Week One- WIP interns get a taste of the DC Dream!

It took me a long time to get here.  To give you a quick run down (just in case any prospective WIP Interns are reading) ; a hefty application form, a nerve-wracking interview, thirty hours of public service, and to cap it all off a mountain of bureaucracy.  Of course, I managed to do all this while studying for my finals!  But boy...Now that I'm here, I can truly say that it was worth the struggle!  I will never forget this last week, it was the week that I seen America's Capitol, the week that I became acquainted with twenty nine fantastic individuals, the week I met a Mom for life, and finally the week where I finished my Law and Criminology Degree with a First Class Honours.  Life at the moment is the epitome of great!

We touched down in DC on Saturday the 5th of June (after a gruelling travelling period filled with yet more form filling, awkward conversations, and second rate movies), and walked straight into the gentle hands of our Host Families.  Oh how great it is to have a fuss made of you; there was no shortage of hugs and kind words of welcome. 

I'm staying with Pat McBride.  There's actually a little tale behind our pairing.  Whilst at the Orientation Weekend I got talking to a lovely lady by the name of Debbie McCague, an WIP alum as the story goes.  She was there to talk about working for a non-profit organization whilst in DC, but of course all we wanted to talk about was 'The Host Family Experience'.  The more I chatted with Debbie, with greater vigor, the more she suggested that Pat and I would get on like a house on fire!  So I left the the Orientation Weekend on Sunday with the "Pat" seed planted firmly in my head, so imagine my surprise when I found out that I would indeed be joining Pat for the summer...I felt like I kind of knew her already.  So you don't have to be a genius to work out that we hit if off straight away!  I love Pat's company, and I already feel like I can chat about anything and everything under the sun, she has completely and utterly fulfilled the role of my Host Mum with a natural grace that I never quite expected.

I am one of the Virginia Pack, an elite group of nine who are privileged enough to live in the 'State for Lovers.'  I am luckier again to live in the quaint historic town of Alexandria, which sits neatly on the edge of the Potomac River.  How can I describe Alexandria?  I'd like to think that If I were a town, I would be Alexandria, (I am taking the liberty of paying myself an excessive compliment) It is full of one-off shops, little restaurants for every taste, historical buildings and houses (my summer house was built in 1846), old style ice cream parlors and all this capped off with a wonderful marina which provides a fabulous view of Maryland in the distance.   The Old Town generates the perfect combination of easy suburban living with Old American Glory, creating an addictive vibe for all those who visit.  I feel very much at home here.

Regarding activities this week was crazy! On Monday we participated in our first day of the Leadership Curriculum, which entailed a run-down of what we can expect in future weeks, including talks from various business and political leaders.  We met with the WIP Board of Directors, and had Luncheon at the National Press Club (hosted by the Northern Ireland Bureau) where four of our colleagues had the chance to fulfill their leadership moment by making a speech about their perception of the North/South divide in Ireland.  Even though we had only been together for less than a week, we all still felt a fierce sense of pride as we watched our classmates orate their views magnificently.  Of course we also had the opportunity to indulge in some of the famous Washington sights, including the Library of Congress (where we had a private viewing of a letter written by JFK...jealous yet?), Capitol Hill, The White House and the Newseum.  I never thought I could say that I've felt what it's like to be 'positively exhausted' but after this week I feel I am a veteran of the term.  Would I do it all again?  Absolutely!

The coming week will present all of us with some new challenges.  On Sunday we met the South African interns for the first time.  It will take time for us to connect with such diverse individuals.  Our Internships start, mine in Management Concepts, it will be the first time that I will work in a professional environment.  I am nervous, excited, but most of all ready to put in every last effort to ensure that this week exceeds last week.

Ciara Fitzpatrick Bio.