Entries by Herbert, Clare

I am at the stage of tired where everything looks like a bed. I’m not far from climbing into my computer and fall asleep on Microsoft word. And, I forget things and lose things and bump into things and stumble over all my words. I know it’s bad to close my eyes for a little second, but man, it just feels so good. My brain is chatting away to me endlessly and I cannot concentrate on a thing. Sign of a good weekend, perhaps?

Well, it was a great weekend. I was in New York City- my first time, and definitely not the last. I don’t trust my mind to be able to logically recall all that has happened over the last three days, so let me give you the highlights.

Best Breakfast: We had bagels and OJ by Bethesda Fountain on Saturday morning. It’s fountain from Friends and “Enchanted”, and a very pretty fountain it was too.

Greatest convenience and biggest fear (a joint award): Taxis are the mode of transport of choice in NYC. They’re very cheap, especially if there’s a group since there’s no surcharge. You do take your life in your hands in them though, and u gotta give a really precise address.

The Real New Yorker moment: The Subway. The best way to see how New York lives is to literally walk in their footsteps. IN the NYC context, this means taking the subway. It was cool, though scary. It is a prime target afterall, but I guess you can’t live like that. It’s less well kept than the DC equivilant and people were more rished and rude.

Cultural High Point: The Met (Art Museum) on Saturday. Myself, JC Jnr, the Fiona Buggy and Alan Ralph headed to the Met for a tour. We were very tired, in an altered state of exhaustion which only increased my opinions of the art work. There were conflicting views, as there always are in this group. I was disappointed with the modern art selection though, although it was probably all in the MOMA.

Wettest Moment: That afternoon, the group met and took to “The Beast”. This motor boating experience brought us out to see the Statue of Liberty. We were getting a little splashed and squealing like girls at it. But then, the beast roared. The boat’s owner poured bucket upon bucket of icy water over us. I left the boat sapping.

Oddest Moment: I was interested in seeing Ground Zero and I did, albeit from the comfort of a taxi. It really is just a building site, albeit a huge one. There was no place for emotion there, I found.

Security Shock: I visited St Patrick’s cathedral too which was really beautiful. On the way into the church, there were security checking bags. Imagine getting frisked on the way to mass. The times we live in, I guess.

Best Music: On the bus!

Best Shopping: Finally getting Reef flipflops in Macy’s, in the sale, and teaching the boys how to shop with women. I expect a thanks from your future wives.

Most Educational Experience: Our Day at the UN. We were honoured to have a full day’s leadership training among several UN staffers. We began with a briefing from a member of the strategic planning unit in the office of the Secretary General, which was followed by contributions from UN Peacekeepers. As always, we were full of questions and they offered a valuable insight into the world of the UN. In the afternoon, we broke into smaller groups to examine the workings of more specific groupings within the UN. I was in the UN Development Program, which was fascinating.

Nightlife High Point: NYC is the city that never sleeps, and I mean that quite literally. By the time people are heading home from a mad one, there are others getting up for work. During our brief three day stay in NYC, us WIPpers slept very little too. The highpoint is easy. WIP Alum Paddy invited us to his city centre apartment for a roof top party. The view was, in the original sense of the word, awe-inspiring.

Brightest Moment: Post-night outs, we made a tradition of visiting Time Square to gawk at the bright lights. It’s a phenomenal place, but I couldn’t help but think of the energy waste.

Best Meal: Sunday evening, while I was still dripping from the Beast, though cozy and proud in an “I Love NY” hoodie, we went to the “Harbour Lights” restaurant at Pier 17. Irish owned, I was so glad to hear an Irish accent again. The view was spectacular, of the BMW bridges and artistic man-made waterfalls and my salmon tasted delicious in the fresh, warm sea breeze.

Overall Highlight: Brooklyn Bridge, in general. After dinner, we took a stroll along the Brooklyn bridge. I have never seen such a scale of beauty, between the lights, the warm air, the epic view and the excellent WIPper company. Skyscrapers stacked like legos, the Statue of Liberty standing there serene and commanding, bridges strung like Christmas decorations. It brought out the real tourist in me. It has such scale that cannot be captured in a camera’s viewfinder. Despite the bustle of the city, and the traffic travelling everywhere, it was calm.

