Food in DC (and more about my tie too)

I didn't even think about the fact that I would be having lunch at the Democrat National Club when I put my red tie on this morning. I expected wholeheartedly to get chewed out by lots of people, most especially and most likely by my supervisor especially considering how she'd about died the day I showed up wearing a grey suit and we were going to the hill.. big no-no. I was somewhat disappointed that my tie did not even spark a hint of controversy throughout the entire day. I think I was mostly disappointed because had I at least gotten chewed out it would have meant that at least someone had noticed my ridiculously good-looking tie. Or maybe my tie was noticed and those who chose to be offended by a red tie in a Democrat National Club lunch room were so taken aback by the outstanding beauty of the tie and that of its bearer that all thoughts of hate and resentment ceased only to be filled with love and ... and more love. I think I'll call my red tie the pacifier. Hmm maybe I should wear it and sneak into Congress with all this debt ceiling business.. be able to really bring things to a compromise..

Anyways the meal was excellent and even more delicious since I didn't have to pay for it! Mmm baby! Those are the best kinda meals! haha We were meeting with a professional lobbyist and we asked him tips for gaining more support for our resolution.. and to make sure everything we were doing was legal and all haha. Soo turns out we're basically already doing everything right and in the right order and just need to keep on keeping on.

I was very grateful for the full-course meal though, especially considering my recent Saturday night fiasco. We had a coupon for this pizza place and a large pizza one topping for $10 was looking great.. and then with my uncanny wit and intuition decided to run up to the Georgetown student-run grocery store to buy a frozen pizza and make that! Even cheaper right?!?! Wrong. That dang pizza was not only the same price but it wasn't even frozen!!! My suite mate told me to take it back but well idk.. I wasn't feelin it. Mostly I just didn't wanna be 'that guy' and cause problems for other people. I tried to cook the soft un-frozen pizza but had to stop it like 10min short of being done cuz the cheese was already done and any more and it woulda been toast! So I stuck it in the microwave! haha just to make sure the middle was at least cooked through of whatever had creeped in while it was unfrozen in the student-run grocery store. So it wasn't quite like pizza soup but well the middle definitely wasn't all the way solid hahaha. I was totally kicking myself for not just going ahead with the dang delivery. I'm not saying I was completely wrong in my logic and reasoning to save money by going to the store, no no. I was wrong to put my faith in a 'student-run' grocery store. Yah.. the collected pile of grease in the corner of the freezer in the pizza section shoulda been a dead give away.. Oh well.. whatever doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger right?!

H. Res. 333 (What I've been doing for the past 2 months)

The past several weeks I've been working on gaining support for H Res 333, a house resolution honoring American POWs of WWII. Last year the Japanese government officially apologized for the atrocities committed against American POWs during WWII (like the bataan death march). This resolution officially thanks them for their apology and requests the Japanese companies that purchased POWs and used them for slave labor also acknowledge and apologize for their mistreatment. 

The first several weeks at my internship I spent creating MANY different spreadsheets and databases. I've looked up which congressman represent districts that had battalions that marched the death march; which congressman are on the Foreign Affairs committee, which congressman supported similar POW resolutions in the past, and also which congressman made recent trips to Corregidor. All this information is in my spreadsheets, including: room numbers, telephone numbers, who their Chief of Staff and Veterans Affairs Legislative Assistant are, what bills and resolutions they've supported, how many times we've emailed, called, or visited. It's a big spreadsheet.

Research complete and our resolution having been introduced and receiving a name (that was exciting :) I was gonna name it larry but apparently you gotta name it a number.. poor larry ;) ) it was time to go get some congressman to support it. I've sent out nearly 75 detailed and personal emails to congressional offices requesting their support. When I mean detailed I mean besides introducing and explaining the resolution I also told them what bills and resolutions the congressman had supported in the past, whether he had battalions that fought on bataan or corregidor, and so on. I also had different emails I'd send to Republicans and Democrats, had to changed the wording around a bit to play to their interests. After about a week I then called them up and tried speaking with their Veteran Affairs Legislative Assistant to follow up on the email. That hardly ever happened, maybe like one in eight? And generally when I was able to speak with them they hadn't read the email and hadn't heard of the resolution either. I left voice messages with those I wasn't able to speak with directly. Just gotta get the word out!

