The Second Post

It's me again, Greg, and I'm here to share a little something with the public about my past week. I guess I should touch on my internship this time, so here it goes.
I'm working at a production house called Creative Differences, and due to the intern-internship relationship (and legal documents I signed at the beginning of my stint here) I cannot say anything about any of the programs, but think "Discovery Channel" and you'll be on the right track to see the kinds of things this place turns out.
I only work there on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with my lecture class on Fridays. Don't think I'm slacking off though, because there are always errands to run on the other days of the week, and I use Mondays and Wednesdays just to keep up with my homework and taking care of the apartment I'm staying in....
Where was I? Oh right, internship. I spend my shifts on a computer, researching and transcribing film, so after a seven-and-a-half hour shift, my eyes are pretty much fried, not to mention finger-strain from typing...but I don't mean for this to sound like a complaint, because I enjoy surfing on a computer in my free time, so this type of activity doesn't seem like "work" to me.
Okay, but I have to admit, I was getting a little bored transcribing the film I was working on. However, I talked to the other interns and evidently the film is going to be used in a promo (or a commercial) for the show it is part of and that made it feel more worthwhile. Plus, if the segment I'm doing gets used, it'll almost be like I'm on TV.
That's all the info that's in the least bit interesting, for the moment, so it's time to sign off. But before I go, I'll leave you with a quick philosophical thought:

"I'm reminded of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, 'I drank what?'"
--Chris Knight

(From the movie "Real Genius." Check it out if you have the time, it's well worth it.)

Greg

A Clean Report

The last two weeks in the program have been really great, even though I can't believe how quickly everything is going! My internship at Smithsonian is still going really well. I finished fact checking an article on the Acoma settlement, which felt like a real achievement as it seemed to take a rather long time to get to the bottom of it. I have now started work on another article, which is equally fascinating, on the Conner Prairie living history site in Indiana. It has been great to be in touch with the writers and then to source out others who are experts in their field who can aid with the research. I really feel now I am helping my boss out a little bit with her work load.

School has been going really well too. Since I last wrote, I went and heard George Stephanopoulos speak at GW, which was amazing. It was fascinating to hear about his thoughts on the upcoming presidential election and I have to say people back in England are rather jealous that I got to hear him speak. We went to Capitol Hill the following day where we managed to sit in the hearing of McNamee versus Clemens, on the use of steroids in Major League Baseball. It was brilliant and I have just turned in a paper on the media coverage of that event. It was really interesting to see what the different journalists had reported on the subject of the hearing, particularly Mike Wise of the Washington Post, as we met him at the Hill the previous day.

This Friday just gone we went to Fox News Studios, which was a fantastic experience. We managed to sit in the studio room while the news was being broadcasted live and were able to hear through an earpiece the instructions for the anchorman/camera crew etc. We also learned about television writing this week, which was certainly a new experience for me, especially as I am so used to writing 3000 word English essays. It is a slight change when your target is only 4 sentences! I'm hoping practice will make perfect though!

Social life has been going really well - apart from the domestic side of things. Obviously living in America is just that bit different from England and I thought I was doing really well getting used to the way things were done over here - obviously not, as last week my roommate headed to the kitchen to leave for the gym and came face to face with bubbles and foam filling the entire kitchen! Yes, I had put the wrong type of liquid in the dishwasher (on someone else's instructions I might add - although my roommate did point out that he was not the best person to ask, considering he eats out pretty much every night!) So yes, there was foam absolutely everywhere, pouring out everywhere! (it does make me wonder about the condition of our dishwasher though.) I have to say we were in hysterics - I am going to known as the blondest student at GW now! But, at least we looked on the bright side our kitchen floor is probably the cleanest thing in our apartment!
So apart from that episode, everything else has been great. Too many nights out in Adams Morgan has started to be combatted with late night/early Sunday morning jogging sessions to make me feel I'm doing myself some good. I have found there are some great places to run near the Washington Monument. Although, the two guys I run with are often just two spots in the distance after the first mile as I struggle to keep up! I feel a few more sessions at the GW gym are needed! (The GW gym is absolutely brilliant, by the way, great facilities and it's free which I was amazed about- you wouldn't find that in England!)
Once again I'm absolutely exhausted first thing on a Monday morning, but it has been a great two weeks since I last wrote. I may be burning the candle at both ends (as my mother would say), with work and social life, but it is definitely worth it.

The First In A Series Of Rambling Monologues on DC...

Well, after a long fight with my computer and much swearing, I'm finally a part of this blog...you readers will have to decide if that's good or bad.

Anyway, I'm a country boy at heart- born in Maryland, raised in North Carolina, and now I am a resident of Colorado, where I attend Colorado State University- Pueblo. Needless to say, any big city is a drastic change of pace for me, and living here in the District of Columbia has taken a lot of getting used to.

