Our Nation's Capitol

The last time I was in DC was the spring of 1987 when I came down on a bus from Mt. Holyoke and took part in a demonstration on the Mall to get the US to divest from South Africa to encourage the end of Apartheid.  Otherwise, the only other time I had been to any monuments was the summer of 1975.

I tried not to get impatient today when I fell behind a crowd of slow movers.  Deep breaths, no rush.  This was my relaxed day.  I didn't have a set itinerary; I went where I wanted to. 

The first stop on the DC side of river was the Foggy Bottom metro stop.  I did a dry run of finding my way to one of the State buildings. Good thing I did.  I got turned around and walked towards Main State when I got to E street, but that was not the right direction.  I was supposed to have turned the other way.  I backtracked and finally found it.  There was a nice employee going into the building who asked me if I was lost.  Nothing like a map to give me away.  I explained that I had a Tuesday meeting and he went over the protocol for getting into the building.  Then he pointed me in the direction of the Kennedy Center.

One tip I learned today, the buildings and museums don't open until 10:00.  If you show up at 9:30 you don't get to look around.  I decided to take the tour of the Kennedy Center.  It went on longer than I wanted it to, although I was trying to live in the moment and not get antsy.  But I wanted to get on with things and walk more quickly.  However, I did have fun sitting in the theater that I see every year on TV when I watch the Kennedy Center Honors.  It is smaller in real life.  The donated art work from various countries is really impressive, especially the woven tapestries from Mexico and the Waterford crystal chandeliers from Ireland.  From the top terrace there is a 360 panoramic view.  The tour guide pointed out Georgetown, the National Cathedral, the tall tower by the Marine Corps Monument in Arlington, and the Air Force Memorial by the Pentagon.  I also liked all the chandeliers and the Hall of Nations.

From there I walked along the Potomac to the Lincoln Memorial.  The Reflecting Pool is torn up and isn't such a pretty place for reflection.  Next up was the Vietnam Memorial.  At first I was more moved by the families there who had found their loved ones names on the wall.  But, by the end the volume of names became overwhelming in their simplicity and stark relief from the black granite panels.  I couldn't help but be moved.

I followed the path past the Constitution Gardens.  Lots of geese taking baths.  And then it was the World War II Memorial.  The water from the fountains created a cooling air mass and I joined the hundreds of others and took off my shoes and stuck my feet in the fountain base.  Sitting there I had a clear view of the Lincoln Memorial and when I turned around, the Washington Monument was right there.  I walked passed the Washington Monument, but didn't get up to the base.

As I passed by the National Museum of American History,  I bought a bottle of Gatorade and contemplated my map.  I decided to head back to the hotel.  As I walked towards the metro, I passed an advertisement with a picture of Michelle Obama's inauguration dress.  That got my attention.  I walked around to the front of the building, threw out my empty bottle and entered.   One nice feature of free museums is there isn't the pressure to take in the whole place to get your money's worth.  Instead you can pay a donation and move on.  The exhibit was great.  There is a wall of sketched of the inaugural dresses that is really fun.  I loved the flapper dress of First Lady Coolidge.  One room has the inaugural ball dresses from Lady Bird Johnson to Michelle Obama.  There is another room with dresses and other items from Martha Washington and others.  There is a dress of First Lady Helen Taft that is gorgeous.  All through the exhibit I kept wishing my female family members were there with me.  Don't think Selim or Nedim would have appreciated the dresses as much as my sister would have.

By then my feet had had enough.  I picked up the metro at the Smithsonian stop and rode the blue line back to Crystal City.  I didn't have to wait long for the hotel shuttle.  By 4:00 I was back in my room and sound asleep at 4:30.  I woke up hungry, yet refreshed at 6:00. 

So I'm thinking tomorrow I might hike Embassy Row or the area around the Capitol.  Hopefully the humidity will be low(ish) tomorrow like it was today.

Friday!

