The Washington Center: A Critical Review

The Washington Center is without a doubt an excellent opportunity for anyone who has a chance to attend. It is worth noting, however, that not all experiences are going to be the same. What follows is a critical review of TWC from the perspective of both a STS program student and now, former intern.

If you may recall my first post, I came by The Washington Center almost as an afterthought – the result of a last-semester hurrah to help me choose a career. I took a risk, abandoning my background in American History in order to pursue an opportunity in the Science, Technology, and Society program, not because I felt it had better career potential, but because it was something I knew I wanted to do, even if I couldn’t fully explain why. My elation at both my acceptance into the program as well as at my internship site was beyond describing. It felt good to be an “outsider” – a liberal arts student entering the scientific world. Unfortunately, I was setting myself up for a little disappointment.

My biggest critique regarding my Washington Center experience was that when comparing all the individual elements – internship, class, programming, and civic engagement – there was little to no correlation between them. My internship was my direct introduction into a more scientific job – conducting research and translating that information for a diverse audience. In order to support that, I had enrolled in the “Issues in Science Policy” course, but unfortunately, it was cancelled before the semester even began since there weren't enough students enrolled. As a result, I was placed in a course that, while intellectually engaging and taught by a highly qualified professor, was not directly related to my career goals. Furthermore, the STS programming was haphazard and not always relevant. This was not because of a lack of effort on behalf of our program advisor, but because the science discipline is such a broad field that it is impossible to find subject matter that is universally relevant to everyone in the program. Even though we could design our own, the complete lack of a scientifically related TWC sponsored civic engagement project also seemed to be more of a slight rather than a probable oversight. My point is this: I feel that we did not receive adequate instruction on the interaction between science, policymaking, businesses, and non-profits. Students in other programs, particularly political leadership and international affairs, had a much more encompassing experience than I did. Just because the Science, Technology, & Society is the smallest program – it does not mean we should be shortchanged in the quality of our overall experience.

Still, all my critiques aside, I cannot complain too much. I came to DC as an average student with mediocre grades in a desperate search to find a career path; I am leaving as a fully qualified park ranger bound for my new job in New York City. My coworkers, my program advisor, and my course professor all went out of their way in order to help me succeed, and for that I am extremely grateful. Even if my experience was something that wasn’t entirely encompassing and even if at times I felt frustrated – I would still do it all over again because it forced me to adapt to unexpected situations, conquer new tasks, and develop novel solutions to previously unconsidered problems. It may not be the most quantifiable measure of achievement, but I still contend that these are the truest measures of accomplishment. I took a big chance coming to Washington, and it paid off in a big way.

The Rock Creek Park gang.

My supervisor "passing the hat" to the newest Park Ranger.

Ranger Tony being a goofball. (And maybe me too.)

To everyone who has been reading this blog from the beginning, I want to thank you for your dedication and your support. To all future Washington Center interns, I congratulate you on your acceptance and wish you the best of luck in your endeavors. Remember: use my experiences as a guide, not a rule. Your experience will be defined by your willingness to explore, discover, and persevere. You will not be expected to know everything and don’t be afraid of making a few mistakes – it’s all part of the process. To quote Benjamin Franklin, “Being ignorant is not so much a shame as being unwilling to learn.”

Until next time.

Greetings! This post is for all the interns making their way here in the coming summer and fall semesters. I, like so many of you, came here from a suburb, and never having lived in a city before, was immediately thrown into the deep end (metaphorically speaking). I very quickly had to learn the comings and goings – what to see, eat, and do – in order to make the most of my time here. What follows are a few brief lists that should help you make a seamless transition to the urban lifestyle.

Sights to See

01. The National Mall – It’s much simpler to list the mall than each building or monument individually, but obviously, I meant this to be all-inclusive. And don’t just stop by for 10 minutes, snap a picture, and leave. Stay and talk to a park ranger or listen to an interpretive talk. You’ll learn a lot and get a much deeper connection to both the building as well as what it stands for.

02. The Natural History Museum – I’m partial to this museum not only because it is visually stimulating, but also because I feel it sparks a true inspiration in science for most visitors. After 3 hours here, you’ll suddenly find yourself wanting to pick up a book about anthropology, biology, or evolution.

03. The American History Museum – As Americans, we like to picture our history as linear from A – Z. This museum breaks up that monotony by creating exhibits that tell a story through American achievement, be it travel, currency, or invention. Even more important: take some time to pay your respects to the Star Spangled Banner; just don’t try to photograph it.

