City Slickin

June 1

First flight, XNA to ORD – goodbye to Nick, I cried, shocking. Told him that I wanted to move in together if I didn’t get a job in DC. Not gonna happen he said. Sad

ORD – every flight to Reagan is overbooked. Flight was at 10:45, didn’t get out until 6 p.m. Made some friends, Tike, Hailey, the bitter attorney – Tike and I became fast friends. He works for the Pentagon and is in the Air Force. Hopefully he can help Nick get to where he is going. Tike and I hit it off and were jinxing each other. It was that sort of connection. Great man, one I can definitely see myself hanging out with again. Hope to see him around. Crazy attorney, hated his life, job, family and friends. I hope to never be that miserable.

ORD to DCA – Adam – largest ripped black man I’ve ever met. Personal trainer, soft spoken. Chef for The White House for the last 25 years. Invited me to come to The White House for a personal tour and to spend some time in the kitchen!

Day one in DC. Overwhelming, nerve wracking, intense yet relaxed. I start my job tomorrow and am excited to see what it is like. I have been talking about coming to DC since I was in the sixth grade. I knew then what I know now - that I love America, I love the possibility for change that government offers, I love the madness that is politics. Finding a way to funnel that interest into a degree in college led to my B.A. in International Relations and European Studies. I am thirsty for a career and am here to find one. I have read article after article about how impossible it is to find a job and how networking is the only way. It’s all a game of luck they say. I can’t afford for luck to be my confidant here. A real woman makes her own luck, and that is what I am here to do. Bring it on DC, bring it on. A tip from a fellow stranded traveler yesterday in Chicago ended in my subscribing to bradtraverse.com, a job seekers mecca. I sent a few emails out to the EPA and WWF this morning and applied for a job as a staff assistant for a congresswoman. If I apply for 3 jobs per day every single day this month, that will equal 90 jobs in one month. Times 3 for each month I am here, 270 jobs in one month. I understand that I am competing with 1000s for these jobs, but 270 in 3 months? That is dedication. I am going to stick to it and this city slicker is going to find a job! If not, the alternative is far from terrible. Heading back to a place I love to live with my best good friends and the most amazing boyfriend a girl could ask for is not too shabby of an option. I don’t see going home as a failure at all, but I see not trying with everything I’ve got to get a job while I’m here as one. Now on to this Ambassadorial Scholarship application. I’m working on it now, but I’m torn as to whether or not to submit it. What if I actually got it? That would put me in another country for 1-2 years, which would be wonderful, but do I know what I want to do enough to leave to pursue it? I have no idea what I would get my master’s in hence, what schools should I apply to abroad? Either way, I’m in the running so I’m getting with it.

This morning, I woke up later than I would have liked due to staying up until 2 (out of nervousness of the big ole city). I got dressed and followed Ashton to the metro she takes to get to work in the mornings. I wanted to force myself to get out so that I could find my own way back home and hopefully get my bearings. Things aren’t too terribly confusing here, and the metro makes everything very accessible. If only the rest of the country would embrace the amazingness of public transportation. It’s wonderful. It takes 2 minutes to get somewhere it should take 20 minutes to get to. No cars, less carbon emissions, hit to global warming…hello? Okay, I’m done. I ended up on Pennsylvania Avenue this morning to find my new place of business. 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue is a huge office building with a Starbucks and a deli underneath it. It’s very close to The White House and you can see the Washington Monument from the top. I cannot believe that I am working there for the summer. I called April, the current intern, and she met me downstairs. We walked to Subway and had lunch and chatted about the internship, getting a job, and DC. She is great, and one of those people who I instantly connected with, so I hope that she stays around here. If a girl like that who graduated from Northwestern is having such a hard time getting a job, I don’t have a shot in hell. Okay, stay positive. I’m good enough and I’m smart enough. Get a grip. Okay. I’m good.