When given a name the resolution was then assigned to a specific committee. In order to pass in the Foreign Affairs committee before being considered for house vote the resolution has to have at least 25 co-sponsers, 12 of whom have to be on the Foreign Affairs committee. We've been gaining on average about a 1/4 co-sponsor each day (meaning we get another co-sponsor about every 4 days-ish) for the past couple weeks. But it's started picking up here because of the emails and phone calls I've been making! Almost one a day! We just hit the minimum 25 yesterday!!! Now we just need 6 more Foreign Affair congressman to sign up to co-sponsor the resolution. 

Haha thing is, even when we get the minimum requirements we still gotta wait for the Foreign Affairs committee chair to push our resolution to the top of the pile to have it discussed and voted on in committee. If it makes it outta the committee same thing has to happen in the house.. Speaker of the House has to push it to the top of the list and have it voted on. Still got a long long way to go but this is the first step.

I've got 4 days left.. I'm trying to convince my supervisor to allow me to go up to the hill to try and speak with the Veterans Affairs LAs in person since I've already emailed and called. Figure if my beautifully scripted emails or sultry voice aren't enough that a little in-person visual can't hurt right? Especially when you've got this face.. ;) they don't stand a chance..

Going once, twice, SOLD!

Our program has several different institutes. I am apart of the International Affairs section of the Institute on Comparative Economic and Political Systems. There's a business institute, and among others a Philanthropy Institute. This institute has had several different fundraisers in order to raise money to give to a nearby charity at the end of our program. One of these fundraisers was a date auction. I didn't actually attend or participate.. but my roommates did and they have stories.

Scenario One: 

One roommate of mine is loaded. LOADED. I knew money wasn't really a concern to him but I had no idea just how much a concern it wasn't till I heard this story! So the last date is ready to be auctioned off. It's 4 of the Program Advisers (all girls) and they'd talked to my roommate and told him that they were nervous that no one would bid for them. He said he'd bid and not to worry. So the bidding started off and in a jiffy was already up to $100!! Is that not ridiculous?!?! It's essentially between my roommate and one other kid, going back and forth. So my roommate continues to bid and it gets to the point where it's his turn to bid $150.. but he decides to go for the throat: "I'll bid $200 if the date includes the auctioneer". Apparently the auctioneer was quite the looker.. Haha it took some persuading but she accepted and my roommate got the date with 4 PA's and the auctioneer for $200!!!!!!!!! Ohhh man, just think how many NORMAL dates you could go on with that much money.. Funny thing is tho.. since the auction my roommate has been unable to track down the auctioneer..

Scenario two:

My real roommate, the one I actually share a room with, is more normal concerning $$ woes. He started bidding for one girl but the price got too high so stopped, but then did end up bidding and winning another girl for $50. Still quite a bit just to go out for ice cream. BUT!! Same thing happened with him too! It's been nearly two weeks and she has been MIA!!!

Both roommates have been trying to contact them via cell phone but neither has responded!! How messed up is that?!?! These guys paid good $$ just to go out ONCE to dinner or to get ice cream. What were these girls expecting?!?! They'd agreed to be auctioned off which guess what?? Also means you gotta actually go out on the date with the guy who bids highest!!!

The second scenario girl just recently responded to my roommates texts, which were well spaced out and not too pushy mind you, and she requested that roommates be able to go on the date too!?!?!?! hahaha oh man.. he didn't bend too easily tho. She then said that she just didn't want him to get any wrong ideas or impressions cuz she has someone back home..

Hmm, i wonder how much I'd go for.. haha maybe that's it! They just wanted to know how much they'd go for.. not actually go through with it!! sneaky.. Anyways, pretty funny and unique experience i'd say..

Simon Peter, the disciple, a boy scout?

