Slow down, W8, week 8

Hopefully all of y'all caught the pun of W8 (because wait, slow down, I don't want this to end) but if you didn't, there's your explanation.

It was a mighty long week.  I loved every minute of it, don't get me wrong.  but wow.  Long...yet not long enough because here I am complaining that I only have 2 weeks left.  I got asked to stay for an extra week but I don't know if I could do that.  Not unpaid, at least.

Monday--I had class with a group presentation that was due.  I hate presenting, honestly.  Don't get me wrong, it's not that I'm scared of it because c'mon, I love people.  But it's just tedious and you're always afraid to frustrate your group members by not coming in the clutch like you need to.  Luckily, I had an awesome group so it was a flawless presentation.  After I got out of class (which was surprisingly early) I met up with Mel because she came to see me in DC!  Exciting to have your best friend of the past 7 years with you in a city that you STILL haven't gotten to see all of.  I took her to the monuments because what else were we gonna do since it had rained all day...BUT nonetheless, it rocked.

Tuesday--work was average, kind of slow for the day, but had a really awesome meeting which went VERY smoothly to my delight as well as Abby's (other intern with me in our office) considering we were supposed to be handling all the logistics of it.  After work, I napped because I needed it and then Mel and her parents picked me up and took me to dinner.  Let me get something out in the open right now, I love the Pesek family.  They rock, literally the sweetest set of people you will ever meet.  After dinner, I had a cab pick up Mel and I and we drove around DC--I took her past the Capitol, over past the monuments, and then we started at the White House and walked ALL the way back down to the Lincoln Memorial with a group of random people we met.  It was worth it though, it's nice being so outgoing sometimes because I never never NEVER meet a stranger.  Dinner rocked though, we had Haagen Dazs for dessert, and an awesome Uber driver who offered to drive us around whenever we wanted hahaha.

Wednesday--this was my best day by far.  Yet another meeting, trying to handle the logistics and grasping for some explanations somewhere down the line--you don't get the clearest directions when you work for the government, but you work with what you have and learn along the way.  The last half of the day was most exciting but I do have to admit that I love my office.  Everyone in my office is so great that I really enjoy going to our staff meetings.  Jimmy Story is my hero and that probably will not change for a very very VERY long time.  After the staff meeting, I had a meeting to go to with my supervisor about one of my projects with someone else who works in INL and ended up being given an INL challenge coin, which I personally think is the best part of it but then again, I'm a little nerdy.  After that, I went to the meeting that I helped set up and escorted, only to escort someone from the DoD; I ended up chatting with her for a while about what life was like on that side of the fence and it turns out that I am going to find out sometime this week on my visit to their offices.  The meeting went well and Brownfield is a rockstar.  I got a few new projects, which is exciting, and worked through the day.  Thankfully, Lester was hungry when we got off work and we went all the way to Crystal City to Chick-Fil-A where I got to also see the OU office in the Crystal City mall!  

Thursday--Thursday was a blur, nothing too good or exciting happened, but I went on a good run after work (pictured below) and sent out a few emails that needed to be addressed.  

Friday--work was great, I felt like I got a lot accomplished early in the day and reached out to everyone that I needed to reach out to.  I tried my very first street vendor hotdog at lunch and it was AWESOME (and cheap) and the vendor was actually a really patient guy when he found out all I had was my card.  He said I could go eat first and then pay him after I finished lunch, but obviously I found a card machine and paid him ASAP.  After work, I ran back home, got everything put together, and made my way to Union Station to catch my amtrak to go see my sister and niece.  I upgraded to business class because I'm paranoid and didn't know how Amtrak worked, but in the end it was definitely worth it.  I sat behind a guy who heard me mention that it was my first time on an Amtrak train and he started a conversation with me; he was in his late 50's, a grad from Ole Miss, and seemed genuinely interested in what I was doing in DC all the way from Oklahoma.  He assumed I was already in grad school (which made me feel good because I never get mistaken for being older than I actually am) and when I told him I wasn't, he got even more curious.  He continued to ask me about my dreams, aspirations, etc.  He worked for the Associated Press for 35 years as a political correspondent--needless to say, he recommended never going into journalism because it didn't pay well.  After finding out that he was a political correspondent for a while, he said that he just recently changed to his job now where he works at a law firm out of Richmond but that they also have an office in DC.  Once again, I never meet a stranger so it was cool to have someone to sit by and talk to about my future, someone who actually doesn't laugh at you, ya know?  He asked if I considered going into law school and when I said hell no, he gave me his card and said he saw potential in me.  Needless to say, I was excited because once you get into the professional world, you realize there is no better compliment than receiving a business card with the whole "contact me soon, we'll talk more about this and what you want to do when you graduate" kinda conversation.  We talked professional, we talked college football, and ended the convo (sadly enough) once I got to my destination.  I finally got to my sister's and was so happy to see her and my niece, but went straight to bed that night.