The most memorable event, so far, was just yesterday, when Professor Gelb, my classmate Natalia, and I went up to Capitol Hill (dramatic fanfare!) We actually got to sit in on a Congressional Hearing about Major League Basbeall player Roger Clemens and his steroid use. (In my honest, or rather blunt opinion, Clemens and his former trainer and accuser Sean McNamee were both lying. Or at least, neither of them were presenting themselves in a trustworthy manner.) Afterwards, we caught a quick bite in Rayburn Hall's congressional cafeteria, and I'll tell you what- the burgers and fries weren't all that great.
We stopped by an area just outside the doors where another hearing was going on, to try and catch a live stand-up report, but the hearing was running long and we had other places to be, so we didn't get to see it. We did, however, make a visit to Congress's official Gift Shop (capitalism at work, eh?).
Before our next appointment, we had some free time, so we went to the Library of Congress for a short while. As a lover of reading, I was in heaven. The Library of Congress has a copy of every single book in existence, even one of the original Gutenberg Bibles, the first real "book" ever printed! And if that wealth of knowledge wasn't enough, there was an exhibit on the Mayan, Aztec, and Incan civilizations in one particular room. But to me the most amazing feature of the Library is the architecture, decor and environment . There are sculptures, mosaics, stained glass windows, gold-inlaid walls, and plaques with various inspirational quotes on them. We didn't stay long, yet that was my favorite part of the day; I could live in that building my whole life, just reading nonstop for the rest of my life, and I still would not be able to read it all...
Our final appointment was with the Press Office in the House of Representatives. We saw two rooms where most official speeches occur, and we were also introduced to the staff who coordinate members of the press that come to get footage of the House proceedings. We were permitted to go in the Press Box of the chamber where Representatives meet and discuss their business. This is the same room where the President delivers the State of the Union address. We were even lucky enough to watch Representatives mid-vote over the FIZA bill. It was a very full day, to say the least and even then it wasn't over.

Once we all got back to the campus, I had to get my video project (mentioned in my classmates previous post) edited and spliced. That was a pain. I normally wouldn't have had trouble, but at some point during my filming for the project the timer on the film jumped from 00:10:05;00 (or so) all the way back to 00:00:00;00, and it started counting up from there all over again during my last scene of the film. I didn't think that would cause trouble, but the computer automatically assumes that 00:00:00;00 is the very beginning of the tape, and it will rewind all the way back, and start taping the wrong segment. I finally had to trick the system by setting the start point about 7 seconds into the last scene, and running the tape forward some more. That way, the computer rewound, and the timer stayed in the last scene's time (instead of overshooting and ending up at 00:09:59;00, and having to run back all the way). Whether this makes sense to anyone is doubtful, but suffice it to say after a long computer battle, I finally finished my film. Unfortunately though, some of the glitter I was planning to add had to be cut, since I was too tired to add it.

Anyway, I've run my mouth (or fingers) enough so I'll do everyone a favor and sign off.

'Til next I bore ye, dear readers,
Greg Albertson.

"Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man."
--Plaque in the Library of Congress

DC Welcomes A British Scholar

I have now been in Washington D.C for over two weeks and so far it has been the most amazing experience. Everything here from my classes and my internship at Smithsonian, to the whole social American university scene at GW (I come from London, England) has far surpassed my expectaations.

My internship has been a truly remarkable experience so far. I have not been here long, but already I feel I received an incredible education not only on the media world - the way in which a magazine is run - and also on the hard work ethic of editors (although my internship mentor tends to exceed that!), but I have also received an incredible education on the world itself, its culture, languages, history and the people living there. This is only my 9th day working here and I have already done a vast amount of reading and research, from President's heads in South Dakota, a young hip LA-based fashion designer and musicians and artists in New Orleans. I have also just finished fact-checking an article on the Acoma settlement in New Mexico. Having done this type of work, I feel I am becoming an integral part of the Smithsonian team and am starting to make a difference. My mentor is certainly not one to hold me back, and she is constantly providing me with diverse projects, which test my capabilities as a would-be Journalist. I believe all of these are essential if I am to form a realistic impression of what it is like to work at a publication like the Smithsonian Magazine.

The classes of the program have so far also been a brilliant education and introduction into the world of Journalism. The time spent on a Friday from 10am-5pm is more varied than I could have expected. Having graduated from The University of Nottingham last summer, I was used to classes simply comprising of lectures and seminars. So now, to have a mixture of journalists coming into to talk to us (Susan Morrison, who has worked for ABC, CBS and the New York Times talked to us last week on the changing face of American Journalism), trips out to news studios (this week we are going to Fox News) as well as lectures and discussions, is excellent and for me truly the best way to learn about world of Journalism. Our assignments are also remarkably diverse, with our first having to create a 3 minute news documentary. Now, just to note, if there is anyone out there like me, who does not revel in experimenting with technical equipment, do not fear! Here at SIWJ you will learn how to use equipment and how to develop your skills in every aspect of Journalism including writing, researching, filming and editing (on paper and film). It may seem frightening at first, but it will force you to learn about areas of Journalism that you have never experienced before. So don't worry! The SIWJ Director, Amos, will get you through it! I have just finished filming the GW men's basketball team and an interview with their coach, Coach Hobbs - and although I almost forgot to press the record button before the interview started - I have already developed a new skill which could prove to be very useful in the future.

Washington, D.C itself is also one of the best cities in the world I have been to. I have to confess I was a bit anxious about coming here originally, as unlike the big tourist spots like New York and San Francisco I really new nothing about it. Now, within only two weeks of being here I have already come to call it home. The location of the GW campus is particularly superb. I am living at City Hall (on 24th St.) which is 10 minutes from Georgetown. Georgetown is a very attractive area and it is full of shops and restaurants, many which I have already sampled. The Metro is also just a two minute walk form my dorm which means most of D.C is pretty accessible. The social life here is also great, everyone I have met here has been so friendly and welcoming and have really helped me to settle in early on. You just have to throw yourself into the whole scene and hope for the best, which worked well for me.

I haven't had much of an opportunity to make the most of many of the tourist attractions as my internship, classes, assignments and social life have pretty much occupied me for the last couple of weeks. However, Amos took us on a great tour of D.C on the first Friday which pointed out all the landmarks and important sights to visist, so hopefully within the next week or two I will get time to visit perhaps the Abraham Lincoln memorial, or the Washington monument and at least one of the Smithsonian Institute museums ( I am particularly interested by the Air and Space Museum).

Until then...

~Natalia