John 18:10 "Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus."

BSA Motto: Be prepared.

Did the other disciples have swords ready just in case? Doens't look like it. They'd been warned things were gonna get ugly soon and Peter was ready for it! Gosh I bet he was even an Eagle Scout.. Even if the others did have swords they sure didn't act did they? Nope. Just Peter.

Now of course then soon after Peter denies knowing or having associated with Christ three times. And who was the 3rd person who accused Peter of having worked with Jesus?

John 10: 26: "The One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?

Malchus. Back again. Kinda interesting tho isn't it? Do you think Malchus was still all fired up and ready to capture Christ? He'd just had a super traumatic and incredible experience!! Had his right ear lobbed off by Peter and then completely restored within seconds by the man who he was supposed to be taking to his death! I'm thinkin I would have had a change of heart.. but maybe not about the guy who lobbed my ear off haha.

But here's another thought. Peter met Malchus in a somewhat of a 'judgement day' experience. It was that final denial that set the cock crowing. Kinda feel like it was more than just by chance that it was Malchus, he to whom Peter had wronged, that he had to face before the 'end'. Also somewhat a 'what goes around comes around' feel to it doesn't it..

Whatever the case may be, bitter tears followed. After his sincere repentance however, Christ then allows Peter the opportunity to acknowledge his belief in and love for Him. The Lord asks Peter three times whether he loves Him to which he responds in the affirmative.

We all pass through experiences that humble us. That's how we grow and become better. Following those trying experiences Peter became the leader of the Church, the rock.

So really, just cuz we're Eagle Scouts doesn't mean we're perfect.. yet. ;)

Week of a lifetime

My goodness I apologize for the long gap in communication!! This week has been crazy!! Besides the normal everyday craziness of interning and evening classes, which is a full week in itself, this week we also had:

- a Freedom award ceremony for Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (somewhat convroverstial..) in the Hilton Hotel fancy meeting hall! 3 square meal baby!! Good eatin'!
- a visit to Langley, VA where we were briefed on the CIA. I'd love to tell you what we were told but well I can't.. top secret, sorry..
- enjoyed a lecture from former Ambassador to Estonia, Aldonna Wos entitled 'Freedom is Not for Free'.
- somehow had time somewhere to play bball at the Georgetown Gym. Had to get my exercise in for the month. I played with one of the girls in my program. She skunked us in 21 and then again in 2-on-2. Dang girls who can play ball.. I kinda have a thing for those.. ;)
- a visit to the State Department. Not soo top secret but still don't wanna get in trouble by saying something..
- a visit to the Czech Republic Embassy. haha which has a funny history of its current location (rumor has it that during the cold war one of the staffers defected and threw all the top secret files in the street when they were situated just off Mass. like all the other embassies. The communists couldn't do anything to stop the staffer cuz once he made it to the street he was on US territory! SO they packed up and went way the heck north of DC, away from everyone else. They also made sure to have plenty of room between the building and the barbed wire fence (that points inwards to keep people in btw) so that if anyone tried to defect again they could shoot them before they made it to 'US territory'.)
- 'photo scavenger hunt' on the mall at night. ice cream in chinatown.
- attended 'The Fiddler on the Roof' at Wolf Trap with my internship group (my supervisor was kind enough to take us). And then we enjoyed a bbq at her place following where we got to meet with former interns. Once again met a very good contact.. she had lots of answers about American University. Looking at that for Grad school potentially.
- attended mass at the National Cathedral after church on Sunday.

But I mean really.. who wants to be able to look out the window and see the Washington Monument every morning, or see the Vice President's caravan speed by Dupont Circle at least once a week, or have to call and email Congressional Offices to explain a bi-partisan resolution for work, who wants to wear a suit in DC??? anyways..

In short I'm really really really looking forward to just being able to unclog sinks full-time again.  

Umm yah, that's sarcasm.

Just two short weeks left :(

What would you do if you had 2 weekends left in DC??

