When you’re about to plunge into the working world of waking up at 6AM or 6:30AM, it’s best not to sleep in on the weekend prior to your first day! Start making good habits as soon as possible!
Although we didn’t leave our apartment bright and early, Roommates #1, #2, and I did spend the morning and early afternoon exploring DC. After breakfast, we left and walked around the national mall. The WWII Memorial and Vietnam Memorial were both extremely humbling. The Lincoln Memorial was as awe-inspiring as I remembered it being from my childhood. I’m not sure you can stand beside Lincoln and not feel a heavy sense of… something. I still haven’t found the words to describe it.
Although we didn’t leave our apartment bright and early, Roommates #1, #2, and I did spend the morning and early afternoon exploring DC. After breakfast, we left and walked around the national mall. The WWII Memorial and Vietnam Memorial were both extremely humbling. The Lincoln Memorial was as awe-inspiring as I remembered it being from my childhood. I’m not sure you can stand beside Lincoln and not feel a heavy sense of… something. I still haven’t found the words to describe it.
After taking a circuitous route around the national mall, we grabbed lunch at one of the many food trucks, and then hit the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
One thing I’m thankful for is that I no longer hate oatmeal. The texture was something I couldn’t stand growing up, but now I find that I like it a lot (with brown sugar, of course). A bonus is that it’s cheap and filling. I’m not a huge breakfast person, but I’m learning to be because skipping breakfast is a mistake if you’re going to be going and unable to stop to eat until your designated lunch hour. If time is an issue in the morning, baking oatmeal to reheat is always an option.
I’ve learned the hard way that I need to carry a water bottle around with me. $2.00 at a food truck is not worth it when I’m already toting around a large purse. Personally, I don’t like plain water, and so I bought an infused water bottle at Walmart. Nectarines were on sale…score!
Another lesson I’ve learned early on is that it’s worth it to take time and get to know your fellow interns! My roommates and I returned around 3PM and ran into the group that lives in the next apartment. They invited us out to go explore this evening, and although only Roommate #1 and I went, the idea of making those connections with fellow interns still stands. We’re all homesick and lonely at times, and I’ve enjoyed speaking with many of them, whether it was in passing or at the ice cream social.
When we went to the metro in the evening, we ended up going into the metro station and then leaving the same way we came after changing our minds about our destination. Be warned: they’ll still charge the exit fee. The evening turned out nice regardless. Three of our neighbors, my roommate, and I walked around the area together, and honestly just created a big circle. We learned not to let a particular neighbor try to figure out directions, which led to a great amount of hilarious teasing.
I’ve learned the hard way that I need to carry a water bottle around with me. $2.00 at a food truck is not worth it when I’m already toting around a large purse. Personally, I don’t like plain water, and so I bought an infused water bottle at Walmart. Nectarines were on sale…score!
Another lesson I’ve learned early on is that it’s worth it to take time and get to know your fellow interns! My roommates and I returned around 3PM and ran into the group that lives in the next apartment. They invited us out to go explore this evening, and although only Roommate #1 and I went, the idea of making those connections with fellow interns still stands. We’re all homesick and lonely at times, and I’ve enjoyed speaking with many of them, whether it was in passing or at the ice cream social.
When we went to the metro in the evening, we ended up going into the metro station and then leaving the same way we came after changing our minds about our destination. Be warned: they’ll still charge the exit fee. The evening turned out nice regardless. Three of our neighbors, my roommate, and I walked around the area together, and honestly just created a big circle. We learned not to let a particular neighbor try to figure out directions, which led to a great amount of hilarious teasing.
Blessings,
Clarice
Clarice