Down the River

Today was amazing. I don’t really know what else to say. Everything was what I wanted and more. The office was nice, my job had me busy and I was immersed in government. I learned more in one day than I had for an entire semester. 

Taking politics is something I have always enjoyed. I love hearing both sides argue and hash out policy. I love knowing that people are intelligent and informed. And in the past I have always considered myself one of those people.

If I sit quietly it was because I was listening and learning. If I debated it was because I believed in what I was saying. If I had an opinion it was because I researched and supported a side. Tonight I was lost, couldn't form an opinion and was stunned.

There is this guy who lives on the floor below me. Let’s call him...MegaMind. Never in my life have I felt so behind. He knew names and strategies and policies and examples and then he also had his own opinions. By the time it was my turn to respond I was too stunned to figure out a sentence let alone have a well stated opinion.

It’s safe to say I embarrassed myself horribly. I DO know the Governor of my state and the state I go to school in and never in my life have I gotten them confused...until tonight.

I was feeling really down on myself and about to go read every newspaper known to man until my roommate, who is quickly becoming my friend gave me some great advice:

In the grand scheme of things we are doing alright. MegaMind is going to be MegaMind, it doesn't change you.

The Smithsonians are insane, and I mean that in every way. They are interesting and crowded.Packs of 8th graders constantly swarm the exhibits. Each museum is like a moving maze of children and strollers. With that said, I loved them (the museums not the children and strollers). When I wasn’t dodging wild limbs and drowsy stumbles, I was drawn into history. 

Every time I’m in a museum I always want to change my career path. In the Air and Space museum I thought back to when I wanted to be a pilot. In the Natural History museum I remembered planning my dives as a marine biologist. And the Hirshhorn...well I never wanted to be an artist...but it was a really cool building.

I could, and did,  spend hours getting lost in museums. 

My summer will be spent in the United States’ beautiful, but somewhat bug infested, capital - Washington, D.C. Four months of change and opportunity. At the moment, excitement and fear are my two strongest emotions.

I landed a pretty good internship, a minimum wage job and somewhat affordable housing. My roommates are nice. One is English and one is Canadian. The English girl can be a bit of a slob, but I guess I can’t be one to complain being the mess-waiting-to-happen that I am.