Sorry it has been so long since my last blog, but the past two weeks have been hectic and boring at the same time, if that is possible. Now that we have had sufficient time to get settled into our internship I am finally starting to do work, rather than feel like I am wasting a lot of time! Once you get into the swing of a 9-5 ish job (I do work for the federal government so a full work day or week seems to be a rarity) it is not as tedious as one might imagine. There are always meetings to go to, brown bag lunches to attend, and other activities throughout the week that break up the work day. Our boss sent us to a brown bag lunch (where you bring your lunch and light refreshments are served) in Alexandria on Tuesday at the Fish and Wildlife Services. A lot of time was spent discussing the recent oil spill and I was able to learn a lot about what is being done to help those affected, such as providing translators for Vietnamese fishers, and creating handicapped accessible help centers for those with disabilities. One of the main people leading the meeting, Kim Lambert, was a strong leader who not only talked the talk but walked the walk. It was great to see a strong woman in a leadership position, as most of the people I work with are guys.

           

I was also able to get out of the office for a few hours this week to have lunch with one of my friends from Israel. We had lunch at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. I didn’t realize they had a cute courtyard with tables and concerts every day during lunch. It is located right at the Federal Triangle Metro. I would definitely recommend bringing your lunch and sitting outside there one day. It is a very laid back and relaxing atmosphere, which is a great change from most of DC.

           

So, the reason that my week has been so hectic is that there is some conflict going on in my apartment. While I won’t discuss it to risk furthering any problems, I would like to say that if you have any problems at all during your TWC stay remember that your RA is a great resource. My RA has been extremely understanding and is a great person to go talk to about anything. Even if you don’t have roommate issues, I would suggest being friendly with your RA because they really are there to look out for your interests and make sure you have an enjoyable experience. Also, take the roommate agreements seriously. Make sure that you and your roommate are on the same page with any possible scenario that you think could arise. Even if you’re not exactly on the same page, make sure that you will be able to reach a mutual understanding in the event of a disagreement. A fighting apartment is not a happy one!