The moon, the radio and the hostess

I learned a lot during these weeks….

NASA
I had a field trip to one of the NASA visitor centers. To be honest I was expecting to see some rockets and astronauts, but of course at the visitor center there were just informational object, samples and a little rocket. Nevertheless I enjoyed the trip especially when we get into a conference room where there was a rounded screen where the guide women screened for us real images of the earth, the moon, and other planets. I got interesting information about NASA contributions and more facts besides what most of the people, including me, used to think about the org.

XM Radio

“XM is America's #1 Satellite Radio Service”, this is what the website states, and after my visit to the headquarters in Washington I can’t they are number 1, but I can tell they have very modern installations, ultimate equipment, many radio stations decorated according to each show theme, an enormous music library, really cool studios, and more. The visit was fun and interesting, and even more a really enjoyed the recruiter for XM Radio talk, especially when he gave us some advices for our professional life.

The hostess
During these weeks I have been producing some packages for ArteKultura show. This is an assignment I enjoy a lot since I love arts, but what made it go better was being the hostess for the show! Ariadna Alvarado, the producer let me present her program to add it to my portfolio. As my first time hosting I was nervous of course, but everyone at the studio were really kind to me, helping me with everything, giving some tips, and being patient. I made no mistakes while reading the prompter and we did just one take for all the stand ups. Ariadna liked the final product and she told me I can do it again next week.

This weekend I had fun with the celebration of Open Houses at Washington, DC Embassies, and of course going to dance one more time :)

“The MOST or the EST” SECTION

The most stressful

The editing room time was over and my package was not ready. I had to hand in the tape the same day, so I had to edit the video myself using Final Cut, a software I didn’t know how to use…. until that day.

The craziest

In one of the embassies I bumped into my boss and his wife, he asked me if I was with Lali, the other intern in VOA, and when I was about to say no, Lali came into scene. I can't believe how many times I've bumped into so many known people in DC.

The most motivating
My boss told me once I was a “natural”, and after my hosting, the current anchorwomen said the same thing…. after two testimonies that have to be true, and motivates me.

Different

This week was different starting with the fact that I had to work during the weekend.

Just TV
In the week I was completely working for TV production, and it was really cool. I independently produced 3 packages and it was really challenging. The editing process can be a really tough work especially if you don’t know the technical terms and the editor expects you to be up to the standard.

Working on the weekend
Because of the Summit of the Americas, my supervisor asked me to work during the weekend and he gave me Monday and Tuesday off. These two days I worked on my assignments for my program, and my portfolio is almost ready.
Then during the weekend I had a good time with my colleagues updating the website while listening to music and eating pizza. We were able to do all that because there was nobody else at the office.

Nationals Game
I am not a big sports spectator, not even a small one, but I attended to one of the Nationals Game, a baseball game, and I had such a good time with the communications interns and my program advisor. I had so much fun seeing the people getting excited and yelling to the players. It was nice to hang out with TWC people, and knowing new people from the program.

I just have one month left in my internship, and I feel kind of nervous about it.

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The most stressful
Editing one of my packages with footage that had no natural sound. At the end the editor did a great job helping me to get a very good product.

The warmest
Saturday was a perfect day with the greatest weather since I got here. I got a tan.

The greatest
I attended a magazine release salsa party and I had the chance to dance for hours.

Entertainment

This week was full of entertainment

First music, then politics
This week at the Presidential Lecture we had Mary Lambert as a panelist. She is a director who has worked mainly in entertainment directing music videos for Madonna, Chris Isaak, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Alison Krauss, Live, Mötley Crüe, Sting, Debbie Harry, Tom Tom Club and others. Now she has made forays into documentary with "14 Women". She presented us this documentary, which is about the first time the number of women in the Senate increased to an unprecedented 14. I got really interested in her job, especially because of the entertainment background, I asked for her contact expecting to interview her but she was in Washington just for a couple of days. I enjoy her documentary, at least the 30 min watched ad the way she treats women in politics in a very encouraging way was really good.

