First and foremost the D.C. Metro is a commuter train designed to bring people in and out of D.C. and doesn’t go very far past important landmarks or heavily travelled routes. For all those other local destinations in D.C. the Metrobus picks up the slack but don’t write off the short bus too quickly. It can sometimes be quicker and more comfortable than the metro. Since public transit is an intern’s lifeline I thought I should include a quick rundown of how to get around town.   Redline – Shady Grove

Celebrity chefs, unique dining experiences, and stylish restaurants are on the menu in D.C., where the dining scene is considered one of the best in the country. State Dinners and power lunches aren’t all you’ll find in the nation's capital. Whether you’re looking for a fine dining experience or the world’s best chicken and waffles, D.C.’s got it!  

During your internship with The Washington Center you’ll be given lots of assignments to complete in addition to your course work and internship. One in particular that a lot of interns quickly dismiss is the informational interview, but you shouldn’t make that same mistake! This is your excuse to approach anyone you might admire or want to learn more about, even if you know nothing about them previously. More importantly, if used properly, it can be an incredibly useful opportunity to learn from someone who is succeeding in your area of interest.

New York gets 40 million visitors a year and every one of them leaves with a story. I was no exception. Some friends and I decided last minute to visit New York for the weekend and what a strange trip it's been...   "There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless." -- Simone de Beauvoir  

Oh, the people you'll meet, the places you'll go. While interning in D.C. you'll attend luncheons, seminars, talks, networking events -- you name it. Interning in D.C. is all about networking and making new friends. Make sure to get out and meet as many people who have as little in common with you as possible. These are the people that are going to teach you, force you to grow, and remind you about how much there still is to discover in this world.

As if there wasn't already enough to do in the nation's capital, the events planned for both Canada Day and the Fourth of July made it a busy week but lots of fun! Made lots of new friends and did my best to avoid a heat stroke!

D.C. has so much to offer and there is always something to do. Want some culture? Visit some of D.C.’s heritage sites or catch one of the many festivals throughout the year. Want some history? There are countless memorials and monuments throughout D.C. and all the Smithsonian museums are free. But what I love the most about D.C. is the multitude of talks and events hosted by renowned thinkers and leaders on current events from around the world -- and all you have to do to get in is sign up.

This week has flown by! I had my first class, settled in to my new internship, and some new friends and I are gearing up for InternsRock!! This week has been all business but that won't stop us from having some fun.  

Over the next 10 weeks I’m going to show you what it is like to be an intern in Washington D.C., from my first day to my last, the good and the bad!