Election Day!

Yesterday was election day. I can only assume that most people didn't go out to vote or care that it was election day. I was sad yesterday when I came back from getting dessert with some friends to realize that I was missing out on the ridiculous Election Day coverage on Network TV. As soon as the kids were on the bus this morning, I was on my computer to see what the results were.

I am not shocked. I am glad the Barbara Boxer is still my Senator. I know that Duncan Hunter will be my SD Rep until he dies.  I am ecstatic that Meg Whitman is not the governor elect in California, but not sure that Jerry Brown is going to solve the problems my favorite state faces. I am a little disappointed about Prop 19 (legalizing marijuana), I think it would have helped California more than hurt it.  There isn't a winning solution to drugs, but the current laws we have are failing just about everyone involved.

I then listened to the new Speaker of the House's speech, John Boehner.  His speech did not give me hope that things are actually going to be different in politics. His speech brings to light the hypocrisy that exists on both sides of the aisle.  It is moments like this that my idealistic and hopeful view of the world is crushed slightly. I think about how many people didn't go out to vote because they think it doesn't matter, or worse, because the candidates are all saying the same thing in a slightly different way.

In a way, I hope that this can bring about some bipartisanship back to Washington. I want to see President Obama reach across the aisle and continue his ambitious agenda.  After President Clinton lost his majority, things changed in but there was a new level of compromise (even through the Republicans trying to get him impeached).  This is when we started created a budget surplus for our nation and unemployment declined.  That is was we need to see.  I hope that we can see this as an opportunity to unite our country. I hope that we can stop bickering and give 9/11 first responders the healthcare they need and deserve. I hope that we can talk about how to deal with immigration and get all of the nominations that are being held up confirmed or denied instead of allowing them to stay in limbo.

I am glad that the craziest of the tea party candidates failed but I hope the ones that did get elected hold the Republic party to a new standard of fiscal responsibility.  I hope that Nancy Pelosi can take the higher road and treat the new Speaker with respect.  I hope that we can repair the beautiful and amazing country that I am from.  I hope that the change the country voted for is what we are given in the next two years. I am cautiously hopeful for the future. Progress is bound to happen let's just hope it is forward progress.

If you didn't watch any of Jon Stewart's Rally take 12 minutes to watch his Moment of Sincerity.  It is another heartfelt speech by Jon and one of the many reasons why I love and respect him so much!

I would like to make one more shout out to my BFF Ellie!!! She has been working tirelessly for months to get Senator Harry Reid reelected. I haven't spoken to her nearly as much as we used and I know that the last 2 months have involved little to no sleep.  It paid off. I know that she was such an asset to the campaign and I thank her for allowing the Dems to at least keep the majority in the Senate! She is a phenomenal woman who is going to be leading campaigns before we know it! Congrats Ellie!!! Can we talk now?? =)

You can take the girl out of DC but you can't take the DC out of the girl!

Fourth of July weekend in DC! 

Two Months Marks the Spot!

So I have reached the 2 month point today! I am enjoying it so far! I figure I would take this time to tell you about Switzerland!

I am not sure if I mentioned this before, but I heard 3 things every time I said I was moving to Zurich:

1. It is gorgeous!
2. It is expensive.
3. It is cold all the time.

So as you have been able to tell by my pictures it is actually gorgeous here. It never gets old. We had a beautiful weekend and the mountains were out! So amazing! I do not think I will get over this one all year!

It is expensive. So very, very, VERY expensive. Instead of the using the Big Mac Index as the Economist did, here's my Starbucks index. No matter what you get, even if it just a plain ol' cup of joe it will run you at least 5 CHF. The Swiss Franc and the US Dollar are essentially equal to one another.  It will cost you 5 CHF for the cheapest shampoo you can find. A haircut won't cost less than 60! A beer or glass of wine won't be less than 8 CHF (which isn't that shocking considering the places in the US that I have lived). Don't even think about going out to eat because no matter where you go (unless you get a delicious kabob) you will be paying at least 15 CHF. Needless to say, I don't go out to eat.

It is not cold all the time. I did, however, move to the Seattle of Europe. It rains all the time it feels like. I am working on getting used to it. I need to if I am ever to live in Seattle. Fall came right on time and it has been a bit chilly and wet for the majority of the week. Luckily, we have had some beautiful days mixed in there!

This means that I have spent more money here than I am used to spending. I am working on it.

Here are a few more observations I have made over the last couple of months:

