Week 4

 This weeks’ leadership curriculum focused on understanding the relationship between the Press and leadership, as well as the dynamics of building and working in teams. Our first speaker was the inspirational authority on US politics, Mr Mark Shields (Political analyst and regular guest of Jim Lehrer News Hour) who spoke to us about ‘Obama’s New Politics- Will the US Machine Change?’ and included a discussion on the US Civil Rights Movement and its impact outside US Borders. Mr Shields explained US politics based upon its historical context;  by the end of our session with him I understood the importance of the legacy of US policy and the role past presidential administrations have played in creating the context within which President Obama currently operates.

                The second part of our day included a trip to the newly opened ‘Newseum’, a spectacular museum devoted to the last five centuries of news and media history. We had a discussion on ‘How the Media Impacted the Obama Election & The role of the media in a diverse democracy’ before spending the rest of the afternoon exploring the museum. The museum made one feel like they were stepping back in time, witnessing all the major events of the past five centuries; the sheer volume of newspapers, pictures and movies was incredible and I could have spent an entire day there. After the Newseum we headed back to the classroom to complete our leadership curriculum and ended the evening with Management Team dinners.

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

On Tuesday and Wednesday I went to work on the Hill and on Wednesday evening my host brother and sister and I were delighted to be invited to join Laura and her host family for early 4^th July celebrations, which included fantastic company, great food and entertainment and a spectacular firework display! Thank you to the Martinez Family!

 

 

 

After work we attended the ‘WIP Media Panel Discussion’ in downtown D.C. The esteemed panellists included Nell Henderson (Former Economics Editor of the Washington Post), Kevin Connolly (BBC Reporter), Craig Gordon (White House Editor, Politico) and Vivek Ramsaroop (SAWIP Intern with CSPAN) and the discussion was hosted by a fellow WIP classmate, Emma. It was fascinating to hear the diverse perspectives about the Press in the United States and South Africa, the important role of the Press within society, and the relationship between the Press and the government.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most workplaces in the US are closed on the 3^rd July, in preparation for Independence Day so we started the day with a retreat and some team-building exercises. We spent the rest of the afternoon doing some sight-seeing, which included a visit to the fascinating American Indian Museum as well as visiting the National Mall, Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument. A few of us finished the day sitting on the steps of the Capitol looking out along the Mall and watched Natasha Beddingfield rehearse with Sesame Street for their performance the following day...only in D.C.!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was definitely one of the best days of the entire summer. We started the day with an amazing party at the Lynch’s home which had been beautifully decorated for the occasion. They had laid out an impressive spread of typical American food and gorgeous desserts, not to mention the customary 4^th July Cake complete with frosted red-muffins and American Flag! Thank you to the Lynch’s for a fantastic 4^th July party!

            We then headed down to the National Mall to watch the fireworks. The sight that met us was breathtaking. I’ve never seen so many people in my entire life. The entire Mall, starting at the Washington Monument and including the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the sides of the Reflecting Pool and everything in between, was covered in a dense sea of people, leading up to the steps of the US Capitol Building. The atmosphere was electric and the excitement was contagious. We made our way up to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial just in time to get a space for the fifty of us to sit together. All around us families, couples, college students, interns and tourists dressed head to toe in their finest 4^th July costumes enjoyed picnics, waved flags, blew whistles, took photographs and patiently waited for the fireworks to begin... 

            As soon as it got dark the fireworks began. I was left speechless. I had always wanted to watch the fireworks on the Mall and they were spectacular. As I stood and looked up at the fireworks, surrounded by WIP and SAWIP, I thought of how surreal the entire experience has been so far, how fortunate I am to be here in D.C. on the Washington Ireland Program, and most importantly, how privileged I am to be sharing this experience with my fellow classmates, who I now consider great friends...

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I enjoyed spending some quality time with my host family and even managed to squeeze in a bit of shopping!