أن الله جميل يحب الجمال

Well the month of June has come and past so let's recap what happened. I moved into my new apartment in the U St. area and got kicked out two weeks later. I had a friend live with me for about half the time I resided in my apartment while she was looking for one of her own...little did I know I'd be looking soon enough too.

I started taking Arabic...which became more of a challenge than I anticipated. I went to a VAWA rally on the Hill, hung out in Maryland, hung out in Virginia, ate fresh fruit at the farmer's market. I biked to work almost every day, even during the heat wave. I saw the Avengers and craved schwarma after. I ate hotdogs and celebrated birthdays. I saw 90% of Magic Mike until the power went out in the theater and we had to leave.

I realized I was lucky to have power this past weekend as a lot of people in Maryland and northern DC lost their power, trees fell, and the heat persisted.

I got a little tan, a little sunburned.

I swam in a pool and dreamed of the beach and the reservoir in Waltham, MA. I dreamed of hiking through the New Hampshire woods and kayaking in the lakes...and slowly realized I'm going back to a landlocked city in a month with no clean body of water to swim in.

June has been an extremely busy month hosting friends, studying Arabic, and adjusting to a new job have not been easy. At times I wish I was already home in St. Louis or had gone back to Champaign, but now the reality has hit that I just have one more month left in DC and I'm going to try and enjoy every minute.

Goodbye Georgetown Cupcakes Hello K St

Well I'm moving up in the world, or maybe just a little bit further east down K St. to a new internship with B'nai B'rith International. Today was my second day! And I got to see what it means to lobby Capitol Hill hands on, pretty sweet. It's a bit different than my old job and it's only the second day so maybe the dynamics will change but I'm definitely missing certain things about the ILI.

Both locations have positives and negatives, Georgetown, while by far one of the most adorable places in DC filled with high end shops, great restaurants and cupcake stores (which I indeed got to know very well) it is so far! 45 minutes to get to work each day! Today was great, it took me 25 minutes door to door. My only worry is I'll lose those great legs the trek from Foggy Bottom to Georgetown allowed me these last four months, thankfully I'm moving in with my friend Ashley in a few weeks to a place where I was promised that my ass will be sculpted by a giant hill. And I've climbed this hill a handful of times so I believe it!

The only other thing that I miss is my feeling of community. I was legitimately friends with my co-workers at the ILI, there were a ton of office chit chat sessions. And now, I am isolated from my boss in a cubicle surrounded by empty cubicles, and the only intern. They call me or e-mail me to give me tasks...and while I felt trapped at the ILI with no windows in a basement, I realize I had easy access out of the building being on the ground level...now its a huge trek to even make it to fresh air!!! O the horror, I am definitely looking forward to campus sunshine in the Fall.

Apart from that, my friend Rebecca came to visit before her summer job in Korea (yup DoD here she comes!) we explored some spring festivals, got a little lost, and very sunburnt (whoops that was just me). Out of all my friends I was the one to turn up like a very ripe tomato at the end of the day...that's what I get for my fair skin...well now I got A LOT of color and a beautiful tanline of my purse strap to remember the wonderful day by. So while my Saturday night consisted of delicious black bean quinoa burgers, a bottle of wine, and a slap on the back from a drunken friend (why do people love hurting sunburnt people???) the spray on Aloe purchased the next day made life slightly better.

So while nothing too exciting or crazy is happening in my life, my  friends are graduating and moving to foreign countries, traveling, and doing cool things without me, while my life is pretty stagnant...no worries I have big plans for next year including a trip to Malaysia, Oxford (if I can swing it), and a FLAS to study Arabic in Alexandria (Egypt not VA). These are my plans, everyone knows plans rarely come to fruition (or at least mine do) but I really hope I stick by them before I "settle down" and start a job and get boring :P that is unless I have a sweet job that lets me travel (which is the ultimate goal!!!)

Until then I have the summer and all of next year to enjoy the life of a student!!

This week's Thursday

Despite the fact that I only slept 4 hours last night due to a coughing fit, today was a pretty good day. I love that I can wake up and go to Forever 21, return my shirt and stroll to the National Mall, passing by the Department of Justice (a gorgeous building) thinking what if they call me back tomorrow and hire me for that unpaid internship I applied to? As I continued my walk I found myself surrounded by plants and trees and butterflies. Finally, the butterfly garden is in bloom and I blissfully listened to my i-pod continuing my stroll until I came to the Natural History Museum where I reaffirmed my love for animals.