1. The city is immaculate. All of the time.
2. There is no poverty and are no homeless people. The Swiss work hard to make sure this is the case.
3. There are "number one" and "number two" buttons on many toilets. Including in the house. 
4. It is safe. Really safe. 
5. The Swiss are...well they aren't this or that. They are just there. To have pleasant but not interesting conversation with. They aren't overly nice or mean. They just are here. Living happily in Switzerland! Example: Mama C went to a Sting concert last week and she said no one was dancing...no one.. they all just sat in their chairs. I have attributed their lack of enthusiasm to the fact that life is easy for most. People work hard and get paid a livable wage. If you are a waitress, that is your job for life and you will always make enough money to get by.  I will talk more about the Swiss economy in a later post. The point: Without any struggles and with complete efficiency, your people may lose a little of their umph and ability to understand sarcasm! So complete neutrality does in fact come at a cost.. (The other day I bought a book called Why Switzerland? which looks at the history and present society of Switzerland. While the people may not be the most exciting, the way they got to this place as a country fascinates me! I look forward to reading the book and, of course, will share it will you!) 
6. There is no open bottle law here. This means we can grab a cheap bottle of wine (which is so much better than a cheap bottle in the states) and sit by the Lake or the River and chat! It saves us poor aupairs money! 
7. Starbucks is ordered "for here or to-go" which means they save on millions (if not billions) of cups every year! I don't know why Starbucks doesn't start this a normal thing everywhere in the world!
8. The windows are awesome! They can be open slightly (vent-like) or they can be opened completely (making big windows into doors)! They don't have screens here, which I actually like, but wouldn't be practical in many places in the States. 
9. After 2 months I finally figured out how to use the shower door properly! It is quite a challenge. It has three panes that fold up. I knew there had to be some way to get it to stay open, in line with the tub, but I just couldn't do it! Well I finally did it! You have to get it at the right point and pull down the lever which will then move it so it is tight against the tub. (I realize this should have been a lot easier! I have showered in a shower half the size as it should have been for 2 months! I am excited that shaving my legs will now be sooo much easier!)
10. There are no number buttons on the microwave. 
11. The food is just better for you but essentially the same. There is less sugar and preservatives in the basic food you buy here. I also saw that there was a Carbon sticker on a papaya fruit the family bought. It showed you that it had to be flown in, meaning it hurt the environment more than other fruits. They also treat their animals better. Their factory farms aren't comparable to what we have in the States. I have eaten more meat here than any other time in my entire life! 
12. There are no overly obese people (possibly related to the above observation).
13. The average car is so much nicer than the average car in the States. And a heck of a lot smaller!
14. Things move smoothly all the time. It is incredibly efficient! 

• Their public transportation goes everywhere you could want to go and on time. Between the trains, trams, and buses you can get everywhere! 
• So don't be late for the bus or it won't be there any more. 
• But don't miss your last train or bus because then you are stuck in the city until the wee hours of the morning!

I spoke to a lot of families when I decided that I wanted to move to Europe and become an aupair. I didn't care where I would end up. I am very happy with my decision. The family is pretty good, the place is gorgeous, and I can get to 4 different countries within 3-4 hours. 

*** After a year in DC, this is so different from what I am used to. Washington DC is one of my favorite cities but it is also one of the most dangerous and poorest cities in the States. Switzerland, specifically Zurich, is one of the richest cities in the world. There aren't safety concerns pretty much ever. On the other hand, I think still love DC more! =) 

One Month?!?!...Already???

Around the time that I bought my one-way ticket to move to Switzerland and started to realize how hard it was going to be to leave D.C. I had a mini-freak out. A few people received e-mails during work that day. They all responded saying that it would be nothing but a blip in my life.  Meredith said that I might miss a few birthdays or Christmas but it will be worth it for the experience and everyone will be there when I get back.  My month in California reassured me of all of this. Time doesn't stop but why would you want it to?

So one month after moving to Switzerland, I can't help but think about the wonderful support I had from all of my family members and friends in taking this risk! It has been a month! Eleven months from now I will be returning to the U.S. (or so my Mom and Dad are hoping and praying).

It also makes me think to my first month in DC. After a month in D.C., I had finally found my apartment for the year (and two amazing roommates who became great friends), and a part-time job, but that is about it.  I had Craig, but that's about it. I hadn't met most of the people I consider amazing friends now! I didn't have a job. I was sure I was in the right place but was hitting many dead-ends and meeting people was a whole different challenge.

Switzerland has been a million times easier.  First, I haven't been dealing with leaving Chapman and college life, which wasn't easy.  Secondly, I had spent hours upon hours looking for somewhere to live. Thirdly, I was, for the first time, in a place where everyone around me wasn't looking for friends.  There was a lot to adapt to! While I am not saying this has been and will be a cake walk all year long, having people around me who understand it all makes it a million times easier! It is so funny to me because I have met a few aupairs who just got here or got here right after I did, and I am already in the midst of making sure they get to meetings and showing them where to go, etc.  It is really amazing how quickly things change!

I had a job and home when I arrived. I had phone numbers of people to call and a meeting to go to where people were looking for friends! I have a ton of free time so I have time to work out, talk to people from home all of the time, and still work and have a social life.  I have already made some friends who I really enjoy. I was able to go on a day trip to Sierre, in the French section of Switzerland to go wine tasting (pictures to hopefully come soon!).  I am going to meet up with my Auntie Francie in Lake Como, Italy this weekend and next weekend I meeting Maggie (a friend from Chapman) to go to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. So if I had to leave in one month, it would be worth the experience.  Luckily, I have 11 more months to come of new experiences, struggles, travels, and friends!

I apologize for rambling for so long, but since you have made it to the end, here are some videos of P & G dancing with an addition friend involved! This is my job and as much as I hate telling them to brush their teeth 17 times, I do love having dance parties and watching them sing to pop songs.

Note: The song is California Gurls by Katy Perry. It was not chosen by me but P thinks it is the coolest thing ever that I am actually a California Girl! I am not going to lie, I think it is pretty awesome as well!

My friend Emily just moved to Ireland and left this quote as her Facebook Status, I liked it so I will leave you with it! 

Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends. -Maya Angelou

Leaving Washington DC

I left D.C. one week ago. I took advantage of every minute of my time in DC the last couple months. I was able to spend time with the amazing friends that I made in DC.  A day trip to Philly, visitors from California, museums, "hiking" endeavors (difficult when it is 100 degrees out and there is 80% humidity), rooftop BBQs and pool nights, July 4th on the National Mall with friends from Chapman, and miniature golf at a quirky bar. I loved every minute of it. I had a great last dinner with my new DC friends who will be around for many years to come.  I said good-bye to my co-workers who were absolutely amazing! I was so fortunate to have the experience in DC that I had. It is because of that experience, beginning with lonely nights to making new friends, and strengthening the bonds with old friends, that I now have the confidence to move halfway across the world in less than a month. I am so incredibly grateful for the entire experience. I have grown so much as a person. Everyone that I met in DC taught me more than they will ever know.

