Day 19: Half day!!

I apologize for not posting yesterday, but I got home late!!  So here is yesterdays post and in a little bit I'll post one for today!!


Yesterday on my way to work I saw a guy smoking while riding a bike.....


At work I kept trying to find a student in the D.C. area who is in debt and who is struggling to find a job.  I actually ended up finding a few organizations that help students with debt, so hopefully we will be able to talk to them about how they help students who are in debt.  One of the organizations actually has an office in D.C., so that might work out nicely!!


Yesterday, Lisa was not at work because her husband is visiting, Lori (the secretary) left at noon, Max is still in North Dakota, and Mr. Soric left around 1pm.  Soooo it was just me and Ingo.  Ingo told me he didn't want to make me stay at work so I got to leave around 1:30pm!!  I was very excited because Lee had the day off so we could go exploring!!!


I got home and Lee had a doctors appointment to go to so I just hung out until he got back.  After he got back we headed to the Kennedy Center.  There is a free concert there every night at 6pm so we decided to go to that.  The concert was at the Millennium Stage and it was a jazz singer and her band.  She was very good and her band was very talented.  She had the perfect voice for jazz.  Even though jazz isn't something I listen to very often, I still really enjoyed it!


After the concert was over we went on the roof/terrace level of the Kennedy Center.  It was an amazing view of Washington D.C. and the sun was going down so the lighting was perfect!  We walked around and I got some really good pictures!  Here are a few of my favorites.

Watergate Hotel

Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial 

I really enjoyed the Kennedy Center and I'm glad Lee suggested it because I wasn't planing on going there!!

After that we walked along the boardwalk of Georgetown Waterfront Park.  It was soooo beautiful!  And most of the things in the park were new, according to Lee.  There were some nice restaurants, bars and a lot of people on boats!  It made me really want summer!!  Here are some pictures.

So pretty :)

Fountain in the park

Kennedy Center

Then we headed to Georgetown to have dinner.  We had dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant and it was really good!  We thought about stopping at Georgetown Cupcake (from D.C. Cupcakes on TLC), but we decided not to.  I found out later last night that they were giving out free cupcakes because it was the season premiere last night!!!  Major bummer!!!  Oh well though, I bet it was super busy!

After dinner we walked back and the atmosphere on the river looked like it was a lot of fun!  The bars were crowded and there was a lot of music from the boats!  We headed back to the apartment and called it a night!  It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed the Georgetown environment!!

Day 18: So are you a student in the D.C. area who is in debt?

Today I didn't do much at work.  I mostly just kept trying to find a student in the D.C. area who is in debt and can't find a job...which has not been easy.  I can't even begin to tell you how many blogs I've posted on and articles I've commented on trying to find someone!  I was told I might just have to go to George Washington University tomorrow and look for someone.  But I'm pretty sure they are out of school...so I'm not sure how that will work.


Oh right, the photographer at Deutsche Welle has been reading my blog apparently and he was mad at me today cause I just call him "the photographer" in my blog.  His name is Ingo, so from now on I will use his name!  He is awesome....and German!  Oh and the other correspondent who I mention a lot is Mr. Soric.  There now we all know each other!


I got an email from Max this morning saying he is enjoying North Dakota, so that's good!  He also said, after doing research I assume, that strippers in North Dakota make up to $2000 a NIGHT!  How insane is that?!  College would be paid for real quick...I'm just saying...


Oh, so today when I went for lunch I stopped at CVS pharmacy to get a drink.  (My lunch today was a peanut butter sandwich, rainbow goldfish crackers, and Scooby Doo fruit snacks.  I told my mom I felt like a child.  She then said I was a child and that is the kind of lunch she would've packed me if I were going on a field trip......anddddd I'm ok with that!)  So anyways, CVS was super busy, because it was lunch time, and all the check out lines were very long.  Well, I was in line for one of the lanes where you just scan it yourself and there was a lady in the other line throwing a fit about how long the lines were and how they weren't moving.  She started getting mad at an employee who was on the phone (a work phone, not his cell phone) instead of checking people out.  He said to her, "I'm sorry mam, but I'm trying to deal with something bigger than all of this right now."  She threw everything she had in her arms on the floor and stormed out!!  I was in shock!  This was a grown woman!  Then I thought about my "childish" lunch and decided nope, I didn't throw a temper tantrum in the middle of CVS...therefore, I am not a child :)


