Short week

Monday was the President´s Day, a holiday for all United States, so my week was short but good as always.

Common Spot

The whole week I attend to Common Spot training at work. Common Spot is the software VOA uses to manage the website and after I conclude the training I got my own account so that I can actually manage the website as a real editor.

Producing TV

I really like my job because my boss is really flexible and he allows me to learn from everything not only internet. This week I was again the prompter in one of the TV shows and also assisted one of my colleagues while covering an event at Organization of American States for a TV program. Next week I will be working directly with one of the TV producers; since my boss knows I prefer working there more than in Internet so I am eager to learn as much as I can.

Airplanes and Art

This weekend I visited the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and the National Gallery of Art. The first museum was good and I had fun there but it’s not the kind of topics I am interested. The other museum was like amazing to me, I love it. I couldn’t see the whole exhibition but what I saw was enough to enjoy it.

Two of my pleasures: food and dancing

I went to Capitol City and Mongolian BBQ, where I had I really really good company the food was really good and the music was definitely my style, we had a great time. I got in contact with a dancer here in DC and he invited me to a performance at Clarendon Ballroom, where I actually get in as part of the company and had free food and drink LOL. Afterwards we went dancing to Salsa room, I missed dancing so bad.

Ok let’s go to the important part:

“The MOST or the EST” SECTION.

The most emotional

Being at the Gallery of art, makes you have a diverse palette of feelings you just can’t describe.

The most delicious

At the restaurants I ordered the biggest brownie in the world LOL, I love chocolate.

The most releasing

Getting my LOS feedback with just a few corrections, I need to save as much time as I can.

Thanks for reading and please feel free to ask or say what you want.

Privileges, lessons and engagement.

Hey! This week had a little bit of everything… so here we go!

Within Society
The Garden is an Academy Award nominee for best documentary, and I attend to the presentation where I met the film director, Scott Hamilton Kennedy. This documentary follows the plight of Latin-Americans farmers in LA, and not being in my country allows me to have a more sensitive impression of the film, I enjoyed it.
Also I had the opportunity to assist to an evening with Gwen Ifill, recognized journalist and author of the book “The breakthrough”.

One step forward
In my job I had my ups and downs. This week I assisted two of my colleges in making TV articles. I assisted Karina at a hearing about Chavez referendum. Also, I assisted Fede interviewing people for a St. Valentine’s article. I learned how they do the stand up for TV and how to get quotes for TV. This week I also learn Teleprompter, and the next day my boss asks me to be the Prompter. Things didn’t happen as expected, because one of the scripts was wrong written, and people in cabin went crazy, the host improvised and the real prompter finally saved the program. When I arrive to the office the host was really upset about what had happened and was complaining about the prompter, I mean me. These are the experiences people learn more from, and to me this was a step forward my learning experience. Nevertheless I am happy because the division director had me as a guest in the radio show “Club de los Oyentes” and finally one of my articles was uploaded in the website! Check it out…

Keen Teens
As part of my program I have to do a civic engagement project, and I choosed an organization called Keen Teens. What I read in the description of this option was a music program for volunteers to have fun with children. I got interested and I registered in the program. When I got into the place I was informed that it was a program for children with disabilities, big surprise. I had experience working with these children, but for me it was really hard, emotionally talking. But this time was very different, this time I just come up with the feeling that I can recognize happiness in people, and children with disabilities truly are happy, and I felt good.

Fun was also in my week; I went to Rock Bottom, the National Zoo and went crazy in the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. Now my favorite part…

“The MOST or the EST” SECTION

The most influential
I realized the privileges of having a press ID, I was able to meet Ifill backstage, as press “people wants you to be there” and I’ll take advantage of it.

The most comforting
After the big issue with teleprompter my boss told me not to worry about, I really felt he have faith in me, and that really made me feel better.

The most emotional

For my article, I called some dance companies, and I talked to a dancer and choreographer of DC. We talked about dancing, I was eager to dance.

The game has started

At this point, my internship is analog to a dog’s time life, for you it has been just a week for me it seemed like a month, let me show you why.

More than what I expected
Finally I am part of the Voice of America team. Carrying my VOA ID, I became part of the Latin America division. I will be responsible of updating the website for VOA Spanish with the news provided by the broadcaster, and with articles I will be able to write by myself after covering events of the audience interest. This week was what I would call the big step. On this days I knew my supervisor and colleges, and I was introduced to a million people. I learned common spot for website editing. I assisted one of the VOA journalists in a hearing at Rayburn Open House. Finally, I was assign to covered a discussion in Ronald Reagan Building, with panelists such as ex-governor of Michoacan Lazaro Cardenas, Ambassor Arturo Sarukhan, Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow, The New York Times correspondant Ginger Thompson, and other important people. I am happy with my tasks, my co-workers, my boss, and my desk LOL. My internship looks like so much fun, hard work, nice people and networking, even more than what I pray for.

It is not just about fun
I applied for the mass communications program, but my major is business administration and I liked the business frame of everything, especially in media, and this is the reason why I choose Anatomy of Entrepreneurship as my course. First class with Professor Hardy was terrific, she one of those woman you can smell success from, I am willing to observe and learn as much as I can from her. The Washington Center is a fulltime program, that keeps you busy and more, but I decided to add an extra class, why not? I may not sleep really well because of the assignments but English as a Second Language is a course I couldn’t leave behind.

So far...
I am exhausted, but I couldn’t be more thankful of being tired of taking all the advantage of Washington D.C. I haven’t got the fun part of the city, since I am still getting use to the place, getting organized, and dealing with the duties and the worst part the homesick. The game has started and I am eager to make my move.