04. The National Zoo – I present you with yet another favorite of mine. There is nothing quite like seeing orangutans brachiating overhead or watching a Sumatran tiger pace back and forth in front of you. The absolute best exhibit is Amazonia: a single building retrofitted into one giant, seamless, walk-through vivarium. It houses several rare fish, as well as countless amphibians.

05. Eastern Market – This place is the best alternative to the local supermarket. There are countless vendors selling all manner of locally grown produce, as well as an entire meat market indoors. Make a trip of it and stop by for Sunday brunch before doing your shopping.

06. Dupont Circle – This is the “hip” place to be in downtown DC. It’s filled with cafés, bars, restaurants, and bookstores. The area is particularly known for its nightlife. While you’re here, be sure to check out Kramerbooks & Café.

07. Rock Creek Park – It’s hard to believe that there is a nearly 2000-acre park inside the district, but unbelievably, it’s been here as a national park since 1890. Several presidents have spent their time here, most notably the great Theodore Roosevelt. See if you can spot his missing ring over at Boulder Bridge while completing your point-to-point hike.

08. Capitol Hill – The “hill” refers to the building itself, but also the Library of Congress, Supreme Court, and other associated buildings & gardens. It is topographically the area of highest elevation, although you’d be hard pressed to tell that with all the building around.

09. U Street Corridor – This is the other trendy new spot for nightlife, with considerably fewer tourists. Just make sure to take the Metro or a cab back because no one likes a sloppy drunk, let alone one who is driving.

10. The National Archives – It wouldn’t be fair to leave the city without first looking upon the documents that laid the framework for it. Prepare to be patient though, because the crowds are as large as the lighting is dim.

More, if you have time: Georgetown, The Botanical Gardens, American Indian Museum, Smithsonian Castle, Postal Museum, Bureau of Printing & Engraving, Newseum

Where to Eat

01. Founding Farmers – Some of the best organic food you could ask for. Be sure to try the cornbread!

02. Busboys & Poets – Enjoy culture, spirits, and good food at this local favorite. Their pizza is amazing.

03. The Front Page – A little highbrow, but great for dinner as well as happy hour. You can’t go wrong with the salmon.

04. Matchbox – Italian gets a decidedly urban makeover at this prime piece of real estate. Their specialty is their wood-oven pizza, but their dessert speaks for itself.

05. The Dubliner – If ever you had the desire to hoist a large pint of stout and tear into some shepherd’s pie, then look no further. Traditional Irish cuisine with an American twist.

06. Red Velvet Cupcakery – My list isn’t all dinner. This establishment serves some of the finest (and most expensive) cupcakes you will ever eat. You’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven, but that’s actually just all the sugar putting you into a food coma.

07. Dangerously Delicious Pies – Same as above. When you find yourself hankering for that “back home” apple pie, this is where you go to get your fix. Best of all: it’s convenient to the RAF, so you can walk off those extra calories on your way back.

08. Ben’s Chili Bowl – This icon has been in the city for decades. It’s so popular there are lines forming outside the doors past midnight. Indulge in a chili-cheese dog and milkshake at least once while you’re here, even if your stomach might not thank for you for it later.

09. Capital City Brewing Company – Local brews and comfort food are the winning formula at this restaurant. The nachos, burgers, and beers will set you right.

10. Luna Grill – Last, but not least, is my favorite establishment for breakfast. Finding cafés open on Sunday morning can be difficult, so I was relieved to discover this place. The Belgian waffle and the omelets were exquisite.

Obviously, this was a much-abbreviated list. I would have loved to have reviewed more places, but I’m already stretching the limit of both my word count, and my wallet.

Tips & Tricks

01. Purchase a SmartTrip card! It is infinitely more convenient than the paper tickets and allows you to track all fares – as well as add more – via their website.

02. Don’t fall asleep on the Metro! It’s embarrassing, and it’ll cost you extra time, fares, or both!

03. Always stand to the right! This applies to escalators, elevators, sidewalks, and the grocery store. It is simply more polite and lets you quickly identify the out-of-towners.

04. Don’t block the Metro doors! They DO NOT work like elevator doors. Everyone will hate you for putting the train out of service and further delaying their commute.

05. Social media is your friend! The first week you’re here be sure to sign up for Scoutmob, Groupon, and LivingSocial. They all have free apps for your phone as well as email coupons. You’re going to find many great deals you would haven’t thought of without them. Along the same line, sign up for your grocery store’s frequent shopper coupon. That saved me over $200 this semester.