Leaving DC was harder than I thought. I have become used to moving around and people leaving. I am a person who will keep in touch with you until it is so obvious that you aren't going to call me back that it hurts. I love meeting new people but I thrive on having good friends. I depend on having friends around me as often as possible and by the end of my experience in DC, I found a way to make that happen. I am one of the luckiest people in the world to  have so many supportive and wonderful friends in my life.

From the moment I stepped off the plane in DC, it was surreal.  I have realized that I am an outgoing person. I can hold a conversation. I was willing to meet anyone! I met several relatives I had never met. I met friends of friends of friends.  I am ready to take on this challenge in Zurich. I am excited for it because I know I can do it.

Washington DC is a beautiful place. I think it represents everything that is wonderful about this country that I was so lucky to be born in. I also think it brings to life the many problems we need to deal with face on. I love DC more than just about any city I have ever visited. I know it is the right place for me in the future but I also know it is time for me to explore more the world.  My transition time in San Diego is extremely busy without beginning to deal with the list of things I need to do to prepare for Switzerland. I have so much to look forward to it is hard to dwell on my time in DC. I have found I need a little time to move past it.

I know looking forward I will have countless transitions to deal with. I will leave people and keep in touch. I know this is the lifestyle I want for the near future, but it doesn't make the good-byes any easier. It is a weird feeling to have so many places to call home there is no where to call home, but that is a compromise I am willing to make for now.

I want to take a sentence to thank everyone of my friends and family members who support my decisions to move around and take the risks I am taking. It is because of that support and your confidence in me that I am confident I am going to take Switzerland by storm.  I love you all so much and really appreciate each one of you in indescribable ways.

“Life is either a great adventure or nothing.” Helen Keller

Helen Keller is completely right! No matter if your adventure is a day at the park or moving across the country or world once a year, you need to make sure that you are always creating new adventures and experiences for yourself. I have decided that right now my adventures include moving across the world for the year! 

I have made my official decision to go to Zurich, Switzerland! I am so excited to have a decision made and know what my next step is! It was a very difficult decision but I know that it was worth the struggle. It said a lot to me that the family was willing to go through nearly a month of back and forth to figure everything out with the visa and all, so I think that we are really a great match.

A little about my upcoming life: I will be an aupair for a French and Canadian family living in Switzerland. They are both lawyers.  There are two kids, and in October there will the a new baby! There is a 9-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl. Their current aupair has been so very helpful with everything. She has given me honest answers about what to expect as an aupair- both the good and the bad! I will be heading over at the beginning of August through August of 2011! 

I will also be taking French lessons while I am there. I will also be looking into volunteering somewhere once a week or something since I will have some free time while the kids are at school. I am going to take full advantage of being in Switzerland and I really want to get to know Zurich and the rest of the country. My goal for my trip is a country a month and a new city/town in Switzerland every month! 

One of my best friends from high school is getting her Masters in Ireland in the fall and I have another friend who is going to be an aupair in Germany. I will have some tastes of home and of course anyone who wishes to visit is welcome! 

A Long Awaited Update

It has been along time since I have last written. I was preparing a new blog post a few weeks ago, and then everything changes making it no longer relevant.

Life has been great. I have a new understanding of Spring and why people love this season so much. It is a reward for making it through the daunting and long winter. Winter can be discouraging at times, and I definitely had my challenges, but Spring. Spring made is worth it (almost). I already forgotten many of the issues with winter other than I didn't really like it very much.

With Spring came the famous DC Cherry Blossoms. That appeared one day and were beautiful. They fell off as quickly as they came but they were beautiful while they lasted. I have never seen as many tulips spread out across a city before. They turned up in the most random places and I couldn't help but take a picture almost every time.

Spring has brought thunderstorms and waves of hot weather followed by a week of cold! It consistently unpredictable.

Spring has also been the beginning of my job search. I decided to throw myself into the aupair search. I have had some fun really learning about so many different families and researching potential new cities to live in and places to visit. A few weeks ago, I was offered a job in Switzerland with a great family. They had everything an aupair could ask for. I signed the contract and began making plans! It was so exciting. It was exciting to have a plan. I was planning on going home for about a month to enjoy my family and friends before I left them for an entire year. I was dreaming about Amsterdam in the Spring for the tulips and Germany for Oktoberfest.

It was all coming together, until I learned that Switzerland was placing tight limits on the visas they were giving out. This was quite the curve ball. It was a heartbreaking phone call from the father. I have since been looking for away around this while beginning conversations with new families.

I am confident that I will find a family that is a good match, even if it takes a little longer. I am building a great network in DC and am loving every minute of it. I have a bunch of pictures that I will hopefully get to put up soon!

A Woman's Nation Changes Everything

I had the opportunity to attend a conference put on by the Center for American Progress many months ago about the Shriver Report. Maria Shriver and a team of people created this report which interviewed people across the country about what it is like to be a family member, to be a woman, to be a man, and what needs to be done about it now. Many of the authors spoke at the conference. It was a great experience and one of the many things I did when I found myself unemployed in a new city.

A few of the statistics-

• Women make up 50% of the workforce for the first time ever.
• Women are receiving 57% of college degrees and 50% of master's and doctorates.
• Women are still being paid $0.77 to the dollar for doing the same work as their male counterparts.

