home from washington: week 2

My internship in Washington, DC was amazing - it was like life in the fast lane; Washington is the center of the universe, and it was hard for me to transition back to the laid-back-Cali lifestyle I have here at home. One of my main reasons for taking a year off was to really understand why I was going to college, since nowadays college is the new high school and grad school is the new college. But, back on topic - why was I going to put myself in debt to get a higher education if I had no specific direction yet? Well - from my time in Washington, I have come to understand I would not only love to work in public policy, but I think I could be pretty good at it. As an elected official, you have to be nice (check), attentive (check), listen to others (check), take initiative (check), and have conviction and confidence in your opinion (working on that one...).
So, essentially, I have tried out the most entry-level job in public policy and I like what I experienced and how "The Hill" and Washington work. Next... education:
In the coming months, I will be volunteering at the East Palo Alto Academy, a Stanford New School. Essentially this school is a demonstration school, or rather a good place for new teachers coming out of Stanford's Education Department to get their feet wet, and this school seems to be greatly benefiting the local area. Although I have not started my volunteering yet, I'm excited! I received a quick tour of the school (which consists of little portables) and am already thinking about all the cute little kids I'll be able to interact with, the Spanish I can practice, and the help I can offer and maybe, just maybe, make a difference in someone's life. (yeah... i know that sounds pretty corny, but hey - why not? LOL). I'm going to start my volunteer job this week on Thursday, wish me luck!

Last week the UC schools had their spring break, and I was able to see all my buds from UCSB, UCSC, and Cal - it was great catching up with my girls again. Yesterday, a friend had a barbecue at his house and a whole bunch of extended friends were there - wow have we all changed in one year! There were new tattoos to show off, new relationships to tell of, crazy party stories, basically everyone had changed their presentation of themselves and they all seemed more comfortable in their skin. I was never close with these kids in high school and sometimes intimidated to be in a social setting with them, but I noticed myself, that I had changed too - I could slip into easy conversation with them - getting out of high school changes you.
Some of my friends - Miraya, Nikki, Christina, Victoria, and I went to Ms. Miranda's (AP English teacher's) class to talk to them about our first year out of high school. It was great for me to be able to reflect on what I had done since June - attended Stanford, got my first part-time job, worked for the U.S. Congress..... I think that's pretty cool.

the picture is of my high school friends and me in the 3rd Quad at Soquel when we visited teachers and Ms. Miranda.

homeeeeeeee

I returned home on Sunday with a terrible cold! I have spent my last few days getting better and figuring out what I'll be doing while I'm here in California.
I must admit, I do miss the fast-lane life that Washington is. There isn't much going on at home. The life of politics is very glamorous and kind of sucks you in.

Although I originally intended for this blog to be a means for communication while I was in Washington, but I will continue blogging while during my gap year. I'll keep you posted - check back soon.

bri

i forgot to tell you!

last Sunday, an intern-friend from santa cruz, another intern in her office and I went to the zoo! it was so cold, but really fun nonetheless. The pandas were so cute, I loved seeing the elephants and especially this cute red panda, but it was also sad to know that once I'm done walking by, the animal still has to stay in captivity and wait for another ugly human to coo, wave, and point at it. I really enjoyed seeing a hippo, capybara, and zebra, and I would have never had the opportunity to see them in their own environment, but I don't like how they have to live there forever. The pandas looked very content munching on bamboo, but the capybaras and elephants gave you this longing look of "please, you know I'm not happy here... stop staring at me.." Perhaps the zoo could rotate the animals (I know.. the whole domesticated thing, they wouldn't last in the wild after captivity, it would be hard to catch new animals, cost more money, blah blah blah....) I guess that's not realistic, but I wish there would be a way for people to enjoy seeing these amazing and rare animals without one individual member of the species having to suffer.