It's been a rough week. I got a soar throat last Monday, which I assume I caught from my co-worker. While hers lasted less than a week I am suffering 11 days later with the remnants of a cough and a raspy voice. Go crappy immune systems! In addition, my computer decided not to turn on last Saturday and cross your fingers it should be returning to my abode today, I've been computerless for the last week and half. This was all very stressful when I finished my internship on Friday and was desperately trying to find something to do for the summer so I could stay here. As I continuously reassured my mother that I would find something secretly (well not so secretly) I was freaking out that dream would never become a reality...until yesterday!! I have an internship for the summer thanks to some spiffy connections, and yes a very good resume, I will be interning for the next 10 weeks at B'nai B'rith and starting in June I will be living in U St. with one of my closest DC friends!

All of these events make me hopeful that next week will be better, I'll be cough free and starting a paid (yup what now Department of Justice) internship. I'll also supposedly have my computer if everything goes as planned. All and all it will be fantastic. I've experienced a lot of ups and downs these past four months, which makes me realize that the next 10 weeks may bring some of the most unexpected events. From bike rides, to birthday cakes, to best friends, happy hours, kickball and much more.

Since I haven't updated you for awhile in the ways of my life I'll fill you in a bit. I went out to H St. for the first time in March (and the last time but I must go back). H St. is amazing!!! I went to see a show at the Rock N' Roll Hotel and afterwards went up to the dance part, best music ever!! Everything 90s, 80s, and 2000s that you would love mashed up together. The lights, the music, the people makes H St. my favorite place I've been out in DC so far. On my list of things to do Shamrock and Star the local Jewish/Irish bar.

I finally went to Tryst and observed as many hipsters as I ever have, but this time they were adult size...weird. Adult hipsters were something I never thought about until I stepped foot into this cute Adam's Morgan coffee shop. I also experienced Amsterdam Falafel...while really good, slightly overrated (mind you I'm not a huge falafel fan).

I've toured several embassies but somehow missed out on the Jamaican rum punch and the Belgian waffles. Although I did learn that Estonia is filled with blondes who wear shoes with beautiful embroidery and hideous outfits. I've had friends over for dinner, went to roof top parties, helped my friend move apartments, and sunbathed on the Mall. I am excited for what the smoldering heat of June and July brings and the numerous roof top pools I plan to crash.

Return to the homeland

I’m back, well not quite. Back home in St. Louis that is, I’ll be in Illinois in just a few days now. But I’ve returned to my hometown in St. Louis, MO and it has been slightly more eventful than expected. In fact just this afternoon I went on a date. Okay, maybe it was to PetSmart…with my dog, but there were kisses involved. Although, I was a little uncomfortable when he went around kissing literally everyone else in the store, but you take what you can get.

Although home is great, I can’t help but feel that DC is calling me back.  Just yesterday on my way to my three hour haircut (yea…ask me later) I drove right behind a car with a DC license plate. What were they doing in St. Louis? I’m not sure but I have my suspicions they were beckoning me back to Washington the land of “taxation with no representation” or perhaps they were calling me away from the three hour haircut that awaited me.  Either way I took a fuzzy picture on my phone-camera out of sheer excitement that someone drove all the way from DC and was there right in front of me.

Other happenings include visits with my St. Louis friends and family including two seders where I had to read the four questions at both. For those of you who don’t know on Passover the youngest child at the table reads the infamous “Four Questions” asking essentially why this night is different from all others. Well for the past 19 or so years I have not been the youngest child, but someone cough* Ben decided not to show up to our seder this year and the duty was left to me. Thankfully years of Jewish day school and a fantastically sharp memory allowed me to excel at the task. But actually it went fine despite my nerves about singing in public.

Friends, kisses, and lots of home-cooked food. O how have I forgot?! I don’t know if any of you have heard but umm the “Hunger Games” are really good company. I’m currently on Chapter 21 and must get back. Reading it actually makes me feel grateful for the meager stipend I have to live off of in DC and although I was so into the vegetarian thing for awhile, the whole hunting gathering lifestyle just sounds so glamorous right now. I know glamorous!!! Katniss just has that effect I guess. Ciao and happy holidays!