Women's empowerment and equality is what I have found I am most passionate about.  I know that my ideal job will surround women's economic empowerment, education, and all together community development.  I have recently been reminded of this passion as I continue to do research regarding graduate school and what I want to do.  I have also watched or read the following articles.  I recommend taking a moment if you have one to look at them.  There are also a few articles about getting married or being single, which I find interesting to think about as well. 

Still Working- Commentary on the road ahead for equal opportunities for men and women.

The End of Men - An article about equality and where we are going. Lots of issues brought up!
Rich White Men Are Doing Just Fine -- It's Men and Women of Color Who Continue to Fall Behind - This is a response article to the article in "The Atlantic." 

Eve Ensler- She wrote the Vagina Monologues which became one my proudest accomplishments at school.  Eve continues to work hard to fight for women everywhere and is always an inspiration to me. This is a great talk about everyone embracing your inner girl. (Ted.com is an awesome website with 15 minute talks about everything you can imagine! It is a quality time waster.)

The first article I have ever read saying something positive about Walmart

White House Council on Women and Girls: One of the first things that President Obama did when he came into office was create the White House Council on Women and Girls. Valerie Jared is in charge of the council and I have really enjoyed listening to her speak over the past year and a half. 

I would recommend everyone read Arianna Huffington's book On Becoming Fearless. It is a FANTASTIC book about looking fear in the face and realizing that it might not have been worth fearing after all. 

Marry Him and On Settling for Mr. Good Enough are thought provoking articles about finding the balance on "settling" and compromise. 

Healthcare Reform..Oh My!

On March 21st, I had a "this is why I live in DC moment." I had the privilege of being in the House Gallery on the Sunday night when Congress voted to pass the Senate Bill. People were cycling in and out of the Gallery every 15 minutes and luckily my group ended up in the room for the vote. We watch the Democrats chant "One more vote" and then cheer once it reached the needed 216. It was an amazing experience to see people reach some sort of deal to provide healthcare to millions. 

My group and I headed outside to watch Representatives leave the Capitol building. We cheered them as they left and said thank you. It was a moment I will cherish for a long time to come.

I spent the day on the Hill that day and tensions were high. I spoke with pro-reformers and people who really did think the world was going to end if this bill passed.  People were exhausted. I met Representative Lewis. He was very kind and informed us that they had the votes and we did not need to worry about the bill not becoming law. We spoke with some staffers who had had horrible experiences the day before with people storming offices and not leaving. 


No one will tell you this bill is perfect. Most on the left will say it doesn't go far enough and many on the right will say they want the government out of their healthcare. It raising taxes on many people and on services (such as tanning beds). There is no public option and our government just mandated 32 million new customers to private insurers. Fortunately, the sky is not falling, and instead people will hopefully have access to healthcare. This is something that has not been the case ever before. 


The battle was ugly and has only gotten uglier once it was passed and became a law. I have struggled with what I wanted to happen with this bill. I am disappointed with the unnecessary arguments about aborting funding and disappointed that we have an unnecessary and unconstitutional Executive Order to limit a woman's right to choose. I am not sure that this is the best thing that we could have gotten. Democrats gave up a lot and got nothing in return from the Republicans. I still do not know if we could have done better and I am settling, which is not something I am fond of doing. I do believe it is a GIANT step in the right direction. 


However, Congress did it! Now, we have officially signed Healthcare Reform into law. We need to take a minute to celebrate. This opens up opportunities for so many people with chronic disorders or any pre-existing condition. I have the ability to get back on my parent's insurance because my employer doesn't offer me anything. This opens up choices for so many young people around the country. 


We need to take a moment to celebrate because starting this year no one will have a lifetime cap and starting in a few years, there will be no more annual caps. These are battles that people have been fighting for a long time.


The bill is not perfect and the implementation process is vital to ensuring that people get what they should get out of this bill. My hope is that it is a step toward a public option and more competition. It is my hope that it will lessen discrimination and it will give people more choices in their life.  I have been a part of some debates online over the last few weeks. They have been interesting and I do understand people's frustration with the process and with the bill. I have found through my many hours of reading about the bill and listening to people talk about the bill that it will have many positive impacts on our healthcare system.  States are already being hit hard by the passage of the bill. 


I also want to take a moment to give President Obama some credit. Some still argue that his rhetoric needs to end and action is needed. it seems like people are ignoring the fact that his rhetoric is different than any president we have ever seen. He is willing to say things that aren't always politically popular but are necessary. I admire his passion and compassion. Our President is taking on some of the biggest issues our country faces. Financial Reform and Immigration Reform is next. I may not agree with everything he is doing, but he moving our country forward and creating the debate on things most shy away from. 


It is with optimism that we continue to progress towards a better society. I am trying to epitomize the realistic idealist.   

Everything's Just Wonderful

I am still trudging through the snow but life continues.  My life is full of big decisions and small decisions.  Work is making some changes to its structure which might benefit me.  More state policy and maybe even some traveling might be in future. At the same time, I am looking into becoming an AuPair. I am currently speaking with families in Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, and Ireland. All of the families seem wonderful and would give me the opportunity to travel around Europe, learn a language, and spend every other day playing with kids!

I can feel Spring around the corner as pitchers and catcher reported this week for baseball. The snow is melting VERY VERY slowly but it is in fact melting. Janille (another friend from Chapman) is moving to DC for work! Alisha is coming to visit in just a few weeks.  Then I am off to New York for to be reunited with a great group of Chapman alumni followed by a week of Amy in DC!

I got the picture of the dress that I will be wearing for wedding number 2 in July (the colors will be berry and champagne for the ribbon). I am so excited and honored to be part of Casey's wedding. I know that I am going to have so much fun through the whole process!

