Here in DC!!

Hi all!

I am finally settled and getting into my routine here in DC. My apartment is great. It is right by the capitol building! My roommates are awesome as well - there are 5 of us girls sharing a row house on Constitution Ave. I am in a triple room. My one roommate goes to Ohio University and my other goes to Harvard. The other two girls share a room upstairs and one goes to Mt. Holyoke and the other goes to Marquette. We are from all over and we are all studying different subjects so it has made for interesting dinner conversations.

I started volunteering at the museum first. My first day was actually the first day the museum was re-opened after the shooting. So it has been pretty intense. Volunteering is great though they have me doing everything! It is really great to work one on one with visitors. My very first day I had a survivor give me a hug and thank me for coming. So every morning I am tired, I think of that.

Africa Action has been amazing! I am taking classes at the Foundation Center and at the Social Action and Leadership School for Activists about everything from how to write a grant to how to put together a budget to how to interact and cultivate relationships with potential donors. All of these things are really going to help me in the future with potential non-profit jobs. My long term project plan with the organization is to write grants to gain better technology for Africa Action and to pursue a grant for my passion: women rights. I am still researching possible funders but my personal goal is secure funds for Africa Action to launch a campaign specifically targeted towards African women and gender equality. The workplace is great. Everyone is laid back, but highly productive. It is interesting to see a workplace where everyone pushes each other to get to that next level and share common values. It really reminds me a lot of AmeriCorps.

On the personal side, I am just staying busy. I am working on a potential Fulbright proposal by researching and emailing experts in the field I am interested in. I also bought a GRE study book (yiiiiiiikes, already have to start thinking about after next May) and I am reading lots of books. Additionally, this is my official announcement, I am training. I will be running in the NYC marathon on the Alzheimer's Association Team. For those who don't know, my paternal grandmother battled the disease and passed away in 2004 after a hard fight. Not only was she a wonderful grandmother who helped raise my sisters and I, she was a one of a kind woman whose strength really influenced who I am today. To see Alzheimer's on a first hand basis, I have become really passionate about the disease. So I decided: I have always wanted to run a marathon; this would be a great way to raise money; and it would be a way to challenge myself in a way I have never done before. So don't worry I will post the link later for my fund raising page so you will all feel obligated to donate hahahahaha!!!! and I will be complaining on the blog!

Alright so as promised to my ladies at the Career Center, I will be much better about posting here as I have constant internet access. Thanks for all of the support I have received and I have already learned so much about myself (and its only my 2nd week!).