Let the snow begin.

I woke up this morning and opened the blinds to see this: some wet thing called snow.
Rumors of snow have been spreading among town, leaving me shaking in my shouldn't-have-bought-in-California boots. And sure enough, snow prevailed three days before my internship starts.

I'm crossing my fingers that the snow melts in time for my trek to work, at least before I'm sent out in the storm to cover a story. It doesn't look too likely for now but I didn't let the snow ruin my relaxing Saturday. The morning was spent getting bundled up and taking many pictures on the way to Eastern market for a bag of oranges and bananas (I told you I'm obsessed with this market). Later I made a batch of peanut butter cookies-as you should on any chilly day-and spent the night watching Disturbia.

But as for this week, here's a couple of highlights: 1. I turned in my first blog assignment! Our program hosts a blog called InkTank that provides commentaries on news and D.C. life. For my class, we must post a certain amount of blogs throughout the semester regarding news or the D.C. experience. Take a read. 2. I served at Martha's Table again, a food kitchen for the homeless in D.C. We served meals at the same location but this time I was able to speak with some of locals and hear their stories. It's amazing how powerful a warm cup of a soup maybe on a cold night. 3. I visited the newsroom of the Washington Examiner where I will be working for the next three months. The environment is pretty intimidating, to be honest. Very professional, very serious journalism, very "business suit"...but all the more exciting. I have a desk by a window and the editor is a great guy who misses mexican food as much as I do. I'm going to learn so much there! 4. I discovered the wonderful Capitol Hill Bookstore where stacks of books line the walls and floors. This place is packed, many books stuffed into tall bookcases. I knocked over half of section "B" unfortunately but did manage to find a book amid the chaos. I got Lovely Bones for $4, quite a find. 5. I received advice for my internship. Okay so maybe this isn't as much of a highlight, especially when we heard that all student have an emotional breakdown at least once. But the discussion did clear up a couple of my fears for this whole experience which I still can't believe has yet to begin.

The last two weeks (already!) have been somewhat of a honeymoon period and now as I enter what I came here to do, I'm getting nervous. How am I going to come up with story ideas in a town I've only lived in for two weeks? How am I going to write an article a day on deadline? How am I going to feel confident in the newsroom? A lot of questions are passing through my mind but after much encouragement and prayer, I'm ready to take on the internship with humility and a willingness to be stretched.

Goodbye relaxing two weeks, you have been swell. Here's one last thing to leave you with: the video result from my scavenger hunt challenge. We ended up in last place for the competition but still had a great time and good workout (much walking). The hunt took three days but placed me in some very exciting places. (Note: Music didn't work when placed on site)

Thanks for reading, more to come.

the DC food edition

I have officially been living in Washington D.C. for a week and two days. I have learned much, what with the basics of Metro etiquette and where to find a cheap cup of coffee, but I am still adjusting to this unique city. I will never get over the sudden rush of adrenaline I feel when I pass by the Capitol building on my way to get a quart of milk. So while most of my friends at school have been studying, I have been still "getting used to the city" which consists of exploring, some fascinating culture lectures and service learning in the community (more details about that to come soon).

But amid all of the experiences I have had so far, food is a category all its own. I've already told you about Ben's Chili Bowl (which I've been to twice now) but let me introduce you to some other D.C. cuisine:

1. Five Guys:
The east coast's equivalent to IN-N-OUT, or at least, the next best thing. So no, you will not find Neapolitan milkshakes or animal style fries at this joint but you can order as many burger toppings as you want with no extra charge (including hot sauce and green peppers). And the fries are delicious! Don't forget to grab a plate of peanuts to eat with your meal, the restaurant offers them free to munch on.

2. Kyoto Sushi:
Just up the street by the Federal building, where senators do senator-like business. The place has affordable sushi and even a happy hour where sushi is a dollar each. This too may be a weekly stop for a quick Philadelphia roll (pictured above) that consists of Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese and Avocado YUM!

3. Eastern Market Bakery:
Gourmet cupcakes are a big thing hitting the baked goods runways that present some delicious art. I got a red velvet cupcake today with cream cheese frosting. Yeah, I was drooling too. Not too bad of a price compared with other cupcake eateries like Baked and Wired that I plan to visit soon. I also was tempted and bought garlic bread and blueberry scones.

