Touring DC!

After helping me move in, my parents stayed around for a couple of days so we could explore the city together before leaving.  It was Memorial Day Weekend so we naturally wanted to go the Arlington National Cemetery to pay our respects while also learning and exploring the attraction.

My favorite part was the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and watching the Changing of the Guards.  Leave it to my family to make a lasting impression on the entire crowd!  Right before the ceremony, a guard comes out to tell the audience to silence everyone's phones and to remain standing to pay respect to this sacred and historical ceremony.  It was dead silent as I thought to myself how embarrassing it would be if someone's phone went off.  Literally 30 seconds later guess what happens?!  My father's phone goes off!  Yes!  And NO, my dad does not have a typical middle age man's ringtone... oh no no no!  You see, my dad has a rap song as his ringtone.  So here we are in the middle of a sacred and touching ceremony during Memorial Day Weekend and my dad is ruining the whole thing as he is fumbling to try to shut off this obnoxious rapping coming out of his pocket.  This is what makes me love my family... there is NEVER a dull moment :)

I also got to see the changing of the Memorial flowers while we were there which for me, was more inspiring than the Changing of the Guards because of the emotion you could feel as you watched the family.

It was breathtaking to see all of the gravestones with a rose and a flag.

That night we walked around Georgetown!

The next day we explored Thomas Jefferson's home; Monticello.  I have been to Mount Vernon in the past (George Washington's home) but thought this was more impressive with all of the innovative technology Jefferson incorporated into the architecture and the property.  He was truly ahead of his time.  Below is a picture my parents in front of Jefferson's amazing home.

 We then took a ghost tour of Downtown DC and ended at the White House!

After two days, my parents and my little brother Nathan are exhausted and ready to head back to the corn of Nebraska!  I am not done though, I have lots left to see!

All Moved In!

I am officially all moved into my new home in Silver Spring, Maryland!  Nope, I haven't transformed from a Husker to a Terp yet but I am loving the opportunity to get to explore a whole new city! 

My parents packed me up into our “Big Red Bus” otherwise known as our massive Red SUV.  Surprisingly, I was a very efficient packer and after taking out all of the seats besides the ones we were sitting in and loading all of my stuff into the back, I still had enough room for my parents’ suitcases!  Unfortunately, many shoes and clothes got left behind and were not chosen to make the trip with me…. Hopefully they don’t miss me too much!  

So I got all packed up and we set off!   My dad set up his little driving station and drove the 17 hours it takes to get to DC from Nebraska (by speeding just a tad!).  Thank goodness for movies to make the time go by faster!

 My little brother Nathan played his i-pad a majority of the way and I play Sudoku J

 The first few hours were fun but by hour 13 we were all sick of going to the bathroom at gas stations and full of M&Ms and were ready to just get to my new place already!  I moved all of my stuff in as soon as we arrived and met my new roommate.  The apartment was way better than I ever expected and my sub leaser even welcomed me with a basket full of treats!  My new roommate is extremely nice and immediately helped me get adjusted to the new city.  We have already become quick friends and I know she is going to be a great resource for the next couple of months!

My new living room:

Kitchen:

 My own bathroom:

  Bedroom:

Perks about my new place:

• Next to the Metro
• Next to Discovery Communications
• HBO (not that I will be watching TV much this summer anyways!)
• Grocery Store attached
• Pool and grills!
• Everything is brand new!
• Beautiful View

I am so so grateful that everything has worked out so well so far and even better than I could have every imagined.  I couldn't ask for a better place, sub leaser  or new roommate!  Now that I am all moved in I am ready for orientation!  Luckily, I have lots of time to get to be a tourist before my first "official" day!

I got the job… but where am I going to live?!

After I accepted my internship at Discovery Communications, the Campus Connect team (who is in charge of the internship program) sent me a very helpful e-mail about options for living arrangements for the summer.  They suggested living in dorms in nearby colleges like Georgetown University, American University, George Washington, or the Catholic University of America or participating in intern housing programs.  

