It’s All About Time Management!

No matter what your interests may be, there are so many things to do in DC. Whether you are a political junkie, love to read, or are a straight-up “go getter”, DC is a great place to be. However, before you rush to join in on extracurricular activates, remember this: TWC work is extremely important!!

It is easy to forget while you’re working in such an amazing city that you are also a student. I sure know that I did forget this sometimes (or maybe a lot). It is important that while in DC you make the most of your time. Go and establish those connections, meet that interesting author on a subject that only you enjoy, but remember, as part of TWC you must wear two hats. It is so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and forget about your obligations (i.e. portfolio, journals, etc.). So make sure that you devote ample time to getting these things out of the way.

The most important part to completing everything to manage your time effectively. Here are a few tips that might help.

1. Make a work schedule—and stick to it. Designate particular days as “TWC work days.” Does not have to be an entire day; it could be just two hours three times during the week. However, do not designate days that you know you will likely go out (i.e. no Friday or Saturday nights).

2. Do work with your roommates. It is more enjoyable to work together—at least for me—than it is to work by yourself sometimes. Plus, seeing other people doing work may be just the right motivation.

3. Start EARLY!!! I cannot stress this point enough. Although the work is not that difficult, it is rather time consuming. Attack each assignment as soon as you get it and, before you know it, you will be done.

Hope this helps.

Rain, Rain Go Away…

If there is only one thing that you remember about DC, remember this: During the months of April and May, never leave home without an umbrella. People say that it always rains in the Pacific Northwest; I guess these people have never spent a spring in the District. I wish someone had given me this piece of advice prior to my arrival in DC. I would have saved money on replacing suits. Nothing ruins a nice suit quicker than an afternoon shower.

The worst part is that DC rain will catch you completely off-guard. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT be fooled by the morning sunshine….it’s a trick. I cannot tell you how many times I have laughed at the paranoid people carrying around umbrellas on picturesque spring days. Guess the joke was on me, since those folks were the ones who remained dry during the 7:30 shower.

Don't be the guy walking into the office with the dripping suit!! It's the worst.

So be smart and heed this nugget of wisdom. When you’re packing your bag, make sure you make room for your favorite umbrella. You do not want to end up like me, outside caught in the rain.

(Photo courtesy of http://readingharry.com/category/photophrase-of-the-day/)

Top 5 Must Visit Places….

There are a million cool places in DC; however there are only a hand full of places that must be visited whenever one travels to the District—especially if you are going to be in DC for a prolonged period of time. These places aren’t in order, but each is unique and most certainly worth the time.

Supreme Court of the United States- You do not have to be a legal scholar to enjoy the live action of the highest court in the land. Not to mention, the justices are hilarious. Be sure to get there early, really early. You would think folks were waiting for Redskins tickets.

Bangkok Bistro- The best Thai food in DC, hands down!!!

National Cathedral- It’s a trek to get there, but once you’re there, you will realize that the walk was worth it. The gothic architecture is amazing.

Ben’s Chili Bowl- I do not think the chili is as great as people say. However, the crew is amazing, and no trip to DC is complete without a stop by Ben’s.

Kramerbooks & Afterwords: Bookstore and Cafe- Beer + Books = Bliss

When you are make your list of destinations, make sure you add these wonderful places. Trust me, you will not be sorry!

Network, Network, Network!!!

I cannot stress enough the importance of networking. For years I have been told that networking is a critical part of climbing up the social and professional ladder. Nowhere is the more true than in the nation’s capital. Since I have been in DC, I have learned first hand the importance of shaking hands and making connections (with the right people, of course). DC is a small city, which makes networking that more important—especially if you are hoping to land a job here afterwards. Plus, practice makes perfect.

A strong network goes a long way.

No matter where you want to end up, DC is a great place to start building your professional network. You never know when a friend in a Congress member’s office might come in handy. Moreover, it never hurts to have a ton of people in your address book; it makes you feel important. You should strive to be like the people in those Verizon commercial. Take it from them; having the one of the strongest networks is great thing.

As an added bonus, most of the prime networking events feature free food and drinks. Just the other day, my friend, Dofo, and I were able to network with Mayor and his staff at a fundraiser. A few handshakes and a few free cocktails led to possible campaign jobs in the fall. You just never know what can happen if you meet the right people.

So go practice your introduction, get your suits and business cards ready, and build up your network one Washingtonian at a time!

(Photo courtesy of http://www.rics.org/Aboutus/Howwework/Industryalliances/Spotlight.htm)

Ain't no BBQ like a TWC BBQ

Spring is in the air!!!! What better way to kick it off than to fire up the grill? This past weekend, since the weather was fantastic, a few of the guys at the Grove decided to grill it up on the patio.