06. Invest in some quality reusable bags! DC has a $0.05 bag tax PER BAG. The best way to save yourself some cash and help the environment is to always have a bag on you – be it backpack, drawstring, or canvas. Keep one on you whenever you head out, just in case.

07. DC is expensive! Always shop around for the best deal. Moreover, don’t go shopping when hungry or buy on impulse. I learned the hard way that it’s very easy to run out of money. There are plenty of printed and online publications advertising free events.

08. Treat yourself! I know this may seem contradictory to my last post, but moderation can be tempered by acute splurging. Set up one or two days a week to go out with your friends or roommates – just be sure to budget for it.

09. Make reservations! Dining out is a popular activity in DC, so 2+ hour waits are not uncommon. Plan ahead, and let them know you’re coming.

10. Make a schedule, and stick to it! I recommend Google Calendar. Fill in all your due dates and set it to send you reminders, that way you’ll never have an excuse for a late assignment or why you can’t go out because you have a deadline to meet.

11. Sign up for tours before you get here! The bureaucracy of the district is notoriously slow, as are the background checks. To avoid the lines and the deadlines, sign up through your representative before you get here.

12. If you’re going to visit the Capitol, attend a gallery viewing of the Senate or House! It’s your government; you deserve to see how it works.

13. Always check the weather! It can be 50 one day and 80 the next. A forecast (or two) helps you to make smart wardrobe choices.

14. Read the newspaper daily! You’re living in the most politically centered city in the world. Pick up one of the several free newspapers around the city, and stay informed. (And be sure to take The Onion with a grain of salt.)

15. There is a lot of noise! There are constant sirens, people yelling, or construction equipment outside your window at any given hour of the day (or night). If you’re a light sleeper, invest in some earplugs, or white noise.

16. Never waste your weekend! Take time to see the city. It might seem like a lot of work is piled on you in a real short time (job, class, programming, civic engagement) but TWC usually makes an effort to spread it out pretty evenly. So long as you can stay on top of it, you’ll have plenty of time to do sightseeing, and believe me, there’s plenty to see.

17. Take a trip (if you can)! Passage to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and NYC can all be had for as low as $1 of certain bus lines if you book far enough in advance. It makes for an excellent weekend trip, especially in groups of 2-4 people.

18. Get your Library of Congress library card! It gets you access into the main reading room, plus it makes for one amazing souvenir.

19. Take every opportunity that is presented to you! This may seem like a no-brainer, but be sure to sign up for every TWC sponsored event you can. If nothing else, you’re going to meet some new people and gain some new experiences.

20. Your time here is what you make of it! If you are constantly pessimistic, uninformed, or lazy – you will have a bad time. Eventually you are going to find yourself being asked to reaffirm your character, both personally and professionally. This internship is about far more than just finding a job - it’s about finding yourself.

I hope anyone who reads this will find it useful and informative. I’m sure what’s said here applies to more than just DC, so I encourage any of my readers now venturing out into other cities to apply these practices elsewhere. Remember: these are only guidelines. It’s up to you to make the most of it.

Until next time.

We may only have a little over a week left of our internships, but I’m still making the most of my time here in the district. I have several things on my “To Do in DC” bucket list still yet to cross off, but that hasn’t stopped me from trying.

Last Tuesday at work was extremely busy. The morning got off to an amazing start when the space shuttle Discovery flew directly overhead. No sooner had my fellow rangers and I finished discussing our lamentations at not being able to see it at the Potomac did it fly by at what appeared to be a much lower altitude than 1,500 feet. I was so awestruck I didn’t even have time to raise my camera and capture the event. The photo below is courtesy of CBS News.

We finally began our tests at Pierce Mill to make sure both the closed-circuit circulation pumps worked, as well as the wheel and the grinding stones. Once everything was greased up and the race filled, the pumps began and the mill once more sprang to live after years of dormancy. It was really interesting to see just how pre-industrial peoples manipulated grain for consumption. The mill is going to make an excellent interpretive tool for the rangers, just as soon as they can find someone to operate it on a regular basis. The miller we had that day graciously joined us from his regular position at Mount Vernon (where he also brews traditional whiskey).

Grinding some corn at the mill. This wasn't consumption quality grain I'm afraid, so no homemade cornbread.