Saturday--I spent all day with my niece, sister, basically brother-in-law/basically other niece, and we spent some time on the lake.  We came home, I helped with dinner (the good Lord KNOWS I love mashed potatoes) and had an awesome home cooked meal.  I watched a movie with my sister and Daniel at the end of the night and then all but passed out.

Sunday--today was mainly packing, spending as much time as I could with them, and then getting in a little lake time. 

My train was late so alas, I could be arriving in the next 15 minutes but instead, it's gonna be another 25.  That's all right though, I'm learning (slowly...very slowly) to be patient.  Thankfully, it was an awesome weekend of relaxing and getting in a little family time while I could.  Back to the grind in DC--pray for me for these next two weeks because I know that they're gonna fly by.  Meanwhile, enjoy the pictures and expect the next two posts to be depressing; I'm not ready to leave this city or the awesome people that I've met and connected with.  So with that, the greatest lessons I have learned this week are:
1. Appreciate the people who surround you and provide you with constant love and support.
2. All you have is today.  You aren't guaranteed a tomorrow and the past will be irrelevant in 3-6 months.
3. Reach out to who you can, when you can.  People are a beautiful thing and good karma is real.

Once you say you're going to settle for second, that's what happens to you in life, I find.

-John F. Kennedy

70%

Okay, week 7 is complete.  I cannot believe that this summer has gone by so fast; I feel like for as much as I have done while I've been here, I haven't seen half of what I want to see and that...well, that's a tough cookie to swallow.  This week was kind of cool but overall, pretty boring.  The office has basically been empty because everyone (and I seriously mean everyone and their mother) has been on vacation.  Luckily, most of them come back this week.

Monday--I was lucky enough to attend a meeting with an NGO called WOLA.  It's the Washington Office on Latin America and they're interesting.  The meeting was supposed to be more so about Colombia but ended up comparing Colombia to Peru and Guatemala and let's be real...those countries just don't compare.

Tuesday--I had class at the Embassy of Tribal Nations and oh my GOSH.  Our speaker was AMAZING.  She literally blew my mind with the amount of information she provided us with, on top of how passionate she is about improving the lives of Natives across the nation.  She strictly just wants the Native people to not remain the invisible people they are today.  We discussed the Redskins issue and that name really does cut deeper than any of most of you are aware of, so let me get on my soapbox for just a second.

Sadly enough, our American history courses do not even break the tip of the iceberg on Native history.  Not one single bit.  Do you know why Redskins is offensive?  It's because way back when we were in a period of termination of our Native people, "Redskins" referred to the scalp of a Native person while they were advertising bounties. For example, "$200 reward offered for a Redskin" and once the Indian was murdered, he/she would be scalped, their scalps would be sold, and then made into something like wallets or something of a leathery substance.  So for those of you thinking that it's just a liberal ploy for attention--guess again.  ALSO TAKE NOTES ON WHEN THE NAME WAS GIVEN.  The name was given to them when America was in a period of termination--you know, trying to PERMANENTLY remove Indians from the American "homeland".  Anyway, just thought I would throw that out there.

Wednesday--I loved Wednesday.  I was really lucky to be able to attend a meeting that was strictly in Spanish about community policing in Central America.  Surprisingly enough, I caught myself understanding more Spanish than I thought I would and realizing how much help Central America really wants.  After work, I met up with my mom's best friend Ed and Ed's brother, Bill.  The metro ride into Maryland (through southeast DC, mind you...) was interesting, but Ed and Bill treated me to the BEST DINNER I HAVE HAD SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE.  If y'all haven't been to Char House  in Old Town Alexandria...you need to go.  Thanks to Bill and Ed for treating me and driving me around, on top of providing some of their advice and expertise for me.  I loved it.

Thursday--I GOT TO GO TO THE WHITE HOUSE.  Shout out to Javier for taking us through.  Javier is a rockstar, he is one of the many people I have met that work in DC and just continue inspiring me to follow my dreams.  Javier and Aris both; I have yet to meet two people who love each other so much, but love what they do as well.  I feel like I have two cheerleaders on my side who just want to see me make it back to DC and travel the world once I finally get a job out here.  