Well, it’s been a day at the Senate for me. There’s something about post-recess that puts a spring in the step and life in the walls. Prior to recess, there were three legislative priorities left undecided: namely, the Housing Bill, FISA (Foreign Intelligence Security Act- or the “Enemy of the State” bill) and the latest Medicare Bill. In the first days back, it’s a big rush to get it all done. Particularly since the forthcoming election means a shortened legislative year, meaning less time to make change, less time to build a portfolio of laws to please the electorates back home. So, it’s been a dynamic day.

Firstly, Obama and Clinton are in the building. There are big votes today, and their mere presence is exciting to me. They make heads turn and fill the Senate galleries with interested spectators. Plus, you can walk the halls and see John Kerry, or Sen. Leahy or any number of crucial Senators and be awed by their mere walking down the huge, high halls.

At lunch time, I grabbed a sandwich and then headed to a Constitutional Ice Cream social which continued the awe-inspiring theme. Sen. Dodd gave Sen. Byrd a rousing introduction, calling him the supreme authority on the US constitution both contemporaneously and historically. The two men share a long history in the senate, as did their fathers. It was touching to see.

The now 91 year old Sen. Byrd is President ‘pro tempore’ of the United States Senate, which puts him third in the line of presidential succession. Therefore, this man signs every law passed by the Congress before it’s sent to the president to be signed into law or vetoed.

He spoke, slowly, precisely and with obvious passion, about the centrality of the constitution to America. As he spoke, I was put in mind of a passage in “The Audacity of Hope”, by Barack Obama. I began reading it to inspire me during my time here, and it has succeeded. Plus, it’s been endlessly useful in highlighting the procedures and day to day activities of the Senate. Obama writes humbly and I can see the steps he walks every day in the words he writes. He wrote of the day he met Sen. Byrd and how he explained the fundamental importance of the Constitution – I get the feeling that we, the audience, were treated to a similar discussion.

This year, the group was honored to meet Sen. Hillary Clinton for a brief photo-op. She’s a very striking woman of poise and inherent power. She walks with command and makes heads turn. She arrived with a small group- exactly like I’ve seen her do while walking out on stage for debates. She smiles like she does on TV. She was warm with us, though brief and it was a moment I won’t be forgetting in a hurry.

That night, I attended the annual Congressional Forum for four ‘Leadership Moment’ speeches from WIPpers and a record-breaking nine congressman. The congressman were working around their hectic voting schedule but to have so many attend was a real coup for the program. They spoke eloquently on their links to Ireland, their hopes for the future and their experience of the Washington Ireland Program. In particular, the evening honored Congressman James Walsh who is retiring following a lengthy term during which he was an avid supporter of the program.

A great day ended with some epic dancing in a random bar!

Last night was for me, without doubt, the best night here. Weirdly I guess, given both the endlessly wonderful events that we have and the simplicity of last night.

JC Jnr arranged for us interns to gather and discuss how we feel about Ireland, Northern Ireland and everthing in between. It was definetly the elephant in the room, since this group was formed back in Belfast months ago now. In every casual conversation, group discussions and debates, it was there- the topic we avoided. We couldn’t avoid it any longer.

The premise of the Washington-Ireland Program, and its predecessor Project Children, was to bring together young people from both sides of the religious/political divide and train them as leaders in an effort to further peace back home. I don’t agree that despite the fact that we have a functionning, power-sharing government back home, that there is any less of a need for such people. Indeed, it has probably never been so crucial.

SO, last night we got pitzas in. Megan brought cookies,and we robbed some coke. We sat around the board room and just talked it out. Everyone gave a three-minute contribution of their views, background and position. The tension in the room was palpable. The emotion evident in people’s voices and faces. Experienced speakers, and I include myself in this, we shaking in their boots while giving it their two cents. Every word was respected, but it’s such an emotional topic to discuss particularly in front of a group. The usually rowdy gang of us, sat in respectful silence as people shared stories, hopes and fears. It was powerful, moving stuff.