After I left April, I wandered around seeing if I could smile at someone and get a smile back. DC people, what is your issue? Smile back! It makes me self conscious when you look at the ground. I love the south for that reason. Even if a man has zero teeth, he’ll still show you his gums as you walk by. Eh, it’s a give and take I imagine. Just got a knock at the door. The paint outside our apartment has fresh paint. Don’t touch the walls. Check. This apartment is wonderful. It’s on the third floor of a building with 3 apartments total. Each has two bedrooms. You walk in the front door and there is a large living room and kitchen with a door out to a small balcony overlooking P street. The bathroom has one of those fancy schmany sinks that is above the sink and is a circle. The shower is the same size and the ones in our dorm rooms in Italy, Sevan, Hailey, Julie – you can appreciate this. Water pressure here is nonexistent, but hey, I’m not complaining one bit. Ashton and I have our own little rooms complete with a bed and a few dressers. The next two months here will be incredible. I am so fortunate to be here, and I’m happy to be living with a best friend from years past. I’m really really happy here.

After Ashton got off work tonight, we went exploring. We headed to Georgetown in search of the restaurant that my friend Mike works at – Farmers and Fishers, or something like that. You might say that we passed it. We ended up in Rosslyn, which is in Virginia, I think. Two points Casey and Ashton. The shopping in Georgetown is amazing. Betsey Johnson, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, random and amazing boutiques. Ah, it’s like heaven. There are literally like 15 blocks of nothing but restaurants and clothing stores. And ice cream places. There is an ice cream place every 15 feet. It’s great for my tongue, bad for my tummy.

We finally reached our restaurant at 9 am. Having set out at 6, we were hungry. The restaurant was delish and I got to spend some time with Mike. It’s nice having friends around who you never get to see. I like it. After the restaurant, we walked down to the metro and then DuPont. Ashton didn’t make it past the Krispy Kreme store. I stayed outside because I know that an 11 p.m. run to that place is a disaster. The girl comes out with a damn box. They offered her a big discount because they were closing. So here she is, strolling down P street with a huge thing of donuts. Walk.of.shame. Tomorrow is day one of the internship. I feel good now that I know how to get there, but I’m nervous too. I have no idea what to wear or what to expect. Please let this turn out to be great. Otherwise, I’ll be spinning my wheels and I’m not havin that.

Day 1 and 2 at work have come and gone, and am relieved. I am so exhausted tonight, and wondering if I can find the will power to go out tonight. But let’s be real honest, I’m going out. First day at work – walked in at 10 a.m. as instructed, got shown to my computer, and got to work. There were a few introductions, but it was pretty straightforward. I wrote a press release announcing a House Natural Resources Committee oversight hearing on the oil spill. Having never written a press release, I got my feathers ruffled a little bit. Literally the guy says to me

“We are bringin in a man named Ryan to testify at the oversight hearing.”

“Okay, well what is he last name?”

“Uh, I’m not sure, you’ll have to do some research.”

“Alright, can you give me the points of what you want me to say in this press release.”

“I just did, oversight hearing with HNRC, we’re bringing in Ryan.”

“Yes sir, I’ll have that to you by the end of the day.”

Welp, I got it done by the grace of God and a little digging. Lord only knows how. I did some other random stuff yesterday, but mostly researched and tried to familiarize myself with this project that I am taking on about the Louisiana coastal area. Within about five minutes of my day, I realized there was something strange going on. Every single person (there are 7 employees in the office, 5 men, 2 women) was cussing up a firestorm. I’m talking fuck and jackass, the whole 9 yards. There are 11 bottles of liquor beside my desk. There is whiskey and cigars in the office freezer and beer in the conference room. One of the staff members with DU celebrated his birthday the other day. The celebration involved beer and ice cream cake in the conference room. It’s a strange experience to watch my bosses and fellow interns drink while at work, especially after working for Walmart Corporate. I was wondering if it was all a trick, but then I realized that it’s probably not. “God, beer, family.” That’s what Dan said today in reference to his list of priorities. “If it’s not on that list, I don’t care. The order fluctuates.” I imagine that’s pretty indicative to DU across the board. Welcome to the good ole boys club. Also, I have never seen so many ducks in one place in my life. Ducks and a half winking deer head that is referred to as the gay deer. I actually think he’s the prettiest deer I’ve ever seen. Is that odd? April the intern’s last day is today, and I am so sad to see her go. She was my friend instantly and now she is leaving. I hope that the summer is not bleak without her. There are two other interns working with me now. Michael Gault. What can I say about Michael? Michael is a nice boy, quick witted and full of the southern charm that makes work feel like home. He tests my patience at times, but I hope that we can get along. I think him and I are the owners of two very similar personalities minus the conservative parts. He is from South Carolina and he fits in with the staff like he is one of them. Maybe a should go home and shoot some guns, kill a turkey, then head back. Megan is from Michigan and still in college. Sweet kid with an apparently great dad. He sent her this huge arrangement of orchids and duck decoys with pussy willows today. Bless her heart I think she was embarrassed. What a funny dad. Beer drinking happened again today at work. 5 pm came and the 6 packs came out. Bud heavy is the “official beer” of DU I was informed, but no one drank it. Funny. The Budlight went down fast as did the Sunchips April requested. After work I walked home for the first time instead of taking the metro. En route, I saw some protestors so I thought hey, I oughta walk over there and see what all the ruckus is about. Gaza was hating all over Israel It looked like. Those protestors blocked my very first view of The White House. It was a good moment standing there when I realized that I am finally doing what I said I would do in the 6^th grade. I may not have a real job, but I am living and working here, so I think that counts for something. The White House lawn is beautiful and the surrounding area has the best trees around. I’m laying in my bed exhausted, wishing I could sleep through the entire night. Ashton wants to go out and I feel like I should. I want to do some serious sightseeing tomorrow, I feel like it’s necessary.

