Nia Bee-ah Bo-bee-ah, banana fanna fo-fiya, fi-fi-mo-mia, Nia!
I miss you and I'm so very sorry about my lack of posts. This past week has been insane. I mean, INSANE. I've just been so busy having fun and dealing with the trials and tribulations of adulthood that I just haven't had the time to post. I won't let it happen again. Promise.
So here's the scoop. Let's take it day by day.
Monday: Monday was pretty busy for me. I made lots of copies of things. Remade some copies that I swear I made before. Packed my boss's office because she's leaving the organization for Ohio :( She will be missed. Ran errands, the usual. Came home, went straight to class. Had sushi from the sushi bar next to my apartment and I think I had ice cream at Thomas Sweet after but don't hold me to it. The days start to blur together because they are so jam packed.
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| This is the sushi... freshly made... |
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| This is the ice cream/froyo... so it did happen! |
Tuesday: For some odd reason I was feeling extremely emotional on Tuesday. More than the usual crying at the drop of a hat. I think I was worried because I had a conversation with one of my roommates about her internship duties and it sounded like she was doing more important things than making copies all day. I'm grateful to have something to do and be able to live here and work but I will admit that I was expecting a little bit more. Something that might utilize the Associates Degree from Oxford that I have or the Bachelor's Degree from Emory that I'm about to receive. Anyway, I was asked to do something tedious on Tuesday and ended up going into my office, closing the door, and crying. Never would I have thought that doing something too easy would bother me but it did. I couldn't stand the idea of making copies for the rest of the summer. It may seem like I'm overreacting but that mindless work can eat you alive. Plus, at my internship last summer I touched the copier once.
I pushed through the tears thanks to some good old gospel music. Luckily after lunch I spoke to another supervisor about the lovely "internship contract" that the program has us draft. The contract outlines the employee's and employer's expectations and facilitates a conversation between the two entities to ensure that those ideals are clear. My primary supervisor had been on vacay for a while so that afternoon, after my private meltdown, we drafted up some ideas and I finally felt like I would have more direction for the summer. It felt good!
Later that night, in lieu of class we had a speaker from the Heritage Foundation which is an "American conservative think tank"... I kid you not. You know I'm very liberal but I have several conservative friends so I can generally stomach criticisms about democratic policy and Obama-bashing. However, this guy was just too much. Long story made short: his data was skewed and probably incorrect, he gave vague responses to critiques, and he knew very little about the basic principles of economics. For example, he suggested we cut government spending and we give large corporations a tax break, but I wonder how we will reduce the deficit. Some people called him out on it and he just hemmed and hawed. All in all, I was sorely disappointed that our program chose to have him come and speak but most of my cohorts agreed with him. Oh yes, by the way, I'm surrounded by conservatives-- again. Statesboro all over again. I'm trying to take the high road and say that the experience is opening up my eyes to different views. And it is. At least these conservatives aren't only conservative because of their religious zeal, racism against Obama, or tea-party idealism.
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| This guy.... |
Wednesday: On Wednesday I found myself making more copies and thinking to myself, "didn't I just sign a contract explicitly stating my demands for the summer?" Then I remembered that I'm an intern, I'm not getting paid, sucked up my tears, called it professional development and moved on. God must have loved my new, positive outlook on life because not more than an hour later did I get my first big task! I was assigned to create a project plan for developing an alumni network for our program. It was pretty fabulous having something engaging to do rather than something mind-numbing. I also fetched cupcakes for a going away party for the boss that's leaving. Did you know they have cupcake trucks in DC, that just drive around and stop in random places so you can buy delicious, expensive, gourmet sweets? It's the best idea ever and my office orders them frequently. There are other food trucks too-- kebabs, mac n' cheese, Korean food, sandwiches, but I think we both know cupcakes reign supreme.
After leaving work I went to Mellow Mushroom in a DC neighborhood called Adams Morgan for an Emory Young Alumni event. I walked 30 minutes which was stupid. On a nice day it would have been lovely but since it was almost 100 degrees and so humid that I almost swam there it was the worst choice I made all week. My dress was completely soaked through by the time I arrived. Fortunately I was able to duck into a Smoothie King next door for a Pina Colada smoothie (delicious) and to cool off and recoup before the event began. I had to laugh because the guy handed me tall stack of paper towels when he handed me my drink. I was very thankful and happily used them to sop up the excess sweat. By the time I was back to normal I was starving.
