Rain in D.C. … this is madness!

As I begin this week’s post I have to note the gray, rainy looking sky, and how cool and exciting it is. I know, I know, you’re probably thinking, “gray, rainy sky… what could possibly be cool or exciting about that?” but here’s the thing, I’m a person who enjoys a good gray skied day every once and a while, especially in the city. Those were some of my favorite days in London. I feel like a city changes when the weather does. When the sky is gray and the ground is damp and you can smell the impending rain, everything slows down a bit, everything takes on new life and you see things just a little bit differently. Its as if your not in the same city, I wish I knew how to better explain it but all I can say is things change, in this cool, fun, anything is possible kind of way.

These days also mean that fall is here and fall is my favorite season. As it begins I find myself missing New Hampshire a bit. Fall is a whole different experience up there. The leaves turn ten different brilliant shades of orange, red, and yellow before falling into a crunchy blanket on the ground. The air gets crisp and fresh, you go to the local farm pick apples and pumpkins, drink hot apple cider and sit on T-Hall lawn at UNH. In New Hampshire you can feel, smell, and taste fall. Now I’m not saying fall in D.C. isn’t going to be fun, it’s just going to be different. But so far everything different that I’ve tried has ended up being pretty great, so I’m not too worried about my autumn experience down here. Just yesterday in fact I spent my lunch break over on Vermont Ave at the new White House farmer’s market marveling at the produce and being very pleased to see pumpkins and gourds already on sale. As you may have notice by now, I have a not-so-secret love of farmer’s markets and this one, I have to say, was pretty swank. There’s always something to look at, always someone friendly to talk to, and really good produce, I challenge you to find something not fun about a farmer’s market! :)

Work this week has been go, go, go! I don’t think there’s been a single minute where I haven’t been doing something. But it’s been great. I’ve been able to sit in on several meetings and meet more people from our organization as well as several key people in the field. It’s been a really great way to learn more about what’s being done to end childhood hunger and the steps Share Our Strength is taking to expand its programming and help more people. That’s one of the great things about an internship I think. There’s a lot of work, but if you work hard, there are a lot of perks as well. If I wasn’t interning here I wouldn’t have the people I’ve met of been able to work at the USDA farmer’s market, or learned so much about childhood hunger in the U.S. Share Our Strength continues to be a place where I learn something everyday.

I’ve also gotten a pretty good idea of the tremendous amount of work that goes into making a non-profit successful, and trust me it takes A LOT of work. It’s incredibly fascinating to me though. There are so many different roles and so many responsibilities and you really do have to have a group of people who can work as a team because if they can’t then it’s never going to work. Share Our Strength is clearly very lucky because the people who work here, at least in my department (Operation Frontline) work incredibly well together and all understand the importance of their work. I’ve really come to better understand nonprofits and I’m happy to report that it’s definitely still an area I think I would like to work in after graduating.

On top of all that work I made it out to the National Book Festival on the National Mall and it was GREAT!

Yes it rained, pretty heavily, but I got to hear John Irving speak as well as Nicholas Sparks. I also got a ton of free swag. (Quick intern lesson: as an unpaid intern, try to get as much free stuff as you can, food, posters, anything. It will make your lack of income seem no so bad) ;) I wandered the various book tents with my roommates and witnessed several amazing things. First, after getting off at Farragut North we passed a huge drum circle in the park.

Then while making our way to the National Mall we saw President Obama returning in his convoy to the White House. After this we saw a soccer tournament getting underway (I am a HUGE soccer fan, so anytime I see people playing I immediately smile). As we crossed the street I stumbled onto one of the coolest things ever… the D.C. Kickball league! They were having a tournament on the lawn in front of the Washington Monument. You can join a team and play any time you want, it’s amazing. Finally, just before reaching the book fair a guy on a massive unicycle passed by us swerving in and out of the crowd with incredible skill. This just goes to show that you can’t go anywhere in D.C. with out witnessing something really amazing!