While the rangers spent most of their time milling grain, adjusting the flow of water, and cleaning up the inevitable mess, I was outside conducting an amphibian rescue in the mill’s race (the area that houses the recirculated water). Since the mill had been inactive for so long, and because it was directly connected to the creek up until that week, a whole variety of frog and toad species had taken up residence inside. An unfortunate side effect of the pumps were that they were sucking up the frogs, and spitting them out at the top. My job was to remove them as they surfaced, as well as any and all tadpoles and eggs I could gather. By the end of the day, I had rescued nearly two dozen American Toads, countless eggs & tadpoles, and one giant bullfrog. They amphibians were all relocated to smaller, quieter areas of the park free from human interference.

Who has a bucket full of frogs? This guy. (Well, technically they're toads.)

This is a pair that I rescued while still coupled. Hopefully they will continue to reproduce in their new pond.

For the rest of the week, I resumed all of my regular duties, such as guided hikes, informal visitor contacts, animal care, and working on my multimedia presentations. I did get one brief moment of excitement when this lovely guy stopped by the nature center. I convinced him to stick around and pose for a few pictures before he went on his merry way.

Black rat snake, approximately 5ft. Didn't strike, but it musked, A LOT.

This past weekend I finally made it over to see an exhibit I’ve been waiting to see for some time now: The Art of Video Games at the Museum of American Art. My inner nerd delighted at the chance to relive some of my youth by seeing systems I had grown up with: Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, N64, and so many more. Games and characters I knew as a boy once again jumped off the screen (and the walls) to remind everyone visiting not only of their technical significance, but of their emotional impact as well. My only complaint of the exhibit was that they wanted $40 for the book; a price I felt was grossly overpriced.

Since I was already at the portrait gallery, I took time to visit the presidential portrait gallery to pay homage to my own personal inspiration: Theodore Roosevelt.

"No other president ever enjoyed the presidency as I did." -- Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge, September 10, 1909

It also so happened that Sunday was Earth Day. I could think of no better way to appreciate the holiday than to examine some of the best paintings done of the raw American wilderness created by the 19th century’s most prolific transcendental painters: Thomas Cole, Albert Bierstadt, Jasper Cropsey, and so many more. Their dramatic landscapes helped to define a nation without a history. Additionally, their sublime, romanticized pictures of the west inspired what would eventually become the “manifest destiny” movement in the latter half of the century.

Albert Bierstadt (1830–1902)

Among the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California

1868

oil on canvas

183 × 305 cm (72 × 120.1 in)

Smithsonian American Art Museum

These are a few orchids that were planted in the courtyard between the Museum of American Art and the National Portrait Gallery.

My last good bit of news is that I finally was able to meet with a staffer from Senator Nelson’s office. While I would undoubtedly have proffered to meet the Senator himself, I understand he is a busy man and has other obligations. The meeting was brief and direct, but informative nonetheless. At the meeting’s conclusion, she presented us with tickets to visit the Senate Gallery later in the day, when they would be in session to vote on a bill about reforming the postal service. The security was overwhelming (they even took my cell phone!) but it was pretty incredible to see my government in action. The best part is – I still have my pass so I may just go again next week.

I hope everyone is remaining as busy as I am. We only a handful of days left here – the last of which I’m sure will be occupied by cleaning and packing – so be sure to get out and make them count!

Until next time.

Time is quickly running out for us here at The Washington Center. In a few short weeks, we return to our previous lives, and for some of us, myself included, that means graduation. I’m looking forward to putting all the papers and the commuting to class behind me, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t going to miss the people. I’ve made a lot of friends back home at USF (and a couple new ones here at TWC), so it will be hard to say goodbye. You may be asking yourself, “well Josh, if you live in Florida, why do you have to say goodbye?” Well, ladies and gentlemen, that is because I GOT A JOB! Can you believe it?! One of my many job applications actually returned a result. I was shocked to say the least. The job is at the Statue of Liberty in New York City, where I will work as a front-line representative of the National Park Service greeting guests, giving tours, and otherwise making the green & grey uniform look the best it’s ever looked. If any of you make your way to NYC this summer, be sure to stop by and look for me! Familiar faces are always welcome, especially when moving to the biggest city on the planet.

That is as close as I got a few weeks ago. Looks like I'll be getting much more acquainted with her pretty soon.

In other news, this past weekend the Trip to the Baltimore Harbor, incidentally enough…. was cancelled. The bus never showed up. We waited out in the parking lot for nearly two hours, wasting a good portion of our morning. Certainly it was frustrating, but it does no good to lay blame. Even so, I like to consider myself a pretty resourceful fellow, and as such I was determined to get to Baltimore before the day was over. An Amtrak ticket and a little over an hour later – I arrived at my destination.