Woo-hoo!  Made it to Friday.  Today was an easier day.  We didn't have any lectures, only exam prep and role playing.  I had lots of time in between to review the material and re-read our self-directed study guide.  At the end of the day I was thinking of standing in the back of the auditorium for the Flag Day ceremony (where the new class of Foreign Service Officers find out where they will be posted).  But when I saw wave after wave of people walking towards the building all dressed in fancy dresses or suits, I decided that my cropped pants and open toed sandals would not be appropriate attire.  I'm sure I will hear about it Monday morning on the shuttle.  Several of the regulars were going to be finding out their fate this afternoon.

Tonight is all about guide book review.  I need to plan my sight seeing.  I also want to do a dry run on finding Main State.  I have an appointment Tuesday morning with one of my program coordinators and I want to be there on time.  I know I get off at the Foggy Bottom metro stop, but from there, I'm not sure which way to go.  Also, since I have never been to the Vietnam Memorial, that is high on my list.  The weather is supposed to be a bit less humid, so I'm thinking I will get some walking in.

I can't wait to see my guys next week. Yesterday on the metro there was a family who had been to the baseball game.  Both boys were sound asleep and reminded me so much of Selim.  They were sprawled against their parents and clearly the sun and fun combined with the movement of the train made for sleepy boys.  Today there was a kid in a stroller, sound asleep, who had both his hands above his head, just like Selim.  I miss him so much.  This is hard.  I am not worried because I know he has so much love and support.  I just can't wait for my hug and kiss!

Comments

OK, I may have fixed the comment problem.  I was able to add a test comment a minute ago.  To comment, click on the comment area and type whatever you want.  Then it has a drop down "comment as" box.  I used "anonymous" and it accepted my test.  It might take your email or name, but I didn't try that.  Then it asks for you to retype a word for security purposes.  Then you can post.  I went back in and removed the "test" so I think it might be working now.  Anyway, I welcome comments.

Hot and Humid

When the alarm went off at 5:20 and I heard it was 77 degrees in DC, I knew I was in for it.  I'm just not used to this level of heat and humidity this early in the morning.  When I started my walk to the shuttle at 6:30, it was already 80 out.  Really, is this necessary?  My feet are better today, but they are swollen, bleeding from blisters and I'm crabby about it.  Usually, I love my feet.  But not so much now.

I've been asked about pictures, so here are a few.  The first ones are of the hotel -- the kitchen, sleep area, and outside.

The next group in of the Foreign Service Institute.  Apparently they have a Canadian geese problem because they have these fake foxes all around.  I don't think they are doing the job effectively because I have seen the geese everywhere.  The campus is quite large.  I haven't been to all the areas.  I usually hang out in the courtyard by my building, or in and around the cafeteria tables. 

Cafeteria

Congen courtyard

FSI Building

 

I had a fun lunch today.  I was outside at a table by myself and after a few minutes, three ladies joined me.  Two are Foreign Service Officers and one works for US AID.  They are all in language training.  Soon they will be headed off to  Cape Verde, Guayaquil, and Mozambique.  They provided a lively lunch time conversation.  All three of them were eager to get to their new country.

Today I didn't do anything extra after work/training.  I just came back to the room.  I wanted off my feet and not to be carrying around my bag that contains my program folder, a notebook binder with case studies, journal/notebook, wallet, extra pair of shoes, camera, sun and distance glasses, water bottle, lunch sack, gum, pens, metro map, and lipstick.

The first day we were lectured about not writing/sharing any information  regarding what we are actually studying.  So I won't be sharing any of that information.  Just thought I would put that out there now.  But I will try to keep in touch by talking about the other aspects of life down here.

Compliment?

At the lunch table today I was sharing my family pictures that I carry around with me.  After flipping through the book, my classmate asked, "Is the gray in your hair real or do you dye it for highlights?"  Her favorite picture was the one taken in Vienna two years ago right after I came out of the Turkish salon with my hair sprayed into a stiff up-do and my makeup a tad on the heavy side.  So I'm thinking it might not have been a compliment, but I'm not sure.