Friday actually went by so slow that I don't even remember what I did all day Friday.  That's how long it was.  Friday night, I wrote a paper and it was miserable, the end.

Saturday I woke up with a migraine, but went to the powwow and loved it.  I miss when I was little and my mom used to drag me around to powwows, festivals, and Red Earth days in OKC.  But I came back early because the migraine got so bad and slept for another two hours; I FINALLY GOT TO MEET UP WITH INDIA!  Goodness, I am so glad to have a sister here for the rest of the summer.  It's a total blessing, and Saturday night was so great.

Today, I woke up and got ready, went to Starbucks, and went to the National Zoo.  Ugh, Bao Bao is so cute.  Bao Bao is the baby panda and it was totally worth all of the sweat that happened to see him.  I forgot how much I seriously love animals and the zoo.  After the zoo, we came back and changed and rushed to the Potomac to go kayaking.  My arms are legitimately sore but it was SO fun.  I've also met the second wind of interns from OU that are here for the remainder of the summer and have loved every single one of them.  No worries though, there's no shortage on pictures and they're all going to be posted tonight.  

The biggest lessons I learned this week are short and simple.

1.) Chase your dreams.

Never in a million years did I ever think that I would end up within the gates of the White House; I feel like a kid again.  My want for a shot at the presidency was literally reignited as soon as I stepped into the Blue Room.

2.) You are NOT alone, ever.

You are not alone in the way you think, feel, act, or just in general.  There are a lot of people out there who have similar dreams and when you actually meet them, it is such a beautiful thing.

I'll end this with one more story; I got the chance to catch up with someone back home and it was one of those things where you realize you're basically the same person with the same mindset, you know?  I mean, before this conversation happened, I didn't realize that there was anyone out there who actually thinks along the SAME EXACT LINES as me.  Someone so excited to start their future but with so many viable options in front of them.  So after one of the longest weeks of my life with another one on the horizon, I am just super thankful for Austin this week (I'm not one to drop last names so all of you creepy people can go out and see who I'm talking about so don't ask).  Realizing that maybe you aren't as crazy as you originally thought because there's someone out there just like you is refreshing and most definitely reassuring.  

Off my official soapbox, sorry this post was so long.  Goodnight and good luck and as always, I'll leave y'all with a quote.

When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.

-John M. Richardson Jr.

Week 6

An entire wave of emotion has set in for this week.  Words cannot describe how sad I am that more than 50% of my time here is completely over.  Time is a funny thing you know; everyone spends their days worrying about having enough time to do something or wishing it away so they can move onto something else, and then poof.  It's gone and everything you waited for or all that time you wished away can't come back.

Last Sunday was a little weird.  I was starving so I walked to McDonald's to get food, alone.  Alone is fine, it's just McDonald's and you aren't allowed to take more than thirty minutes to eat your food inside anyway; on the way out, I saw that there were three homeless men just sitting outside.  None of them asked me for money, asked me for help, harassed me, anything.  Recognizing that the number of homeless people here in DC is high, I was also humbled.  I asked the three of them if they had eaten dinner and let them order whatever they wanted--no, they didn't order the largest thing on the menu.  They asked for something off the dollar menu and I went home knowing that I had just left three people very happy for the night.  Regardless of your opinions on homeless people, you never know the situation.  Help out where you can because good karma is a thing.  Later, I realized how much I miss being surrounded by familiarity and a constant support group; naturally, I called someone from home and I finally thought I was all right...only to have a rat run across my foot.  Yes, a rat.  I'm talking a rat the size of the rats in the Nutcracker.  Nonetheless, I wasn't devoured and I'm alive and well.

Monday was the start of a new week though, so as always we're gonna knock this blog out in one swift move (based on 7 days...) and this entire week.  Monday was busy but great, I actually got to meet with someone who works in intel and research at State.  He was really cool, very young, and pretty down to earth.  We knocked out the obvious questions during our conversation together--he's from New York, I'm from Oklahoma, it was culture shock for him to even listen to me talk.  I learned the following from the conversation: 

It's dangerous to even acknowledge someone you don't know on the metro--literally, don't even smile at them.

I might want to work in intel and research someday.  I've never met someone so young but SO full of knowledge.

The people in DC are supposedly (I REALLY don't understand this one) nicer than they are in New York...New York must be a miserable place.

Anyway, he also gave me my favorite piece of advice that I've heard since I've been here: You cannot make a decision for your future today, based on an idea that you have of what tomorrow might bring to the table.  