“The MOST or the EST” SECTION

The most frustrating
At Prof. Hardy class, seems feel as a beginner in English language, professional speaking is very different and still hard for me.

The kindest
VOA people is more than kind to me, I appreciate all the patience, support and guidance they are giving me.

The most worrying
One of the Mexican students got into surgery room. The diagnosis: appendicitis. We spend most of the weekend with him.

The funniest
Get into the wrong metro train and realize it after 3 stops. Happens all the time, hopefully.

First days in Washington

For the first time writing from Washington DC! I have being here for four days, and this is the story.

The biggest load on my way to my new "home”
Imagine the fact of carrying a 45 lbs luggage, knowing nothing about how things work in a place. Even though I printed the bus and metro directions of how to get to Grosvenor Tower, the trip wasn’t easy. When I finally get to the building, there was a pizza party in the lobby where TWC student were breaking the ice. Afterwards I met my roommates, Ingrid a known friend from Mexico, and Sara and Erika, both Americans.

Media & Mass Communications Day
On this day I met the Media & Mass Communications program interns, and of course, Kathleen Reagen, my program advisor. We had 2 orientation sessions, to know our upcoming duties and assignments. It all seems like it is going to be a full-time semester. Then all international students had a meeting and then we Mexicans decided to go buy groceries for living.

Laughing at our differences
This day all interns assisted to the Orientation Session, where we had the chance to know:
· Michael B. Smith, President of TWC, who welcome all interns.
· Kevin W. Nunley, Director of Student Life at TWC, who gave us basic orientations.
· Kenny Bryson, officer of MPD, who gave us security advises.
· Josh Sundquist a comic who gave us a really good speech, called “Laughing at our differences”, if you ever have a chance to meet this guy, don’t doubt it.

Exorcist stairs
Remember the exorcist scene were the priest fell down from an infinite stairs? Well I was there! the movie was filmed in Georgetown, a very nice and important neighborhood, where you can go shopping, good restaurants, visit the Old Stone House and a very famous college, The Georgetown University. We spend the whole day in this place; we have fun, except for the fact that it was so cold this day, I couldn’t feel my hands, and my face.

Superbowl party
Steelers V.S. Cardinals, and a superbowl party in my building. Me and my roommates spend some time setting up stuffs in the apartment, and then we joined the party at 21 floor. It was another chance to know more people, next day is going to be the first at work, so wait for the other post to tell you everything about it.

Now, “The MOST or the EST” SECTION.

The most blessed
After arriving to the airport, I could get to Grosvenor tower because of the help of 4 really good persons, who help me get into the Grosvenor tower main entrance. I will never forget this.

The funniest
My roommate and I bought so many things on the grocery day, WHAT A MISTAKE!, carrying all the things back to home through metro and millions of blocks, was exhausting. I was wearing heals, I just couldn’t do nothing but laugh about it.

The coldest
On Saturday the weather was so cold, walking through Georgetown paths roads with a 22° F temperature, not feeling the hands and the face was indescribable.

Well, I hope you are all having a good time, I'll come back next week :)

AN INTERNSHIP…. Maybe a common thing in the world, to me a changing life opportunity.

Hi! My name is Yahayra, and……

I’M GOING TO WASHINGTOOOOOOOOOON!

But this was not an “all of sudden thing”, instead, I call it a “meant to be”, let me tell you my story.

This semester I started to plan my international exchange, places? I truly thought on many, and mong all the places I could ever thought on, Washington was never an option. What happened? Well, one day Paola (of the International Department at my university, to whom I thank a lot of things) told me about an internship opportunity in D.C. My first thought was: Washington???? I don’t think so. However, I went to the informational meeting, which was in charge of Luisa Solarte, from The Washington Center, and after that day there was no other option! This program was made for me, I bet William M. Burke (founding President of TWC) was thinking on me in 1975 (LOL), ok that was too much, sorry. Afterwards, it was all about preparing the trip and get ready for the USA capital city.

In recent days someone asked me how I was feeling about the upcoming experience, and this is what I answered: “it’s like reading a book and wait for the big screen version. In this case the book might be TWC bloggs and soon I’ll be the main character in my own movie”.

In 4 words, what I expect from D.C. is: “an overwhelming land to start my dreams”. I know, it’s not 4 words; I just count the adjective and the nouns. It may sound a little exaggerated, but if you think a little more on each of the main words, you’ll find the sense.

Now, I want to introduce you to “The MOST or the EST” SECTION. Here I’ll match moments with feelings, through my upcoming experience, so here we go:

The most ANXIOUS: thinking I was not accepted for the program.
After the dateline to submit the papers, a decade passed before I know I was accepted (It seemed a decade to me). What happened was that my e-mail was wrong spell or something in the database.I didn’t received my acceptation letter. I knew I was accepted a long time later.
The HAPPIEST: knowing I have a placement at VOA.
I was having lunch at a crowed place, when Kathleen, my program advisor, call to ask me if I would accepted an internship at Voice of America. Happiness… that’s what I felt, I remember every detail of the feeling.

The most UNPREDICTABLE: who my rommie will be?
I think everyone planning an international exchange ask themselves this question, I really don’t want to imagine the person or persons I will share the room with, surprises are funnier, but I can’t avoid it!!!

Alrightttttt, for now I better go and start planning what to do and where to go during my internship, I WILL SQUEEZE EVERY SECOND there. If you are from D.C., a TWC student, or just know cool things to do there or places to visit PLEASEEE, I will appreciate your suggestions, they are all welcome.

Thank you very much for reading and have a nice day!