Okay, so I sounded kind of depressed about the zoo - but it was really enjoyable. That whole sad-fest above was just me feeling guilty. But what was so amazing about that day was going to St. Matthew's Cathedral in DC. Wow- it was so gorgeous! Katerina, Andrew, and I stood in the second row and was able to admire the glittering gold and perfect mosaics. My eyes would follow the cathedral's walls covered in frescos, detailed flowers, and smooth marbles up to the very top.

What I also found interesting about the mass was the difference in traditions. Katerina, a girl I used to dance ballet with years ago who also has an internship on the hill in Mike Honda's office, also goes to church in the Santa Cruz area and also St. Joseph's once in a while. The two of us would raise to our waist to offer back peace to the priest when no one else would, and we also would hold our hands out during the Lord's prayer when no one else would either. It was kind of awkward being the anomaly, especially with the whole congregation behind us, but it was chill; prayer is prayer. I hardly think our creator really cares when we raise our hands. The other kid's name who came with us is Andrew, he works as an intern in Mike Honda's office too, but he's from Texas.

Got to go... talk to you laterrrrr
to my California people. see you in about 6 days!

starting to pack...

Today I shipped a box home (which was way more expensive than I expected!), but the point is that this means I'm officially going home. Today, I'm starting laundry and tucking some things in my suitcase. I've had the feeling that - you know, I have a whole week - not the case. Although I leave Saturday night, I am leaving from Dulles, about a 30 minute drive, and you have to get there early for security, and I guess Dulles is really confusing because of the gate situation of busing from terminals - uck, that sounds confusing. Although I've been working a fully week the past 2 weeks, I'm decided to take my usual day off even though it would be my last. Strand is going to take me to school that day for a little good-bye to all the H-B kids.

On one hand, I'm very excited to see all my family, my dog, to sleep in my own bed and just be home. But once that honeymoon period of "omg, briana, tell me about DC" of about a week is over, I'm going to be anxious to move onto my new adventure, which I hope should be set up soon after I get back.

later, until next post,
briana

OMG - AMAZING!

I would have posted this earlier, but I've been so busy.


On Tuesday I was fortunate (again) to win the drawing in the office to win the Gallery Pass to the House Floor. Speaking was Prime Minister Gordon Brown addressing a joint congress. On the floor I saw Sen. Feinstein, Sen. Kerry, Congressman Kennedy and tons of other Congressmen. The speech was moving, dramatic, and quite frankly, amazing. Stepping into the elevator, I physically brushed past Congressman Kennedy. On the coolness scale from 1-10, that experience was definitely a 9.5 or 10... but it gets better. ......

On my way back to Longworth (the office where I work), Erica, a new intern, was coming in my direction towards the Capitol. She was going to drop off Oceans 21 (Sam's ocean's bill) and their cosponsors' signatures to the Democratic Cloakroom, which is really hard to find, so I offered to go with her. Waiting for the elevator, guess who walks out?

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDENNNN. As he steps out of the elevator, he watches his step, and as he looks up, he TOTALLY looks at me and smiles! It was AMAZING and Erica even saw it!!!!!!

I was hyperventilating in the elevator.

amazing


And Thursday we got to take pictures with the Congressman! See the photooooo

Only One More Week in DC! :(

Eleven days left...

I'm going to miss you
Strand-Sylvester Family
Kendra, Ellie, Amanda, Dawn, Erica, Dan, and Mia (in no specific order)
Rochelle, Tee Tom Tucker, Mentzer, Jessica,Marc, Dan, India, Debbie, and of course SAM! :)
my Congressional ID
Longworth!
Cannon
Rayburn
Capitol
DC
CVC
snow, cold
metro
Courthouse
Clarendon
Arlington
H-B Woodlawn
H-B kidzzzzz
2601 N. 24th Street
20515
1126 Longworth HOB
cutting in line at the cafeteria b/c I work for congress
not having to take off my coat for security
dropping co-sponsors at the Democratic Cloakroom
locking eyes with JOE BIDENNNNNNN
seeing Gordon Brown