Nine days gone already and what a start it has been! Our time in DC has flown by with so many great memories already stored away for all time. So what has happened?
To describe my Washington life I have to begin with Kent and Dale Morrison, my summer family! They welcomed us with open arms at Regan / Washington Airport (depending on your political affiliation) and have allowed us be part of their beautiful home. Kent is determined to make us wise before we leave and willing takes his time to explain all sorts of everything. So far we’ve figured out baseball, basketball, Washington maps and even bits of government contracts…useful stuff! Dale is all you could ask for in a surrogate mother. Living with a host family is something we were all mildly apprehensive about but it’s been a brilliant! I’m sure the Morrisons will be appearing regularly in this blog so keep and eye out!
The Morrisons are not the only ones to have acquired legendary status (in my eyes!) as I have grown to know twenty five great people from all over Ireland! The team here got on like a house on fire (whatever that means) and we’ve all suffered severe withdrawal symptoms this week when we were pried from the arms of our friends!
Let me tell you about week one:
Monday:
Mathew (host bro) and I arrived at the White House well on time thanks to Kent and his unique 1981 convertible! The group of well dressed, yet out of place young Irish men and women looked most confused and apprehensive. The heat from the early morning was just about bearable and we found ourselves sprinting from shade to shade trying to keep alive and sighing in relief on returning to an air-conditioned heaven.
We spent the morning in the WIP office which is just two blocks away from the White House. Megan and JC outlined the summer program which all seems pretty busy. Kevin O’Sullivan, the chairman of the BOD also stopped by to remind us of the challenge that had been put before us. He stressed that this program is not just about us it’s about what we hope to give to the world. What will we be doing in 2020? Will we be changing the world? … we better be!
After a lunch time sandwich and the 1000 different questions that accompany it we visited the Newseum - a news museum - what a pun! I glanced through the news stories of the last 100 years with some interesting navigational issues - should two WIPers not be able find their way around a museum? Sorry - Newseum!
From there it was all about the oversized dinner portions that are available at union square station - a palatial train station that lies just minutes from the houses of congress.
The day was filled with loads of great fun chatting and almost constant commentary on everyone’s developing sweat patches!
Monday night I had the chance to attend a fund raiser for Congressman Patrick Murphy, a first time congressman from Pennsylvania who was one of the first to endorse Barack Obama in this years primaries. I didn’t allow my west of Ireland timidy restrain me for too long and I had the chance to talk to some very interesting people. We chatted about the problems of being a Judeo-Christian democrat and how the international community feels almost disenfranchised because they can’t vote for someone who has such an effect on their lives. I spent much of the evening convincing me that it was all real so at this stage I’m pretty sure - it all happened!
Despite my disbelief the experience wasn’t complete nirvana. I was given occasional sharp tugs back to reality with the level of knowledge and apathy we face in our quest to change the world, even from those at the top of political DC.
Tuesday:
Oakley introduced us to his famous death tour which was a brilliant trip to all of Washington Monuments. Arlington cemetery was the most poignant with endless rows of simple white headstones all being perpetually glamorised by tourists, military folk and tour guides.
Wednesday:
Morning was passed with a speech writing seminar in the offices where we were challenged to mimic the Gettisburg address with just 256 words.
The evening brought us to the Library of Congress and a tour of the beautiful building that boasts over 1.3million articles! We were shown notes from many interesting junctures in history. Lincon dumping his girlfriend and the notes sent to the CJ by the other members of the Supreme Court on reading the proposed judgement in Brown v Board of Education.
We then retired en masse to Mr Starbucks coffee shop to spend a few hours musing!
Thursday:
At J.O. Wilson elementary we were tasked with entertaining a group of students on their last day of school - what a job! I was part of the Irish dancing group so I was responsible for demonstrating the intricacies of Irish dancing to these eager kids.
Contrasts are all over Washington and meeting Senator Leahy on the steps of Capitol Buildings couldn’t be a starker contrast from the decrepit elementary school! Senator Leahy met and spoke with us for a few minutes. It was another pinch me moment to be standing on front of the US capital chatting to one of the most powerful senators in the nation! He was incredibly affable and encouraging and seemed delighted with his present - a fake time magazine showing him as VP candidate and star of the latest Batman movie.
Friday:
We had the chance to attend a Luncheon at the National Press Club hosted by the Northern Irish Bureau. It was an amazing place to get in to considering the list of people that have spoken there over the last number of years. I was delighted to speak to someone from the EPA who gave me loads of advice about working with and for a legislative assistance in the area of energy policy (when you write that down is doesn’t sound as cool as it really was)!
That’s all folks! Its always hard to make a start on something like this…how do you fit an entire week in to one blog? I shall endeavour to provide a tad more insight over the coming weeks so drop by again!
Coming soon…telling all about the Senator from Illinois…
I’m Peter Mannion and I approve this message!
