I have roommates! All week I've been alone here at the quad, and this afternoon they all kind of showed up at once, lol. Aly, Jess and Carlie are all very nice, I think this is going to work out swimmingly :)
All is pretty quiet on the blog front, I'm trying to figure out how to use the slideshow gadget so it will play my new pics, but so far no dice. Grrrr! Oh well. Expect a shutterfly link, everybody!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Lazy Saturday
Taking a break from being a savvy Washingtonian today. Didn't leave the dorm except to discover the amazing sandwiches at Potbelly's.
Friday, May 29, 2009
CUSE 2009
The Center on the United States and Europe (CUSE) had its annual conference at the Brookings Institution today to discuss 'Strategies for Engagement'. For six-and-a-half hours ambassadors, authors and Brookings fellows held panels to discuss what in the world to do about Iran, Russia, Hezbollah and Hamas. Though everyone had valuable insight into these issues, the strategy for engagement turned out to be "it depends"....couldn't we have just printed that in the program and called it a day?
Seriously though, I did enjoy the panel discussions, as they had a generally warm and fuzzy feeling about them that only Europeans could create. The US and Europe could find some common interest with Iran, Russia could cooperate with its neighbors, and (certain) terrorist groups could be negotiated with. Everyone in the room knew that none of this would happen easily or with anything close to haste, but I'm glad people with more influence than me are thinking along those lines.
As fascinating as all of this was, the people at the conference really made it worthwhile. It looked like France (all of it) was in attendance today, and if a thick French accent doesn't brighten your day I'm not sure what would. I also sat down to lunch with a State Department official, a scholar from Portugal, another from Spain, as well as a marine. Quite the motley crew. And as if we hadn't heard enough politics, the table began to chew over Russia, the EU, and any bit of relevant history (I think I've been in a continuous lecture since I got here).
There were also some strange birds at this conference, and one decided to sit at our table midway through conversation. He was hawkish and awkward, and seemed to have come over simply to rant about NATO. It was a little funny, however, to hear him plug on about NATO's ineffectiveness and evident decline to the State Department official, as if expecting him to fall out of his chair in shock. He was disappointed.
Because this conference was from 9-3:30, that's all I really have to report, unless you care to know that it rained today. Again. So until tomorrow, Lki, a tout a l'heure, cheers, bye!
Seriously though, I did enjoy the panel discussions, as they had a generally warm and fuzzy feeling about them that only Europeans could create. The US and Europe could find some common interest with Iran, Russia could cooperate with its neighbors, and (certain) terrorist groups could be negotiated with. Everyone in the room knew that none of this would happen easily or with anything close to haste, but I'm glad people with more influence than me are thinking along those lines.
As fascinating as all of this was, the people at the conference really made it worthwhile. It looked like France (all of it) was in attendance today, and if a thick French accent doesn't brighten your day I'm not sure what would. I also sat down to lunch with a State Department official, a scholar from Portugal, another from Spain, as well as a marine. Quite the motley crew. And as if we hadn't heard enough politics, the table began to chew over Russia, the EU, and any bit of relevant history (I think I've been in a continuous lecture since I got here).
There were also some strange birds at this conference, and one decided to sit at our table midway through conversation. He was hawkish and awkward, and seemed to have come over simply to rant about NATO. It was a little funny, however, to hear him plug on about NATO's ineffectiveness and evident decline to the State Department official, as if expecting him to fall out of his chair in shock. He was disappointed.
Because this conference was from 9-3:30, that's all I really have to report, unless you care to know that it rained today. Again. So until tomorrow, Lki, a tout a l'heure, cheers, bye!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Week One
Finals week is over, musicianship juries have been passed, essays have been completed, and the mass exodus from Clewell dorm has been survived. Yet the Salem graduation confetti has not even biodegraded, and I am hitting the books once again in the toughest classroom environment I've ever encountered: Washington DC. This has only been my first week in the city, but I have already learned so much in both practical and scholarly fields. Much of my new 'education' has been spurred by necessity (people here can spot naivete from across the room, and I've already had my share of being picked on), but the fertile atmosphere of DC has inspired my curiosity, and I feel more like a Washingtonian every day. And yes, Dr. Williams, I even stay on the right side of the escalator.