Cupcake Heaven and Gay Clubs

This has been the most amazing yet crazy couple of weeks of DC yet. Last week was the first week of Spring which means, beautiful weather, outdoor happy hours, and best of all Cherry Blossoms...and the cupcakes that go with them! Yes indeed those beautiful trees native to DC are currently in full bloom and I have gone to bask in their glory numerous times and plan on going back frequently until they are no more.

Since I discovered the Mall about a month into living in my apartment, which is approximately a 10 minute metro ride away, I have been there at least once each week. I've been having a ton of awesome visitors stay at my residence and it's about the only thing in DC I know pretty well so I love pretending like I'm a DC expert and impressing them with my DC knowledge.

I took my visitors to, guess what?! the Mall, and we explored the museum scene, went paddle boating in the Tidal Basin, and took phallic pictures with the Washington Penis...oops I mean Monument. Not only that, we just about tasted every cupcake in Georgetown, ate authentic French cuisine and allowed me to come to the realization I don't like listening to poetry that much...so much for Busboys and Poets, thankfully their food is amazing

Some fellow other U of I friends were Spring Breaking it up in DC and decided to include me in the fun. We hit up the Banana Cafe and Piano Bar (although he was no piano man) and next checked out a really sketchy gay bar with some questionable taste in TV shows/movies. Next I practiced my Hebrew with some gay? Israelis at a bar in Dupont. I topped the night off by getting super lost and walking in circles until I found the metro and just in time! I made the last train at midnight and arrived safely in my bed by 12:30pm, what a night!

Somehow cupcake heaven and gay clubs just seems to role of the tongue or at least in DC anyways. DC is home to the largest percentage of same-sex couples in the country and probably the highest per-capita number of cupcake shops (although that is just a guesstimate). Therefore, no one has had the true DC experience without experiencing a good gay bar or two and some fine cupcakes, especially if they are of the Cherry Blossom variety.

Super Tuesday and other things I don't know about...

So I must say, I finally don't hate it here. DC is actually not too shabby and I am having a lot of fun exploring the museums, yogaing in different neighborhoods, and walking through town.

I've learned the power of my own two feet and how DC is a fairly walkable city (within NW). I've also learned how to do things by myself and am at peace with that. My internship is also starting to look up, I'm meeting people from all over Africa with interesting perspectives on the world and the international development process. I am learning, living, and exploring. I am conquering a change in lifestyle head on and am now exposed to people who care more about politics than I ever could imagine.

I care, I really do. But most of the time I am just completely and utterly unaware and lost in my own realm of thought. Sometimes (Actually most of the time) I rather talk about boys, food, or movies than who is winning the primaries. Yes it is fun to argue and assert your beliefs and opinions, whether you fully understand why you care about them or not, but at the end of the day I just like watching How I Met Your Mother, and discussing things like sex, books, and Aaron's chickens...you know the usual.

I am writing as a Master's student in Political Science who has no business calling herself that. As soon as I began my studies "mastering" political science I realized what a false impression it gave people and quickly tried to reconcile that by meticulously reading the news and political blogs. While I still try to keep up as much as possible I see myself drawn to international affairs, the Middle East, and the European Union. Oh EU Center how you got me hooked! This was all well and dandy until I came to DC where everyone knows so much about politics whether they majored in it or not...and my title just became even more preposterous.

So here lies the question can I keep up with this over-politicized lifestyle and manner of socializing? I really don't know...maybe I just need to stop focusing on how the EU conducts foreign policy and think about U.S. foreign policy. Then again, what is a city like D.C. to dictate what I should care about? Anyways, in addition to all of those not-so-liberal-DC-hippies I've met, I think I've met a lot interesting, diverse, and smart people all with unique backgrounds. We'll see how much longer I can stand them and their political rhetoric :)

D.A.N.C.E.

Last weekend I traveled to NYC where I experienced hot yoga for the first time and ventured through the bar scene of 9th St and 2nd Ave with two old friends from my year in Israel. As always I had a fantastic time and reaffirmed how much I like new york better than DC....

Also, a little bit about hot yoga. DON'T DO IT!!!! But that's just my opinion/findings, if you must do your own research... i would send someone else to do it for you.

