Seven days under my belt in the big city and I'm just soaking it all in...maybe a tad too fast.

Since last Thursday (9/1/11), I have…

• Been awed by the bone structures of giraffes, turtles, fish, and deer (just to name a few) at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Pinocchio relative possibly?

• Witnessed the beauty of a “Buckeye” butterfly (I like to believe it got its name from the Buckeye trees in Ohio) in the LIVE Butterfly Pavilion also at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
• Stretched my neck backwards from looking up to the tip-top of the Washington Monument (unfortunately it is currently closed due to earthquake damage).

This doesn’t do justice to its size.

• Paid a visit to President Obama’s front and back yards.  With two enormous lawns like his, I’d get a Wiffle ball game organized!
• Toured Galluadet University, a campus for those deaf or hard of hearing.  My roommate, Cara, knows some sign language so she wanted to check it out.   While walking through, the Bison football squad was playing my sister’s college alma mater (Otterbein University, Columbus, Ohio).  What were the chances?!
• Gazed upon the Potomac River while standing on the boardwalk of the Washington Harbour.  What a gorgeous, and lively, place!  Can’t wait to go back for an evening out.  Planes came soaring in for landing at the Reagan National Airport.  So surreal to watch.

On the boardwalk of the Washington Harbour gazing across the Potomac River...how refreshing!

Ready to experience more of this urban environment. I prefer not to be cliche, but can't help myself...what an opportunity The Washington Center provides for those who take advantage.  They're organized and have high expectations for each intern.  We're treated at a professional level because after all, we are in a very professional city, our nation's capital.

Within our entire program, each intern is placed into a smaller group based on his/her area of study and internship placement. Such groups include (but not limited to):

• Advocacy, Service, and Arts
• Business and Global Trade
• Media and Communications
• Law and Criminal Justice
• International Affairs
• Political Leadership
• Science, Techology, and Society.

Believe me when I say you do not have to be a political guru to enter this program.  It's wonderful to familiarize with those within your group.  With all our commonalities, it's no wonder we're studying similar areas in school.

We just completed our third day of work.  It is zooming by already at the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA)!  There are three other gals at the same internship site.  We connect exceptionally well.  We're all ecstatic for Casual Fridays!  We now relate to the rest of the professional working force.

I have developed so much respect for my supervisor in such a short time.  She was an intern herself.  She's been in our shoes.  She also keeps us busy, which I rarely complain about.  Lately, we've been working on flyers for a number of events and mass mailings holding those flyers.  I really do feel like we are valuable relievers and assistants for NHMA's staff.  NHMA will provide an experience so pivotal to helping me make future decisions.  I can't thank the organization enough for taking a chance and bringing me on board to utilize my work ethic, knowledge, and skills.

I will say this at the end of each blog:  To those teeter-tottering whether to experience this program and city, please, please, please add comments here with any questions or concerns about ANYTHING.  I'm more than willing to be of any assistance to you about housing, traveling, interning, etc.  There were a number of issues I was nervous about before arriving, but after eight days, they've subsided tremendously.  Push your nerves aside.  Ask.  You never know where it'll lead you.

Until next time...!