I'm starting to recognize people on the bus.  It makes me feel like I have friends :)


Oh, and I keep forgetting.  So remember how I mentioned that Bryce Harper played a pick up softball game in front of the Washington Monument last week?  Welllllllll, it turns out that the team he played against was the Fighting Pandas, the WWF team.  Lee (who I live with) plays on that team!!!  Unfortunately when this occurred he was on vacation!  How cool would that have been though?!  Here is a video of it!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuc7_4HkYsU


So recently I have found out who has been reading my blog, and I won't mention names, but it's pretty cool! I thought just my family and a few friends were reading it, but I guess I was wrong!  I was talking to my dad last night and he said what if Obama was reading my blog.....?  Whoa.  So that got me thinking.  What if Obama was reading my blog?!  Mind blowing right?  Then that got me thinking more (never good....)  And I came up with a list of people who I would be stoked about if they were reading my blog.  Those people are (in no particular order):  Barack Obama, Clint Eastwood, Ellen Degeneres, Brian Urlacher, Bradley Cooper, Betty White and Spiderman.  So, if any of you listed are reading my blog, please comment and let me know....cause that would be TOTALLY LEGIT!


So thanks to everyone who reads my blog!! :)  It means a lot!  Tomorrow is Friday!  Who's pumped?  ME. Enjoy the rest of your night and more tomorrow :)

Shelby*

Day 17: Just Say No.

First of all, before I forget....yesterday when Lisa and I were walking to the metro station we were stopped at a corner waiting for the orange hand to turn into a white person.  A guy with no shirt on walked up to us and started asking for money.  We ignored him and kept talking to each other.  Then he got within 2 inches of me and said "do I make you uncomfortable because I have my shirt off??"  Again, I ignored him.  He wouldn't leave and he kept asking for a dollar.  Then he said "come on!  Look at your head!  It's not as expensive as a piercing!!"  LUCKILY the light changed so we were able to cross the street, but I was like RUDE!  I was gonna beat him up...but there were too many witnesses...


There were just so many interesting people I came across today.  The first one was at the bus stop this morning....she was clipping her nails.  I mean, I guess if you're waiting anyway, why not?!  But still...odd.  Then I was on the bus and we stopped at a stop...I looked out the window and thought "no...no no no...please no..."  Yep....a dozen preschoolers were about to get on the bus.  Really?!  Rush hour?!  On a city bus?!  Rent a school bus or a short bus or a van or something!!  The buses are always super busy at 9:30am...but no.  They should have all been on leashes.  "What's that button?!"  "What does this do?!"  "Who is that?!"  I mean, I love the curiosity....cause I think those questions in my head every day too....but it was just a lot to take in.  Luckily and I survived...and I can only assume they did too.


Today at work started off slow, then got really busy, really fast.  I first started making a few "desperate" phone calls, trying to find someone to talk to Max for his story.  I called one lady and her automatic message said that she was gone all week.....so I called her assistant.  Her assistant told me that the original lady who I called is the person I should really be talking to.  I said that I understood that, but she will not be in the office all week.  I was told that she could not help me at all and I would have to wait until Monday.  What kind of assistant is that?!  I finally heard from Max in the afternoon and he said that he found people to talk to, so luckily my search was over!  But I'm sure something will come up tomorrow!


After all that I was told that we will probably not do the Holocaust story, which I'm really disappointed about.  I thought it would've been a really good, interesting story, but it sounds like we can't sell the idea to the people in Berlin.  So boo.  Maybe things will change though!


After lunch I was asked by a correspondent to find a student in the D.C. area who has a lot of debt and cannot find a job...... Sounds simple right?  Negative ghostrider.  1. Most schools are out already or it is currently finals week.  2. Who wants to get on camera and admit they are in debt?!  3. I can't contact the schools directly because that is private information that they cannot release.  Neat.  Soooo I started by contacting the media people for George Washington University, Georgetown University, Howard University and American University.  I asked if they could send out a memo asking students if they would be interested.  I heard back from George Washington and Georgetown right away saying that they are either out already or it is finals week.  So I wasn't sure what to do.  Then some people at work gave me the idea to look up blogs online where students are complaining about debt, comment saying I'm looking for students in debt in the D.C. area to do an on camera interview and see what happens.  So that's what I did.  I posted a message on several Facebook pages and I found recent articles about student debt and I commented on those.  HOPEFULLY tomorrow when I get to work I have something to work with!  If not, I guess it's plan C.  What's plan C?  I don't know yet...