It shocked me a lot too. I like to be shocked. Makes it worthwhile. There was no controversy for it’s own sake, just pure opinions that differed immensely. Chatting to a fellow WIPer afterwards, we said that it was a pity that the whole of Ireland hadn’t seen what had just happened. We got to the root of the issue. Behind the overly-optimistic press reports that the war is over. Behind the academic doctrines and historical analysis of who was right, when and why. Behind the propaganda and rhetoric of conflict used by both sides. It was simple. A gang of young people who drink together and work together talking about the single greatest chlallenge their country has ever faced and how it has impacted their lives. We didn’t try hard to reach some new Nirvana, but we were truthful. The power was in that, methinks.

I don’t feel that it would be appropriate to quote verbatim what people shared, but I’m happy to share my piece.

I grew up down south and had little direct dealings with the North. I remember being terrified of an IRA bomb being put under my bed though, as a young child. In summer 2005, I went to work as an intern with “Daily Ireland”- a republican newspaper, run by a former Sinn Fein counseller. It was a whole new world to me. My first day, the taxi driver showed me around the peace walls and the murals and all the streets I’d known from the riots. One night, I got the wrong bus and ended up in a very Unionist area. Another day, I got caught in a SF march. It was a whole new world to me. And, I was pretty shocked.

As a Southerner among my peers, I don’t feel particularly entitled to a view on the North. Those guys have lived though it. I can’t imagine what it’s like to live though conflict, violence, war, troubles, whatever it is that you want to call it. I care deeply about Northern Ireland ( a point I laboured to emphaise, to the amusement of others). That said, I recognise that my experience of it is entirely differnet for those who have lived there.

I’m a news junkie. I follow these things intently. But last nig was the first time I felt that I trully understood it. I learned a lot. I learned just how wide the divide is and how long it will persist. I learned that peace is not a place in history, but a process and I grew to appreciate the fragility of that peace. The old questison arose. That of a United Ireland, that of mixed identities, the labels of terrorism, that those in power can re-write the history books, can change the rules. That both sides have to swallow a lot. Not only the political figure heads, but the people of Northern Ireland - the people who just want decent schools and hospitals and a safe place to lay their head at night. I saw how hard it is to live in a power-sharing arrangement and have someone you so passionately disagree with make decisions in your name and with your taxes. I realise that compromise is the only answer. But that fact does not negate how difficult it is to achieve that, on an emotional level as much as any other.

To my fellow WIPers, thank you profoundly for last night. I’m just sorry that the rest of the world did not see the magic in that room. We were so nervous that it would be disasterous, afraid to say the wrong thing and be the pariah of the group. But, it was an issue that required discussion, and I think, we’re stronger as a team for having done it. In particular, thanks to JC Jnr for organising it (especially the pitza) and Mary for doing such a great job chairing- quiet but even handed, it would have been worse without your skilled presence.

Guess I’m a bit of a nerd for having this as my top moment, but it had everything. Good food, good company, great revelataions. There were also some drinks and chats to relax afterwards.

I can’t go any further without echoing that my joy at being her correlates directly to the fantabulous-ness of my fellow interns. Plus the Management Team, Directors, Host Families, extended WIP families, supporters and everyone else who treats us like royalty while we’re here - lest anyone would feel neglected. I appreciate every soul who has been so generous, welcoming and open to us.



Without doubt though, it is the class of 2008 who have made my summer what it has been thus far. I look around the office and marvel at what the future holds with people like my peers in power and PR, in business and in advocacy. Again, I feel unworthy.



It’s a bizarre concept. Take 26 random students, of every culture, creed, academic discipline and political affiliation or none. I’m not sure exactly what criteria they used to pick us, but they did a fantastic job. It’s not like one of those annoying politically correct things where there’s a representative from every social strata. Country and city kids, political and nerdy kids, northern and southern kids, extroverts and introverts, a kid from every university, faith group and political affiliation. It’s not that scientific, but obvious efforts have been made to get a diverse group of people, to have as wide a range of views expressed as possible while maintaining a bit of balance to the group dynamic. It wouldn’t do to have us all stabbing each other on day one. In this group, I’ve met more people who are so different from me than in any other setting in my life. That’s a big life lesson in itself.