Now on a side note, something terrible happened this week! Ben Folds, the wonderful, heartwarming, insanely talented musician himself, came to the Kennedy Center and performed live and I missed it!!! Tickets sold out and after several calls and attempts at tracking one down, I suffered an epic fail and missed him! I’ve realized that missing amazing concerts has become a trend with me. Not only did I miss Ben Folds but last week, (on my birthday) Matt and Kim came to The Black Cat and that too was sold out. I’m starting to think I don’t really have my finger on the pulse of the D.C. music scene and that needs to change immediately! In honor of missing both concerts, I’ve listened; quite adamantly to both artists on my commute in and out of the city… it’s not the same, not even close.

This Week’s Top 2 Places to Visit:

1. The National Geographic Museum: This “little” gem is less than half a block from my office and it’s AMAZING! (I know I use that term a lot, but it really is applicable here). From the outside, it doesn’t look like much.

I walked past it almost everyday on my way to work until one day deciding to peek inside. (Such a great decision). As if National Geographic isn’t already cool enough without me talking it up, the museum has this thing called “Tuesdays at Noon”, which is a free screening of a film or NatGeo program!! I tend to mosey on down there once or twice a week on my lunch break to sit in the courtyard,

wander the photo galleries, or catch a free film. So if you ever find yourself in D.C. head to M and 16th for some fun :)

2. Murphy’s Irish Pub: If you like loud friendly crowds who enjoying singing Oasis, Dropkick Murphy’s, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Irish drinking songs at the top of their lungs, then this is the place for you. It’s located in Old Town in Alexandria, which is a really great place to go if you want to window shop or hang out with friends. Murphy’s is loud, crowded, smoky, and it’s a great place to hang out on a Friday night. Rocky, an Irishman with a great voice will serenade you all night with dozens of fun songs and everyone sings along. It’s a great place to go if you’re looking for a friendly low key night out.

Top 5 Songs of the Week:

1. Ben Folds: “Not the Same”
2. The Go! Team: “Huddle Formation”
3. Jurassic 5: “Concrete Schoolyard”
4. Matt & Kim: “Daylight”
5. Jeff Buckley: “Last Goodbye”

***This week I have a special 6th song dedicated to my roommate Christiana.

LMFAO: “I’m In Miami Trick”***

Well, welcome to another week of blogging! I hope that you enjoyed my last post! Between all the journal entries I have to do for TWC and class, I think my I will be a pro at this blogging thing in no time! I cannot believe that I’m already done with another week, time has seriously flown by! This week was pretty hectic. Between work, class, homework for class, and my birthday I haven’t gotten home before 9 pm all week!! I suppose this is life as an intern though…. and it’s GREAT!!!

So Monday was my first day of class. I got out of work early, attended a lecture at the Foundation Center and then walked into the greatest class ever!!! The class is called Power, Politics, and Poetry and it’s taught by Georgetown professor Joel Swerdlow. I was excited about the class before hand, but still a little apprehensive, I mean it’s a class and that means more work (just kidding!) ;) But it’s truly amazing. Professor Swerdlow is hilarious and he makes the class incredibly interesting and creates a really fun atmosphere. The only down side to this awesome time… I don’t get back to my apartment until almost 10:30pm. It makes for an incredibly long day and it’s the one time I really wish I lived closer to the city.

But it’s a small price to pay for being able to take such an amazing course. As part of the learning experience in this class I have to visit a variety of sights in the city including the FDR, Jefferson, and Lincoln memorials, and the National Mall. This week as part of my course, I visited Arlington Cemetery and saw the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Kennedy Memorial, and the Lee Memorial. It’s a place I recommend visiting if you’re ever in the city because even though it’s a very somber place, it’s also one full of history.

Standing at the Arlington House looking out over the district, the cemetery became a place that was incredibly moving and, at least for me, makes you think about so many things, not just war or death, but our country’s past, things we’ve survived, mistakes we’ve made, and the what lies ahead.

As for work, it’s great! Working for Share Our Strength has been incredibly eye opening. Before this internship the idea of child hunger in the United States was a remote idea, something I never really thought about. As my internship progress, I’m realizing that it is a huge problem in our country and that it’s something we (the American people) should be able to fix. I feel really lucky that I not only have an internship that I enjoy but one that also continually teaches me new things and opens my eyes to new ideas and new information.

As part of my internship I get to go to the USDA Farmer’s Market on the National Mall and assist with cooking demos. It’s so much fun and it’s such an awesome way to meet people and talk to them about my internship.


