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.