Last weekend was glorious. Not only did I have a four-day weekend, it was July 4^th. With my extra day off, I tried hitting the Holocaust Museum, the place I have wanted to see the most since coming here. Unfortunately, I could not get a ticket that late in the day. They had an excellent exhibit on Nazi propaganda, however, that I was able to tour. The tour guide made a frightening point when, at the end, he made us realize how much propaganda we see each day. We get to see the rest of the museum today, with advanced tickets!

A few friends and I went to the Folk Life Festival on the mall that weekend as well. Despite being a million degrees, it was quite interesting. We were able to see some traditional Mexican dancing, along with several stations discussing the production and consumption of tequila, haha. One gentleman told us this multi-step process for taking a sip. He ended by saying, “First you drink it with water, then without water, and lastly, like water.” You have to love the humor in this place.

We went to several other events this week. We went to the aquarium, which was awesome but surprisingly small. The American Art Museum has a great contemporary art gallery (and it was not crowded!). We celebrated the 4^th of July by going to a local park and watching the fireworks. It felt very patriotic to be in Washington for America’s birthday, but I have to say, the fireworks were a little lame this year. Chalk it up to budget cuts, I guess.

After the 4^th we went to the zoo, which was a lot of fun, except the gorillas kept throwing up and then eating their vomit, which was pretty bizarre. Friday I learned that one of the best ways to end the work-week is to hit the sculpture garden for their weekly jazz festival. It is a great way to end the week, with some jazz, some sangria, and a pulled-pork sandwich!

I have continued to realize how little people know about Indian Affairs. It makes me happy that I work with NCAI, because I care about raising awareness among non-Natives, like myself, about Indian issues. It is for this reason that I am excited about a web project I have been working on. I am working with economic and community development, and I am helping redesign that section of the new NCAI website. I am looking at the issue through the lens of educating and informing a non-Native audience, while also providing resources for tribal leaders, policymakers, native community members, and others. As a history major and (hopefully) future educator, I care about this public awareness piece. My supervisor admits that NCAI’s weakest efforts are in public outreach. It is a good feeling to be bringing my unique perspective to NCAI to help the organization in a real, tangible way.

My advisor came from school this week, and he confronted me with this simple question: what have you learned? To close, I have learned too much since I have been here to recount, or even to realize. I have learned practical skills, like budgeting, cooking, and others, professional skills such as researching, and all kinds of content and other things.

One of the things I am happiest to have learned is about people. I have met all sorts of people, from all over, and to have built a community and sense of camaraderie with them is an incredible feeling. It scares me to think that I would never have met these amazing people, never have experienced their perspectives and stories and points of view, if I had been too scared to take the risk and come here. What I have learned is that it is necessary to take some risks in life, and stepping out of that comfort zone will reap huge rewards in the end, bigger than anyone can imagine.

Last weekend was glorious. Not only did I have a four-day weekend, it was July 4^th. With my extra day off, I tried hitting the Holocaust Museum, the place I have wanted to see the most since coming here. Unfortunately, I could not get a ticket that late in the day. They had an excellent exhibit on Nazi propaganda, however, that I was able to tour. The tour guide made a frightening point when, at the end, he made us realize how much propaganda we see each day. We get to see the rest of the museum today, with advanced tickets!

A few friends and I went to the Folk Life Festival on the mall that weekend as well. Despite being a million degrees, it was quite interesting. We were able to see some traditional Mexican dancing, along with several stations discussing the production and consumption of tequila, haha. One gentleman told us this multi-step process for taking a sip. He ended by saying, “First you drink it with water, then without water, and lastly, like water.” You have to love the humor in this place.

We went to several other events this week. We went to the aquarium, which was awesome but surprisingly small. The American Art Museum has a great contemporary art gallery (and it was not crowded!). We celebrated the 4^th of July by going to a local park and watching the fireworks. It felt very patriotic to be in Washington for America’s birthday, but I have to say, the fireworks were a little lame this year. Chalk it up to budget cuts, I guess.