Oh good news!!  No, GREAT news!!  You know how I've been working with Google in German for what, over 2 weeks now?  Well, today I found a link on the Google homepage that says "Google in English."  Guess what?!  It changed it to English!!!  Don't judge.  If only I could find a button on the keyboard that says "Keyboard in English"..... I'll look tomorrow and keep you updated.


So most of my afternoon was spent trying to find students in debt or blogs or articles.  On my way home today, there was this guy.....and at first I classified him as a spy....but then I changed my mind.  Picture this.  He was an older man....probably in his mid 60s, African American, shorter, sweet hat on.  He had on a green shirt that said "Just Say No."  NO TO WHAT?!  I really wanted to know.  But at the same time I didn't want to ask.  He had a tattoo on his forearm that said "Lover Boy."  (That's when I decided he wasn't a spy).  When I saw the tattoo, this is the only thing that came to my mind...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQUmA-F0rkg.  Don't judge.  And yes, I'm A.D.D.  I told you I found interesting people today!


Also, there is a restaurant I pass every day to and from work....Thai Tanic.  How flipping sweet is that for a the name of a thai restaurant?!  Or at least I assume it's a thai restaurant....


Oh, and rumor is, the communication arts center at Wartburg is A LOT quieter without me there.  I take that as "blah blah blah...our lives are boring now."  :)


Wow, this has been way too long for a Wednesday!!  More tomorrow :)


Shelby*

Day 16: "Hi, Ms. Spotted Bird..."

Hola Amigos and happy Tuesday!!


Today went by pretty fast at work!  I got an email from Max this morning saying the people I found who are against the oil rigs live too far away so he won't be able to meet with them.....sooooooo it was back to research.  I found some new contacts, so hopefully I can connect with them as soon as possible and get everything set up!  So that was a little hectic this morning and I concentrated mostly on that.


Oh right, about the title of my post...I found an Indian tribe closer to where Max is in North Dakota.  When I looked up the contact information there were a lot of "interesting" last names in the directory.  I understand it is an Indian tribe and personally, I think it would be AWESOME to have some of these last names.  A list of my favorites are:  Amber Black Dog, Elisha Gray Hawk, Catherine Spotted Bird, Luane Four Bear, Kathy Red Eagle, Sheila Spotted Bird, Kristie CrowBelt, Jean Bear Crane, Walter White Tail Feather, Leonard Bighorn, Myron Walking Eagle, Jennifer Yellow Hammer, Sarah Three Stars, Morris Tattoo, and Terry Rattling Thunder.  Personally, I think Shelby White Tail Feather or Shelby Three Stars or Shelby Rattling Thunder sound awesome!  Or disturbing...I haven't decided yet.  


This afternoon Lisa and I went to Rockville to the Charles E. Smith Living Community.  It took us about an hour to get there after we had to wait for the train and everything.  There, we met with the public relations directors to talk about doing a story.  The community has almost 1,100 residents and the average age is 90.  There are some people living there who are very independent and others need a lot of assistance.  They have 50 residents who survived the Holocaust, and that's what the focus of our meeting was.  If you recall from my post last week, there was an article about these survivors in the Washington Post a few weeks ago.  One of our correspondents had the idea to do a story about them so today we met with the directors to see if this was possible.


The ladies we met with are SUPER nice.  They gave us a few names of residents who would be willing to talk on camera about their experiences.  They told us the only hesitation they have is how we would portray the story, since we are a German Broadcaster and they are Holocaust survivors, which is completely understandable.  But we reassured them that we are just trying to tell their stories and share their experience before it's too late and we aren't able to talk to them again.  We talked to them for over an hour and we thought we had a good understanding of what we were going to do.  