Baltimore, especially the inner harbor, was extremely crowded. Not only was it spring break apparently, but there was also some sort of middle school cheerleading convention going on. The crowds in Times Square weren’t even that bad. The worst part of it however was that aquarium – the one place I specifically wanted to see – was rationing tickets based on a queue system for later entry. Even though I was there by 3, I had to wait until 5 before I was allowed to enter. Combine that with the fact the aquarium closes at 7, it meant I had a very limited time to rush through. I didn’t even get time to visit the Australian exhibit that houses the freshwater crocodiles and frilled lizards. The building, like the rest of the harbor, was also VERY crowded, making getting a good photo or taking the time to pause and read about an animal or habitat virtually impossible.

A view from the harbor visitor center. The throngs of people were far worse than what is seen here.

This is a replica of the 15-star flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner at Ft. McHenry, just a few miles away.

People were feeding these guys at the water's edge, so naturally I couldn't pass up the photographic opportunity.

Still, even in dealing with all that, I thoroughly enjoyed the aquarium. The Chesapeake watershed habitat exhibits were very well done, as was their rainforest aviary and amphibian vivariums. I would recommend it to anyone interested in such matters, but probably include the stipulation you visit on a weekday, for obvious reasons. Here are a few of the photos I managed to capture despite the poor lighting and excessive crowds. I have to laugh at the irony too: I visit an aquarium and photograph mostly reptiles, amphibians, and birds.

Of course, I couldn't leave Baltimore without first sampling some authentic Maryland seafood. Suffice it to say I indulged myself royally - and man, was it worth it. Crab is pretty much the greatest food ever. I challenge anyone who disagrees to try some of the crab stuffed shrimp I had that night - or the crabcake I had for the appetizer.

That about sums up things for now. Time is quickly winding down, so I find myself scrambling to check items off my “DC Bucket List” in the remaining weeks – both socially and at work.

Until next time.

Greetings, fellow interns, TWC staff, Washingtonians, random Facebook friends, and that guy we all like to talk about but never want to hang out with. (You know who you are)! This special mid-week blog is brought to you buy my friend Lea, who, after much coercion, bribery, and begging had consented to providing me with a guest blog. I assumed you were all getting tired of my pedantic ramblings and might enjoy a change from the norm. Enjoy! (And don't forget to leave her some nice comments!)

Hi there! I am Josh’s guest blogger for the week. My name is Lea Park-Kim, and I am so happy to share a little bit about me and my life in Washington D.C. with you all.

First of all, I want to tell you something about me. I am from San Diego and am a student of the University of San Diego. I love spending time on the beach, running, travelling, and baseball. This is a picture of the Pacific Beach on Christmas Eve. I like running along the boardwalk or along the water here.

I love running and one of my favorite moments in D.C. has been running the 40th Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Race last Sunday. It was truly a blast! The beautiful course followed the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King memorial, and the Potomac River.

I also love baseball and I am so excited for the regular season to kick off! I already have done the site visit. I am a loyal San Diego Padres fan and have been lucky enough to watch them play already at the Spring Training this year in Arizona.

I am currently interning for American Councils for International Education. My department deals with foreign exchange students who come to the United States usually for a full academic year, host families who open their houses and hearts to these students, and local coordinators who help us place the exchange students to host families and help both parties throughout the year. This is my desk.

I really enjoy my work. I am an international relations major at the University of San Diego, and learning more about countries that Americans have not historically understood such as Yemen, Serbia, Russia, Nigeria, Indonesia, etc. has been the greatest learning experience I have gained here in Washington D.C. I am currently working on reading the applications of 2012-2013 finalists and making one-page profiles of each student for host families and local coordinators to look at.

When I am not working, I enjoy exploring Washington D.C. One of my favorite sites includes the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. I believe it is the tallest building in Washington D.C.

Also, Ford’s Theater has taught me so much about the life of President Lincoln and the D.C. of the 1800’s.

I love finding local cafés and reading some books or working on my papers (and there are many papers to be written). Here are some cafes I visited during some mellow weekends. My boss at American Councils for International Education recommended Big Bear Café, and coincidentally it was in walking distance from my yoga class. The next one, Filter, is in a vibrant neighborhood of Dupont Circle, and I visited the place with my roommate, Megan, soon after our life in D.C. started.