Aside from that though, the serious side, it’s great craic. We mix and mingle well. We have fun together and share stories. Nothing like sweating profusely to bring people together. I never know who’s going to say what and am constantly amazed at my peers. ‘Tis an honour to be a part of the Class of 2008 guys, an honour.

This weekend marks the mid-way point of my time in DC. It’s strange, and says a lot about this program, that this is the first time I’m both ready to write reflectively and have the time to do it. Prior to departure, I got advice from previous interns. Enjoy it, they said. Soak it up. I certainly don’t feel that the last few weeks have passed in a blur. This blog has been a major part of my structure to record the daily wonders and the comments I’ve gotten from readers have reminded me that not everyone is so lucky.



It’s been an amazing, fun-filled and eye-opening time of my life. It is exhausting though- without a doubt. There is a lot to see, do and absorb. Lots of new people. Lots of new places. Lots of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, all coming in quick succession and relatively easily to us. We’re told “White House, Dress Code 1” and we’re there. From our perspective, it’s that simple. The Management Team and Directors are working away behind the scenes, but to us our world in DC operates like a well oiled machine. I was warned not to grow to feel a sense of entitlement to such treatment, to take it for granted. That, I’m sure, has not happened to me. Instead though, I struggle to know why I am here.



There are days (many days!) in this fair city, when I really feel like I’ve no entitlement to be here. When I look at what the Washington Ireland Program is, it’s prestige, it’s alumni, it’s endless networks and ever-expanding success, I feel unworthy. I’m not trying to be modest or humble. I realize that I wasn’t picked (as some have thought, jokily I hope) to fulfill the quota of red heads. But, I’m still feeling the Linda Martin-esque “Why Me?”





Sometimes, you get a bit lost in the logistics of day to day. I wake up and have a metro to catch. I work and there’s mail to sort. I attend WIPper events are there are people to network with and laughter to be had. There are other times that it hits me, like lightening, how fortunate I am to be here. How unique this opportunity is, and how far from home and my personal reality I am. Despite the sweltering heat, the long days at the office, the endless sirens and security, the long schedules and the ever-present demands on my attention, I am so privileged to be here. I had a moment to remind me of that last week.



I was having lunch on a bench outside the office. It had been a frustrating day, and I was not in my best humor- sitting there with my fruit salad and my Nuala O’Faolain book. A man asked to share my bench. We got talking- as Americans tend to. He worked for Bush and was en route to meet a crucial senator about a forthcoming piece of legislation. (Sorry for being so vague. Office confidentiality.) As I watched him walk away, I realized that I’d just met someone who shapes hundreds of millions of lives. Humbling defined.



I often think of those who were not lucky enough to get this chance this year -probably, because I still can’t believe that I’m not one of them. It’s a bit like being on Pop Idol and being split into groups, one who stay and fight for a top prize (presidency of the United States, perhaps?) and one who go home. It’s weird.



As time passes though, I am learning a few things that make life easier.



1) Eat well. American food is different. Firstly, the portion sizes are huge. Salads come with more sauce than substances, and EVERYTHING is big, big, big. It’s easy to (wrongly) think you’re eating well, so beware. Fruit may save you.

2) Schedule sitting down. There’s nothing like a good sit down and a ponder. This is a fast-paced lifestyle and there is a demand a minute, if you let it happen. Don’t let sleeping be the only thing you do alone. Take time to notice how far you’ve come (in my case, a bog in the midlands!) and soak up the thrill that it alone can give you.

3) Wear sunscreen. I don’t mean this as a reference to the over quoted song- I mean, literally. Sunscreen, by the bucket.

4) Bring water. Freeze a bottle and it will keep the other ones cool. Trust me, you’ll drink buckets.

5) Always carry a Metro Card. You’ll use it often.

6) Remember tip and tax on restaurant bills.

7) Look around you. There are always pretty things to see- you just gotta look. And you really never know who is going to be sitting next to you on the Metro- be alert. It’s a political celebrity town.