After the 4^th we went to the zoo, which was a lot of fun, except the gorillas kept throwing up and then eating their vomit, which was pretty bizarre. Friday I learned that one of the best ways to end the work-week is to hit the sculpture garden for their weekly jazz festival. It is a great way to end the week, with some jazz, some sangria, and a pulled-pork sandwich!

I have continued to realize how little people know about Indian Affairs. It makes me happy that I work with NCAI, because I care about raising awareness among non-Natives, like myself, about Indian issues. It is for this reason that I am excited about a web project I have been working on. I am working with economic and community development, and I am helping redesign that section of the new NCAI website. I am looking at the issue through the lens of educating and informing a non-Native audience, while also providing resources for tribal leaders, policymakers, native community members, and others. As a history major and (hopefully) future educator, I care about this public awareness piece. My supervisor admits that NCAI’s weakest efforts are in public outreach. It is a good feeling to be bringing my unique perspective to NCAI to help the organization in a real, tangible way.

My advisor came from school this week, and he confronted me with this simple question: what have you learned? To close, I have learned too much since I have been here to recount, or even to realize. I have learned practical skills, like budgeting, cooking, and others, professional skills such as researching, and all kinds of content and other things.

One of the things I am happiest to have learned is about people. I have met all sorts of people, from all over, and to have built a community and sense of camaraderie with them is an incredible feeling. It scares me to think that I would never have met these amazing people, never have experienced their perspectives and stories and points of view, if I had been too scared to take the risk and come here. What I have learned is that it is necessary to take some risks in life, and stepping out of that comfort zone will reap huge rewards in the end, bigger than anyone can imagine.

The time is just flying by! This week we had to remind our supervisors to turn in our mid-term evaluations. Mid-term, already? This is madness!

I think it is safe to say that I have adjusted to Washington, DC, life. I think I realized this one morning on the way to work, when I was on the Metro and I was nearly sleeping in my seat. Only city-dwellers are comfortable enough to do that! Then, on the way up the escalator, some tourists were standing on the left side (the rule is to stand on the right, and walk on the left). I found myself thinking, “stupid tourists,” and then remembered that, since I am only here for ten weeks, I am sort of an “extended tourist” myself. Eh, for the rest of the summer I can at least play the part. I think I am a decent actor, heh heh.

For class, we have to do informational interviews, where we interview someone in a career to which we aspire in order to gain more insights into that career. This past week I approached my supervisor for such an interview, and he surprised me by setting up an interview with the executive director of my organization! I was understandably nervous and I felt guilty for taking this busy woman’s time, but it ended up being a very enjoyable (and even inspirational) thirty minute conversation. I found out that Jackie never even finished her college degree, and instead was involved in tribal/organizational leadership and just has a lot of guts. She advised me that if something is worth doing, to just go for it. A lot of people complain but do nothing to change the world around them. Anyway, we shared a few laughs, and I left quite inspired. She helped me realize that academic credentials are just that—credentials, a “maybe,” a “should be.” This piece of paper says you should be able to do (insert job here). While this is important, it is the people with the most courage and perseverance who change the world, who make history.

I learned something else this week. The staff at my office was mostly gone, attending a mid-year conference in South Dakota. It was on us, the interns, to be NCAI’s eyes and ears of the National Congress of American Indians for the week, staying up-to-date on legislation, hearings, and any new developments that could impact American Indians. We were all suitably nervous for such responsibility. However, once we got the hang of things, we realized that we are all capable of handling the work. We attended congressional hearings, took notes, and submitted summaries like champions. Although the job ended up being less scary than I thought, I realized that, when faced with a job you think is too big for you, you just have to do it, challenge it, and surprise yourself with your competence.

Speaking of surprises—after attending a hearing for my job, I was walking through the  Russell Senate building looking for the exit when, all of a sudden, John McCain walked by and nodded his head at me! Star Power! (Oh, and it was sort of a confidence booster  to see that a presidential contender is around the same height as I am.)