This week I worked with some of the coolest chefs and met a few people from the USDA. I even met a guy who makes his own soap and runs the entire company from his home… off solar power! It was SO cool! Coming from New Hampshire, spending time in a farmer’s market was kind of like going home. Before leaving I made sure to stock up on my produce which included an eggplant, literally the size of my face, and a pint of hot peppers that only cost $1!!

So on top of visiting a few of the city’s sights and hanging out at the farmer’s market, I also celebrated my 21st birthday this weekend. It was pretty great ;) Friends from New Hampshire came to visit and we headed out to Adam’s Morgan (another place I HIGHLY recommend visiting). It’s a great neighborhood with endless amounts of things to do.



We went into the city to do some sight seeing and walked along the National Mall to see the memorials. I’ve been to D.C. before and while I loved seeing everything again, it was seeing the Vietnam Memorial that was my favorite part. I had forgotten how truly moving powerful the memorial is. It is definitely my favorite memorial in the city and another spot that I think anyone who comes to D.C. should visit.

This week has been insanely busy and as I type this I’m realizing that every week is most likely going to be this busy. But its wonderful because every single day I do something fun and interesting. I try something new, see something new, or meet someone new and that makes running around and wishing for an extra hour in the day totally worth it!

Top 2 Places to Visit This Week:

1. The Kennedy Center: This place is INCREDIBLE! Its home to some of the most amazing performances in D.C. (Including Ben Folds this month!) and hosts a variety of different artists. There are both musical and theatrical performances from a wide range of genres. I think the thing about this place that I love the most is the Hall of Flags. I couldn’t stop from looking up towards the ceiling as I walked through. There’s a bust of Kennedy’s head in the lobby and various quotes strewn on the walls. It’s a place that represents the importance of the arts and the diversity of music and theater.

2. USDA Farmer’s Market: This is definitely one of the coolest places in the city. The market sits right on the National Mall and are full vendors selling local produce, organic foods, homemade soaps, and a variety of other things. You walk into the market and you’re met by smiling faces and people milling happily through the colorful stands. You can smell fresh brewed coffee and homemade spinach empanadas. It’s like stepping out of the city and into another world and its an experience everyone should have!


Top 5 Songs of the Week:


1. Matt & Kim: “Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare”
2. Jay-Z: “Empire State of Mind”
3. The Ting Tings: “Keep Your Head”
4. Kid Cudi: “Dat New”
5. The Rumble Strips: “Alarm Clock”

Yo!

Okay so let’s start with the basics. My name is Vanessa Bennett. I’m a senior at UNH and I’m about to embark on an internship at the amazing DC nonprofit, Share Our Strength. And this, is my blog… :)

Now before I begin discussing life in D.C. let me first explain the title of my blog. I am a HUGE fan of Lupe Fiasco, as far as I’m concerned, he can do no wrong. After meeting with my blogging supervisor, I was sitting in my apartment in Rockville, MD struggling hopelessly to come up with a title for my blog. I had bounced ideas off everyone and had some very interesting suggestions come my way, but nothing jumped out at me. I was about to throw in the towel, so to speak, and settle on “My Time in D.C.” (very uncreative, I know), when Lupe’s “Kick, Push” came on. Now this song is one of my FAVORITE songs. It has an incredible beat and amazing lyrics and I can listen to it over and over again without ever getting tired of it. So I chose to combine my love for Lupe Fiasco with my first attempts at being a blogger and from this came “Let’s Kick, and Push, and Coast into the District”. Now I’m just hoping that some of his beautiful lyricism rubs off on me ;)

As I said before, I’ve never blogged before, so this should be an interesting experience. However, I’ve found that trying new things tends to be both interesting and amazing. I’m from a small town in New Hampshire. It’s full of farms, cows, there is no underground system, and like Cheers, “Everyone knows your name”. It’s the sort of place where you can’t go anywhere without bumping into someone who knows you through a friend of a friend’s cousin. This is why I chose last January to pack up my life and travel across the big blue ocean to London, England for the semester.

What advice can I give you about that? GO TO LONDON IMMEDIATELY!!!