Take advantage of the free stuff. There are endless free events, from Jazz concerts to most of the museums and galleries so plan ahead and see as much as possible.

9) End lists on an odd number. It’s cooky.

Bright and early one Sunday morning while sweltering in Dress Code One, 26 WIPpers and 7 SAWIPpers arrived at Mount Lebanon for a Baptist church service. For many of us interns, it was a new experience. We packed into the church where a gospel choir was singing with passion and poise. Several of the congregation was very enthused- standing, singing, swaying with the beat. There was a lady playing the piano and a young man on percussion. That day, it was the turn of the women’s choir who were Sister Act-esque in their performance. The WIP crew stood and clapped, a little too politely perhaps, until the pastor arrived and greeted us. His words of welcome were rousing, ending with a call on the choir to sing and the congregation to intersperse. “You’re like vanilla and chocolate chips”, he said, “and we need to mix it up”. And so, the choir sang and the white WIPpers mingled with the predominantly (though not exclusively) black congregation. The SAWIPpers too mingled. The sermon was a change from my personal experience. The Pastor referenced one brief line of scripture, rather than reading a whole passage, and preached about the dangers of the labels we place on others. He spoke about Jesus as if he were a friend alive today and living in our world. The political was never far more the pulpit, and congregation’s desire for Obama in the White House was very evident. For perhaps the first time, I genuinely realized the barriers which his candidacy has broken. Undoubtedly, it was a scenario similar to this one that bred the Jeremiah Wright controversy, although this pastor was less controversial.

Before concluding the service, SAWIPper Thamsanqha Ledwaba spoke on behalf of the group. He offered sincere gratitude for their warm welcome and endless hospitality. He spoke about the ethos of the program, of service and leadership, and how it relates to the message of Jesus.



Having concluded the service, we went to the church’s basement for a delicious traditional Southern Lunch of mashed potatoes and fried chicken. We celebrated the joint birthdays of the Pastor and WIP Intern Aoibhin O’Hare, with a big cake, of course. Both the WIP and SAWIP groups gave a brief performance to the crowd, including a rendition of Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and “In the Jungle” from “The Lion King”.

Lastly, an elder member of the Church Community stood and spoke about her first meeting with Carole Wheeler (founder of WIP) and how the relationship between Mount Lebanon and the Washington Ireland Program has endured for many years now. Finally leaving the Church, one hoped that that bond would continue to prosper for many years to come.

That night, after work, my fellow interns and I took on step one of the annual V Festival. The V (for Virginia) Festival is a series of events outside the central DC area so that everyone feels involved. The Host Family Table Quiz was a fun way to pass an evening.

In an “Irish” Pub, which was always a weird concept to me, we had stew and smoked salmon and an evening of live Irish music.

WORK: Unfortunately, like I said, before I can’t say much about my day to day workings in the office, due to confidentiality. I can however, remind you all of the perils that come with interning. It’s hard work though, being on the bottom rung of the office food chain. As soon as one has progressed beyond it, people forget what it’s like. I’ll never forget. At least I hope not.


The Senate is an amazing place. It’s alive with tourists at the moment and I’ve begun to give tours on my own which is equal parts exhilarating and exhausting. I’m terrified of getting lost on one of the million windy corridors or in the basement with a gaggle of Americans who thought my accent was cute for all of 5 seconds and then just couldn’t understand me anymore. So far so good, though.


The Hill in summer is literally crawling with interns. There are thousands of them, all of them eager to get ahead and determined to work hard. My first week, there was an ice-cream social for interns on the outside Capitol Hill. It was like a weirdly post festival-esque. Hundreds of young ‘uns in business suits, eating (free!) ice cream and gleeful at being out in the open air.


I did Congressional Research Service (CRS) training last week too. I was lucky to get the chance to do it so early in my placement and it has already proved useful to me when drafting memos and remarks for Staffers. Plus, it’s a great thing to stick on the CV.


Throughout the summer, there is an Intern Lecture Series which takes place on Capitol Hill. The have some really interesting speakers: elected representatives, academics, media people and others who’ve been successful in their respective fields. I went to my talk given by Senator Isakson, a Southern Republican, which was a useful insight into another side of US politics.