I have am so excited and absolutely terrified to make these decisions but so grateful to have the opportunities to make these decisions!!!!

Snowmagedden to Snowverkill

I have not written in nearly two months.  I have been trapped in my house since Sunday night.  There are at least 2 feet of snow on the ground. Saturday I went out side to enjoy the snow! Now, if someone told me there were two feet snow I wouldn't know what that means. So let me up that in perspective for you:

1. It passed my knees when I stood in my backyard.
2. A child around the age of 3 would be buried alive if she sat outside without moving while the snow fell.
3. Your couch is probably about two feet off the ground. 
4. The seat of a bench..your average picnic bench...can you see it in your head? Well the snow is level with the seat of the bench. 

The snow was too light so I was unable to make a snowman so I reverted back to my San Diego roots and dug a whole as I would have done on the beach! Unfortunately, a hole in the snow is not as much fun as a hole in sand. =(

I believe that I work at the one restaurant that was open all weekend. Public transit has basically shut down over the course of the last 7 days.   I didn't go into the office Monday through Wednesday.  As predicted, the snow began again on Tuesday night. This resulted in blizzard conditions on Wednesday.  For my friends in California, who still think that winter consists of 40 degree mornings and a little bit of rain, let me tell you what a blizzard is. It means that the snow comes down quickly.  It means that you might not be able to see a foot in front of you.  It means you don't, under ANY circumstances, leave your house.  No matter how long you have been sitting inside.  You think you are out of food...nope, that can of soup you thought you would never eat and the random vegetables in the back of the fridge suddenly make the most delicious dinner you have ever eaten!

Many may be saying to themselves, "Michelle is so dramatic. People deal with blizzards all the the time. It can't be that bad."

You are half right. Yes, people live in cold climates all the time and I am being dramatic. On the other hand, there are millions who are being duped into thinking that winter lasts for four or five months. There are people who think that there should be snow on the ground from November to March.  What they haven't realized yet is that it doesn't have to be that way.  Some people, like myself, define winter as 45 degree mornings and a little bit of rain.  That is what winter should be!

Not to worry everyone! It takes about 2 feet of snow to shut down our nation's capital.  This is going to many more days to recover from. The public transportation that many depend on throughout Virgina and Maryland cannot get into the city.  The House has been closed for the week because Reagan National is still closed.  There are few sidewalks and where they are they usually consist of about 4-5 inches of tightly packed snow to walk on. Nonetheless, DC will recover (in a couple of weeks), the snow piles are taller than most cars, and will be here for many weeks to come.

So let me tell you the lessons I have learned since last week:

1. The grocery story before a storm is a place to avoid. It looks like the world is going to end and the milk and bread is gone quickly.  It will take about an hours to get through the line.
2. Patience is necessary. Everything takes longer. It takes longer to walk places. It takes longer to get food or get a train. 
3. People are friendlier.  Saturday was a ridiculous day, but people realized they just needed to go with it. There is nothing we can do and because of that people waiting in the hour long line at the grocery store or for a train can't help but laugh at the situation. (Note: This is definitely not true for everyone, but most).
4. Snow days exist. I have never had a snow day before, now I am on number 3. I am ready to go back to work but snow days can be enjoyable. 
5. Not all snow is created equal. There is snow that is good for snowman and some that is good for snowboarding.  Snow can also change into snow that is good to build a snowman. I am still determined to make myself a snowman. It is going to happen. 
6.  The recovery is the worst part. After trekking to work and back today with groceries, the lack of sidewalk was not pleasant. You have to take a risk if you want to walk on the sidewalk because at any point there may be an un-shoveled portion, but the street is also a risk of a mean driver splashing water all over you. Public transportation is still limited and SLOW!
7. The Names of the situation are phenomenal. Here are the ones that I have heard
1. Snowmageden
2. Snotorious B.I.G.
3. Sno-pocalypse 
4. Snoverkill (this was the name for the second storm and my personal favorite)

I signed up for a mild DC winter.  A little rain, some cold weather, and a few inches of snow throughout the winter. Instead, I have had record lows and about 55 inches of snow throughout the winter.  Fear not, I am resilient.  I am coping with it. I dislike the groundhog that told me 6 more weeks of winter but I know I will have many more winters over my lifetime to deal with and this one is preparing me for the worst.  Spring better be worth it! Although, DC has had to cut (pun intended) into its grass cutting budget to pay for the snow removal, so it may not be the perfect Spring I have in my head. 

Here are a few more pictures! Enjoy =) 

The piles of snow are indeed taller than that truck...

Employment, the Holidays, and Random DC Moments

December is over half way done and it truly has been a crazy month.  Going back to Thanksgiving, I had a great time in Boston. It was odd not to be home for Thanksgiving. Stephen and I miss our annual game of Battle of Sexes Trivia Pursuit, which is always dramatic and someone ends up mad for a short period of time, but the game is finished (unfortunately with the boys usually winning).  It is unfortunate to miss the game because I am finally at an age where I know the answers to questions and can do a little more than just roll the dice. But it was a great Thanksgiving weekend filled with family.  


On Tuesday after returning back to DC, I got offered a part-time job with HFA and by Thursday I got a full-time job.  I have since accepted the full-time position and will start full-time in the middle of January.  I have been working the last few weeks part-time though.  My official title is still being worked out, but since they are creating a position for me, I have gotten to shape it to what I want in a lot of ways. I will be working with the Federal Policy Director and then taking over some of the Office Management position.  It will be a really good learning experience.  They are really supportive and want to ensure that I am getting what I need out of the position. I have already sat in on conference calls and am giving my opinion on a discussion draft of a bill about educating people and physicians about bleeding disorders, specifically Von Willebrand Disease. I have also gotten to spend time just reading and watching the current healthcare debate. I am now getting paid to do what things I already did! Kisa, who is the Policy Director, is phenomenal.  I have a great deal of support and good people to work with in this position.  