Sooooo we went back and told the correspondent what we talked about and how there are people willing to share their story.  He asked "so what is the story?"  I said I think the story should be that there are 50 Holocaust survivors living in this community and how it is important to hear their stories before they pass away.  He said that wasn't concrete enough and we can't do it.  He said he needs a concrete story...we need to go and talk to the people ourselves to find out what their story is.  Unfortunately, the directors we talked to said it's hard to get them to start talking about it because it is so painful for them and it would be easier if we just sat down with them once, with cameras, and talked to them.  The correspondent also said it is expensive to do stories, so it really has to be a $1000 story...and he's not sure if it's worth it.  Sooo now I'm not sure what we are going to do.  It's frustrating because the ladies we met with today were super nice and very helpful and very excited to have us do this!  Hopefully we work something out tomorrow.


When Lisa and I were on the train today there was a part of the track that goes outside and is above roads and stuff.  She said "this always worries me because the train could just fall off the track!"  I was like gee....THANKS!  As if I'm not freaked out enough by the trains (thanks a lot tv and movies).  Taxis freak me out too.  She then said "don't worry, it probably won't happen."  THANKS!


On the way to the metro today I saw a store called "Bedazzled."  I'm not sure what kind of store it is....but I feel like I must check it out....


Also, I only saw 2 spies today...and they weren't on the bus.  One was dressed up like an old person at the community and the other was a guy walking on the street.  Definite spies.


Well that was today!  More tomorrow :)

Shelby*

Day 15: Prince Harry came back for me!!!

Prince Harry came back to Washington D.C. for me today!!!!! :)  Just kidding :(  But seriously...he was here today.  Apparently he was never here like 2 weeks ago when I was told he was.....so today was my chance with him....and it didn't happen.....BUT I'm definitely not giving up hope!!


Today they kept me busy at work!!  Max leaves tomorrow for North Dakota so most of the morning I was on the phone making sure everything was set.  I FINALLY heard back from a lady at one of the Indian tribes.  She gave me a few names and numbers of people who are against the oil rigs, so that was great!!  


After that I was asked to do some different research about the media bias story.  This time I was asked to find information about how people are educated by the media.  Again, it has been hard to find information (reliable, current, etc.) regarding this topic.  I found a few articles, but I plan on looking for more tomorrow.


One of the correspondents took me out for lunch, which was very nice.  We had a really good conversation about college and how it differs in the United States and in Germany.  Did you know that in Germany college is FREE?!  Room and board costs money, but tuition is free.  They feel like everyone deserves the chance to further their education, no matter what their situation is like at home.  How sweet is that?!  I think it's a super idea!!  We also talked about the future and how hard it is to find a job and stuff like that, so I had a good time!


This afternoon I did some research on a few different things and made a few more phone calls regarding Max's trip...I hope everything goes smoothly for him!!


Did you hear the National Christmas tree died this weekend?!  So heart breaking......


Tomorrow afternoon Lisa and I are going to the Charles E. Smith Living Community in Rockville, about 45 minutes away.  There, we will meet with the director and a few people about the Holocaust survivors story we are thinking about doing.  The lady who I have been in contact with seems very nice, so fingers crossed we are able to find some people with a story to tell!!


Oh yeah....here is the article Lisa and I wrote.  It is currently on the Deutsche Welle website, which is pretty cool, but it's in German....so good luck with it!! http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15930407,00.html


Good news....I saw a lady in a purple coat today....it may or may not be Ruth, but I think it was!!!


Also, since going to the International Spy Museum on Saturday I think everyone is a spy....but I spotted 3 people on the bus today who are DEFINITELY spies!!  I'm sure of it.


ANDDDDD on my way home tonight, I was on the bus and we stopped to let some people off.  A guy then walked off the sidewalk and stood in front of the bus and he wouldn't move!!  The bus driver was yelling at him and people on the bus were yelling at him!!  He just refused to move!!  The bus driver then yelled "You know what?!  I have some BROTHERS on this bus who will come out and remove you!!"  I stood up and yelled "YEAH!!"  Just kidding...I didn't really do that....but I thought about it!  But she really did yell that and that got him to move!!  It was so bizarre.....


Well, that's about it for today!!  More tomorrow :)

Shelby*

Days 13 & 14: So much neatness!!

Well, it was another fun filled weekend in the nation's capitol!