ANNNNNNND!!!!!

4. Ebenezer's Coffee House:
A wonderful blend of fair-trade coffee, good prices, a urban atmosphere and faith. The coffee shop is a venture through National Community Church, which meets on the bottom floor, that offers an array of warm drinks and entertainment. I've never met a coffee shop that is so overtly Christian (minus the one on my college campus) that is always full of customers. I'm impressed and plan to study here/drink here/go to open mic here/possibly live here during this semester.

And finally, let me end with an ode to my mini-van who for the last five years has remained my partner-in-crime for so many great adventures, with the exception of this grand adventure in Washington D.C. Today a group of us toured Downtown D.C. and the National Mall when much to my surprise, there was my red Nissan Quest mini-van parked in front of a department building. It's been a little more than a week since I last drove my van. Since, getting groceries is now a way to burn calories and I've never walked this much in my life.
Much to say, being reunited was sweet, sweet bliss.

let me explain WJC, or at least try

So to those who keep asking what college I am attending, let me attempt to explain the unique structure of the Washington Journalism Center (WJC) with the use of numbered points...

1. I am not attending a specific college. WJC is a study abroad program that runs through BestSemester, a Christian study abroad organization that hosts students from various college within its Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (APU is a member). Therefore, the program has its own professor (Terry Mattingly who is a journalism genius) and an internship advisor (Greg Perreault who is also a journalism genius).

2. l live in the Dellenbeck Center. This center is where the main headquarters for BestSemester is located. So those who are in charge of coordinating the Uganda trip or the infamous Australia trip work here. Next to these offices are our apartments, lounges, a workout room and study rooms. Both the WJC students and those participating in the American Studies program live here.

3. I take classes in the "Greenhouse." The lovely brick house you see with the green door is two doors down from my apartment, less than a minute walk. They call it the "Greenhouse" and there's a cool/urban lounge upstairs with free coffee and tea. Our classroom is under the building (a short walk under those black stairs). I am taking three classes plus an internship that doesn't start until February. The class system, as I found out today in my first class session, is very different from the norm. I take one class at a time and only have class Monday and Friday with the internship in between. In total, there are 15 WJC students who take the same classes.

4. There's a coffee shop next door. This last point doesn't need further clarification because if you know me, you will understand. Let's just say when this semester ends, I will have lived next to a coffee shop for almost an entire year. At APU, Starbucks was a simple leap over the alley wall to tempt my wallet and calm my insanity. Now, Jacob's coffee shop completes my idea of an ideal neighborhood.

I hope that clears some things up and if not, don't worry. I'm still trying to figure things out.

Quick update! Since the last post, Sunday was filled with relaxation before heading to church at Grace Presbyterian Church of Washington D.C. in Chinatown (Yeah D.C. has one but there's not as many restaurants as San Francisco). The church meets at this old looking church that's massive (right). Our group later stopped for some "Fro-yo" at Tangy Sweet. Pomegranate yogurt with Cap'n crunch cereal never tasted so good. Today was spent taking my first classes and learning more about this exciting field of journalism.

Now I leave you with some beautiful images from today's D.C. adventure. A group of us took a monument tour today to see the Washington monument, cruise through the FDR memorial and walk along the Potomac river to the Thomas Jefferson memorial with the beautiful sunset behind us. I love this city, I mentioned that already...right?

baby apples and popes

A new, and quite delightful, discovery: baby apples.

Or at least, that's what I like to call them. For a pricey $7 a pound, one may relish in a bite of these succulent cuties but for $0, you can relish in the role of a tourist and take pictures of them instead. I chose the latter. I found these at the Eastern market, a local farmer's market that runs on Saturdays and Sundays. Think urban swap meet. There's veggies, fresh flowers, local artists, baked goods and crafts. My finds for the day? A container of homemade Cilantro Lime hummus and a package of dried apples. Much success.

I later ventured alone to the grocery store for a much needed box of cereal and ran into a political adviser for the Pentagon who gave me his card to schedule a private tour. The people here are friendly and eager to talk, to say the least.