Thesis on Feminism

I overheard a conversation between a guy and girl following class on our way back to the apartment. The guy comments on how hungry he is and how he can't wait to go to 5 Guys to eat. The girl asks why he doesn't eat something at the apartment? There's no food, he replies. She responds by saying that it's really typical of guys and that all the refrigerators of the girls she knows are chock full and are difficult to shut sometimes cuz they're so full of food! 

I thought it was funny how they were both just saying it as tho it were matter-of-fact.. it just so happened that girls just happen to always have food while guys never do, and that there's no thought to change or adjust one's habits?? Like if you're buying too much food.. stop buying so much!! If you never have any food.. start buying some!! Seems like guys and girls were meant to be together.. feel that way the fridge is always in equilibrium :)

But I started thinking. Girls just innately enjoy spending money. They enjoy shopping. Guys, moreso because they're lazy and don't want to put in the effort required to do so, don't. I'm thinking that following the Keynesian method of economic stimulation allow this feminist movement to really take off!!! Put girls in charge of everything! If they're responsible for 'bringing home the bacon' there's going to be more work accomplished, cuz they're girls.. they get things done.. so not only will they be earning more money but they'll also be SPENDING more money!! Can you imagine all the revenue flowing into the economy?!?! This will undoubtedly jump-start our struggling economy and bring it back to full health and beyond!! Genius!!

Before you get too carried away and start writing your congressman informing them of this incredible discover and means to economic success (okay let's be serious none of you know how your Congressman is.. you'd have to look it up huh?) we should think about the drawbacks. 

This brings me to my main and personal opinion on feminism. (haha goin out on a long limb and hoping the branch doesn't snap.. aka don't hate me cuz of my opinion ;) ) Feminism in terms of equal rights is super. I think girls should have equal rights hands down. Men and women were created equal. They are necessary to the other, no one is greater than the other, they should work together as an equal team in love and harmony. They do however have different functions to society that they inherently perform better. Man is the protector and provider to the family while the woman nurtures it. I fear that the hype of feminism sways women to feel that they MUST obtain high-ranking jobs and that a woman fails if she does not do so, aka stay-at-home-mom. It's generally looked down upon now isn't it? 

So what does happen if the movement continues and woman replaces the man? What does happen if the roles reverse? Okay honestly I have no doubt that as I previously mentioned that more work would be accomplished. Women are amazing. There's no stopping a woman when she's put her mind to something. She is not easily swayed or tempted like men are. When she is dedicated you better make sure you're on her side cuz if you're in the way.. well you won't be for long. But do you really think the man can nurture the family?? Seriously?? I feel like the house would literally crumble into pieces not only physically but more importantly emotionally, socially, spiritually etc. etc. etc. They're just not nurturers!

(Again please realize I'm being extremely general. My dad for example would not let my house fall apart in any sense and if he really had the time w/out a job he would most likely be running the up-keep of everybody's houses in our near proximity as well!)

The family is the basic unit of society. If the family starts to fall apart, society will soon follow it. Both the man and the woman are essential to the maintaining of it. It becomes extremely difficult when one is removed from the picture (divorce or separation) or when the roles are reversed. Not impossible mind you, but certainly more difficult.

It is therefore my very unprofessional opinion that fully promoting and expanding the feminist movement will result in a great stimulation of the economy but also to the complete deterioration of society.

Networking #3

This pretty girl sits down next to me in Sunday School. I'm too nervous to say anything. Luckily she's more courageous than I. She asked if we'd met and what my name was. I told her we hadn't met and told her I was just an intern, but that my name was Jeff. She asked for my last name. Despain. She said she'd heard about me. 

Hahaha what do you even say to that?!?! I don't know anyone in the stinking ward!! How in the world had she heard about me?? What had she heard about me?? And from whom?!?!?! 

I'm thoroughly convinced half the world revolves around Michael Skeen. When he's present he's the center of attention. When he's out of town, which is almost always, he's still the main topic of conversation. Now fully comprehend why he's out of town so much. Now I know he's not just the main topic in Raleigh/Durham. The man owns DC too!!! How many other cities I've no idea.. Turns out he attended a conference up here this weekend, they know each other, and he'd asked her if she'd met me yet, knowing I was in the ward..