I am going to have to find a balance between my personal opinions and the HFA stance on things. Also, it is also going to be interesting to find a place for my experience with bleeding disorders in this position.  I am looking forward to the challenge and hopefully continue to help the community for as long as I can.  I know that I bring a different perspective than many of the other employees so I look forward to discussions about different policy ideas. 


I am also able to walk to the HFA office, which is very nice.  I am not always a morning person, so the brisk walk helps me wake up and get ready for the day.  Unfortunately, there isn't really a better way to get to work, so for days in the future when it is raining or snowing, my walk to work may become more challenging! 


The Saturday after this, we had our first snow of the season.  It was lovely to watch it fall, but not very fun to walk outside.  DC has a mild winter in comparison to Massachusetts (where most of my family is) but this month it seems to be at the awful temperature of 30-34 degrees. This means that when it is raining, it is an icy rain and when there is no cloud cover, it is just COLD! Compared to what I am used to, this has been something to adapt to.  I am not sure what do after I put on a few layers and still walk outside and am cold! I know I will have a couple of months to figure the weather situation out.  


I have been working close 50 hours a week for the past few weeks, which has been interesting.  I work in the mornings at HFA and at night at the restaurant.  I have been going to museums or coffee shops in between the jobs but also just coming back and taking a nap occasionally.  I will continue to work at the restaurant after the New Year because I do enjoy it and it has been a major place for me to meet people. 


I am looking forward to the next few weeks. I am so excited to go home on Monday. I am going to see a combination of Chapman friends, high school friends, and family.  I am going to be so busy but with the people I love! I am so excited to see everyone because I have learned how many great friends I have on the other side of the country.  I am excited to bake cookies with my Mom and see the family! I am so lucky to have such an amazing place to call home and no matter how long I am away I know that San Diego will always be my home.  


Here are a couple pictures of a few friends and me at the White House Christmas Tree. It was beautiful and a great night in the city! 

Employment

So it has happened. I have found a job. The details are still up in the air and have changed twice this week. I have started working at the Hemophilia Federation of America (HFA).  The week started with a part-time position on the table, but today they offered me a full-time position.  I am going work with them and see what the details are early next week.  


I will update this soon but I thought I would let you all know the exciting news! 

Underemployment

So today marks exactly 6 months since graduation day. I just sent in my first payment for my loans. It is ironic that I have received this college education, that thus far, has me asking people if they want anything to drink. I do not say that because I think I am better than the job I currently have, because I do not. I do know that this position is not what I want to do and as I continue to spend my days reading articles and watching TED videos, I realize how much I enjoy becoming more informed.

I recently looked through my cover letters that I have sent out for about 6 months now. They have definitely improved. There are some that seem more generic and then there are some where I have exaggerated more than I probably should have. Some cover letters have resulted in phone interviews and some have responded in form emails telling that while I have an excellent background or a phenomenal amount of passion, they have found someone with more experience or something of that sort. The problem is that all I have to offer is my passion and willingness to learn.

Six months of apply for jobs and at a very slim estimate of 50 jobs with people I really want to work for, not to mention the random jobs that I find on Craiglist have led me to very little. It is a state of rejection that I have never known before. I have been able to read blogs and talk to friends about how I am not unique. I am competing with people who have graduated this year, last year, and people who are graduating in December at a time where the unemployment rate is higher than it has been in decades. Yet, this information is not always comforting.

Writing a cover letter for a job where the requirements are that I can use a computer, fax machine, and answer phones is challenging. I have to convince people that I am capable of using equipment that I have grown up using. I trying to get people to let me do basic office tasks while making it seem like I will be honored to make them copies and make their travel arrangements. Yet, nothing.

The degree I received in May was worth it. I have friends to commiserate with about being unemployed. I have pictures to fill my room with and I have memories that I will cherish for as long as I live. But as I mark the six month point, I remain underemployed. I am being denied the ability to use my degree and my passion.

I will continue to write the cover letters and send them out. I will contact random people who might be able to help me out. Until I get my chance, I will continue to smile at my customers and tell them how to get water from the Coke machine.

I read a blog recently that mentioned how TV has ruined us! It was quite funny but very true. Shows like Seinfeld and Friends have groups of people who never seem to work and yet live fabulous lives in fabulous apartments. I, too, want to live in New York and go out all the time, live in a beautifully furnished apartment, and never go to work! So if you know how this works, please let me know ASAP! Until then, I will continue to write cover letters.

A Life Update

So as pointed out by Chrissy, I have not written anything in a month! So here is a short update on my life working backwards.

This past weekend was a blast! Alyssa and Amy, two friends from Chapman, came to visit me. It was so nice to have two of my best friends in DC.

We got to go out a little, did some sight-seeing, took an amazing number of pictures, and laughed a lot! It was a good weekend for all of us! The weather was perfect! This is us at the WWII Memorial.

I learned that I have adapted to the cold weather! I didn't think it was cold out, while Alyssa (also from San Diego), told me that it was, in fact, cold. I am still not sure that I will survive the winter.