Back to DC. While I'm having just a mediocre time in here, things are starting to get, well at least a bit more chaotic, which is better than the alternative. We have a Nigerian delegation composed of members of the Nigerian National Assembly (pretty much the equivalent to our Senators and Represntatives). Well they are all crazy. I mean they are really nice people, but extremely demanding. One actually made me make a call to Macy's to see if they have the Irresistible Givenchy perfume there...seriously!?! To them I am a lowly servant who should be ready and willing to fulfill their wishes, whether it be making a dumb phone call or videoing them while touring the Capitol. Apparently if you are a Senator in Nigeria you take the budget alloted to you and pocket it...so it is an extremely lucrative job. They all have a dozen drivers and hire someone to pick up their dog crap. Hopefully our seminars will change something...but change seems a little constipated in Nigeria...Nevertheless, there is one older man who dresses traditionally and is the cutest thing I've ever seen! Maybe it is because he doesn't say much but he is definitely my favorite.

Side note: I also was able to see the Capitol building and meet the Architect of the Capitol, just thought I'd brag

On top of all of that I found a few perks to this job when we have a delegation in town. FREE FOOD! And yes, I am still in University and poor so I can revel in free food. I got free lunch on Monday and get free candy, fruit, and pastries throughout the day.

Lessons learned. Nigerians make me tired...and so does hot yoga (btw by hot i mean 100+ degrees, not an exaggeration)

It's V-day Baby!

So, is it weird that every time I say v-day I feel like i'm referencing vagina day? Don't answer that....

But in a sense Valentine's Day is kinda like a big fucking tribute to vaginas. It's like guys saying, "Hey girl, I really want to take your vagina out to a fancy restaurant and give it some roses, otherwise you won't let me see your vagina any day this week."

Sorry if my thoughts are too crude for you, but here are a few more about Valentine's Day.
1) Valentine's day is the queen of Hallmark Holidays. And yes I'm saying this because I don't have a boyfriend to spend it with! I'm not going to hide it like so many others do. All those girls who say they wouldn't celebrate v-day even if they had a boyfriend are simply just lying to your face. It's a lot easier to pretend to be better than thou when you don't have anyone to be less than with..


2) Truth be told, I'm not actually sad about being boyfriendless on valentine's day. This is actually because I am better than thou! But seriously I am happy to have awesome single friends to spend a nice tuesday night with and drink a lot a lot of....lentil soup ;)


3) Need I say more? I think we've covered the pros and cons of being single on Valentine's Day. I've discussed what Valentine's Day is like for a woman and a man, which are pretty much the essentials.

Some concluding thoughts then. V-day is a holiday that subjects couples to way too much pressure to making the perfect night happen, singles to wallow in their singledom, and those asking their sweet valentine out subject to being way too cliche!! Positives?? An old friend of mine would say, it's an excuse to do something fun so take advantage and don't make too much hype.



Anyways, those are just my thoughts on Valentine's Day. See 1 for more clarification on thoughts 2 and 3.


xoxoxo
Happy v-day *giggles

May I Complain?

Well you don't really have a choice so here it goes...

I am currently sitting at my intern desk at the ILI doing a bit of self reflection, which i do all to often. I am 22 years old and realizing that my parents met and got married not far away from the age I am now. How did they have their shit together so early?

Maybe you know, but I myself along with the majority of my generation is working on getting their so called shit together well into their late 20s and early 30s. I am 22 pursuing a graduate degree for god knows what reason and am lost. Yes lost in my career world, lost in my relationship world, and even lost in where I want to end up physically located in life. Whether it be Israel, Manhattan, St. Louis, or Dubai (psht that would be interesting). Who knows where I'll be in 10 years!?! And that is the scariest part. While all those people are finding themselves in Africa or Asia, I am sitting at a desk in DC actively working to find out what I want to do with my life by pursuing a masters in Political Science (yea i know that's where I went wrong!) and interning. And how does all this hard work repay me? Database fucking entry! Ya the life of an unpaid internship isn't as golden as volunteering helping to feed the poor in Africa, or setting up schools in rural China neither is it as noble. Maybe I should've picked the more colorful alternative to "finding myself"...

I was considering law school post-graduation and on the one hand am happy I didn't subject myself to the eternal entrapment of what law school offers (I DO think law is really interesting, but you all know what I'm talking about). On the other hand I would've been spending these next two years usefully pursuing a degree that makes me somewhat marketable and stable. Instead, I'm spending two years of my life getting another useless degree. Yay political science masters!

Well I realize this is a fairly dark and complainy post so I'll get to my brighter point. While I am currently upset with the world and the state that I have come to be in, I realize that there are positives to my situation as well and while enjoying them may be difficult each experience we have makes us a stronger person and helps us better understand ourselves, whether it be the right or wrong choices we make. So maybe all this database entry shit means something bigger hahah jk it defintiely doesn't. But maybe I'm in DC for a reason, to realize this isn't the right path for me...or maybe I'll just bump into it later than expected.