As I have mentioned, I love running, and I decide to spread my love for running with other people. I joined Girls on the Run, an organization that educates young girls to develop healthy life styles and self-respect through running. The 12-week program concludes with a 5k race at the end of the season. I am a coach for the Jewish Primary Day School’s Girls on the Run team, and I have been in love with the program and all the girls ever since the season started.

I hope you all have a chance visit our beautiful Capitol sometime soon. I am excited to finish up my last couple of months here in Washington D.C., and I am thankful that I was able to gain new perspectives and exciting experiences through my adventures! I would like to conclude this post with a quote from one of my favorite books:

“It's such a shame to waste time. We always think we have so much of it.”

― Mitch Albom, For One More Day

Thank you!

Is it April already? Where does the time keep going? Only a handful of weeks left and it seems as though there’s still so much left to do and to see. Work has been especially busy, as we recently lost one of our detail employees, several have been out sick, and two are now reporting directly to the Old Stone House in Georgetown. All in all, the Nature Center is starting to feel a bit… barren. Last Thursday, for example, it was just myself and one other ranger tasked with giving formal presentations to two separate school groups around the fourth grade level. Usually when I interact with park guests in on an informal basis, so this presented an entirely unique challenge. All things considered, I think I handled it well, and the groups seemed to enjoy the time they spent there. Like everything else, we’re making do.

I finally completed the snake project, which will be featured on our revolving high definition display. This one took a little longer to make because of the added details and waiting for the right time to get the footage I needed. It’s a bit longer than the last one. I like to think that’s because I’m learning more about what makes a good presentation; my boss says its because I have a bias or favoritism for snakes. It could very well be both.

My final project will focus on bees, which I will beginning that this week. Aside from that, I have my continued training on horseback for our ranger-led tours. This past week we went out on the trail for about 3 miles, which was a total blast. I got the opportunity to see some wildlife that I have thus far not previously encountered, such as the belted kingfisher. Moreover, you can’t help but feel a little bit dignified when riding a horse. It is definitely the highlight of my week. Besides that, much of work remains the same.

On Saturday I decided to return to the Mall, completely unaware that the Cherry Blossom Festival was in full swing. As I exited the Air & Space Museum, what greeted me was an entire swarm of kites between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. Never before have I seen so many kites in one place. Words cannot describe how utterly crowded things were; not even NYC the weekend before gave me the same sense of confinement.

Owing to the warm winter, all of the cherry blossoms have come and gone, save one final holdout. As I walked around the Tidal Basin, I came across the lone tree being swamped by tourists and locals alike clamoring for a picture. Not surprising, considering the situation. Joining the crowd, I took my shots and continued on to the Jefferson, FDR, and MLK memorials. The monuments around the Basin are all very well done and I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a quiet afternoon or in need of a walk. It was a great day for a stroll, albeit a bit gusty. If the weather persists, I’m planning on visiting Alexandria this coming weekend.

"Blush of pink blossoms

Caress and gently conduct

A spring symphony."

"Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing." -- Thomas Jefferson

"Art is not a treasure in the past or an importation from another land, but part of the present life of all living and creating peoples." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Nothing more to report for now. Be sure to look for a guest blog post by my friend Lea in the coming week!

Until next time.

If there’s one thing I can say about Washington, it that it’s so conveniently located. You’re only a train or bus ride away from all kinds of major cities, from Baltimore, to Philadelphia, to New York. This past week I seized that opportunity and boarded a bus bound for NYC. I only had twelve hours to explore, give or take, and I was determined to make them count. Thankfully an old high school friend of mine was currently living in Brooklyn, and offered to show me the sights. What was in store was certainly going to be a long day, but also a very memorable one.

First, a bit of back-story is in order. I grew up in suburban Florida. My town is fairly populated (around 100,000 or so) but we aren’t considered a city. The closest city is Tampa, but even there all the buildings are heavily spread out. The largest buildings are all downtown near the waterfront and public transportation is all but nonexistent. If you recall my second post you will remember my adulation of the District upon getting my first real taste of city living. I had that same feeling while walking the streets of midtown and lower Manhattan. The city was so alive! Everywhere I went there was something going on, some new experience, and always people wanting to stop and talk to you. I challenge anyone who has ever said “I’m bored” to spend a day in NYC.

I got into the city around 11am, near Penn Station. My first stop was the Empire State Building. While obviously very touristy and heavily promoted, it was certainly worth the cost. Standing on the 86th floor observation deck provides a panoramic view of the city, putting its massiveness into perspective.