Amazing People + Amazing Food = Great Time.

Iron Chef Mike

Jacob & Keith living the good life

I even broke my vow against eating beef in order to partake in the festivities. A nice burger, along with an ice-cold brew, is the best way to cap of a week. To top it off, there was no rain!!! Mother Nature has a funny way of ruining my good days with unexpected showers. Luck must have been our side, since there was not a single drop!!!

Hopefully this isn’t the last time my good old friends fire up!!

Not So Ordinary People

It’s hard to believe that I have been in DC for since January. Since I started TWC, I have had my fair share of amazing experiences. I had the opportunity to do things that many individuals only dream of doing. Just the other day, I was walking from my office, all of sudden, Henry Paulson shows up. For those of us who are not economics junkies, Henry Paulson is the most recent Secretary of The Treasury. The chance to speak to Henry Paulson, or any person in government, is an opportunity that so many people—especially those political junkies—would die for. However, while meeting government officials is pretty cool, the best people to meet are the folks in TWC.

No joke, the guys and gals in TWC are some of the most amazing people out there. Since I’ve been in DC, I have met people from all around the country with so many amazing life experiences. Coming from the Northeast, I never envisioned interacting with someone from Wyoming or Montana, yet alone, forming a legitimate friendship. Coming from the Northeast, I had no idea about life in the states between the Coasts; I couldn’t even tell you where Indiana was on a map. However, since I have been here, I have gained a whole new outlook on life. It is so interesting to hear the perspectives that individuals outside of NYC or LA have on life, and I feel that my conservations with folks from Arkansas or Texas have allowed to grow tremendously. Living with such a diverse group of people has helped me shatter many, if not all, of the views I had coming into the program. I just wish that some of these would move to Jersey, so that they can keep me from falling back into my old ways of thinking.

Some of TWC's finest

Go New York, Go New York Go!!!

Man, listen up. DC is a great city. It has its own attitude, and the people here are all about making moves. I like DC...I really do. However, I must say that when it comes to cities, there is only one: The Big Apple, babbby!!! I am not saying that there not other cities in the country; there definitely are. Chicago, city. Los Angeles, city. However, it stops there. Sorry, I forgot Boston. Boston is definitely a city. While places like Boise, ID, Cleveland, OH, and Birmingham, AL are technically “cities”, they can not hold a candle to the big three (or four). Rightfully so, these cities do not fall into the big city category.

Look at all those smiling faces!

Thank God for tall buildings!!

NY's finest

I did not realize how much I took NYC for granted until I came to DC. I can get anything in NYC; not to say that DC has nothing to offer, as it certainly has its fair share of quality places. But, it's the little things that get to me. It might sound funny, but I have been craving turkey chili. Sadly, when I ask for turkey chili in the District, people look at me like I have two heads. Com’ on people, turkey chili is a necessity; just like Starbucks. Speaking of Starbucks, the Starbucks shops throughout the District close rather early. So, if you’re need of your café mocha or caramel macchiato with extra caramel, do not expect to get one past 8pm.

Since we’re on the subject of cities, let me give my list of five things that separate real cities (i.e. NYC, LA, CHI-town, and maybe Boston) from the pretenders (i.e. everywhere else):

1. Real cities never sleep: If everything in your city shuts down before 2am, it’s not a real city.

2. People know where your city is: If you have to tell someone what city you’re from and they ask what state that city is in, then your city is not a real city.

3. People from real cities believe that their city is the only place in the country that really matters: If you don’t believe this, your city is not a real city.

4. Real cities have their own special something( NYC=Times Square, LA: Sunset Strip, Chi-town: cool architecture): If your city does not have something that sets it apart from every other place in the country, then it is not a real city.

Times Square!!!

5. Real cities have their the own language: People from LA speak differently than people from NYC, and the same goes for CHI-town. If your city does not have a distinctive accent or vocabulary, then, again, it is not a real city.

Grindin'

I can honestly say that I have never before been immersed in such intellectually stimulating work. Since I joined the Protection Project, I have been working on some amazing human rights issue, most importantly, human trafficking. I am not going to lie, sometimes I do get jealous of my roommates when they get to go to those fancy dinners and gourmet breakfasts. But, you know what? Nothing beats working with people that plan on changing the world. And, to top it off, I am never stuck with boring grunt work. I mean, I occasionally scan a document—and by occasionally I mean once since I have been here—but, hey, you need to get your hands dirty every once and a while. So, while those working on the Hill may enjoy a few perks here and there, in no way are they doing nearly half the quality of work as I am doing at TPP. So, they can enjoy their steak dinners and black tie banquets, I have my reports on human trafficking in Bangladesh to keep me satisfied!!