You didn't actually think it was going to be that easy did you?  Well I did.... but I was wrong!  After investigating all of the options that were sent to me, I realized that I couldn't really afford to pay $400+ a week for basic housing not including other costs that I will have this summer.  In Nebraska, I am used to spending $400 a month, not $400 a week!!   Luckily, I reached out to friends I made through my college sorority and the Cherry Blossom Princess program and they told me to check out craigslist.

I have never used craigslist before and had previously vowed that I would NEVER EVER use craigslist EVER after watching a few too many Dateline specials but I reluctantly decided to check it out.  I first was looking for apartments all over the DC area not realizing how large DC really is.  I was close to signing a contract for an apartment in Baltimore before finding out that it was about an hour away!  I then learned how to start narrowing my search to Silver Spring.  I found several places that looked like it would work but the person posting the listing didn't always respond back or I found out that the area was really sketchy.  I then became OBSESSED!  I checked craigslist every couple of hours hoping to see a new posting that I could get to first!  This process went on for a few weeks before I found myself to be less than a week away from when I was supposed to be moving to Silver Spring and still nowhere to live.  I was set on living off of the streets and being homeless but then, miraculously, a new posting appeared… a girl looking for a girl to sublease her apartment in downtown Silver Spring for the summer.  PERFECT!!  I jumped on this opportunity like Taylor Martinez jumping on one of his fumbles!  I quickly got into contact with the person and in a few hours I confirmed that I would sign the sublease…I never thought I would be so excited to spend $1,250 a month for a room in an apartment and think I was getting a great deal!  And I now officially have a new "craigslist" roommate:

Now that I am set to go with a place to live, all I have to do is pack…  

Unfortunately I can't bring everything :( 

Departing with my clothes may be the toughest obstacle I have this summer!   

How this all got started...

About one month ago I got a phone call.  On the other end of the line was an offer to come intern at Discovery Communications to work with the Global Events and Brand Activation Department.  I would be helping plan and execute events for Discovery’s headquarters located in Silver Spring, Maryland for the summer.  Would I accept the job?  OF COURSE!!

After hanging up, I went from being like “Oh my gosh!”

 http://1.bp.blogspot.com/bkCQ0bhrvaI/TdUNYPV9U4I/AAAAAAAABTI/5UrYnyE4RUQ/s1600/excited_girl.jpg

To “Oh my gosh!”

http://images.paraorkut.com/img/funnypics/images/o/one_scared_girl-12006.jpg

My mind was racing with all sorts of questions… Where would I live?  Who would live in my apartment? How would I get around? How was I going to afford to live in one of the most expensive cities in the US? I can’t even drive in Lincoln, how would I drive there?! Could I leave my family and friends for the entire summer? WHAT AM I GETTING MYSELF INTO?!?!?!

Luckily, I have a great supporting team around me that helped calm me down and realize that this is a huge opportunity that I would never regret.  Yes, I will have to work on funding my high living expenses and I will most definitely get lost a few (or MANY) times but that is all part of the journey.  The support from my mentors, friends, and family have helped me prepare to be in this position and will help me when I am out there.  Just knowing that I have so many great resources that I can call upon has allowed me to accept this opportunity and challenge that await.

Well, now about a month later and less than one week until I head out to the Washington DC area I officially have a place to live and a lot of the other questions answered but I am still unsure of what is yet to come.  This next week I will be packing up to head half way across the United States to take a huge step in my life and I couldn't be more excited.  I hope you decide to follow my blog and come with!

For those of you wanting to know:

What is Discovery Communications?

Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.8 billion cumulative subscribers in 218 countries and territories.

Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity through 155 worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery, as well as US joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Hub and 3net. the first 24-hour 3D network.

Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools and owns and operates a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including Revision.

http://corporate.discovery.com/our-company/overview/ 

                       
How far will I be going?
1,196 miles

When will I be back?
August 12/13, 2013!