So much has happened these past few days that it is difficult to report, but here goes:
I have mastered the art of walking, I think for once in my life I can set out with nothing but an address scrawled on paper and can feel confident that I will find it. And the crazy thing is I actually do! I may also have put my right foot out of commission, but I've now got a smashing pair of legs.
I've been to three events this week, one of them featuring former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger and Eric Edelman. 'Larry' turned out to be the most captivating speaker so far, though I thought his 'misrecollection' of President Obama's name was a bit colorful...as a new savvy Washingtonian, I can assure you there are no President Osamas here. But maybe Mr. Eagleburger was just a little grumpy that morning. Maybe he wouldn't have been quite so grumpy that morning if he could still breath properly (?)
The event I went to today featured William Overholt and his presentation, China, Asia and the Global Crisis. At the Q and A a member of the Chinese Embassy asked a question, and then a member of a Japanese organization asked a rival question, which I thought was hilarious. The man from the Chinese Embassy didn't think it was that funny.
One major benefit of going to these events, besides the broadening of my mind and the amazing networking opportunities, is the free food. Probably the wildest free lunch I ever recieved occurred after the event with Larry, when Dr. Williams kindly extended me an invitation to a Rotary Club luncheon. Quite the no-shit-there-I-was moment. We whisked away to the University Club, a huge symbol of 'Old Washington' as Dr. Williams mentioned. Shining chandeliers, beautiful mahogany staircases--think Titanic. At the luncheon, Dr. Williams introduced me to an International Trade Commissioner, a judge and a columnist, while pointing out the Inspector General of the IRS and Dr. Sam, one of the leading environmentalist in the country. Once I managed to pick my jaw off the floor, I think I managed decent small talk. But it was back on the floor once I realized the speaker was the Dutch ambassador, also the first woman to ever hold the position. A day in Washington, what can I say?
I've had a few scary moments here and there, but I think DC is my kind of city. The people aren't bad, the hats are fabulous, and you can't spit without hitting some sort of symbol of democracy. I will try to post daily, as apparently a weekly post can easily turn into a novel, so stay tuned! I hope you find this gossip at least somewhat as interesting as I do :)
So much has happened these past few days that it is difficult to report, but here goes:
I have mastered the art of walking, I think for once in my life I can set out with nothing but an address scrawled on paper and can feel confident that I will find it. And the crazy thing is I actually do! I may also have put my right foot out of commission, but I've now got a smashing pair of legs.
I've been to three events this week, one of them featuring former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger and Eric Edelman. 'Larry' turned out to be the most captivating speaker so far, though I thought his 'misrecollection' of President Obama's name was a bit colorful...as a new savvy Washingtonian, I can assure you there are no President Osamas here. But maybe Mr. Eagleburger was just a little grumpy that morning. Maybe he wouldn't have been quite so grumpy that morning if he could still breath properly (?)
The event I went to today featured William Overholt and his presentation, China, Asia and the Global Crisis. At the Q and A a member of the Chinese Embassy asked a question, and then a member of a Japanese organization asked a rival question, which I thought was hilarious. The man from the Chinese Embassy didn't think it was that funny.
One major benefit of going to these events, besides the broadening of my mind and the amazing networking opportunities, is the free food. Probably the wildest free lunch I ever recieved occurred after the event with Larry, when Dr. Williams kindly extended me an invitation to a Rotary Club luncheon. Quite the no-shit-there-I-was moment. We whisked away to the University Club, a huge symbol of 'Old Washington' as Dr. Williams mentioned. Shining chandeliers, beautiful mahogany staircases--think Titanic. At the luncheon, Dr. Williams introduced me to an International Trade Commissioner, a judge and a columnist, while pointing out the Inspector General of the IRS and Dr. Sam, one of the leading environmentalist in the country. Once I managed to pick my jaw off the floor, I think I managed decent small talk. But it was back on the floor once I realized the speaker was the Dutch ambassador, also the first woman to ever hold the position. A day in Washington, what can I say?
I've had a few scary moments here and there, but I think DC is my kind of city. The people aren't bad, the hats are fabulous, and you can't spit without hitting some sort of symbol of democracy. I will try to post daily, as apparently a weekly post can easily turn into a novel, so stay tuned! I hope you find this gossip at least somewhat as interesting as I do :)
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