Where "saving the world" happens

And, I must say that the folks at TPP are amazing. For real, they are not paying me to say this. Sadly, they are not paying me at all. It’s all good, though. They are an amazing group of intelligent minds. Plus, each of the full time staff members are from a different country, so I get so many different perspectives about issues—not to mention, they’re all women. What could be better than working with a bunch of 20-somethings with beautiful foreign accents? Nothing!!!

Three of the coolest interns in the world

So if TPP comes up on your plate, give it some thought. The work is interesting, and the people are even better. For those of you thinking about future careers, give some thought to a career in human rights. It is highly unlikely that you will become rich, but I guarantee that you will leave work feeling better about yourself. Well at least until you see that rich guy driving his porch with the top down. But who cares? Consumerism is out of style anyway. So, hopefully when you are deciding where to start you career, a human rights group comes to mind.

D.C., putting the “happy” back into happy hour!!!

If you were born after this date in 1988, this post is NOT for you!! For everyone else, I cannot begin to tell you how much I love happy hour in DC. Where I am from, there is nothing “happy” about happy hour. In fact, the only folks in the bar mid-day are depressed, jobless, or serving up shots of Jack to the depressed jobless people. However, in D.C., happy hour is an entirely different story. In D.C., happy hour is like recess, and everyone is counting down the minutes until it is time to play. No lie, as soon as the work day is done, people, myself included—hey, when in Rome, do as the Romans do—swarm to their bar of choice to celebrate the end of another long, grueling day of work in the capital. I have often heard mention of the importance of happy hour in DC—sort of like the siesta in Spain—however, I did not expect happy hour to be this awesome. The best part of it all is, not only is happy hour fun and cheap, happy hour is a prime networking opportunity. Just the other day, my roommate, Keith (real cool dude), and I were sitting down, having a couple of much deserved cold ones, when, all of a sudden, this random gentlemen—also named Keith—began conversing with us. Long story short, Keith introduced us to his friend, Danny, who just happens to work at one of the most prestigious law firms in country (sorry, but the firm will remain nameless). After hearing the name of the firm, I decided to take a risk and try to make a connection (shout out to Chris Mason). I’ll give you guys the abridged version of my conversation with Danny.

Me: Really,(Name of law firm)? That is amazing. What area do you practice?
Danny: White Collar and Securities.
Me: Fascinating. Where did you attend law school?
Danny: (Name of law school, which I am very familiar with)
Me: I plan on applying there in the fall. How did you like (name of school)?
Danny: It was great for IP.
Me: Listen, Danny, I have to conduct an interview with a person working in the field I plan on pursuing. Would you or someone at your firm be available to sit down for a brief interview? I understand that corporate attorneys are very busy, so I am flexible about the time.
Danny: Of course! Here is my contact information. We’ll make time.

Booyaahh!!! Connection made!!!

Roommates Sean and Keith enjoying the festivities. Andy for President!!!

So, do not get too happy during happy hour. You must be on your A game since you never know whom you are going to encounter. Chances are the person next to you is in a position to help you in some way.

Aside from being a great place to relax and meet professionals, happy hour is a great opportunity to chill out with some really amazing people, TWC, as well as non-TWC (shout out to Ariel and Sebastian). Nothing breaks the ice quicker than a couple of drinks. Plus happy hour is the only opportunity for an intern to catch a deal. Everything else, especially the Metro, is a rip-off and a half. I swear it feels like the “Metro Man” is always digging in my pocket. Seriously, I have been telling everyone how ridiculously overpriced the Metro is in D.C. I mean, you can get anywhere in NYC for just $2!!!! Right, Cassie and Kristen? However, I will save my frustration with the “Metro Man” for another post.

Now back to happy hour, and how much I love it. Yesterday, for instance, Keith and I had another awesome time at happy hour. Sebastian, a really cool dude from work, told me about a great place near work called Lucky Bar. After work, Sebastian and I met up with Keith for some well-priced beverages and even better priced wings. Soon after we arrived, Ariel, an awesome individual from New York, joined in the festivities. The atmosphere was really chill, and even though I do not play pool, it was cool that there was a pool table right in the middle of the floor. However, as crazy as it sounds, the highlight of the night, at least in my view, was the rather interesting conversation I had with Ariel about the socialization processes of various ethnic groups. It should come as no surprise that yesterday was a great day!!

All right folks, I feel I have explained why happy hour is amazing, and since these bars are not paying me to advertise for them, I think I will stop now. For those of you who have read through the entire post, I have a treat for you. Below are the names and locations of a few happy hour hotspots, and why each place is great. Enjoy.

By the way, if anyone is ever in need of someone to join him or her for happy hour, just hit me up; I am always down.