Well, now she can say she has :)

It's all about knowing the right people baby! Networking rocks!! (and so does Skeen ;) )

The Merchant of Venice

I must say however much fun or entertaining the baseball game Friday night was, Saturday night was definitely better. I attended Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice performed by the DC Shakespeare Theatre Company. It was awesome!!! So cool! They did an awesome job! They were very creative and although it was a Shakespearean play it had a 1920's twist to it, all the costumes and even the accents haha. It was actually very well done. I think it also helped to lift the dark and depressing mood that was apparent throughout the play.

Despite the unsettling religious arguments and wrongdoings both thought and enacted because of selfishness and greed, which I think was to show just how cruel and down right ridiculous man-kind can be, despite religious preference, it was an excellent production!!! Obviously there were some funny parts, scattered throughout, especially the last few scenes. Very clever. Very much worth the student-discounted price we paid.

Oh gosh.. does this mean that I actually enjoyed a more mind-stimulating event as opposed to a sporting event?!?! What's DC done to me?!?!? ;)

What was fun was while we were waiting for the bus to come to take us home I realized that some of the actors had exited the building from a door like right behind us! It was so cool! I felt like we were supposed to go up and attack them with cameras and ask them to signature everything we had. I resisted. Not sure that's appropriate DC behavior. It was a tough call.. I'm still not sure I made the right choice. But they're just normal people!! One guy even rode off on his bike! The last two to leave were the main characters who in the play hated each other. When they'd exited the stage after applause etc. they'd left arm in arm. But they even left the actual building together. I hope that's kinda how this life turns out.. the people with whom we quarrel with the most turn out to become our best friends because we've been able to work through our differences and have humbled ourselves enough to allow that to happen. Nice thought anyways.. It was neat to see really..

Take me out to the ball game

I attended my first Major League Baseball game Friday night! Washington Nats vs the Colorado Rockies! I was glad I chose to go with Gou, my chinese friend, cuz then it totally looked like I knew what was going on! I was able to explain all the rules to him and got him going on the basic trash talk.. umm which doesn't work too well from the 5th level..

On the way to the ball park tho we were stopped by a guy handing out nats hats! He just handed them to us and we stopped and were like huh? For free? Really? Sure it's free! For a donation for the blah blah charity.. it was so weird! I'd never had someone hand me the item and then ask for money always the other way around.. me handing them the money and me receiving the item.. course come to think of it that never has happened before! Genius! Well I didn't have any money but Gou did, gave him $10 and then the guy asked Gou if he could help me out since I didn't bring any money.. I just gave my hat back instead of making him pay. Yah I'm a lame barterer. Shoulda said $10 for the both of us thanks have a nice day. Instead poor Gou got ripped off haha. He was okay with it tho.. it was his first hat he'd ever had. Ever.

So the strangeness of the hats continued. I notice all these people walking around all have the same hat on. Not the same one as Gou, a red/white/blue Nats hat. Someone was handing out free hats!!! I looked and looked but couldnt find them. We found our seats and enjoyed the game for a while but the fact that someone was handing out free Nats hats and I didn't have one was just too much to bear!! When this group of girls got back to their seats and all had those dang free hats I knew it was time to act. I was able to locate the source of the free hats. And just so happened they'd just handed out the last ones. 'We only get 10,000 a night..' 10,000 free hats??? 10,000 free hats and I didn't even get one of em!!! Oh well.. I still have my white Wolfpack hat.. what more do i need!

But what was cool was getting up to the main gates and getting ready to go through the check-out location when they stopped letting us in! Weird! And then I noticed everyone was faced towards the big-screen. They were bringing out the American flag and a quartet of brothers began to sing the National Anthem. How cool huh? Everything stopped out of respect. Pretty neat.

Despite a good-looking first inning the Nats didn't do much.. we were down by one (3-2) at the bottom of the 9th. A runner on 1st and no outs. We're getting excited and pumped and hoping for a big come-back finish.. yah the rockies get a double play. Bam. Epic fail. Oh well, can't win every time..