Everyday, there are a series of committee hearings and other discussions, debates or talks given by interested parties taking place on Capitol Hill. It’s an endless source of frustration to me that they’re all scheduled together, but I have gotten the opportunity to see several really interesting topics discussed. My work is primarily in the Foreign Affairs area, so I’ve attended some really interesting topics.


These are open to the public and the press are welcome, so I can share a little about them here. There was one fascinating one about the contractors employed by the US government to work on water provision in Iraq. The company were less than exemplary, and both evaded tax and exposed their workers, the US Military and Iraqi Civilians to Hexovalent Chromium. This was the chemical on which the Oscar-winning movie “Erin Brockovich” was based, and the story was remarkably similar. There were 3 witnesses before the hearing- two whistle-blowers (a worker at the plant and an inspector responsible for health and safety) and a chemical expert, who also testified at the real life Erin Brockovich case. It was a fascinating hearing and one which showed how like life the movies really are.

I was at another about Afghanistan, which was really interesting. Exposing the links between the narcotics trade and Afghani society, the position of the US Military and the undying hope of the Afghani people that they will soon achieve a stable and peaceful society.

Everything works around the timetable of whatever is happening on the Senate floor though. Senators often have to leave either talks or hearings to go and vote on the floor- they only have 15 minutes to vote, and their constituents are watching to see who bothers to show up. It’s exciting to be here. The US Senate. Obama has been in and out twice to vote, but haven’t seen him. Clinton’s back now too. There was a big song and dance about her return a while back, but all’s back to normal now.

As part of the Washington Ireland Program, I was asked to complete an interview with an interesting figure. I chose Colm O'Gorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International and below is an edited transcript of our conversation.

(Clare Herbert) 1) What were you doing at my age (20)?


(Colm O'Gorman) I had just left for London. Having left home at 17, I spent a few years drifting. I was kinda lost to be honest. There was nothing happening in Ireland, no prospects and no employment. So, I moved to London.


2) How did you get to where you are today?


Well, I drove up this morning from Gorey, did a photo shoot with Eddie O Sullivan and a Kayak on O’Connell bridge, had a cup of coffee and walked to the office. (laughs)

I used to think that I was on this journey that I’d no particular control over, that I was being swept along by stuff in the world and I was OK with that. About three years ago, I realised that I could steer my life. I am where I am because of circumstance, absolutely. Things have happened in my life that have called upon me to respond to them and that brought me into my work. Clearly, it’s part of who I am to respond to those circumstances in that way. In recent years, I’ve started to think strategically about where it was I was going and the areas of work that I’d seek to develop personally. I wanted to broaden my area of work and politics offered me a bridge into other things.


3) Why did you change decide to enter politics?


I believe that if you have an ability and an opportunity to effect meaningful change, that as a member of society, you have a responsibility to follow through on that and to try to make it happen. I’ve never really articulated it before, because it sounds a little bit too noble, but it’s true. I really believe that if any of us think that we can make the world work better, then you have obligation and a duty to do it.


4)Who was the most influential person in your life and why?


I honestly don’t know.

Perhaps, my father for lots of reasons, good, bad and indifferent. He was a significant influence initially by his absence, as he was very involved locally. I then left home because of abuse and didn’t go back for four and a half years, and when I did, it was hard for us to connect. My sexuality was difficult for him. There was a disconnection until I was 29, when I finally went to the guards and reported the abuse. We then had a very close, intense relationship until he died 10 months later. A lot of who I am comes from who he was. I’m just lucky to be alive at a time when, as a man, it’s easier to live with integrity and a sense of community as well as being emotionally connected.



5) What has been your greatest challenge?


To get to a point where I could consciously acknowledge to myself who I am in the world, do the work I do and be who I am in a public sense, but not to get too caught up in what people project onto me. I’ve been everything from a savour to evil, and in reality I’m none of those things, I’m just who I am. As Marianne Williamson said, “our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” (More, here.)


6) What is your biggest regret?

(sings) Regrets I’ve had a few….