I always say the only way to look is forward, why not up as well?

Peace guys, I promise I'll update you on my happenings soon!

Let the Sun Shine

As I settle into my apartment in DC I’ve come to realize a few things about the working world…when you work a job 9-5 you have so much time! Today was actually the first day that I realized this. I went to pick up a package from someone and got home before 6:30. I proceeded to make a quick dinner and then ate and cleaned up and was done by 8! How could this be 8 o’clock and I was free?

While it seems that the majority of entry level jobs are not 9-5 those of you who are lucky enough to have such a job complain not, you are a lucky man or woman. Yes college is fun, the ability to wake up at noon is awesome, but I myself did not have the luxury of free time this past semester. While I did have an active social life that was reserved for some (most before grad school) Thursday nights and Friday and Saturday nights. There was none of this let’s hang out at 5pm because I have no other obligations. And there was no such thing as a carefree Sunday.

Although there are all these awesome things about the working world there are also a ton of negatives. No flexibility. Barely any daylight. The clothes.

Let’s start with no flexibility. It is so hard for me to adjust to sitting in the same spot for 8 hours with the occasional walk around the office and maybe going outside for some fresh air or a bite to eat, but basically you are sitting at the same chair and desk, staring at the same screen for 8 hours straight. On top of that if you want to make plans with someone you have to wait till after 5 or 6… You can’t run errands or meet up with anyone until that designated time when you are finally a free woman.

Second, there is barely any daylight. For me this is the biggest thing. I work in an office with practically no windows. It makes me feel desperate to break through those walls to get just a glimpse of sunlight, a privilege I never knew I had. Although it’s freezing in Champaign and I wouldn’t trade that for the 70 degree weather I experienced today, in college you are constantly moving from classes, buildings, and apartments. You are always outside which is great and terrible all at the same time depending on the weather. But no matter what, you are guaranteed your dose of fresh air, something that I miss when I’m cooped up in an office with minimal sunlight all day long. Also, when the sun goes down I suddenly feel like I don’t want to go anywhere or do anything.

Lastly the clothes. Yea the clothes can be awesome, but I also miss my jeans, I miss my cute tops, I miss my non-dressy shoes. I like dressing up don’t get me wrong, but at the same time I never dress down anymore…I guess that’s what weekends are for.

So in conclusion, while the working life has many positives it can also be a downer at times. I long for those college days (two months ago) when I could walk or ride my bike back and forth in a pinch. Say hi to friends between classes, or chill out and read a book on the quad. Don’t get me wrong college is not all fun and games, but when the weather is nice, or even when it’s not let the sunshine in, cuz you may not get the chance once you graduate.

Welcome to DC

Welcome to overpriced metro rides, preppy college students, high priced rent, unlimited interns and stricter security than Israel (yes Rebecca I'm talking about not getting into the Capitol building with an empty water bottle). DC is a city so overridden with business casual attire that H & M only keeps that style in stock.

Now there are many good qualities of DC too. First, the people. I have found the east coast stereotype to be only partially true in DC. While people are constantly in a hurry, rushing to get on and off the metro (don't you dare interrupt their line of travel when they, along with a rush of fifty people, are walking towards you) they are also willing to talk with you in a coffee shop.

Case and point, today I was writing an essay in Starbucks before work and this guy sitting next to me started talking to me. Of course I only found out later he was trying to sell me something, but still so nice! Then the woman sitting next to him overheard our conversation that I was new in town and she gave me her business card. Her business being helping people find jobs, always a good company to know. While these people may have had ulterior motives it shows me that people in DC are made for this networking thing I hear I'm suppose to start doing. Whether it be in your internship, with friends, or in a coffee shop people aren't afraid to connect. It's like a real life linkedin. Not so easily accessible in the Midwest.

So far DC has been an uphill battle tackling apartment searching, metro navigating, and getting accustomed to my new internship. But my interactions with the people in my internship, a coffee shop, or someone who I know through a friend or a friend of a friend allows me to have faith in what this wonderous city filled with opportunity has to offer me.

So as I begin my journey into the District of Columbia (literally I am moving into my new apartment on Sunday) I will see what other positive and negative opportunities this city has to offer.