Day Two

So, today was my second day of work. It was a little less busy than yesterday, but still pretty hectic. I started out the morning by going on a tour with a lady from HR, where she informed me that I would need to take out my nose ring. I knew this day was coming, but it still took me aback for a second. Mostly, because I kind of forgot it was there...anyway, its almost all the way closed up, which I guess is kind of symbolic of the closing of the time in my life it represented...as weird as that sounds. The things I will do for my country! Haha.

After getting the nose ring situation squared away, I was taken on a tour of building where I am working for the NAM. There is actually a mall under there, which has a store in there that is similar to TJ Maxx and Ross. Heaven! I also became acquainted with some of the cute restaurants and shops down a side street near our building. I am really very lucky to be working in such a cool area of town!

After that eventful tour, I got to participate in my first webinar. It was weird. Its going to take a while for me to get used to this whole having conferences via the phone type of thing.

After that, I took a break for lunch and went to this cool organic restaurant, Funxion on that side street I mentioned earlier. It was pretty good, I had a salad and tofu chili...the tofu chili was actually PRETTY good! It was really cute and funky, so I may make another trip over there to try something else before the summer is over.

The afternoon was fairly slow, but I did get my badge to get into the DOC! No more metal detectors, at least to get into my work. I'm really excited about the work that we will be doing in that office. I feel like it is right in line with what I may want to end up doing with my life...which is kind of cool. So far, pretty awesome.

Uplifting story for today: I haven't had time to go to the store, yet, since I have been pretty tired from working. So, I've just been making use of the Chili's gift certificate that my mom gave me. Anyway, last night apparently I left the gift certificate at Chili's after I ate and I didn't realize it until I had to find it to pay my bill tonight! I asked the waitress, knowing in the back of my head that it was gone for good. Five minutes later, she comes out with it! Needless to say, I gave her a big tip!

I'll end my post with a few pictures from the area around where I work. All of them don't even capture how awesome the buildings are around here, but at least you can get a sense of them. The first is of my view of the Capitol Building as I walk to the metro. The next picture, although it looks like a cathedral, is of the oldest Post Office. The last picture is of the Herbert C. Hoover building, which is where the DOC is housed. It is going through construction right now, and is absolutely HUGE! It takes up two blocks...no joke.

First Day of Work

Alright, I am done with my first day of work! It was probably the best first day I could have asked for. I am working in the National Association of Manufacturers as well as the Department of Commerce, so today was filled with running around, meeting people, filling out paperwork and getting acquainted with the surroundings.

My morning started off with taking my first ride on the metro, which is actually very simple. When thinking about the metro, I just remember my experience in New York City, which was filled with confusion, however this was totally different. Everything is very well marked, and easily mapped out for your convenience. Its lovely. After my train ride I made a few detours on the way to my office at the NAM, which is right next to the National Theater! The location of my office is absolutely wonderful. It is really close to the national mall, the White House, the Washington Monument, one stop away from the Smithsonian, and right around the corner from some beautiful plazas. Here is a picture I took of the Washington Monument while on my trek to and from the Department of Commerce to the NAM.

Everyone in BOTH of my offices is super nice, personable, and helpful. I could not have asked for better offices to work in. I know that my internship will be very busy, considering my working in two offices, but it will all be worth it.

My plans for the next few days are to:

1) Get some food! I didn't get to eat at all today because I was so busy at the office, so I need to get something I can take to work.

2) Explore Pentagon City

3) Explore the area where I am working, especially the national mall.