Ah you know, I haven’t got time for that. What’s the point? I genuinely don’t have any. If I look back are there things that I would do differently, no, I think that’s a daft idea. All you can do is live in the moment and embrace it as best that you can.


7) What is your opinion of the forthcoming US presidential election?


Firstly, I cannot adopt a position as it's Amnesty's policy to remain impartial. However, I’d like to give absolute credit to Barack Obama for stealing all of my campaign ideas!


I think that it’s an interesting and potentially remarkable moment in US politics. From Amnesty’s point of view, we already know that the next administration will be better for human rights, than the current one. I’ve never seen such a significant erosion of human rights. Both candidates have committed to closing Guantanamo but it remains to be seen how much they will be willing to take make real and meaningful change.


8 What do you value most in life?


Truth. I’ve come to have huge regard for and love of simple truth. Not moralistic preachy truth, but natural truth. Truth has enormous power and potential, as long as it’s grounded in the recognition that when one’s truth is only one’s individual story, and that one should be open to hearing from the other or the collective.


9) What advice would you give to a young university graduate from Ireland/Northern Ireland?


Find your truth. Find within yourself an ability to live in a way that speaks to who you are in the world, and allows you to consider where you want to be. Take the time to get there, knowing that you will get there. Sit with your truth, recognise what captures you in that and that will lead you to where you need to be next.


10) What advice would you give to the 26 young interns travelling to Washington DC for the summer?


Embrace it! Suck every last bit of good out of it! Enjoy it! Open yourself up to all the opportunities and experiences that it brings and get the best of it.

Mondays are leadership training days and I was delighted to be back in the WIP office with my fellow WIPers, not to mention being able to write about my day’s work here. Among the highlights of this program for me, was the opportunity it offers to share things with both the rest of the group and the wider WIPer audience. I was really disappointed when I realized that I couldn’t blog, in minute detail, the workings of an office. Sorry guys.

Anyway, as always, Monday was a jam packed day! The subject was the role of diversity in a team and the role of a leader in harnessing these differences for the betterment of the team.

Each of the SAWIPers (South African participants in the Washington-Ireland Program) shared a little of the challenges facing their country and communities, while highlighting their hopes for the future. It struck me just how similar the problems that they are facing are to those which I see in Ireland’s present and future. In some ways, South Africa has an advantage in starting from a relatively clean state. Their systems have been structured such that gender equality is a central characteristic of their political system, making them 3rd in the world on the score-card of women in politics. We were also later joined by Clare Walsh- a WIP alumnus who was central to the establishment of the South African Program.

We did an interesting exercise on the position of Minutemen in American Society, which examined the relationship between a group’s tactics and motivations and the limits to a civilian’s power.

The WIPers have been broken up into task force groups, each responsible for different areas of the program. I’m part of the Public Relations Group, which I’m really enjoying. The inner workings are top secret but there are some exciting things on the horizon. All will be revealed soon!

In the afternoon, we met with GW Prof. Henry Farrell who keeps a blog at www.crookedtimber.com, and offered us budding bloggers tips on what works well and what to avoid.

We then went for dinner as a group and did some well-earned chilling out!

On the 15th and 16th day, I rested. I’ve family in Pennsylvania and spent the weekend with them, having my batteries recharged.

DISCLAIMER: As predicted, my productivity here has seriously declined since I started work. Apologies for that. Genuinely. I feel a strange kind of obligation to record this experience, given that so many people applied and were not lucky enough to have been awarded this chance. So, here’s a temporary return to productivity and a frantic update on the last week.

Washington (Days 11, 12, 13 & 14) My Work Life

I arrived painfully early. We were advised not to be too early and look like a big freak stalking the office, a half hour before it opens. That was me! So, dress code one, sweating like a pig, and shaking in my boots with nerves, I arrived early, met my supervisor and began the orientation process. I undertook a Scavenger Hunt of Capitol Hill (which was a strange experience), in order to find the places that I’d need to complete the placement. I was also trained in using all the techie stuff, and how the office works.

The work itself is interesting. Part of the agreement I made with my employers is that I maintain a high level of confidentiality relating to all the events, policies and discussions of the office. Unfortunately, this includes the work I do which means that I can only speak about the office in very broad strokes.