Speaking of fashion, why is it so hard to find a blouse or top that does not have ruffles?  I've been looking the past few days for something that is between a T-shirt and a must-iron button down blouse.  Everything inbetween has some sort of ruffle - at the neck, on the sleeves, across the chest.  Excuse me, but I don't need additional poofy fabric making me look even bigger than I already am.  I tried on so many tops today with no luck.  I did find a gorgeous pair of Coach black patent leather skinny heal shoes today at Nordstrom's Rack.  They were on sale, but not enough on sale for me to buy.  But man, were they sweet.

I bought two guide books and my metro/bus combo commuter pass today.  Tomorrow I might be able to come right home after training.  I think I have what I need right now.  The hotel has a laundry facility, so I don't need to go out for that.  I am going to need to be more focussed.  Tonight is my first with homework and we have our first exam coming up on Monday.  Since I'm not a Foreign Service Officer, I get one retest and if I don't pass after that, I'm out of the program.  Regular FSOs get to retake the class if they can't pass the test.  No pressure or anything.  

Day 2

I shaved some time off of my commute this morning by walking directly to the FSI shuttle in Crystal City.  The mile walk at 6:30am is a good way to start the day.  It isn't too hot, plenty of people are about, and I feel virtuous for not taking a bus.  From the shuttle I saw the Washington Monument, Arlington Cemetery, The Marine Corps War Memorial which is also referred to as the Iwo Jima Memorial.  It is a quick 15 minute ride that passes very quickly.  I was able to get onto the computers and continue reading the required material that we can't bring home.

Adding a Whole Foods stop on the way home, however, adds an hour plus.  Especially when one isn't paying attention to the metro trains and gets onto the blue line instead of the orange and has to backtrack.  That aside, I found the market easily enough and managed to limit myself to 2 bags. That was hard.  The fruit was beautiful, take-out offerings plentiful for a vegetarian and the bread fresh.  I kept picking things up and putting them back because they weren't necessary items.  It is a bit of an undertaking to carry the bags the 5 blocks back up the hill, switch trains, and catch the shuttle back to the hotel.  Doing all that when it is 90 and humid isn't the most fun, but being able to eat fresh bread with hummus, carrots and grapes all in the privacy of my own room makes it worth while.

The next to-do items are getting a guide book and getting a smart pass that works for both buses and the metro.  It is supposed to be even hotter tomorrow, so I might not add on more outside adventures after work.  I still haven't done a tour of the pool or the gym.

Tomorrow will be the 1/2 way point for the first week.  I miss my guys.  This is really hard.  I'm trying to keep the bigger goal in mind.  Some moments are easier than others.

Learning Curve

I'm glad I heeded my intuition and did not wait for the hotel shuttle to take me to the metro station this morning.  Instead I walked the .8 mile to the Crystal City Station and was on the subway at 7:00.  I managed to transfer from the blue to the orange line and then get the city bus that stopped in front of FSI.  Including the walking, it took me a little over an hour to get to my destination this morning.  The bad part was that it was raining out and my feet blistered in my shoes.  I was way uncomfy the rest of the day.

The registration began at 8:15 and I was on time.  Just, on time.  I wore my black pinstripe suit dress and was not overdressed.  However, we can be more casual.  Not halters for the ladies (as if...), shorts or flip-flops.  Due to the blister situation, I may trek over in the forbidden footwear and at the last minute pull out the new sandals that won't rub when I get on campus.

I learned that FSI runs shuttles to a few key metro stops that will make my commute much easier in the morning.  Next up for tomorrow after training will be the grocery store.  I found that there is a Whole Foods on the orange line metro that seems like it shouldn't be too hard to find.  I need some tofu and fruit for the fridge.

I have a great room.  The hotel is new and the room is clean, spacious and really comfy.  It is furnished with dishes and a few pots and pans.  I'm looking forward to not eating out every night.  I have yet to visit the pool or fitness room.  I could move to a hotel closer to FSI, but I think I like this location.  My colleague from the Miami Passport Agency who is in the same training, is staying in some other extended stay hotel and he had to change rooms at 6:00am because his room had so many bugs.  No thank you.  I'll take my commute over bugs any day.

So, day one is in the books.  30 days of training to go.