Visibility was surpringly good considering it was supposed to rain.

From there, I met Lisa, and we ventured into Times Square. It was a campy as it was commercialized.

Enjoying a snack in front of the Hershey's store in Times Square. I will never say no to Reese's Pieces.

After that, we stopped by Rockefeller Plaza and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Central Park was our next stop, where we walked around admiring the landscaping and the street performers. What surprised me most were the topographical changes inside the park. For some reason, spending all afternoon on flat pavement combined with a preconceived notion about how the park actually looked led me to believe it would be more of a large, sparsely populated grassy field. Man, was I wrong. Our time here was brief, much to my dismay.

You should know by now, I can't have a blog post without at least one reptile in it. Found this guy stealing bait off of fishing poles in Central Park.

We continued southward, through SoHo, pausing to visit some interesting specialty boutiques, before ending up at the World Trade Center Site. That moment was very surreal, not just because 9/11 is my birthday, or because I lived through the event, but because seeing the new towers rising up and all the posters left me with an invigorated sense of optimism.

Lastly, we boarded the subway into Brooklyn, where we walked along the Heights Promenade and ate authentic New York Pizza underneath the Brooklyn Bridge.

This was taken at full 35x zoom from across the East River.

New discovery: pizza is amazing with bacon and avocado on it.

All in all, the day felt very hurried and I missed a lot that I still wanted to see. Lisa was an excellent liaison and navigator, and I’m certain that without here I would haven’t gotten to see anywhere near as much as I did. My recommendation to anyone considering a visit is this: budget your time accordingly, and budget your wallet. It’s really easy to run out of both in NYC.

Until next time.

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the DC cherry blossoms, I decided to take some photos highlighting the emerging colors of the District's flora. For this post, I'm going to let the pictures do the talking.

I chose to document these plants because they aren't something you generally come across in Florida. We have two seasons: hot, and slightly less hot. 90% of all the plants & trees are either oak or pine; certainly nothing with the color and the diversity that I've seen here.

Until next time.

The weeks keep flying by. Here it is approaching the end of March and I still feel that there is so much left to see and accomplish. I wish there were more hours in the day!

Work

This past week at work was uncharacteristically busy. On Wednesday, I finally managed to begin training on the horses at our stables. The goal is to create a ranger-led trail program. If all goes well, we should be able to begin by the end of April.

One of the barn cats at the stables. This 21 year old guy has full run of the place. And honestly, what blog doesn't need more cats?

Thursday, we played host to the local firefighters in their training of a new lead driver. I also managed to make progress on my resume, work projects, and finally meet the park’s natural resources manager.

Friday a few of the rangers and I took a trip to Frederick, MD to visit the Civil War Medicine Museum and the Monocacy battlefield. Both sites were relatively small and quick to see, but they provided a valuable insight into the lives and history of the greater DC area during the 1860’s.

Civic Engagement

Thanks to our Natural Resource manager, I finally have a direction for my civic engagement project. I will be joining him on invasive plant removals in the park sometime in April. These removals are crucial in preventing the spread of invasives but also in maintaining and restoring habitat for native species. Most importantly however, it keeps the park pristine for the many of thousands who use it annually.

Out & About

Once again, I took leave of the city on my weekend to visit Gaithersburg, MD for their annual Rock, Gem, & Fossil expo. After seeing the collection at the Natural History Museum, I was inspired to see what was available to the private collector. I have always had a fascination with gems & minerals, but like all my other hobbies, I lacked sufficient space, money, and time to fully indulge it. Still, it didn’t prevent me from coming home with a few souvenirs.

Amethyst on Granite

Polished bisected Ammonite (Madagascar), Pyrite crystal in perfect cube form (Spain), hexagonal polished fluorite crystal, polished halved septarian geode.

Some of the many turtles I spied in a pond near the fairgrounds.

On Sunday, I finally made my way to the American History Museum. Some of the best exhibits were (in my opinion) the ones that highlighted the role of technology on shaping our history, particularly transportation. The exhibits focusing on water travel, history of the automobile, and even the industrial revolution were all very informative and interesting. I would have liked to taken more photos, but unfortunately some areas, such as the Star Spangled Banner and the exhibit on currency, either didn’t allow photography, or were too dimly lit to produce a quality exposure.

Original Model T. This was the first model to use an electric starter instead of a hand crank.

Actual piece of pavement from the historic US66.

