Monday, 31 August 2009
First day at work
So, my internship has offically started. Its been a busy day, containing meetings with the ambassador and the responsible of trade, setting up my computer account, moving into my office (yes, all interns have their own office, with a name plate outside) and briefly going through the events that will take place this fall (among other things we will host a big EUROVISION PARTY!! I almost fell off my chair in excitement but I think I managed to hide it). My supervisor is not here at the moment so I'm still not a 100% sure what I will actually do except helping out with events, but it's nice to have some (reasonably) quiet time now for a few days. I can barely keep my eyes open any longer, so good night people.
Sunday, 30 August 2009
House of Sweden
Today I have continued sightseeing, to the point where my legs hurt even when I am lying in bed. I went to Chinatown (which has an Urban Outfitters where I wanted to buy everything), a big mall/train station, Capitol Hill and finally a nice supermarket. I will post the photos soon, can't be bothered to get out of bed and find the camera right now.
Anyway, tomorrow my actual internship begins, here:
Anyway, tomorrow my actual internship begins, here:
Saturday, 29 August 2009
Sightseeing Deluxe
It is now 21.05 (btw, the time on this blog is set to DC time, so where it says below that I have written something at 21, it means 21h here and 03h at home), it is still very warm outside and I am sitting in our terrace. Even though it is facing the courtyard it is very noisy - crickets, traffic, sirens, airplanes flying low, the odd helicopter... but I guess it's all part of the charm of a capital.
Today I have been sightseeing; we live ridiculously close to the main monuments so everything is accessible by foot. Due to the extreme heat and a very very bad choice of shoes I had to move slowly, so by the time I got to my last stop, the Lincoln Memorial, it was already dusk. I sat down on the stairs and stayed there for a good half an hour, just looking around and realising that I am in the USA (which is hard to miss - American flags are everywhere) and that I'm actually going to live here for five months.
The White House, as you know
Squirrel in the city centre
"I give you one extra!" said the Asian saleswoman. I have no idea why, but I love free things.
Washington Monument
Reflecting Pool
Lincoln Memorial - just down the street from where we live
Today I have been sightseeing; we live ridiculously close to the main monuments so everything is accessible by foot. Due to the extreme heat and a very very bad choice of shoes I had to move slowly, so by the time I got to my last stop, the Lincoln Memorial, it was already dusk. I sat down on the stairs and stayed there for a good half an hour, just looking around and realising that I am in the USA (which is hard to miss - American flags are everywhere) and that I'm actually going to live here for five months.
The White House, as you know
Squirrel in the city centre
"I give you one extra!" said the Asian saleswoman. I have no idea why, but I love free things.
Washington Monument
Reflecting Pool
Lincoln Memorial - just down the street from where we live
Good Morning Washington!
I feel human again after exactly eight hours of blissful sleep, hopefully I don't have to deal with any jetlag (think it has a good effect on me though, woke up at eight and wasn't tired at all) this time.
Yesterday worked out well, I didn't have to pay any excess luggage fee, and on the flight I had a bad middle seat but two for the occasion perfect neighbours - one Swedish (= no small talk. I am boring but I hate when all you want to do is sleep and you have a seat neighbour who keeps talking to you) girl my own age (= enough space for everyone) on each side. I tried to sleep most of the time but managed to watch Lukas Moodysson's Mammoth, which was much better than I expected.
I had to change planes in Chicago (which is a detour, but my ticket was incredibly cheap) and yes, I passed the queue and entered the USA through the "diplomatic/military travel" line. My moment of glory was a bit shattered however when a middle-aged woman quickly walked past me as I was waiting, alone, for my turn, without even looking at me or apologizing. I wanted to scream "Hey! I was here before you and I have an A visa as well!", but she was Swedish and I was afraid she would be from the embassy.
With a bit of delay I landed at Washington Reagan which is just outside the city centre, and took a taxi to my future home. First impression of the city from the car window: just as I expected it to be - monuments monuments monuments. After walking around a very large apartment complex with two suitcases and a computer bag so heavy I still have red marks all over my shoulder, I managed to meet up with a woman from the embassy who took me to my apartment, where I am sitting now. I am sharing it with two other Swedish embassy interns, of whom I've met one so far. They arrived before me and have moved into the two very large and almost luxurious rooms (normal, I would have done the same had I been first), one of which has a private bathroom and a wonderful view of the Kennedy Centre. My "room" is small and pretty much a part of the living room, separated by two curtains. I absolutely don't mind living here but as we all pay the same (high, but probably fairly cheap considering the location) rent I will make sure we do switch rooms at some point. Overall the standard is very good, we have a 20 m2 terrace, a large living room with TV and dvd, a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, and nice familiar IKEA furniture (I have the exact same small table in my room that I had in Sweden and in Groningen, this time it is red. The building itself looks and feels like a hotel, and it seems like mostly young people live here. We are on the fourth floor, and with my crappy sense of direction I obviously did not remember how we got to the room. It took me ca 15 minutes to find the exit (which, apparently, is on the 2nd floor, not 1st, not "B", "C" or any other letter. Anyway, I think I will like it here!