Needless to say, it was a really great lunch.  I had class on Monday night, got out early, only to wait on a bus for over an hour.  Basically, I would've rather sat in class for another hour than have waited outside in a dark, humid bus stop of DC.

Tuesday wasn't super exciting or anything--I did meet some REALLY great people at a happy hour inside State though, all while we enjoyed the soccer game.  I really enjoyed the discussion in my Native Nations class.  Yeah yeah, super nerdy, I know, but you don't realize how relevant Native Americans SHOULD be, but absolutely are not, in today's society.  Every time I'm in class, I realize that I'm surrounded by some of the most intelligent people that I have ever met and some employer out there is missing out.  Another piece of advice I got that is not only relevant when writing, but also just for life in general:

Say what you're gonna say, say it, then tell them what you said; shout out to Peter Morris (my professor) for doing the most.  Seriously, what an awesome person.

I also had another relevant conversation later that night about my future and let me tell you, I get so worked up about my future that I could talk about it for hours.  So naturally, when someone asks me about my future, I catch myself getting overexcited and talking too much; yet another piece of advice (I'm full of advice from this week) from some relevant person in my life: 

Don't be embarrassed by the things you're passionate about.  Thanks for the pep talk Logan, appreciate you too.

Wednesday was exciting.  I was given the opportunity to go to a meeting inside of USAID and what a seriously insane building; it's nice to see the other side of foreign aid too, within different agencies and what not.  I also found out that I have been presented with a chance to go tour the White House sometime this week and that is SO exciting.  Someone I know who works within the White House has gotten us a tour and that's insane.  Also--heat index on Wednesday was 109 degrees so if you think Oklahoma is bad...well, at least y'all aren't all dressed up and walking around because walking and public transit is your only means of getting anywhere.  I caught myself thanking the good Lord above that I'm a girl because dresses might be uncomfortable, but a full black suit and tie when it's that hot outside?  Eh, hard pass...

Thursday was basically nothing.  I went to work, met up with my favorite FSO for some coffee and a chat about the week, then basically did a few things until lunch and my office let me go at 1 PM.  Lesson of the day: no one in DC does anything, no matter what entity you might be working for, on July 3.  I came home, took the longest nap of my life, enjoyed a solid dinner at Five Guys with Arthur and Lester, then hung out with my OU friends the remainder of the night.  

Friday--FOURTH OF JULY!  Day parties everywhere.  I had such a blast; you don't know how much you love America until you've spent the Fourth of July here.  I'm dead serious.  It's wonderful.  Alexa and Maddie, you all rock for spending the day with me.  After some fries and a milkshake, I wandered to the mall with Alexa and we watched the show.  The day was so long that we came back and chilled until Maddie got back--then walked to McDonald's.  Things are a little different in DC y'all.  Walking anywhere at dark in DC is a little dangerous if not terrifying.  Needless to say, it was an experience and the Southern mentality of "give everyone the benefit of the doubt" that I have grown up with all my life is now out the window.  You live and you learn though.

Saturday was a new day.  Kyle is gone (crying) so then...there was four.  We went to the pool for part of the afternoon and then came back, snacked, and I ended up going to my dad's.  What a good decision because I ate my body weight in peel and eat shrimp, rice, and cheesecake all while enjoying a World Cup game.  I love Blue Ridge--best place to just relax and literally put DOWN some seafood.

Sunday, thank goodness, is wrapping up already.  This weekend has been so long and great, but I'm actually very ready to be back at work.  I had a solid day with my pops, driving around in the Camaro and then experiencing my first ever "authentic" Chinese restaurant.  If any of you ever get the chance to go to Peking Gourmet Inn...wow.  I have never put down that much food in my life.  

So to wrap up all the miscellaneous things I've learned this week:

The idea of a "Southern Gentleman" is actually a joke.  They're one in a bazillion and don't believe that just because one holds the door open for you that they were raised right--my dog has more manners than half of the men out here, lolz.

Every good story starts with a tinder match.

I could probably start a successful show called "Dammit Clegg" with all the moments in my lifetime that someone has said that to me--the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Texas can't actually secede, so jokes on all of you Texans who think "TEXAS FOREVER" is actually a thing.

Finally, when you're feeling down and all that crap...suck it up.  Life could be worse and in the next six months, whatever is bothering you now will probably be irrelevant. 

Onto the next four weeks, let's hope life slows down a little.

Until then, thanks for keeping up.

The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.

-Oscar Wilde