USS Philadelphia, which was sunk during the American Revolution and raised 150 years later.

Uniform worn by George Washington.

Huey helicopter used in Vietnam.

Wall of Presidents.

The coming weeks are shaping up to be equally busy. I am meeting with my Congressman tomorrow for an interview, attending a natural resources conference on Wednesday, and then monitoring & documenting frogspawn on either Thursday or Friday. Also, next weekend I will be in NYC! Stay tuned for more!

Until next time.

Can you believe it’s March already? It seems as though this semester is flying by. If you ask me, I think it has to do with working all week. Somehow, it distorts the passage of time. By Friday, you’re so exhausted that you can’t help but ask yourself where the week went. Speaking of exhausted, I had the misfortune of falling asleep on the Metro last week while coming home. The swaying of the rail cars usually has one of two effects on me: either I become painfully nauseous, almost to the point of vertigo, or I approach the greatest depths of slumber strong enough to rival the best power nap you may lay claim to.  In this case, it was the latter. It was a bit embarrassing to be shaken awake by a Metro employee then having to head back in the opposite direction, tacking an additional 30 minutes onto my commute home. Almost literally, I traveled the Red Line from one end to the other in a single day.

Work continues to be much of the same. I spend my time working at a computer, researching information for projects or creating them, if time allows. My supervisor is unequivocally enthusiastic, and is constantly suggesting ideas for current and future programs. With all the ideas he manages to come up with, I find it impressive how he’s able to manage his own administrative duties and still have time to offer assistance on everyone else’s. Still, my favorite moments will always be the chance to interact with park guests – anything from indicating the direction of the restrooms (which is a frequent occurrence) to engaging in conversation or interpretive talks about the various park exhibits. The absolute best is seeing the look on people’s faces when they come face to face with a snake for the first time, such as what happened when my program advisor Tiffani paid a visit to the Nature Center last Thursday. For better or worse, (hopefully better) I know I’ve left that person with a memory that will last.

I recently got to redesign the habitat for our eastern box turtle as well. He was long overdue for some new furnishings, and this new design provides for a much more naturalistic feel, mimicking the view just outside the window.

The other thing that really makes my day is the chance to get outside, even if it’s only to go for a brief walk outside. Can you say that your job regularly encourages you to get fresh air? On Friday, I travelled to Fort DuPont with two rangers to continue their beekeeping training efforts. The Nature Center has its own indoor hive that they use not only for educational purposes, but also for the pollination of the various flowers, trees, and shrubs in the immediate vicinity. The hands on experience we got at Fort DuPont was invaluable and extremely thrilling, to say the least. There’s nothing quite like standing mere inches away from 50,000 bees (without any protective layering I might add) and their only reaction is to completely ignore you!

Class has finally resumed a normal schedule, and we’re busy playing catch up. (Not to be confused with ketchup.) Admittedly, the topic of the course, “diversity,” was not my first choice. At times, the content definitely feels recycled and repetitive. Yet for what it lacks in inherent interest, it makes up for in quality faculty. My professor knows the content thoroughly and genuinely enjoys teaching. Moreover, she encourages the class to actively participate. While reluctant at first, we are quickly becoming a unified colloquial group. She also employs a variety of teaching techniques and varied media approaches. Last class, we watched a film titled “White Man’s Burden” that presented the viewer with a world in which the racial roles between white and black Americans were reversed. It was an interesting look at racial relations, but I feel it didn’t approach the topic on a large enough scale. I could easily write another post analyzing the film, so I’ll simply end my discussion with the trailer for the film, and let you make up your own minds.

Aside from work and class, I’ve continued my exploration of the city on the weekends. I finally made time to take tours of the Capitol and the Library of Congress. Both were really informational, but also very brief. In addition, they were both extremely crowded and filled to the brim with security. I am the type of visitor who likes to take his time and carefully inspect all of the various paintings, sculptures, and architecture, but when you’re being rushed along as part of a 25+ person group, it becomes almost impossible. Still, I would recommend it to anyone looking for some weekend ideas.

Last week, I also returned to the National Zoo to see the parts I had missed the first time around. It was a bright, sunny day (albeit a chilly one), but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Truthfully, I could spend every day there if given the opportunity.

That about sums things up for now. In 2 weeks, I will be visiting New York City for a day, so be sure to look for those pictures. I also have plans for a guest blogger and possibly an interview or two. In the meantime, if you know of a great bar, restaurant, or site to visit I haven’t mentioned here, leave me a comment below!

Until next time.