I had never been to Washington, DC until this past summer
when I interned for the Department of State. While I come from outside of
Boston, I haven’t spent much time exploring the city itself, so living in DC
was an exciting experience. I spent the summer doing the typical “touristy”
things many do when in the nation’s capitol, such as visiting the National Mall
and all the museums and monuments that come with it, as well as going to iconic
spots such as Georgetown Cupcakes, the Potomac, or Arlington Cemetery. Coming
back for the DC Program this semester I not only feel like I have a good grasp
of the city, but also as if I'm part of a community. DC is welcoming in a way
other cities are not, possibly due to a combination of southern hospitality and
the fact that very few people who live here are actually from DC. It’s an
eclectic mix of people from around the country and the world, making for a
truly diverse cultural experience.
As many have said, though, it is a “one company” city, with
everyone drawn into the political atmosphere in some way or another. I have
seen this in the two internships I’ve had so far. Working at the Department of
State is clearly related to politics, as is Environment America, an
environmental advocacy group, but it’s the connections between the two and the
random encounters with people from very different fields who know of a
colleague or have heard about the work we’re doing that really amazes me.
What also amazes me is the hope everyone keeps hold of
despite the negative political climate and continual gridlock. Through both of my
internships I have attended multiple interagency and NGO meetings, and while
Congress is always the subject of a bad joke or talked about in an exasperated
manner, people persevere and find another way to get their goals accomplished.
At State that may have meant relying more on other countries to lead the way
and pass legislation, or turning more to international organizations/agencies such
as the UN to get the U.S. moving on environmental issues. At Environment
America it means doing more in-state advocacy or working to gain public support
for EPA rules such as putting a limit on carbon pollution from power plants.
Congress may be a centerpiece of our political system, but agencies and
organizations have been coming up with innovative ways to work around them,
changing the way they think, organize, and distribute their resources in an attempt to change at least one part of our world for the better.