1107 crew plus Sherry and Erica, at our first happy hour in the District. We did not even work that day.

Front Page-Dupont Circle (Great bartenders, $2 Coronas on Thursday)
Lucky Bar-Connecticut Ave. & 18th St ($3 Yeungling, 25 cent wings)
Ventnor’s Sports Café-Adams Morgan (Fresh Popcorn, spicy peanut wings, “Recession Wednesdays”)
My Brother’s Place-Capital Hill (It’s sooo cheeeappp)

Rule #1: Never act like a tourist!

Whenever I am in a city that I have yet to familiarize myself with, I refrain from all activities which might draw the attention of the less scrupulous members of society—muggers, scam artists, pick pockets, and the like—who prey on those who are not familiar with the customs of America’s metropolitan areas. I have advised the individuals in TWC that have never been to a large city to follow my lead. This means adhering to the golden rule of city survival: NEVER ACT LIKE A TOURIST!! While enjoying the sites and sounds of a vibrant city is what makes the subway rides, cab fares, and expensive plan tickets worth it, visitors must always remember to refrain from all activities and actions can potentially turn an otherwise amazing trip into a “big city” horror story. Do not get me wrong; you can still enjoy the many attractions that large cities have to offer. However, in order to make sure that you stay undetected while making the most of your stay in the big city, there are a five “ground rules” that you must never, ever forget:

1. No pointing at landmarks

2. Do not wear an "I heart [insert city] t-shirt. If you have just purchased one such t-shirt, burn it.

3. If you feel compelled to snap a picture of a landmark, please do so discreetly.

4. Never look lost (even if, in fact, you are completely lost).

5. If you get lost, NEVER, EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, pull out a map! In fact, don't even purchase a map.

If you plan on staying in a large city for an extended period of time, you must find out the norms of that particular city, and adapt to those norms, QUICKLY. In DC this means:

1. Walk on the left; stand on the right side of the escalator.

2. No eating/drinking on the Metro.

3. No staring at the large Metro map in the train car.

4. No asking, "where are the stores?" at the National Mall.

Looking like a tourist is not cool and, in the wrong city, potentially dangerous. So, remember to be as discreet as possible while doing things that may fall into the “touristy” category. Act like you have been there before, and I assure you that you will encounter very few, if any, problems while in whatever big city you are visiting.

With that being said, here are some pictures I managed to take, undetected, at the National Mall (FYI: it is cool—as in safe; in no way is it actually cool looking—to act like a tourist there).

Enjoy!!!

The best things in life are...from New Jersey.

I had no idea that the Capitol Building was that large.

Amazing glimpse of the moon and Washington Monument

First Thoughts

Although I arrived in Washington, DC a mere two weeks days ago, my time in the capital is proving to be a truly life changing experience. Growing up in close proximity to New York City I have been surrounding by individuals from many different cultures; however, I have never before experienced an environment as culturally rich as Washington, DC. I have already met individuals from Japan, Sudan, Mexico, and Canada. The different perspectives that these individuals bring are an asset to the program. I had the opportunity to partake in a discussion on global issues, and the eloquence of my fellow interns was remarkable. Montclair State University has its fair share of outstanding individuals, however, to be in an environment where everyone is as concerned with the issues facing the global community as you are is amazing.

Students in the International Affairs program had the opportunity to visit the World Bank. Although my focus is not on international development, I was excited to visit the World Bank. The presentation at the World Bank provided me with tremendous insight into the decision making process of the World Bank.

When I first arrived I was a bit apprehensive about living with individuals with whom I had never. I do not live on campus, thus, having roommates for the first time was something that I could not prepare myself for; I could only hope for the best. However, I am more than thrilled with my roommates. The personalities of roommates mesh well with my interests, so there has yet to be an awkward moment. The different cultural perspectives that my roommates share have allowed me to gain insight into the issues surrounding members of different cultures. I am looking forward to the many interesting conversations that we will share during our time in DC.

I have enjoyed the small town feel of DC. Although the district is small—at least in comparison to New York City—it is rich in culture. I had the opportunity to travel to Dupont Circle, which was lined with people from many different countries; for the first twenty minutes, I barley heard anyone utter a word of English. Coming from the New York metro area, I have been exposed to individuals from so many different cultures; however, the cultural richness of DC seems unparalleled. I plan on meeting as many people from as many cultures as possible. This goal is possible since my internship is located in Dupont Circle.

Thus far, I have truly enjoyed my time Washington, DC. I am fortunate to be paired with amazing individuals. I anticipate the semester will provide me with many opportunities to participate in various forums and build life-long connections with remarkable individuals. I am excited to begin the semester-long journey, and I am looking forward to taking advantage of every opportunity that presents itself.