Yesterday worked out well, I didn't have to pay any excess luggage fee, and on the flight I had a bad middle seat but two for the occasion perfect neighbours - one Swedish (= no small talk. I am boring but I hate when all you want to do is sleep and you have a seat neighbour who keeps talking to you) girl my own age (= enough space for everyone) on each side. I tried to sleep most of the time but managed to watch Lukas Moodysson's Mammoth, which was much better than I expected.
I had to change planes in Chicago (which is a detour, but my ticket was incredibly cheap) and yes, I passed the queue and entered the USA through the "diplomatic/military travel" line. My moment of glory was a bit shattered however when a middle-aged woman quickly walked past me as I was waiting, alone, for my turn, without even looking at me or apologizing. I wanted to scream "Hey! I was here before you and I have an A visa as well!", but she was Swedish and I was afraid she would be from the embassy.
With a bit of delay I landed at Washington Reagan which is just outside the city centre, and took a taxi to my future home. First impression of the city from the car window: just as I expected it to be - monuments monuments monuments. After walking around a very large apartment complex with two suitcases and a computer bag so heavy I still have red marks all over my shoulder, I managed to meet up with a woman from the embassy who took me to my apartment, where I am sitting now. I am sharing it with two other Swedish embassy interns, of whom I've met one so far. They arrived before me and have moved into the two very large and almost luxurious rooms (normal, I would have done the same had I been first), one of which has a private bathroom and a wonderful view of the Kennedy Centre. My "room" is small and pretty much a part of the living room, separated by two curtains. I absolutely don't mind living here but as we all pay the same (high, but probably fairly cheap considering the location) rent I will make sure we do switch rooms at some point. Overall the standard is very good, we have a 20 m2 terrace, a large living room with TV and dvd, a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, and nice familiar IKEA furniture (I have the exact same small table in my room that I had in Sweden and in Groningen, this time it is red. The building itself looks and feels like a hotel, and it seems like mostly young people live here. We are on the fourth floor, and with my crappy sense of direction I obviously did not remember how we got to the room. It took me ca 15 minutes to find the exit (which, apparently, is on the 2nd floor, not 1st, not "B", "C" or any other letter. Anyway, I think I will like it here!
Friday, 28 August 2009
Zzz
I have arrived, everything is fine. I went to a supermarket and many products ARE bigger here than in Europe. I have slept ca three hours in the past 48, I'm so tired that I have black bags under my eyes (is that expression used in English? I don't know) and turned down an offer of going out with some other interns. Will sleep now, before midnight!
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Why do I never learn?
It is 3.28, no sleep this time either.
And the more I travel, the worse I get when it comes to packing. I figured 2x 23 kilos would be more than enough and that I would be able to save some free space for new things when I go back. One suitcase now weighs 22,5, the other one 25.
Ok, 20 minute power nap and then off to the airport!
And the more I travel, the worse I get when it comes to packing. I figured 2x 23 kilos would be more than enough and that I would be able to save some free space for new things when I go back. One suitcase now weighs 22,5, the other one 25.
Ok, 20 minute power nap and then off to the airport!
Welcome!
So, new adventure, new blog. This time I'll write in English, for the simple reason that more of my friends will be able to read it then. It is of course not my mother tongue and as much as I, a former linguistics student and a complete language nerd, hate grammar and spelling errors, I will probably make lots of them, and you're going to have to live with that.
For those of you who don't know, I am going to stay in Washington DC until the end of January, interning at the Swedish Embassy. Obviously I am aware that anyone, including my future colleagues and superiors, might be able to find and read this blog, so don't expect any juicy gossip, people bashing or important insider information :). I will however probably write a lot about how I percieve Washington DC and the USA (where I have never before) in general, so I hope you will find this blog interesting and follow me on my journey!
For those of you who don't know, I am going to stay in Washington DC until the end of January, interning at the Swedish Embassy. Obviously I am aware that anyone, including my future colleagues and superiors, might be able to find and read this blog, so don't expect any juicy gossip, people bashing or important insider information :). I will however probably write a lot about how I percieve Washington DC and the USA (where I have never before) in general, so I hope you will find this blog interesting and follow me on my journey!
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