Presenting entertainment section
This week my job was a little monotonous, until Friday when I first presented the entertainment section for the news show “El Mundo al Dia”. This is the 3rd stand up I have done and I think I am improving somehow. I was nervous, but finally I had a chance to do something else on camera, and it actually went on air that day. Of course, I have so much to work on; the anchor gave me some advices and hopefully I would be doing more things next couple of week since The Summit of the America is going to be a big issue at my job. Well, if you want to give me your opinion check on my entertainment presentation at minute ’22.

KOOZA!!
Soon it will be my birthday and I received an early gift: I went to the CIRQUE DU SOLEIL show!!. It was such a drama because on our way to Baltimore, where it was going to be the show, my friends and I got lost, we arrived an hour and a half late at the place but fortunately we were able to exchange our tickets to a later function. I love arts, and this show was absolutely amazing, all the artistic production and the magnificent acrobats, dancers and all who formed part of the show were breathtaking.

Right now I feel really happy and thankful for all I have had chance to experience, but to be honest I also feel exhausted intellectually and physically. I really need a breath.

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The most motivating
Listen to my boss telling that for the Summit of the Americas he wants me, somebody he can trust to work directly with TV producer while he is at Trinidad y Tobago.

The most exciting
My partner and I got an offer to perform at a magazine release event where we are going to present the choreo we are preparing… I am eager!

The most satisfying
Going to church this Sunday, I needed a moment to pray and meditate.

Easy

This time I am going to be short.

Opportunities
This week I felt very glad of getting 2 offers to work on marketing as an extracurricular activity. Even though it is going to be more work I feel flatter and even more excited because the work I will do is extremely related to my business background, and will give me the opportunity to learn about business and mkt in Washington.

The boss call
In my job I did my regular duties, but this time was different because Deborah, the coordinator of the division, asked my boss if it was possible to take me with her to do some editions for TV. I was surprised at first and then I felt happy because it made me feels I am doing things right. At the end I didn’t go with Deb, because the edition time was changed, but the coordinator told she will ask for my help later.

Salvadorean designs
On Thursday my boss invited me and one of my colleages to attend an exhibition at the consulate of El Salvador, where graphic design presented their portfolios. There were really cool works, since I just love arts, I was very pleased watching all the creative designs they worked on architecture, advertisement, books, objects, and more.
I felt this week I did a lot of work, and was really tires, so I tried to rest and get most of my assignments done, since I planning to do a lot next week. So let’s go to the funny section.

“The MOST or the EST” SECTION.

The sweetest
After an anxiety crisis I end up eating a chocolate croissant, and cranberry muffin and a raspberry bagel in just 15 min.

The most relaxing

Walking back home with the drizzle felt so good, it was so relaxing.

The most beautiful

In the train, sitting next to a women, her baby was trying to touch me, it just make me smile.

Motivated

During this week I was closer to me than ever since I arrived in Washington, what I did and who I met remind me what I am pursuing.

Double R
At one of TWC hearings I met Rosemary Reed, president and owner of Double R productions. She is very successful woman who with no media background is now running her own company and is a very prestigious journalist. She gave me an interview and this was one of the worthiest chating I have had in Washington so far. She reminded me how much I wanted to be somebody and how much I wanted to pursue my goals and dreams. I am glad and thankful for the words she gave me that day.

Standings
At my job I did my first two standings! Being on camera is not easy at all. I did the standings for the entertainment sections presenting the Environmental Film Festival of Washington. To be honest they are not that good, but they went on air, and now it is just a matter of practice to get better and better.

Animation
Ariadna, the person in charge of the arts and culture section in my job, ask me to help her doing one interview with Paul Mackey, executive producer of "El espíritu del bosque", an animated film presenting in the Environmental Film Festival. I end up asking the question to the producer, which was very exciting. I still have to work on my interviewing skills but Ariadna told I did a good job.

Food court
For my entrepreneurial class, my Professor get some free passes for the International Franchise Expo. There we saw franchise ideas and all kind of support for franchise systems. I am actually working on a business idea and there I got good information of how things are done in US. Of course food franchises were offering samples and I had a really good time tasting a little bit of everything.