I am still working at the pizza restaurant. It has been very busy there since Obama mentioned the restaurant in a speech about small businesses. It makes it all the more fun at work. I really like the people I work with. I have been able to go out with one of the woman I work with. She took me to a place with live music in Adams Morgan. It is really nice to be making friends. I ran into an old friend on a bus a couple of weeks ago so that has been nice. I have also met a few customers at work and through some of these people. Unfortunately, I work mostly nights so it has made it difficult to make plans with people. I have also been invited to a few holiday parties, which is exciting!

I am heading to Boston next Wednesday for Thanksgiving. I am so excited to see my brother, Stephen, as well as the rest of the family. It is going to weird to not be with Anthony and my parents but I am happy to be able to see everyone else! I also bought my ticket home for Christmas. I will be home for a week so that will be really nice. When I get back I am going to Philly with another friend from Chapman and then we are going to go to New York City for New Year's Eve, where we will meet up with Craig and few others from Chapman. I am really excited for this!

While I continue the job search, I am taking advantage of being able to take time off from work. Financially, it may not make the most sense, but I am doing just fine there so 2 weeks off around Christmas will be just fine. I have a few leads for openings after the holiday season.

I have also started looking into teaching English abroad next year. I would love to go Africa, but Asian countries have more benefits so I will most likely go there. I am doing my research and looking at Thailand at the moment. =) Studying for the GRE has not been very successful lately, but I am going to set a schedule for myself.

I slipped twice last week calling DC "home" which I think is a good thing. I am feeling good about life!

Love you all!

House Hearing

I have been volunteering with the Hemophilia Federation of America. This week I went to a hearing on the Hill. I really enjoyed it. I have also had the opportunity to meet a few people my age that work on the Hill and have started re-thinking my interest in working on the Hill. Anyway, I was asked to write about the event for the Advocacy Blog. Here is the link to my article. There were also two other people who testified about being under-insured. Their stories were heart-breaking. Luckily the three people affected by their lack of insurance have survived their diseases and difficulties. I am sure that this is not always the case so let’s hope that there will be some reform soon.

http://hemophiliafed.org/2009/10/16/reflections-of-nathan-wilkes’-testimony-before-the-house-subcommittee-on-oversight-and-investigations/

Pictures!

Hello!!! Here's a little photo blog of my time in DC so far. Nothing really exciting but pictures are always fun! I will take pictures of my room/apartment soon too!

National Sculpture Garden fountain

This was the bus stop outside my

house in Maryland.

The Capitol Building on a beautiful day in the city!

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My day at the National Zoo was wonderful. Beautiful animals on a beautiful day!

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I was able to show my Mom around on her first trip to D.C. This is the slightly blurry picture that I got of my parents in front of the White House as they were closing the road so someone important could get in!

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These are just a few pictures from my first march to the Capitol. It was truly an amazing day! I was one of hundreds of thousands of people marching for equality. Among the crowd was Lady GaGa, Cynthia Nixon, who gave an absolutely amazing and inspiring speech, Kristen Chenoweth, and my wonderful friend Craig.

Another one of the signs that was in this group of women said "Jesus had two Dads and he turned out ok." It was one of my favorites of the day. I was pleasantly surprised by the very few anti-equality protesters I saw throughout the day.

We made it to the capitol after a 2 mile march around DC. There were many creative cheers and signs along the way. One of the cheers was 2, 4, 6, 8 Equality in every state!

That is a quick photo summary of my time in DC. I am still looking for jobs and have some networking opportunities this month. I am not sure if I have already said this but one woman I met in September told me that contacts and relationships is the currency of DC so that is what I am doing. I went to a coffee talk on Sunday evening with a group that is interested in international affairs and I met a few people there who had some good pointers.

Love you all and thanks for reading!

New Housing, New Outlook

Hello Everyone! This one is going to be kind of short but here are a few updates on what is going on in DC.

I moved this weekend to the city. I found a place last week and made the decision to move. I am living with two women who also recently graduated from college. They went to Smith in Massachusetts. One is working for the State Department on the envoy for Middle Eastern Peace and the other is temping with a Law Firm. They are very sweet girls and I look forward to getting to know them better. This will be my new home until next September! I have my own room and basically my own bathroom. My room is huge and lacking furniture at the moment, but there is a mattress on the way! The kitchen is large and the living room came furnished which is really nice.

The neighborhood is also really nice. I went for a lovely run to the Farmer's Market and then walked to a grocery store. It was a perfect day. As I wandered I found lots of restaurants, shops, and a park. I am excited for the leaves to start changing because the walk is going to get even prettier.

It is really nice to have my housing squared away. I am going to be able to make this into a home for the next year and now I just need the job to go along with it!

I am excited for this month though! I have a few networking events with a non-profit group in the area. I am going to a coffee talk with an International Affairs group. I am going to have dinner with some relatives that I haven't seen in a long time and another few that I have only met through email. It is exciting to have plans and have the prospects of meeting new people and making new connections, both socially and (hopefully) career-wise.

I reached a lull and lacked some motivation for a little while and now I am getting excited again. I know that I can do this and it just takes time for things to come together and work out! There is just something about wandering around and looking up to see the Capitol building in the distance that is just a great feeling to have!

I hope all is well and I love you all! Thanks for reading!

The First Month of DC

I have been in DC for just about a month now. It has been less exciting at times than I have hoped. I have learned how to spend unprecedented time by myself, started studying for the GRE, and have been reading a lot. I am currently reading a book that has made it through the family about a woman in her late-20s who moves to DC to work for a Senator. While my life is far less eventful in comparison it is exciting to know the places she is referring to! I am also reading a book called Hope is a Tattered Flag which is really good. It is a serious of interviews done by two journalist of politicians, academics, other journalists, and CEOs about political issues and the road our country is heading down. It is really interesting and I am happy to report that there is hope for the future!

