Hillary Clinton, who some of my friends saw at
the press club, but I wasn't paying attention and she walked past me without
being noticed. Think that means something?
Thurs: 7.30 lecture/breakfast thing on campus. only 20 of 80 people show
up because it's so poorly advertised. The people who show up are given books
later, but I don't know how I'll get mine home. I'm going to have no room
in my suitcases! Then after that, work all day and come back for econ class
at night. We were supposed to have a test, but our prof let us take it Tuesday,
which means I should be studying for that right now. our paper is due in
that class on Thursday, but at least I've got my topic picked out.
Fri: work all day, then to press club after for free taco night, which was
very yummy. Then there was a party thing in the square where we live and
we watched Indiana Jones and stayed up late.
Today: career day fron 10-2, bbq in alumni square from 2-now, and tonight
I'm going to get my hair cut at this place called Toka. It's pretty exciting.
Hope they take Visa. (haha) Well I'm going to the holocaust museum tomorrow,
so that should be rough in itself. I wanted to take some mall pictures,
but I'll probably end up coming back to g'town and studying/writing my paper.
At least that's my intention. I always seem to have higher expectations
of myself than I can actually get done! Anyway, just thought Ii'd check
in and let you know what's up. I'll be home in 2 weeks. (that's a yeay and
a boo at once.) ~Mari...
Hi everyone. It's a little soon to send another update, but I didn't have class or an event tonight, and there's only a test tomorrow that I should be studying for and a paper due on Thurs, but I thought what the heck, and jumped over to the library to write you all. So Sat. was career day, pretty boring event. then there was music and food where I live, the Fund had a BBQ, can't beat free food. I've never had this mindset before! Weird. Sat night I went to a salon called Toka and got my hair washed, cut and blowdried. My hair was long and basically one length...pretty well to my shoulderblades in the back. Now it is a little longer than my shoulders in the back and the shortest layer in the front is at my chin. It looked so pretty after they blowed it straight. I was looking at myself, so happy. It's worse today now that I did the drying, but there's also humidity so that's a factor. So I'm really pleased with that and I hope that when I get home I can find a place that can do as good of a job, because this was WONDERFUL!!! Some things in life are worth it, and I've found another...my hair! Ha! Sun. was a busy day too. I went to the holocaust museum and it was a fairly emotional experience. On top of being tired then, I was also an even bigger emotional wreck, and I was pretty weird around my friends last night. but I think they understand and it wasn't anything too horrible, just general grumpiness (but maybe it's just my personality!). I saw a couple other touristy things and realized several more that I need to see before I leave. I have things scheduled for next Saturday, but I'm debating about whether to skip it and just go site-seeing with my friends for the last time. AH! I'm turning into a terrible person. Crimeny. Today AEI took us on a tour of the Pentagon. We got a free lunch (but then we always do at AEI) and heard a lecture about National Defense, missile defense, etc. And I feel more educated about the subject now than I was this morning. So that's a good feeling. I am definitely learning and broadening my horizons while I'm here. ~Mari...