It was a life changing experience, the city is truly one of the greatest cities in the world, with the most wonderful people you’ll ever meet (quick shout out to the Regent’s College Spring 2009 Study Abroad Class, you guys rock!) and I would go back in a heartbeat. In fact London was such an amazing experience that I have managed to retain some of the lingo, I continue to refer to trash cans as “rubbish bins” and the DC Metro as “the underground” much to my roommates' dismay.

I had such a wonderful time in London that I’ve chosen again to pick up my life and now I’m here in D.C. The journey at 5:30 am on Wednesday September 2nd, when I crammed my suitcases into my roommate’s car and we drove 9 hours to Rockville, Maryland, my new home. This road trip included a premade D.C. mix (complete with Lupe Fiasco of course), a wrong turn that almost resulted in us driving right into New York City, stomach upsetting pizza from a highway rest stop on the Jersey Turnpike, and 20 minutes spent driving aimlessly around Rockville trying to find our apartment. So all in all… a pretty great time ;) But not as great a time as my first few days in the city.

After two days of orientation where I met tons of great people and learned about life as a TWC intern, I spent the weekend exploring Georgetown with other TWC interns and my roommates,(I was pleasantly surprised to see that there is a Boston Red Sox sports bar in the area… GO SOX!)...

visiting some of the monuments and museums and hanging around Rockville. Getting out into the city made me suddenly realize that, yes, I am in fact now living in DC. I know that I probably should have realized this earlier on but it took not only seeing the National Mall and Washington Monument, but nearly getting lost in Adams Morgan, wandering the Smithsonian Gardens and visiting the Rockville Library to make it real… go figure :)

This week I also went to see our local baseball team The Nationals play! It was the best way to end my work day, running three blocks to my underground station, changing trains in Chinatown and then yelling and cheering on my team. However the experience was very different from other games I’ve been too. I’m from Red Sox country where the fans are loud, often times obnoxious, and get so into the game that its kind of scary. Here at Nationals Park...

my roommate and I sat in an almost empty section of the stands and were the only two cheering. It was still a really cool way to see another part of the city and an awesome way to spend the evening. (Plus I saw a Ben Folds look a like on the underground and that pretty much made my day.)

Now I don’t want you all to think that all I’m doing down here is wandering the city streets avoiding my internship responsibilities. I’ve been at my internship now for three days and I have to say… Share Our Strength is pretty amazing. I’ve got my own “cube” (cubical) and I feel like a real professional attending various meetings and having a real office to go to. There is a lot of work and at first it was overwhelming, but I’m getting more and more excited for the projects I’m going to be working on. I’m going to be apart of some really wonderful things with this organization and I’ll even get to attend the USDA Farmer’s Market every Friday on the National Mall… pretty great right! I feel like this is going to be a great place to learn more about nonprofits and about the kinds of things I want to do when I graduate. With this internship I feel like a real adult, taking the Metro to work, having my own cubicle and tasks to fulfill. I always shunned the day when I would have to leave college and be an adult, but now I’m sort of excited at the prospect of life post undergrad.

Wow, who knew so much could happen in such a short amount of time or that TWC would be so much fun!?

Until next time, I leave you with the following pearls of wisdom, enjoy:

This Week's Top 2 Places to Visit While in the City:

1. The Black Cat: It’s a grungy music club showcasing local, indie, and alternative bands. The atmosphere is loud and as you walk through the front doors you immediately feel the bass from the band playing on the main stage. It’s a great place to see a band and hang out with friends, although you may have to settle on the PacMan arcade game for your table… ;)

2. The Hirshhorn Museum: One of the places I fell in love with in London was the Tate Modern, the Hirshhorn is the US version of this. The building is shaped like a doughnut and there is a massive fountain in the center. There are works by numerous modern artists and I spent my Labor Day wandering aimlessly through the galleries taking in each piece of artwork. There is the most beautiful panoramic view of the city from the top floor of the museum and the coolest penguin sculpture on the lower level. J This is definitely a place to go when you feel like getting “lost” for a bit.

Top 5 Songs of the Week:
1. Lupe Fiasco: “Kick, Push”
2. We Are Scientists: “Altered Beast”
3. The Wombats: “Little Miss Pipedream”
4. Handsome Furs: “All We Want Baby Is Everything”
5. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin: “House Fire”