Yesterday (Saturday) I did several different things.  The first thing I did was go to the International Spy Museum.  It was pretty flipping sweet.  The first thing you do is go into this room and pick out your new identity.  You have several minutes to pick one of 16 identities and memorize all the information.  They then put you into a room for a briefing.  There is a short film about spies that plays.  Then you start seeing the exhibits, unfortunately they don't you take pictures!!  I know, right?!  It's not like there are top secret missions discussed or anything!  LAME.  Randomly throughout the museum there are checkpoints where you have to answer questions about your identity and you have to pass.  Of course, I was slightly freaking out, cause what if I failed....?  You also got new information about your mission.  Basically what I learned from the museum is, I can't trust anyone!!!  I have NO idea who is a spy!  My parents could be spies!  My professors could be spies!  I could be a spy!!!!  There were a ton of different gadgets that looked like ordinary things (pens, shoes, belts, coats, bags, etc.) but they were actually cameras, or bugging devices, or other things!  Fun fact: there are more spies in Washington D.C. than anywhere else on EARTH!!  I decided tomorrow on the bus I'm going to try to figure out who's a spy or not.  Probably the coolest thing I saw in the museum was the Aston Martin James Bond had in Goldfinger.  It was pretty cool.  I also learned how to pick a lock...but don't test me.  I also learned a lot about ninjas!!!  Overall, it was pretty cool.  Oh, and at the end we do a final "test" of our identity...I passed!!  They said I did so well I should be a spy, I was like oh...I know.


After that I went to the Old Post Office Building.  There is a food court and some shops, but they let you go up into the bell tower to get an awesome view of D.C. and since the Washington Monument is closed I figured I would do that!  First of all, people were being so rude yesterday!  There is a security check before you go into the Old Post Office and I was behind two guys.  They were giving the security guards such a hard time!  The guards asked them to take everything out of their pockets (like they ask everyone) and the guys talked back to them.  Then they asked them to remove their belts before walking through the metal detector and the guys talked back again!  It was very rude...but anyways.  It was a cloudy day so it wasn't that clear, but I still got some good pictures.  It was really neat to see everything from such a high point in the city.  There are wires over most of the openings, instead of glass, and there are signs all over that say "Do Not Touch the Wires" and other signs that said "Keep Hands Inside."  Well, apparently people thought those were options or suggestions. People kept sticking their cameras outside of the wires to get better pictures!  The poor security guard had to keep asking people to put their cameras inside and they would respond with "yeah yeah, it's around my neck!" or "I won't drop it!"  The security guard just kept saying, "yeah, well if you drop it and kill a person..."  Then some guy freaked out and was like "This is horrible design up here!  You can't touch anything!  You can't take pictures!!  What's the point?!"  It was super annoying...but here are some pictures I took!!

So that was pretty neat!  After that I rode the train to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  There's not much I can say about this, except WOW.  It was so beautiful, breath taking, and it left me in awe.  There were so many little chapels and then the main church was.....I was speechless.  Here are some pictures!!

The pictures really don't do it much justice, but to see many more check out my Facebook!!  (It's a good thing the memory card in my camera stores thousands of pictures!!!!)  After the Basilica I decided to head back for the night.  It was a pretty lame Cinco de Mayo for me, although it seemed like our nation's capitol was the place to be for this grand Mexican holiday!  There were lots of people in sambreros and what not!  Looked like fun!!


Today (Sunday) I decided to have a somewhat laid back day.  I hung around the apartment this morning and then this afternoon I went to the National Gallery of Art.  It was alright...I mean, I appreciate art and everything, but it was A LOT of art and a lot to look at.  I saw some of Picasso's work and some Van Gogh paintings though!  So that was pretty neat!  It was mostly just a lot of naked people in sculpture or painting form, and you laugh, but I'm serious.  So it was a relaxing day for the most part, with some art thrown in there!  Here are some highlights!

Cupid on a dolphin....legitimately what it's called!

Picasso!

Van Gogh!

Dog...

Overall I had a good weekend, only 2 weekends left and I still feel like I have a lot to see!!  Hopefully I have a good week at work!!  More tomorrow :)


Shelby*

Day 12: This is NOT my first rodeo

First of all, TGIF!!!