Thankfully, there was free pizza and a cash bar on the rooftop for alumni guests only. It was such a pleasant experience and a good use of a free Wednesday evening. I didn't know most of the alumni because I've yet to graduate but I took advantage of a networking opportunity and left with two business cards and belly full of Kosmic Karma! I also saw a classmate from Oxford who graduated this May and a classmate from Emory who is graduating with me next May. I also met my Emory classmate's friends at another restaurant nearby afterwards. I didn't plan on staying long but we all clicked so much! We exchanged contact info so hopefully that won't be my last time seeing them. I was having such a good time talking and eating that I didn't take out my camera once-- for the alumni event or the new friends. I can't believe it. It might as well have not even happened. I only have my memories to keep me warm at night :P
Thursday: I knew Thursday was going to be ROUGH because I got in so late from the Mellow Mushroom event. Of course, I had to do my nightly manicure, shower, and night routine. I didn't climb into bed until almost 2AM and had to be up at 6AM for mentor breakfast. Thursday morning was ugly. I couldn't even get my contact lenses in so I wore my glasses and a cool dress for the 100 degree weather. I took the metro for the first time during rush hour which wasn't bad and enjoyed the breakfast thoroughly. Once again, no pictures even though I had my camera. *Sigh* Fortunately, I am contractually obligated, and interested on my own volition, to see my mentor at least two more times this summer. She invited me to her office and we might see a monument together. She works for National Geographic which is awesome because I had no idea it's one big non-profit organization. It should be the beginning of an interesting relationship.
Following the breakfast I trucked it to the DC Public Schools Board Office to observe a principal training session for my organization. It was great because I got to hear some of the success stories for the organization! It made the endless copying I did seem less insignificant. It also included a free lunch which is always great!
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| Changing the world, one child at a time, DC's future principals. |
After that I returned to the office for a little before heading home. I also ate two cupcakes. I had a cookies and cream at work and then took a red velvet to go but it didn't even make it in my apartment. I'm telling you Nia, cupcake trucks... choose Howard. DC is great. I'm eating a lot here but I move around so much that my clothes are actually more loose. You can't go wrong. YAY for public transportation and walking!
Friday: The last day of the week isn't supposed to be lame but it almost shaped up to be so for me. Work was quick-- I came in at 11AM and left at 3PM. What I was looking forward to were my plans for after work. I scheduled dinner with an associate/colleague/someone-who-doesn't-quite-deserve-the-title-of-friend to get dinner way earlier in the week. We settled on Friday evening but we couldn't decide on a place. Mostly because I didn't like the food from the place that was originally suggested by said associate. I suppose said associate figured that the rejection meant I didn't want to go out at all because said associate never suggested anything else. This couldn't be farther from the truth. I love trying new restaurants and I was looking forward to another networking opportunity. My motto for the summer and the rest of my professional life is "Get Sh!t Done" so I took the initiative to "get sh!t done" and to reach out again and suggest a different place. Success. We said we would "play" the meeting time "by ear" and confirm later in the day.
After work I popped into H&M with the other intern to buy a pencil skirt for work and after we were done I texted said associate and suggested a time. No response. I allowed an hour to pass. No response. Resent message. No response. An hour before suggested time, two hours before the first text message, I told said associate that I needed to know if I ought to head over or go out with my other friends who had also proposed something. No response.
I'm glad I was with my co-worker, I'm glad she planned on meeting some college friends at the same time, and I'm glad she invited me out earlier that morning because, Nia, I think I got stood up. Mid-way my dinner with the girls said associate texted me an excuse and said "reschedule?" I did not respond and still have not responded, just like said associate. I play no games.
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| Crab cake sandwich. It was so good. |
Saturday: I went to the White House! It was both lame and cool at the same time. It sucked because you can't bring in a camera and you can't even take pictures with your cell phone inside. The only proof I have of my being there is below. The amazing part is that it's the White House and Barack Obama was probably somewhere roaming those halls.
After the White House visit there was a BBQ for the interns and alumni of my program to raise money for a deserving education/literacy non-profit in the DC area that I get to decide (with 6 other people). The BBQ was fun but it was hot and I think the veggie burger I ate gave me tummy troubles. Still, I'm glad I went. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
What a week, huh? Told you so. Lots of ups and downs but I'm trying to stay in the moment and focus on the right now instead of the intangible future and the long-gone past. Right now, things are grand-- as they always should be.
Love you, pookie! What is up? What is up?
imani
p.s. I think it would be fun to go into pandora, spotify, itunes, etc. and hit shuffle and then use the title of whatever song comes on as the title for our upcoming blog posts. Got some old-school Kanye for you. Y'all don't know nothing about that.