As I expected an Intern is about as low a rank as possible in an office. I’ve interned in the past, and it’s a hard role. It’s a large proportion of administrative work, as well as dealing with constituent queries, giving tours of Capitol Hill, attending hearings on the hill and assisting the legislative staff.

It is very interesting to see how a Senate office works and I’m slowly learning the norms and procedures for the office as well as the Senate. I’m still in complete awe that I get to go sit in the staff gallery of the Senate, although it’s frequently a fine line between awe and feeling completely overwhelmed. I’m a young graduate from the bogs of Kildare and I get to sit in the Senate Gallery? How mad is that!

Today was intense. It was the calm before the storm as my internship starts tomorrow, but it’s was a really busy, hectic calm too.

First off, it was day one of our leadership curriculum which was a lot more debate/discussion, than your typical classroom approach. We were looking at the characteristics of an effective leader, particularly the rational leadership model which incorporates the following: 1) purpose 2) inclusivity 3) diversity 4) empowerment 5) ethics and 6) a process orientated approach. It was really interesting and my inner nerd was jumping for joy.

Then, we had two professional speechwriters join us to talk about their craft and how we can apply it to both our leadership moments (ie a big speech to a real important crowd) and our general lives. They were entertaining, informative and involving and shared my techniques of the trade with us novices.

We met the SAWIPers (South African interns with the Washington Program) too, and bonded a little. They were really lovely, and we plan to do more events with them in the future which should be really exciting. A swapping of culturse is always fascinating (to me, at least) and that has already begun.

I start my internship tomorrow. I’m absolutely over the moon, but also so nervous. We did the last minute preperations today, as well as some collective worrying about it. Think I’m ready to go though…buisness cards, dress code one, fellow interns to walk through the door with, an umbrella (we had some hefty storms today) and a trusty apple for the road.

It really is a once in a lifetime oppurtunity to work on the Capitol hill, with a Senator of the caliber of Chris Dodd. He’s a Democrat from Connecticut and most Americans I meet marvel at him, even across typical political divides. He may move towards the Vice-Presidency, or he may not. I have no doubt that I will learn a lot from him regardless and can’t wait to begin. Only hours to go now.

We had dinner this evening in a lovely restaurant. I found out later that it was the used for filming some of the scenes from “The West Wing” which was exciting enough to me. After dinner, we were walking out and I turned around. There, just over my shoulder, was the White House. Unobtrusive, quiet, and smaller than you’d think from TV (or was it just far away?!) The seat of American denmocracy was just there. Bizarrely, Bush is back in Belfast while I’m here. (I hear he’s been quiet kind to the new-found peace.) To be in DC is amazing and I’m doing everything I can to absorb every miniscule drop of wonderfulness which this place encapsulates.

I’m really enjoying sharing it here to, so thanks for reading. Until tomorrow, when day one of my new life will be done, I go to bed leaping with excitement.

On the nineth day, I rested.

Day 8 in DC was a day of Malls. Wearing my touristy hat, I took a stroll along the Washington Mall which translates as the long patch of grass between the Washington Monument and Capitol Hill. Both sides are lined with museams and galleries all of which are free and serviced by genuinely nice advisors. It was a quick stop tour, but I did get to see the Air and Space Museum, the American Indian Museam and the Freer Gallery. More importantly though, I got a sense of where I was and how to navigate myself around what is a relatively small and compact city. Plan is to spend the occasional lunch break meandering through exhibitions in the weeks ahead. I also found out details of immunerable free concerts, performances and festivals that are coming up in the next few weeks, particularly around 4th July. Although it is an expensive city to live in, DC does offer some great freebies to those in the know.

In the afternoon, I ventured to a true American mall for some shopping. The dollar conversions were a challange for my pass-maths brain, but it was an experience too. Shopping seems to be an event here, rather than an errand and Americans are unfailingly polite.

That night, the interns hit the town for dinners and drinks in an effort to see another side of the city. It was relatively expensive, but the effectiveness of the Metro into the wee hours of the morning really impressed me. Another full day was done.