Our scavenger hunt continued to the museum of Pope John Paul II which was hidden near a forest across from Catholic University. I would transfer based on architecture alone. I made at least two Harry Potter references today...can you guess why? The buildings are very Hogwarts-esque. After some browsing and fun pictures with the pope statue, we headed to the far south of town to find Gravelly Point Park near the Reagan National Airport. The airplanes fly so low that you feel it's going to hit you! In total, I think I walked eight miles today in leather boots that I will never allow to tempt me on "comfortable walking days." I was miserable but exercised, to say the least.

The city air is brisk but some snow patches still remain. For us Californians, it's still a thrill. Pictured here is Amy Seed, a sophomore from Biola University. More to come from the exciting city life. Off to find a church tomorrow morning and then off to the Senate building!

entering the world of a washingtonian

I'm finally here (as of yesterday) and I am surprised to announce that I am in love with D.C. Maybe a part of that contributes to the fact that no snow is on the ground (except for a few patches) and I walked outside in a light jacket this morning without feeling death. Another part is that I feel in my element...for some reason I love the city atmosphere, from the busy sidewalks to the local coffee shops. It's only been two days but so much has already happened.

So for a quick brief: the plane ride here was a lot smoother than I expected. I left at 5 a.m. for the airport and landed around 3:30 p.m. (D.C. time, which is 12:30 in Cali). From the start, I met helpful people including a couple from North Carolina who owned a seafood restaurant and took a liking to me on the plane. They gave me their contact information if I visited NC and helped me find my luggage. I took a shuttle to my apartment, which is located ten minutes from the Capitol building (you can see it from our rooftop!) and climbed four floors to get to my apartment that overlooks an urban residential area. The picture to the right is across the street, very San Francisco-esque housing and all different!

I live with four other girls, three of which are involved in the American Studies program (which shares our living areas/building) and another that is involved in my program. They are all fantastic, sweet girls who have so much in store for them this semester. The journalism student (Heather) is interning with me but with the editorial department and another (Grace) with media relations at World Vision! Just a taste of some of the opportunities here!

After a welcome dinner, I kept in mind the advice to try to get out into the city and decided to take a trip to Target. Now at home, this may be an easy task. Without a car and in a new city, it's a whole other adventure. After a fifteen minute walk, two transfers on the metro and another ten minute walk...we got to Target and back in two hours. Another group got to one in three hours. Even the mundane here becomes an adventure and I love the thrill of it all!

Here's what the metro stations look like underground. You feel like you're in a different world and there's rules to learn in this world. One: One the escalator, DO NOT STAND ON THE LEFT! People will get mad and push you out of the way! Stand on the right to leave the left side open for people in a hurry. Everyone seemed to know this rule except me and I got a few impatient grunts. Two: Always have your metro pass out, you need if to access entrance to and out of the station. People are in a hurry here and get easily impatient with tourists.

The next morning was spent getting to now my other 15 classmates, with a brief lecture on how our program started. We were then assigned a scavenger hunt assignment that will last over the course of this weekend. Instead of taking photos though, we will be documenting our journey with video and posting to youtube for a competition to win coffee gift cards. Today we found, with much success even though we left our directions and addresses at home, the Watergate office building and a famous restaurant in town. We were not able to find the actual door where the Watergate scandal took place but delighted in the view of George Washington University and the Washington monument. Everywhere you walk in the city, there is some surprise to be found.

We ventured to another spot on our list, Ben's Chili Bowl. This place only offers free meals to Bill Cosby, a frequent customer and recently President Barack Obama who made a surpise visit. I order Ben's Orginial Half-Smoke which is essentially a massive chili dog with a side of potatoe chips. SO DELICIOUS! As we ate, the manager relayed to us the history of the place and how the secret service contacted him to save a seat for the then president-elect. He then introduced us to a busboy at the place who is a human calculator, really he solved problems like 17 times 30 divided by 4 in his head. There are so many interesting people here.

Our group then ended the night deciding to walk to the Capitol which was illuminated (look below!). There was no one out and it was so peaceful. We also walked to the Supreme Court before heading back to our apartments to share stories with other students and catch up with e-mails and facebook.