Second of all, you see the craziest things while waiting for buses!  Today I saw a lady with lime green hair, a guy walking like 7 dogs, and can I just say, some times I want to look at people and say "did you even look in the mirror today?!"  Mean, I know, and I apologize...but seriously!!!


Today was a fairly busy day at work.  This morning I did more research on political bias in the media.  I found a few more things, but it still took a lot of digging to find reliable sources.  After that I was informed that I would be shadowing a correspondent and a photog in the afternoon while they shot a story.  I was really excited to hear this because this is what I have been waiting for!!  The correspondent asked me to do research about the guy we would be interviewing, Harry Wu, a very famous Chinese man.


Harry Wu is a Chinese man who was born in 1937.  In 1956 he was arrested for criticizing the Communist party and in 1960 he was sent to a "laogai," a Chinese labor camp.  He spent 19 years in 12 different camps where he was tortured.  In 1979 he was released and he came to the United States.  In 1992 he founded the Laogai Research Foundation to make people aware of the Laogai situation in China.  Today there are thousands of Laogai camps with millions of people being tortured.  The Laogais also allow the Chinese government to profit from the imprisonment of people because it is a forced labor camp.  Basically, it is a very, very sad situation.


So in the afternoon we went to the Laogai Museum, about a 10 minute walk from DW.  When we arrived the photog went around and got different shots of the museum.  Then the correspondent was asking ME questions about the research I did and what he should ask during the interview!!  I was like really?!  So then the photog was setting up for the interview and the correspondent asked me if I had ever worked with a camera before or if my school teaches that...I almost laughed out loud...I was thinking um...yeah....this isn't my first rodeo!!  I told him that yes, this is actually what I do on a weekly basis...he was surprised!


So anyway, they did the interview, in English luckily, and it was extremely interesting!!!  I guess I never really understood how bad the situation in China really is.  He was talking about the One Child policy.  It is illegal for a woman to be pregnant outside of marriage!  (Dang, a lot of people would be in trouble in the U.S.!!)  Then when they are married they have to get a permit to have a kid.  And of course, they can only have one.  If the woman gets pregnant with a second child she is taken to the hospital to have an abortion.  It's so sad.  Mr. Wu told the story of one family who had a baby and then the woman got pregnant again so they tried to hide.  They then fled to Thailand and had a third child but the Chinese government found out, kidnapped the woman, sterilized her and her husband, then destroyed their home and took all of the possessions!  And this was somewhat recently!  It's just very sad and we should all be very fortunate for the freedoms we have here in the U.S.


After the interview we went back and I got to watch them go to work to put the story together.  It was very similar to the process I go through except they had to translate everything to German and English, so I was able to help them with that....well, the English at least...

Towards the end of the day I did a little bit more research on the Indian tribes for Max.  Like I said, it was a very busy day!


Now, about my ride home.  Everything was going fine and I was on the second bus, about 4 blocks from the street my apartment is on.  We were stopped, letting some people off the bus, when a bunch of emergency vehicles drove by and stopped up ahead.  I looked and saw a lot of flashing lights so I figured there was an accident.  I decided to get off the bus and walk the rest of the way since we'd probably be stuck in traffic for awhile.  There were several cops directing traffic and a few firetrucks, but when I walked by there was no accident.  I got to the intersection where the cops were and I looked down the street to the right and at the next intersection it was the same way...a bunch of cops and some firetrucks.  I kept walking straight up to where I turn to go to the apartment and at the next two intersections there were cops all over the place with bullet proof vests on!!  I was slightly freaking out.  I was able to get into the apartment alright but I heard sirens for the next 30 minutes!  It was really bizarre and I tried to find out what was going on but nothing was on the news about it!  Weird right?!


I'm not quite sure what I am doing this weekend.  I guess there is a big event at the National Mall tomorrow, so I'm thinking either I 1) avoid the area because it will be super busy or 2) go there and see if I can find famous people!  I'm thinking I'll just avoid the area and just go to some random places tomorrow.  Then on Sunday I might go back to the National Mall area and do the National Art Museum, the Holocaust Museum and a few other things.  All I know is, I'm VERY glad it's the weekend!!!  Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo so I'm sure the capitol is the place to be!!! hahahah more tomorrow :)


Shelby*