#DClivin

A week after moving here, I'm now starting to feel like a local. It's been a week of exploring, adjusting, and learning. And there's a lot more of that to come. 

I live in the nation's capitol, but sometimes that doesn't seem real. Sometimes in the morning when I get ready for work and take the metro to Rosslyn, Virginia, I feel like I'm playing pretend. Like I'm pretending to be grown up and pretending to know what I'm doing. 

Luckily I've got some of my besties here pretending with me. 

"Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than these people are to be free"

The Jefferson Memorial is magical. There is no other way to describe it. Especially at night.

The beginning

I am currently the newest intern at Ashoka, one of the coolest organizations in the world. I am a part of the News and Knowledge team and am getting into the groove of how everything operates around here. It's so different from any other association and it's difficult to explain just how it all works. Mainly, I'm learning that Ashoka is a living thing. It moves, breathes, and exudes change. It's independent and innovative just like everyone that works there. And it's all to find ways to change the world. Just plain cool.

First day of work

Flattering photos at wing night

U.S.A.!!

Tonight, as a few of us Barlow Center residents sat in the basement watching a movie, we got word of Osama Bin Laden's death. So, naturally we turned on the news and after a few minutes of debating we decided that we would be dumb if we didn't go to the White House.

We literally ran there and arrived on the scene just in time. Thousands of people were flocking the back of the White House with flags, yelling, high fives, and singing patriotic songs. We couldn't stop laughing and smiling as we made our way through the crowd. Also during the celebration I met David Arquette! He asked me my name and everything...so cool. Walking home was entertaining as well, with all of the cars honking and everyone hanging out of their windows.

Tonight made history, and I can't believe that I was here in the capitol to experience it. What a way to start off the summer.

Here's to America!

The District-Day one

After months of applying, preparing, and interviewing I have finally arrived in D.C. I get to live in an incredible location with great people while working in a vibrant city. I can already tell, this will be a summer of adventures. 

Day one consisted of buying a metro card, grocery shopping at Watergate (NBD), finding my way to the mall and capitol hill, and exploring the Georgetown scene by night. 

There is so much to see and do here, it's almost overwhelming. 

And the trees, the trees make everything so green. 

Subconscious catch-up

With all of my roomies gone, the apartment is pretty quiet. Thus, I've been getting plenty of sleep. And by plenty, I mean way more than average. As in sleeping for 9-10 hours at night and then falling asleep on the couch for 3 hours again when I try and read. 

I'm thinking this is my body's way of catching up on sleep that I lost during the semester. And storing up on the sleep that it subconsciously knows I won't be getting once I arrive in DC. I've got 1.5 more days to store up. Back to the couch it is. 

One year anniversary

One year ago I got onto an airplane to Madrid, Spain. At the time, I had no idea that I would meet some of my best friends. I didn't know that my host family would become real family. I didn't know that I would explore a culture that is full of life. I didn't know how captivated I would be by it's beauty. I didn't know that it would change my life. And I didn't know that I would miss it the way I do.

I can't even explain how much I yearn to be back there. In the Media Pinta watching the World Cup. Sitting on trains telling stories. Trying to find comfortable positions on the buses. Laughing until we cried in the hotels on weekend trips. Chatting with my host fam for hours over some of the best meals I've ever had. Getting in silly fights with the crew because we spent 24 hours a day together and ran on practically no sleep. Having so many inside jokes that it was ridiculous. Eating so much chocolate, and breaking all of the rules.

6 members of that study abroad group remain like family to me. We regularly get together for reunions where we retell stories over and over and wish we were back. We work together, go on adventures together, and remain "the Spain crew." Heck, we are infamous within the study abroad groups. Whit's heard stories about us from her director and past participants.

I don't think anything will ever compare to those two months of magic.

And here we are a year later:

Dear Whitney,
You left for Spain today. I'm so jealous and so excited for you. You're about to live the dream.
Con Amor,
Tessa