I enjoyed this week a lot, I started to practice for my choreography, and I had fun with colleagues and friends too.

“The MOST or the EST” SECTION

The funniest
Getting locked out of my apartment, my mexican friend and I stay out for at least one hour until our roommate finally open the door for us.

The most motivating
Hearing at my boss, telling my program advisor how good my performance has been at VOA.

The most singing
On a goodbye party for one of my colleagues I had a really good time, since a violinist and a guitarist played at the party.

Getting better

This week I enjoyed plenty things :)

Help for starting up my business
For my Entrepreneurial class, we attend to a field trip at Martin Luther King Library, where we met staff from the Small Business Administration organization. They gave us really usefull info about all thing you must we aware of as an entrepreneur and I was surprise of all he support we can have if I decided to start up my own business. I would definetely keep that contact, I will use it later.

My voice in a SOT

I am so excited my boss ask me to record my voice for one Sound On Tape (SOT) video for the show on TV. This was a video about Spain Attack anniversary and I had to record my voice tellin the news on a edited video. It was actually harder than I thought it would be, it is not only about reading the script is about entonation, volume, storytelling tone, clearness, speed, and more. But I'm happy they actually use that video for the show.

Real journalist
During this week I attend to a Summit discussion, and I published another article! this one is way much serious than the firts, now I'm improving my journalis skills, check it out. Also I worked on 3 articles for a special we are going to publish next week, and I enjoyed going out and interview people as a real journalist, because they don't know I am an intern, and as media they treat you really nice :)

Camera test

On thursday I assist my colleages to make an TV interview with Peter Hakim, president of Inter-American Dialogue. After the interview was over, the camaraman who is also one of the producers asked me if I wanted to try a shot on camera... and couldn'd resist the temptation. It was an improvised two questions shot, just as a test. I didn't realize the producer had show the video to my boss, and when I met my boss he told me next week we were going to practice the stand ups, I am so excited! I actually thought my test was not good at all, but seems like my boss have faith in me, and I appreciate it.

This week, it was all getting better, and now I am feel really tired but it is absolutely worth it.

“The MOST or the EST” SECTION

The most Hollywood

On my way to the Presidential Lecture we were not able to cross one of the streets because Angelina Jolie was filming in DC!! I couldn't see her but I spoke to the staff an it was really cool.

The most pleasant

My russian friend cooked russian food for my friend Ingrid and me, but he actually made a big effort. I was surprise about the way he set the table, the food, the desert, the drinks, etc. He was a really good hoster.

The coldest

Weather has not been constant. I am feeling kind of sick, and I now I feel cold all day long

So far so good, and improving

Busy, busy and busy

This week I felt like I did a lot of things, here is why

Snowstorm
On Monday we had a snowstorm and even so we had to attend to a career boot camp where I had really good workshop about interview tips and how to have the perfect resume.

Fully adapted

Now I feel really adapted to my job, I feel like I know my duties and now a feel more confortable with the people I work with. For the next week I will be working on some articles my boss asked me to write for a Green Planet Special. Even though my job is working on the website, TV production always need help, and I have been working for them too, something I really like to do.

My job with arts
In this week my boss invited one of my colleages and me to attend a painting exhibition at the Embassy of Uruguay. I felt really good about my boss considering us to go with him, and as a matter of fact I had a really good time.

Loud mexicans and puertoricans

On friday was the International fair, where foreign students were representing their countries. Each group gave a brief description of their country and a traditional performance. With international food, the fair became a party were mexicans and puertoricans were really loud.

My first dancing performance
In the week, one of the dancer that I met lately call me to performe with him a free style coreography. We didn't have time to practice until 2 hours before the event, but since it was just an improvised performance we did really good. I will start practicing soon.

This week I felt like I worked really hard, and now I am waiting for more.

“The MOST or the EST” SECTION.

The most delicious

At the painting exhibition I had really good canapés, I was hungry and ate like a million of them.

The most distressing

This week we ran away of many things, it is horrible to wake up and have nothing to eat.

The warmest

During the weekend the weather was perfect, it changes my mood.