A bunch of us put on our patriot caps and toured the Capital building this past weekend, with the help of a roommate who works for a Representative. After being awed by the rotunda, we walked over to the American History Museum. This is easily my favorite Smithsonian thus far. I still have to hit the Holocaust museum…

I also realized this week that there are a ton of Scientology churches in DC. It dawned on me when I was walking from the Metro to work one day, and I saw a man wearing a mask from the film, V for Vendetta, who was standing in front of a Scientology church. Fortunately, I had my camera and got some shots. The “v-for-vendetta protester,” as I call him, has become one of my “regulars.” There are certainly some crazy things to be seen in this city, but I still think there are more crazies in New York.

To close—this experience continues to be incredible. It is at the point now, however, that I know there is a bittersweet moment on the horizon. I remember looking forward happily to the day I could come home, having completed my internship, to see my girlfriend, friends, and family back home again. Now, looking forward, I am not sure that leaving will be so joyous. It has not taken long to build strong bonds with my peers here and with the city itself. It is really surprising actually, but it is a beautiful thing. The people I have met here, from my fellow interns, to random neighbors, to friends of friends, to coworkers, I will remember for years to come.

I hate goodbyes. I know there are still several weeks left here, but I know that this goodbye will be especially difficult. Who knows if I will ever see any of these fine comrades again? It is here that I remembered something one of my philosophy professors remarked to me once, that someone had theorized that everyone meets a certain number of people, thirty-some I think she said, who will change your life. It is important to be careful how one treats others, then, as you never know who might be one of your “thirty-something” people. I have a feeling I have met a few of my life-changers here. Hopefully I can make someone’s list myself…

Work at NCAI is starting to get more fun. At first, it was fun to be at the Embassy of Tribal Nations, but the work was starting to feel a little mundane. This week I’ve got my first taste of substantive work, researching bills on online gambling and creating briefs for my supervisor, drafting letters on behalf of NCAI to be sent to congressmen, and attending my first congressional hearing. Our big mid-year conference is coming up next week, and most of the staff will be out in Rapid City, South Dakota. During that week, everyone will be counting three fellow interns and me to be their “eyes and ears” back in DC. We will be responsible for tracking key legislation, hearings, and other developments, and reporting back to them. No pressure, heh heh. Anyway, it feels good to know that we are trusted enough to have that much responsibility entrusted to us. Also, it is good to have a challenge to help us all grow professionally and personally.

Speaking of congressional hearings, something occurred to me about DC this week: I can’t escape baseball! At the apartment, at work, and even at the House hearing I attended on the Hill, everyone seems to mention our national pastime. As someone who is not a big baseball fan, suffice it to say I don’t get most of these references.

Lesson of the week: look for specials. The city is expensive, and most of us interns are pretty poor. Thus, finding a half-off burger deal at the local pub and grill in Arlington was pretty GLORIOUS! The burgers are delicious and cheap. This is the recipe for a new after-class tradition on Mondays. As Howard Dean and Dave Chappelle would say, “BYAH!”

World Cup fever is sweeping the city. We checked it out in Dupont Circle this weekend, where several thousand people were crowded into the park to watch USA face UK. I have to say it made me feel pretty patriotic with all the flags waving around, and with my group yelling insults at the UK fans.

After the match, we stumbled into the Capital Pride event—the DC gay pride parade. It was my first time ever being at such an event, and I have to say, it was a lot of fun. As someone for whom issues of gay rights hit close to home, it felt good to see so many people supporting the cause in the city. It was also cool to see a friend that is not so sure how he feels about gay people step out of his comfort zone and attend the parade. It was interesting, to say the least, and it has definitely been a highlight of my experience so far.

I was very lucky to have an old, very good buddy of mine from home come down to visit this weekend. He joined the usual intern crew and we had a blast on Saturday night. A bunch of us guys topped it off Sunday morning by hitting the local IHOP for some greasy, delicious breakfast food. D.C. has been great so far, but it really felt good to have a part of “home” here with me.