Identity Crisis

Ever since I was young I've had a special thing for ties. When I was 16 the Elders in our ward gave me two giant trash bags full of ties!! It was over 300 ties!! This simply caused this special thing I have for ties to augment. I never wore the same tie twice for years. Serving a mission to Japan where you can buy really cool ties for just $1 was heaven. It was the only item of a missionaries' outfit that could change. One's identity could be found in the tie. If you had cool ties your identity was cool. If you had lame-o ties, YOU were lame-o. 

I was no lame-o.

So you see I like ties. Now I get a monthly Asian tie from Meg who's in Taiwan right now. Let me embellish: really incredibly awesome Asian ties that have made all other ties I own seem second-rate. And remember, I wore no lame-o ties. That's how cool these Asian ties from Meg are. 

So. I was quite happy to know that I would be interning for an Asian-based organization. It gave me clear and direct permission and what I thought was blatant encouragement to wear these incredible expressions of my identity. So you can imagine the horror I experienced when my supervisor began telling me how ridiculous my ties were. How un-Washington they were. I responded that I knew they weren't DC-ties.. they were Asian ties!! I work for ASIA Policy Point!! She was not amused and threatened me by saying she was on the verge of taking me across the street to Brooks Brothers to buy me reasonably DC-looking ties.

Shot through the heart. Internal bleeding. Trying to breathe in Space.. No. Worse than even that.. my identity was squished. And just when I thought I was adjusting to and understanding DC..

Now. Just because she was the first and only person to ever insult one, okay or all, of my ties does not mean that I am beaten. No no. Remember I've experienced on two separate occasions to date 2 side-walk singers begin to sing about my tie as I walk by. It has served as means for inspiration to others as well as to myself in the DC area.

But. Being the innovative and entrepreneurial opportunity seeker that I am I have found the loop hole to the gross slanderings issued towards my identi.. I mean towards my ties: She's willing to buy me more ties since she doesn't like the one I currently own and wear. :) 

Operation 'Identity Boost': 

Action: Cease wearing the conservative Asian ties I've been wearing and bring out the big guns: the loud boisterous ties I haven't even worn yet.

Result: Enjoy an afternoon of shopping at Brooks Brothers for brand new ties to add to my collection, at no cost to me and at the approval of my supervisor. 

All players in the market benefit and prosper thereby. :)

I do believe I am beginning to get the hang of this DC thing.. ;)

Understanding DC

Much of the 'spare' time that we generally have has this week been spent meeting in groups for our internship class presentation. We've met every night and spent hours researching and discussing our topic and how to present it, or trying to do all that is more like it.

Here's the problem. Each of the 6 members of our group are apart of an incredible program that attracts some of the greatest college-aged thinkers and do-ers in America. Each person is ambitious, intelligent, highly opinionated, is a leader, and has lots of experience. (Haha and then there's me! Hehe I don't know how I got accepted into this club!!) But anyways.. you place them all in one group and tell them to create one idea. You come out with 6 ideas. You come out with 6 ideas and no one is willing to budge. Hours pass by and you realize that you haven't accomplished anything. Gosh this sounds awfully familiar.. where have I heard about his happening before.. oh wait!! We're in DC!!

No wonder all of our elected leaders have such a difficult time trying to get anything done!! You take our 'group project' situation and blow it up a billion times and that's congress!! You take a handful of each state's top picks, tell them to stand up for the citizens of their district/state and their beliefs and interests, put them into teams with team colors and team captains, and then throw them into a massive room with hundreds of other top-notch minds and leaders with the same resolve to their constituents who are on the opposing side and then try and come to a single conclusion with which everyone is happy and benefits thereby. Oh and let's not forget the cameras.. it's being televised too! It's a miracle anything gets done.

