What happens when you become a TWC intern? I had no idea until yesterday, Wednesday the 28th.
Yesterday afternoon, after a canceled (and rebooked) flight, packing, two and a half hours of sleep, a breakfast sandwich, a bittersweet goodbye with my mother, two airline-sized Ginger Ales, a delayed arrival, and a crowd of elbows trying to get ahead of me to an empty luggage conveyor belt, I finally made it to the car service that had been reserved to drive me to The Washington Center. [Insert DEEP breath here!!] Check in was a breeze; you walked up to a table, told them your name, signed a paper, got a key, and hit the elevator. If zombies could carry suitcases and carry-ons while wielding fancy keys to electronic locks, perhaps that's what I would have looked like.
Upon entering my apartment, I met two of the sweetest girls; the fourth roommate hadn't arrived yet, so I had the second bedroom to myself. I chose the bed by the window which doubles as a wall. Light wakes me up in the morning, so leaving the blinds a little cracked will ensure that I don't hit the snooze and roll over! Strategic planning is everything.
Missing a roommate turned out, as we learned during a Q&A session, to be pretty typical. Delayed flights, later flights, being on the quarter system-- it's not a big deal since everyone was still somewhere in the process of getting from Point A to Point B. Roommate #4 arrived at some point in the wee hours, bless her heart. She's been a bit of a ninja, silently slipping in and out of the apartment, but she seems very sweet from what communication we have had with her.
Roommates #1 and #2 are from Florida, although different universities, and I think as far as roommates go we all struck gold. You hear scuttlebutt about people not caring for their roommates (or worse- a personality conflict); this is definitely not the case with our apartment. At least between those two and me. We haven't spent enough time around our ninja roommate. I swear, she has skills. Numerous times we've looked around only to find that she's disappeared! I think, though, that we'll all get along very well.
There are a few things you have to do within a week after arriving; submit a roommate agreement form, and check off the inventory list. As I was unpacking yesterday, roommates #1 and #2 came in and we informally discussed the roommate agreement. It turns out that we're all in sync with one another: honesty and open communication are extremely important to all of us. Score! We all agree that if we keep that line of communication open with one another that we'll be able to nip any problems in the bud as they come up. Certainly, there were other little things that bugged each of us, and so we'll work on those to keep the peace, but it all seems to go back to communication. I am so very thankful to have been placed with girls who feel the same way. Learning to live with someone new is an adventure that can go one of two ways. I'm thankful that it seems to be going in a positive direction.
In all seriousness, I remember having a conversation with someone at TWC regarding the apartment bedding, and I vividly remember being told there were sheets, a pillow, and a blanket provided. There were no such items. So, if you're getting ready to come to TWC in the future, be forewarned! Bring an extra long twin sheet set, a pillow, and your favorite blanket! A quick run to Walmart via the night shuttle solved the problem. Lesson learned: Don't double-check -- triple check!!
While we had an evening orientation session on arrival day to introduce the staff and meet in small groups according to our floors in the apartment building, it felt like the program really began today. On arrival day, everything is casual. You just got off the flight, your suit coat isn't pressed -- they get it! Day 2 is when everyone gets down to business. It was an incredible feeling to be in a large crowd of young professionals! Orientation continued, and afterwards you were able to meet your Academic Program Advisor. Various workshops were offered throughout the afternoon from stress management, to a personality type test that you could take, to discussing how to be successful as a young professional in the Washington DC work environment. Orientation attendance was mandatory. Workshops were optional, but I would highly recommend them for incoming TWC interns. Or, for some, perhaps the recommendation is better pointed towards taking a nap. Benefits can come from many directions!
Upon entering my apartment, I met two of the sweetest girls; the fourth roommate hadn't arrived yet, so I had the second bedroom to myself. I chose the bed by the window which doubles as a wall. Light wakes me up in the morning, so leaving the blinds a little cracked will ensure that I don't hit the snooze and roll over! Strategic planning is everything.
Missing a roommate turned out, as we learned during a Q&A session, to be pretty typical. Delayed flights, later flights, being on the quarter system-- it's not a big deal since everyone was still somewhere in the process of getting from Point A to Point B. Roommate #4 arrived at some point in the wee hours, bless her heart. She's been a bit of a ninja, silently slipping in and out of the apartment, but she seems very sweet from what communication we have had with her.
