As you sit in your chair and browse the Internet, take some time to consider why you are on The Washington Center's student blog site. If you're anything like me, then you are searching for entries that might answer your burning questions about the program. While I can't hope to answer your specific questions, perhaps my experiences can give you some sort of idea what to expect. With that said, my name is Zach and welcome to my blog! I will attempt to entertain you, charm you, and keep you coming back to read my entries. I am currently interning at the Rock Creek Nature Center, and have an entire week of experience so far! I'll break down my first week into a few categories since there seems to be so much to cover.

The Road to Washington

I didn't feel prepared before I left my comfortable home in Michigan. There were a number of questions I had, and I felt that a two-day orientation would not be enough time to adjust to a new life in the capital. Despite this, I was still excited for a change of scenery and a new experience. Even though I was excited to start the program, I was worried it would be a giant disappointment. Needless to say, I was cautiously optimistic about what The Washington Center would really be like.

We arrived in Washington on Saturday and didn't have orientation until Monday. I used this time to get acquainted with the city's metro system. It was somewhat confusing to order tickets and to get the passes to work. I got stuck a number of times trying to get in and out of the gates. It was disheartening. Then I turned my attention to where I would shop for necessities. I wasn't sure if there was a store nearby, or if I would starve to death. Even the weather seemed to be foreboding. It was cold and dreary on the drive down and into the city.

My luck seemed to change on Sunday. All the students began to move in and I finally made it to my new apartment. The staff was helpful and friendly, and was able to answer most of my questions. The apartment had all the furniture and cookware a college student could want, and was surprisingly nice. My roommates and I got acquainted, and said goodbye to our respective parents. Now all that was left was to start our orientation.

This is our new kitchen.

It is probably the cleanest you'll see it before it is declared a disaster area.

Learning The Ropes

Orientation on Monday was informative, but it reminded me of every other orientation I have ever been to. It was the classic: "We're so excited... best semester ever!" and so on. On Tuesday, we broke into our programs and got a lot of useful information from our advisors. I even got a free lunch out of it (which is a godsend for people like me). These sessions were extremely helpful in answering all of my questions and preparing me for my job on Wednesday. In between all the programmed events, I managed to explore the National Mall for a bit. Even in the cold of winter, it was full of joggers, tourists, and patrons.

If you're bored, go to the National Mall. There is tons of free stuff to do.

Wednesday was our trial by fire. We all eagerly (or nervously) got on the metro and headed for work. I arrived at the Rock Creek Nature Center and discovered that I was not the only Washington Center who was interning there. This was a nice surprise since my 45-minute commute would not consist of me sitting alone on a crowded bus. The work doesn't seem to be horribly demanding, and the staff is extremely nice. All of the park rangers have the most interesting back-stories imaginable. One fellow, it seems, has tried every occupation imaginable (military, acting, academia, traveling, ranger, etc). This internship looks like a great fit for me.

Final Thoughts

So far, the program has been going smoothly. Despite my hesitation, everything seems to be working out fine and I am enjoying myself. The city is like a maze, with something around every corner. One thing that has shocked me is how fast I adjusted. I thought I wouldn't be able to master the Metro, particularly the bus, but it only took a few days. If you're worried about the adjustment to a new city, just take things in stride. It will help you adjust quickly.

Be sure to get to the Smithsonian museums as well! They are free and impressive. I was able to go to the Natural History Museum and had a blast looking at all the exhibits. To my surprise, hardly any of the students I've talked to haven't been there yet. There are tons of things to do if you get bored so be ready to explore as much as possible.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some sleep I've been neglecting to catch up on. Until next time my faithful readers!