I hate to say it but from my experience here in DC so far the 'bright minds of the future' are an awful lot alike the ones of today.. but hey at least it'll provide for plenty of entertainment in years to come for America's most popular professional most-of-the-time-non-contact sport: Politics. Oh gosh that's an idea.. politics with full-body contact!! Oh man!! I think I just qualified the reasoning in my being here with these stubborn smarty-pants!! Gotta take advantage of those entrepreneurial opportunities! Innovation baby!! 

K gotta go write a bill about all this now.. 'i'm just a bill, yes i'm only a bill, and im sittin here on capitol hill..'

Let Freedom Ring: July 4th in DC

As the dark night sky blazes with color and smoke, ash from the colorful display floats gently down on thousands of heaven-tilted eye.

Chords of patriotism sound from the strings of the symphony to combine with the booming of fireworks to shake the earth.

Hundreds of tiny flashes of light from cameras struggle to capture the moment, all light combining to illuminate stone faces enshrined in monuments of respect.

The lights flash, melodies sound, and eyes turn toward heaven, all combining in one moment of thanks to those faces of stone who came before, who paved the way that we might live as we do; that we might not struggle in vain for that which they dedicated their lives:

Freedom.

Each flash of light, each chord that plays, each gazing eye can do so because they are free.

In awe, in thanks, indebted to them: the founding fathers of our freedom.

Let freedom ring.

Business Card Magic #2: Harvard Club

So signing up to have a mentor has certainly paid off. Not only did I get that free lunch and great blog post out of it but he also got me in touch with a friend of his who happens to be in charge of all the events for the Harvard Club! And it just happened that the upcoming event was a night at the Panama Embassy with the Ambassador! He told me to go ahead and sign up but when I looked more closely it was for members only and even then the members had to pay $40. :/ Woulda been nice.. Wait, except I have a mentor!! Not only did he get me into the event but got me in for FREEEEE!!! In exchange all I'd have to do was help Caren, the lady in charge of the event, pass out name tags at the beginning of the event which she later told me was just an excuse to let me in and in the end she wouldn't even let me help her, just told me to go talk to people haha. Cha-ching!!!

Umm but so instead of taking the metro I decided I had enough time that I could walk.. and then my google maps on my ipod wouldn't load while I was walking so I was stuck on what I remembered from the map.. In the end I ended up taking a wrong turn that lead me in the wrong direction.. I talked with a cop who came across as really self-important and I think was kinda upset that I had to ask him for directions.. twice hahaha. Umm mostly I think he wasn't too happy because he had no idea but since he was kinda supposed to be able to help and couldn't at all. Anyways, I FINALLY was able to hack someone's wifi long enough to load the stinking map, search for the address, and found out where I was and how lost I'd gotten myself. I decided that in order to not be totally and completely late I'd have to take a taxi.. ohh and plus I'd already walked probably close to 3miles by this point. So I started heading back in the direction of the embassy and along the way I'd try to wave a taxi down. Umm yah, didn't happen. Every taxi I tried to wave down already had a passenger and then the one taxi I missed of course was the empty one. And by the time I caught up to it at the light I was like a 5min walk from the place.. I weighed my opportunity costs and decided I'd keep my $10 and walk the 5min despite the fact I was 30min late..

Haha so I actually ended up walking past the place.. cuz see we were actually meeting at the Ambassador's residence and not the embassy and well the residence looked more like an embassy and I couldn't see the address or a sign but later on saw other Harvard-looking-people going inside so I joined them. Hahaha oh man it was great! Not only was the place immaculate and gorgeous but there were servants serving drinks and everyone had fancy glasses etc. Oh man I felt so weird!!! Hahaha. I was also a little worried about people's reaction to my not being affiliated with Harvard and yet being there and all.. Everyone I talked to was very friendly tho, I'm sure whatever they were drinking loosened them up a bit ;) I had ginger ale. Caren was nice enough to track some down for me. She was excited to hear in our previous conversation that I was a Mormon, knew Spanish, that my parents taught Spanish, dad had gone to Indiana University.. anyways basically we had a lot to talk about and she took good care of me. Hahaha but honestly I felt so weird walking around with the drink, looking like a Harvard person, that I gulped it down and got rid of it as fast as I could haha.