One of my roommates got to DC later than everyone else, so I joined him Sunday to tour the monuments on the National Mall, which was my third time seeing the monuments. This time, however, it was different. At the Lincoln Memorial, I started feeling a little emotional when I was reading the Gettysburg Address off the wall. It could be that I’m just sentimental, or that I’m a history major and history “just affects me,” or that I’m just some kind of wimp—but I think it’s different. The weight of everything just hit me, and it was a surreal experience. Then we hit the Smithsonian Natural History Museum and got our edu-tainment on…

Last night, one of my roommates and I ditched the tourist traps of D.C. and hit a concert at the 9:30 Club. It was a memorable show, and it was cool to go somewhere unconventional. It was on the way back to the apartment that I realized the city didn’t feel so big, so foreign anymore. It feels surprisingly…comfortable. It doesn’t quite feel like home (I don’t think anyplace can replace upstate New York in my heart) but it doesn’t feel like Mars anymore.

One last note for this post—I mentioned last time how D.C. seems to be a surprisingly friendly city. My professor made the same remark yesterday in class, and contrasted her experience with the reputation of D.C. as a violent city. Sure, bad things happen here, but my experience here so far has truly challenged the biases I had coming into my new, temporary home. Many people on the streets or on the Metro are very kind. I saw a random guy help a blind man across a busy street yesterday. Closer to home, we had a party the other night and decided to yell down the balcony to our neighbors below. They were very friendly, and they came up to socialize.

So, although bad things happen often, being here just this short time has helped me realize that people aren’t so uncaring as I may have thought. There are a lot of good folks out there. There are a lot of interesting people waiting to change our lives—for the better.

The journey continues…

Speaking of comfort zones, first impression: the epically beautiful and historic buildings were not what wowed me at first; it was the HEAT AND HUMIDITY! Why did I waste that space in my luggage for pants and sweatshirts? Apparently Mother Nature doesn’t believe in temperatures below 80 degrees in this neck of the woods.

Seriously though, this is my first time ever being in the nation’s capital. Being from New York State, I’m used to the giant skyscrapers and semi-aggressive attitude of the Big Apple. Washington surprised me at first because it is a very low city, since the planners don’t want anyone to dwarf the capital. What the buildings may lack in size, they make up for in majesty. Of course, in the first few days of being here, a group of us interns did the touristy thing and checked out a bunch of the big-ticket items. I never realized what the Library of Congress really was. I was so humbled by its beauty that I could barely speak. Standing before Jefferson’s library, the hair stood on my neck. A short walk away at the Archives, I got chills as I stood before the Nation’s founding documents. Strolling down the Mall and visiting the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and other sites, it dawned on me that there is something magical about this city. And, we have only scratched the surface. Behind all these tourist traps, as epic, beautiful, and gravely important as they are, there must exist another city in the neighborhood restaurants, coffeeshops, and clubs that only real Washingtonians know, and which make their city home.

I am blessed to have three awesome roommates—one of whom calls himself “the most liberal man in Kentucky.” The other interns are a great crew as well—a diverse group of interesting folks hailing from Seattle to Dallas to New York, all the way out to cities in China. It only took a few days before we had a community party going, and all the initial awkwardness easily melted away. It is these comrades who will help make this whole experience truly memorable. The Hampton already feels like home.

Another surprising thing about Washington has been the genuine kindness I’ve felt since arriving here a week and a half ago. Nowhere has this been more apparent than at my internship, which is with the National Congress of American Indians. At orientation before going to my internship site the first time, my advisors at WII made it sound like I would walk in and get punched in the face because I’m an intern, but fortunately, nothing of the sort occurred! From day 1, I was “Will,” not “the intern.” My coworkers have been incredibly kind and helpful, and took me out to lunch my first day. They have already inspired me because the work to make the world a better place. For those of my coworkers who are American Indians themselves, they are fighting for the survival of their own communities, cultures, and families. I know it will be a great honor to work by their sides.

There is simply too much to write about the first week here, from bizarre shirtless bearded men in pink sunglasses to overpriced drinks at the clubs, but I suppose I shouldn’t be too long winded. It has definitely been intense trying to fit as much as we can into the first week of our short ten-week stay here in DC.

I suppose the first lesson, though, is to keep pushing that comfort zone and to keep challenging my own assumptions about other people, the world around me, and who I think I am. It is in this way that we can grow. The next chapter begins, and it must be faced with the laughing courage of a prizefighter, as Carl Sandburg would say.

And so the adventure begins.