Tomorrow is more scavenger hunting but not before a morning trip to the Coffee shop next door, Jacob's. More to come, thanks for reading!

oh the places I"m going

It's official. My life is packed into two suitcases, a backpack and a purse. I leave for the airport at 4:45 am (yikes!) tomorrow and fly for D.C. at 7:35 am. My first official hurdle is to come-figuring out how to balance carrying all that luggage on my own and figuring out how to get to the apartment on my own. I'm nervous but anxious to meet my new roommates and jump into the new environment.

Goodbye California, hello White House.

saying goodbye isn't easy...it's a blessing

Goodbye.

The farewell has never held warm connotations but as D.C. approaches, I've learned that goodbye can be the best greeting to a new semester of change.

I spent the weekend at Azusa Pacific University, much to the dismay of my family who lectured that driving two and a half hours to L.A. was a waste of time and gas. Well, it wasn't a waste at all and I think it was the perfect touch to beginning this journey. The two days were spent eating at favorite Azusa venues (Classic Coffee, the Corner Diner, & the Subway next door), hanging in my old Mod, catching up/laughing/dancing/hugging with friends, going to Santa Monica Pier and Diddy Reese for dessert, getting slurpees at midnight, saying farewell to High Sierra students, going to chapel, eating on the Cougar Walk, and taking a last Starbucks trip. It was packed, but with each goodbye and last embrace I couldn't help but feel blessed rather than sad at the mention of "goodbye."

Out of all the things I felt I could miss out on this semester, the community of APU was at the top of the list. I love my college and the comfortable feeling I get once I see the 'A' on the mountain. My community in this past semester has consisted of: my roommates, M-Court, the staff of The Clause newspaper, members of the Alpha program and my wonderful D-Group. Within those two days, I somehow got to see one-if not all-of the people who make up these unique communities and I was greeted with words of encouragement and prayers.

So thank you to all I saw. Thank you for your encouragement and I thank God that you are in my life. I feel so ready for this new chapter in my life. I feel blessed.

Tomorrow is my last day in California and the packing begins. It's almost here!

studying abroad in america

Five days.

The countdown starts now for D.C. but my body and stomach have succumbed to countdowns of their own intentions. My body screams, "only five more days with your flip-flops" while my stomach competes with "you have five more days to devour as much IN-N-Out as possible."

I leave for D.C. soon and although I have been planning to enter this grand adventure since before I applied to college, the reality of it is just hitting me now. My room is littered with packed and unpacked boxes and my closet has never welcomed so many long sleeve shirts. I am leaving. And the countdown is ever ticking.

For those of you who were unaware, I will not be returning to Azusa Pacific for the spring (as much as it pains me to leave my little Mod and friends). While other friends pack their bags to study abroad to Oxford and even Australia...I am taking a different approach.

I am studying abroad to, well, America.

The fact is, studying abroad is big on my campus and I always felt a twinge of awkwardness when asked where I would be going. "So where? South Africa?" they would ask. "Well actually, I'm going to the east coast...it's practically the same difference." Yes, I did enter college with the expectation that I would soon be strolling the streets of Thailand or sitting in old historic churches in Spain but that wasn't God's plan for me this semester and that's what I'm hoping to figure out.

The program is a collaboration of media classes, an internship with the Washington Examiner (who offered me a position last week!), service learning in local neighborhoods and a look at the connection of faith and journalism. I'll be living in an apartment located ten minutes from the Capitol with four other girls and I'll have to rely on public transportation (which in D.C. is like learning another language). I'll be living in a city thriving in history and taking trips here and there to discover the touristy and local hangouts. I'm excited....and nervous...and praying for patience. As I've explained to some, this is the semester that I pray will show me where God wants to use journalism in my life and if the plan is something else...well I might have to figure out some new classes. But for now, I'm sure this is the right step toward finding my passions.

I'll be updating this throughout the semester and can use all of the encouragement you can offer! Thanks to everyone for the support :)

More to come, thanks for reading...

Sidenote: As for the title of this blog, I will be perpetually "bundled up" for the entirety of this semester because A) I'm from San Diego and B) I'm a wimp when it comes to cold weather. For those unfamiliar with the phrase, try typing it into Google images and see what comes up. I did and here's what I found (below)...just insert my face and that's what'll I 'll look like everyday. And that's all the California banter I promise (for now).