The first person I really talked with was Johnathan. He's from Panama, studied at Georgetown, American University, and University of Louisville, had done International Law, got bored and turned to Public Affairs..  and I didn't find out until near the end of our conversation that he was the Ambassador's Deputy!! He was like, 'oh excuse me I must call the Ambassador now, it's time for him to come meet people and deliver his speech, please excuse me..' hahaha oh if you've got to I guess!! So he calls the Ambassador and tells him it's time and a door above me opens and here comes the Ambassador walking down the stairs!! Hahaha boy did I feel like I had totally planned it all out but in reality was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.. haha I mean right place at the right time.. I was the first person to shake the Ambassador's hand!! Johnathan introduced me briefly and said I had perfect Spanish.. haha oh what a nice liar Latinos can be sometimes :)

The best word I can describe the Ambassador is jolly. He was just a happy happy guy!! haha didn't stop smiling and laughing the whole time!! Great guy!! I'd read up on Panama the night before so I'd be a little more prepared for conversation and to understand the speech etc. Paid off. Understood everything he was talking about what Panama has and is experiencing.

In short, I was able to talk to several people. Instead of going for quantity I went for quality. I hope it pays off.. Most of the people there could speak some Spanish and most had been to Panama before (or had houses there!!) so maybe I shoulda just gone around and tried to meet everyone and then come back around to those who would be the best contacts.. I don't know.. Anyways I talked to quite a few people. Got close to several of them and was able to exchange business cards with them and even gave some of them an envelope which contained my business card and my resume. I asked them to just look over it and maybe give me some suggestions or tips on how to improve it... (oh and if you have any friends who might want to hire me give it to them too hahaha ;) ). Everyone I talked to seemed very interested in me and was happy to help. Sneaking into the professional development series on resume/interview tips I wasn't signed up for that morning paid off.. good tips.. "people love being asked to help" thus my help-me-with-my-resume ploy, plus it gives a soft committment for them to get back in touch with me and if they don't approach me? well I've got their business card I can follow up with them :) I also committed one of the ladies I spoke with to get me in touch with her friend who is in the Foreign Service to ask her questions about her experience.. hahaha also a single female she added.. "always ask people for contacts". Check. Oh man.. taking over DC baby..

So just in case you think I'm boasting about myself just remember I got dreadfully lost earlier AND another few things that I gotta work on is knowing when your brains are getting sucked out of your head by a bug when talking with important people.. kinda embarrassing. I was talking with the Deputy when that one happened.. had a big ole red bug bite just in time to meet the Ambassador.. hahaha great.. AND when we were in line to get food one of the men I'd met earlier walked in and was going to get in the back of the line but I told him to hop in front of me.. He's Japanese and was very much impressed with my Japanese.. umm like all I said was 'are you japanese? oh it's so very nice to meet you! I lived in japan for 2 years as a missionary' and oh that was about it.. anyways he liked me :) So i let him hop in front since we're friends.. very Japanese-esque of me really. A guy a few people behind me tho was not happy about that hahaha. He didn't do anything but he did complain about it till he got to the food, not to my face but loud enough I could hear.. 'there was actually a line.. oh I guess he's more important than us..' things like that.. I felt bad at first but then he kept going on and I didn't feel bad anymore haha, what a disagreeable jerk face! I made him wait seriously an extra 15sec!! You're gonna get ur rich-people food in 45sec buddy!! Anways.. take home lesson for him is it pays to have contacts when waiting in line to get food.. had he walked in and had I known him I woulda let him in.. I can be a good contact too ;) But still.. bad form on my end..

But besides the blistered feet, swollen face, and ticking off the rich Harvard man, I'd given out 3 resumes and 4 business cards and received 4 cards in return and met maybe 8 others with whom I can easily get in touch with from Caren. Doubt I'll get a job from anything that happened that night but I've got more excellent contacts now from which I can gain great advice and even more contacts.. and let's not forget yet another single female Foreign Officer contact to add to the list ;)