While the job hunt is still going on, I believe that my network of people is slowly getting larger. An old friend from high school moved here and he recently contacted me so we are going to get together, so it will be nice to see a familiar face. I have also had a chance to meet up with one of my Aunt's friend. We went to Georgetown, which was really fun. I also am getting to know one of the woman that I work with and I think we might hang out. I know that I just need to start with a couple of people because that will allow me to meet more people! That is why I left everyone I know back home!

My friend Janille told me about Meetup.com which is a site that groups can post events or meetings from anything like rock climbing to politics. I have joined an International Affairs group. They meet once or twice a month for coffee and talk about a topic that has been pre-chosen. I am excited to go to that in a couple of weeks. It should be a good way to meet people and network with people who are interested in the same things I am.

I represent my Red Sox at work and it is a good conversation starter. I met one woman the other night who is in the Peace and Conflict graduate program at Georgetown who is also a Red Sox fan and I think we are going to get together to watch a game or two. It has also began conversations about what I am doing here. I told my Mom that I think it might result in some new contacts in the field that I want to enter and maybe a job (that's me being REALLY hopeful). It almost did a couple of weeks ago but they were just visited DC so they couldn't help me unless I moved to their city!

I am still looking for housing in the city. I am going to have a fun entry about public transportation very soon but it is the most wonderful thing but when my commute costs be an hour's worth of work there is some cost benefit analysis that needs to take place. I am looking at a few places this weekend. Hopefully I will be able to find something before I have to pay another month's rent.

My parents came to DC last weekend for a conference. It was really nice to see them and since my Mom has never been here we did a lot of walking and went to a couple of museums. Unfortunately, their time here was short but we enjoyed it. I think it was comforting for all three of us to see each other. The weather was amazing while they were here, and really had been excellent. I went to lunch with them at their conference and met some people who work for the Hemophilia Federation of America. I am going to start volunteering at their office on Monday. They are doing a lot with the current health care bill and I should be able to gain experience with them. It will also be something to do during the day since I mainly work nights.

I have realized that I kept myself busy for a reason. I did things I enjoyed and enjoyed doing my reading and researching for class. This also made free time more exciting and relaxing. As I continually look for jobs and housing, my down time is infiltrated with what I should be doing or what I could be doing. I am hoping to find another place to volunteer at in the afternoon so that I can look for jobs in the mornings and volunteer at a couple of places in the afternoon.

I am not going home for Thanksgiving for the first time, but I did buy a plane ticket to Boston to spend it with extended family and my brother. I am also hoping to make it up to New York in October or November. The Mega Bus goes there for $1-9 so it should be doable. I really want to take advantage of being so close to other cities. Baltimore is close and while not many people have good things to say about it, I am sure I will make it there soon as well! Philly is on my list as well because I have never been there! I am just trying to fill my time and manage my money, while enjoying myself and making sure that I am happy!

Thanks for reading!

2 Weeks

So I have been in DC for two weeks now. I have been enjoying myself, but I have also had more free time than I know what to do with. I got a part-time job at a pizza place. It is funny because I knew moving to DC meant I would have to get more professional clothes and be prepared to walk around in heals for the day at my fabulous new job in DC. What actually has happened is that I wear jeans, one of my two pairs of sneakers, and a baseball hat to work!

Nonetheless it is exciting. I know this job is not forever and I just have to keep looking and applying. Some family and friends have put me in contact with people here so I have been reaching out to them. I met with one woman on Wednesday and she was so nice. She packed up her car and moved to DC a few years ago. It all worked out for her, so I am going to use that as good news for me. She was also saying that the currency in DC is connections/contacts. So if anyone knows anyone here let me know!

I moved into my new place (for now) last week. I am living with a very nice woman. She is very rarely home, while I feel like I spend most of my time here. We get along really well, but the place is in Maryland and I didn't move across the country to live in the suberbs so I am looking for somewhere in the city for October. I am getting more comfortable and therefore willing to sign a longer lease.

As for the housing search, I met with two very nice women yesterday. They also just graduated from college in May and packed two bags and moved to DC. They are both employed now, which also seems like a good sign for me! They were awesome and I really hope that we can all live together. I think we would have a lot of fun and are looking for similar things for housing. We are also all liberal and looking into different fields of nonprofits. All very positive things!

It was also really nice to chat with them about the move and graduating. I am glad to know that I am not alone in being freaked out, exciting, and confused all at the same time. It has been quite the experience. I am used to having most of my friends within 5 minutes of me all of the time and now not only are they not in walkng distance, but I can't see them at all! There have been days where I just won't talk to anyone in person other than the cashier or bus driver.

The weather has been so lovely too! It has been cloudy and rainy everyday this week. I love it! I went for a run yesterday (funny I know!) and found that there are trails not too far away from where I am living. It is called Rock Creek Park and it is huge. It come out to where I am in Maryland and goes all the way to Georgetown. It was so nice to just wander around in the park a little bit. There was also this beautiful red bird in the tree outside my window.

My brother got me this book for graduation called DC- Not for Tourists. It has all sorts of things to do--restaurants, bars, hikes, museums, etc. I have been looking through that and making lists of all the things I want to do. The city has so much to offer and there are so many states all around me to explore! I now have the free time to do it so I am trying to take advantage of it all!

I am confident that with time the job, housing, and friends will come and in the mean time I am always on the phone so feel free to call! I will more than likely be able to pick up. I miss you all dearly! Also, I finally bought a webcam and want to use it! So if you have Skype or google video look me up! My Skype name is Pas-scooch!