Since my first weekend in D.C. when Kate, Lindsay, and I went to the top of the George Washington Monument, we have wanted to do the paddle boats in the tidal basin. We could see people paddling around while we were in the top of the monument and we wanted to do it, too, but something always seemed to come up—it was raining, people in our group couldn’t come, we were too tired, etc. This weekend we were finally able to do it!
Each year, GMA hosts a variety of staff events throughout the year. Apparently the summer event is one of the most anticipated of the yearly events; everyone leaves the office early and goes to a party that is organized by an “events team” somewhere in the city. Alexis and Megan were both on the events team, so we knew this party was going to be a ton of fun…in fact, all anyone talked about the entire week before the event was the party.
I’ve learned three very valuable things since I last posted a blog on this site: China likes to play hardball, Hollywood Avenue is more fun at night, and native Asian people do not expect me to speak Chinese.
The Nationals Baseball team is an important facet in D.C. life—after all, what better place is there to play America’s pasttime then in the nation’s capital? During the baseball season, Nationals players grace the field for the thousands of fans who flock to the stadium. Last Thursday however, the stadium was crowded with a different group—politicians.
This weekend went by way too quickly. I’m exhausted, but I have learned a lot…like how to become a successful international spy. The International Spy Museum taught me.
Hafa Adai! Hello, in Chamorro, the native language of Guam.
The iconic D.C. tourist would visit Capitol Hill immediately upon arriving in the city, but I don’t really feel like a traditional tourist. I feel like D.C. is my home in some ways, with its teeming metros, street musicians, political activists and aspiring interns. Yesterday, two months into my stay in the nation’s capitol, I finally got my visit to The Hill, and it was fabulous.
My friend Courtney interns at the Newseum. The Newseum is a News History Museum that just opened a few months ago. Because Courtney works for the Newseum, she was able to take a few of us as her guests, allowing us to visit the exhibits free of charge—the Newseum is one of the few museums in D.C. with an entry fee.
I love living here.
The past few weeks have been full of exciting things. I was moved from basic Mandarin to advanced Mandarin (ahhh) and so now I have a Chinese speaking partner.
On the Fourth of July my entire cohort and I climbed to the top of a hill on campus and watched the Disneyland fireworks from afar. Gorgeous. The colors popped out across the horizon and we wached planes land into the Santa Ana airport while the independence celebration lit up the sky.
I’ve eaten my full of Pinkberry yogurt — a So Cal delicacy. A few friends and I have begun running the “Turtle Rock Trail,” and we have met a lot of friends out on the trails (bobcats). There’s only one little thing that could dampen the adventurous and happy mood around this Irvine campus…
I lost my job.
This weekend my Washington, D.C. adventure continued with Mt. Vernon, the former home of America’s first president, George Washington. The sprawling 8,000 acre estate is now only a small portion of its original size but continues to boast the elegance and beauty that George and Martha Washington were known for.