Roommates #1 and #2 are from Florida, although different universities, and I think as far as roommates go we all struck gold. You hear scuttlebutt about people not caring for their roommates (or worse- a personality conflict); this is definitely not the case with our apartment. At least between those two and me. We haven't spent enough time around our ninja roommate. I swear, she has skills. Numerous times we've looked around only to find that she's disappeared! I think, though, that we'll all get along very well.
There are a few things you have to do within a week after arriving; submit a roommate agreement form, and check off the inventory list. As I was unpacking yesterday, roommates #1 and #2 came in and we informally discussed the roommate agreement. It turns out that we're all in sync with one another: honesty and open communication are extremely important to all of us. Score! We all agree that if we keep that line of communication open with one another that we'll be able to nip any problems in the bud as they come up. Certainly, there were other little things that bugged each of us, and so we'll work on those to keep the peace, but it all seems to go back to communication. I am so very thankful to have been placed with girls who feel the same way. Learning to live with someone new is an adventure that can go one of two ways. I'm thankful that it seems to be going in a positive direction.
In all seriousness, I remember having a conversation with someone at TWC regarding the apartment bedding, and I vividly remember being told there were sheets, a pillow, and a blanket provided. There were no such items. So, if you're getting ready to come to TWC in the future, be forewarned! Bring an extra long twin sheet set, a pillow, and your favorite blanket! A quick run to Walmart via the night shuttle solved the problem. Lesson learned: Don't double-check -- triple check!!
While we had an evening orientation session on arrival day to introduce the staff and meet in small groups according to our floors in the apartment building, it felt like the program really began today. On arrival day, everything is casual. You just got off the flight, your suit coat isn't pressed -- they get it! Day 2 is when everyone gets down to business. It was an incredible feeling to be in a large crowd of young professionals! Orientation continued, and afterwards you were able to meet your Academic Program Advisor. Various workshops were offered throughout the afternoon from stress management, to a personality type test that you could take, to discussing how to be successful as a young professional in the Washington DC work environment. Orientation attendance was mandatory. Workshops were optional, but I would highly recommend them for incoming TWC interns. Or, for some, perhaps the recommendation is better pointed towards taking a nap. Benefits can come from many directions!
Following the workshops and before the ice cream social (more on that in a second) scheduled for this evening, there was enough free time to run to the grocery store to grab food for dinner. I'm so used to having a car and being able to buy enough groceries to last me the month that it's been a learning curve to only buy what I can physically carry! Thankfully, TWC has a shuttle that takes interns to Walmart (among other places), and a grocery store is three blocks down the road. Easily within walking distance. Roommates #1, #2, and I have come to an agreement where we independently prepare breakfast and lunch, but that dinner will sometimes be a communal effort. What a great idea that turned out to be-- we had a great time this evening as I taught them how to make chicken tetrazzini, a chicken/mushroom pasta dish, and leftovers to eat tomorrow.
This evening we had an ice cream social and were able to mingle with one another. Roommates #1, #2, and I stuck together for the most part, but we met a number of very interesting people! At the end of our time downstairs I was ready to come back up and cook dinner, but it was a great experience. Networking is all about practice, practice, practice! Everywhere I looked interns were talking to find common threads, and establishing friendships. "What's your major?" "Where's your internship?" "Which program are you in?" "Which floor are you on?" "Why did you decide to come to The Washington Center?" were all common questions you could hear in the buzz of conversation.
TWC encouraged us to use a specific hashtag to help share the TWC experience; there will certainly be more information here on the blog, but you can also follow along at instagram.com/clariceinwashington! My personal IG is a private profile because, let's face it, I'm a private introvert. This new profile is specifically for the Washington experience, so it's public and anyone can view it. Click away!
I've learned a lot already about what goes into being a TWC intern, and I'm looking forward to my program orientation tomorrow morning. This summer will be phenomenal!
I've learned a lot already about what goes into being a TWC intern, and I'm looking forward to my program orientation tomorrow morning. This summer will be phenomenal!
Clarice