Like most of the interns, week one in Washington D.C is a complete blur for me. For obvious reasons, this is not a helpful when I have to document what we have been up to, but I will try and fill in the blanks. First Impressions? The heat! It was 42 degrees when we got of the plane and into the arms of our lovely host 'Moms'. When you have been baking yourself in your jeans for 12 hours and marinating in your sweat, the last thing you feel like doing is inflicting your embrace on a stranger, but my 'Mom', Ginny lived to tell the tale. We took refuge in the air-conditioned car and headed off to Alexandria, Virginia- the leafy satellite city which I now call home. A 21lb cat greeted me upon my arrival- It finally felt I arrived in the States. Shortly after a driving tour of the sights and sounds of Washington, I gracefully collapsed in an exhausted, sprawling heap on my bed.
The next day, Ginny took me to a BBQ for the Emerald Society Police Force. I was the only one with a non-Orishy, so I was pretty disappointing. After this, we trekked across town to another BBQ. Oh the hardship! The rest of the Virginia interns clustered together as we swapped details of families and houses. Boringly, everyone was delighted with their hosts. I secretly wanted a few horror stories, but no such luck. No leaky basement bedrooms, no cockroaches, no Country Music fans…. Oh well!
Bright and early on Monday morning, interns braved the Metro and buses and made it to the White House to begin our day with a briefing from the President. Try to spot which part of that sentence is a lie! After being oriented (a nice way to say forcibly bombarded with information), we went to the Newseum. It’s like a museum about news and it’s new. Newseum. Geddit? Eh? Eh? The Newseum houses fascinating works, exhibiting with harrowing detail the 9/11 attacks, journalists’ struggles in war-zones and it hosts a large display of the Berlin Wall. The week was full of sight-seeing and generally faffing about the heat. We fluxuated between moaning about the heat and squeaking with giddy excitement about the Abe Lincoln Monument. We girls were all really excited too.
We also had the opportunity of meeting Senator Leahy. Standing still on the steps of Congress for twenty minutes, blistering in the sun, in suits, we were not the most elegant of guests, but the Senator was exceptionally nice. He’s even going to be in the new Batman film, which makes him one of the coolest Senators in my book. Sorry Barack. Neal’s coming-of-age dinner and drinks revived us after the Congress tour.
On Friday, four compulsory volunteers gave speeches at the Northern Irish Embassy breakfast in the National Press Club Building. In such an esteemed venue, the speakers held their own and delivered intimidating coherent and competent orations. Elaine’s ‘chick’ analogy, although slightly sexist, brought warmth to my cynical heart. Or was that heartburn from the buffet? Either way, I was moved by all of the interns! Friday night saw the interns leaving their dignity at the door for the nineties theme fancy-dress part-A. Ginny was delighted to see that I collaged her sitting room and cats with orange paper for my Celtic Tiger costume. She supports my creativity. Maria and I went to the party together, she as a Dominatrix…or Xena the Warrior Princess, whichever. Despite initial fears, we were not the only ones who looked silly. Neal eased into his Dame Edna costume with worrying ease and Commander-in-Chief Jonathan just plain freaked everyone out lurking in the corner. His costume added to this, dressed as Edward Scissorhands. Lenore’s delicious Margaritas and carrot cake were the order of the day, although if you ask my digestive system, they’re not the best combination.
This was poor Catherine’s last hurrah for the week, ending up in hospital with a serious infection, and she was sorely missed by all of us! Get well soon, my dear! x
On Saturday, Cliona and I discovered Forever XXI. Like locusts on a crop field, we tore through the store leaving nothing but swinging empty hangers in our wake. Slowed only by Cliona being imprisoned by an ill-fitting garment, we headed out for the night in Georgetown.
On Sunday, Ginny tirelessly drove myself and Maria to Ocean City. Sea, sand and tacky merchandise- you cannot beat it. With fairgrounds and as colourful as a melted bag of Skittles, it was like Las Vegas for kids, and immature interns from Ireland.
For someone who said the week was a blur, I have sure blabbed on a bit. So here I shall leave it until next week!