June 8, 2010

Around 9:30 last night, Ashton pleaded with me to go to Target near Columbia Heights with her to get ingredients for her brownie cake. Target closes here at 10 p.m. on weeknights. “Well, I guess we’d better hurry,” she says. Away we went. She sprinted off of the metro, and I just stayed in the entrance and waited for her to get back. I probably shouldn’t stand around in the metro late at night by myself, but I made sure to stay in eyesight of the metro attendant people, so never fear. I’ve got a great brain up here, and I use it most times. After we got home, I nearly collapsed out of exhaustion. DC is wearing me down. The mixing of the brownies and clanging pans kept me up for a while, but eventually, I nodded off to sleep. I woke up bright and early this morning to my phone buzzing around telling me that it’s time to wake up. Work starts at 9, so my wake up call doesn’t come until 7 am. I can handle 7 am. Any earlier, probably not. I’m working on it. If I am not a night person and I am not a morning person, does that make me not a person? I really do need to just wake up! That’s neither here nor there. Note to anyone reading. If you go to Whole Foods in DC, you will spend an extraordinary amount of money on nothing and wonder where it all went. I did this yesterday.

On my walk to work this morning, I only got turned around one time. I consider this success. My morning walk is 1.56 miles (according to googlemaps) so twice a day is a nice little trek. If I would stop eating my feelings of loneliness, these treks might pay off. However, the probability of me not consuming an astonishing amount of food is slim to none. Give and take I say. My internship so far has been nothing but hustle and bustle. Today went by in a flurry of press releases, briefings, media advisories, and literally hundreds of phone calls. I like to stay busy, but today I was worthless. I forgot where I saved things twice in a row. Trouble at home with my step dad’s health spurred my forgetfulness. I just need to get it together and focus. I am determined to become the frontrunner of this intern group and make a name for myself…and thus, get a job. I cannot not get a job at this point. Student debt is an unforgiving entity. Those pills are just a pilin up. Whitney Tawney. I love this girl. She basically chose me to be an intern for Ducks. She’s 24 and will probably be one of my good friends in DC…I like her. I have a great people meter, and she’s reading green for sure. It’s nice to have her around during the day. I am enjoying the people I work with, I really am. Lord knows there are some characters, but mostly positives. I think I will keep the bleeding heart democrat stuff under wraps for a while, at least until everyone gets to know me.

I need to start getting out more in DC. How do you make friends here? Work is all consuming for most I’m sure, and those few off hours dedicated to socializing are probably with groups of friends. I need to break into some of those groups. I am in need of some girlfriends stat. I miss home today. I miss my Nick and my mom and my friends. I miss being hugged. I remember that most about living in Taiwan. I missed physical affection from all of my loved ones at home. For some reason, I am missing that same thing right this second. Tomorrow is day 5 at work. Hopefully I will step it up and make some waves.