An ode to snow

The snow has stopped and the sun has finally made its way back from wherever it was hiding...Florida? Farewell Snowpocalypse of 2010, you made grocery shopping a game of survival of the fittest and tested my patience at the Metros. But all in all, thank you for giving me my first snow day. I leave you with this wonderful view of the Capitol and the snow protesters that have assembled there. I blame cabin fever for this stunt.

The Semester of the "Snowpocalypse"

Remember when I put up that picture last week of the alley behind my apartment? Well, it's snowed a lot since then. And I mean 20 inches with more to come. Here's what it looked like this afternoon (left).

The news has dubbed the unwelcomed fluff the "Snowpocalypse" and it's said to be one of the worst blizzards Washington D.C. has ever experienced. Funny websites such as this one have also erupted that give you an idea of what people are feeling here...all aside, people are freaking out and with good reason. Metro lines are closed, trees are falling under the weight of the snow and the threat of possible electricity problems are rumored.

So how would one start a glorious winter day such as this one? Perhaps, brew a cup of coffee or stay in bed protesting the cold? Well not me unfortunately. I woke up at 6 am and marched to Union station (a half mile walk) to interview people stranded at the train station for the Washington Examiner newspaper, where I'm currently interning. The walk was like something out of I am Legend. No one was out and it was difficult to distinguish between the street and the sidewalk. I walked in the middle of the road, the only clear place where I could step without getting snow in my rain boots. I got stopped once by a passing vehicle who was concerned as to why I would be outside in the midsts of the Snowmageddon (this was runner up to Snowpocalypse, I like it better). I wasn't sure why I was out either or why I volunteered in the first place but the experience was still rewarding. I interviewed two people, including a man from London who was waiting to travel to NYC to see his daughter. Here's the article, note the "Examiner intern Kaitlin Schluter contributed to this report."

And so begins the list of bylines by reporter Kaitlin Schluter (I hope). My internship started last Tuesday and within the first day I was writing and sent out covering stories. My editor thankfully allows me to pitch story ideas like crazy and a couple have been picked up. I covered a coalition in the Georgetown area who are fighting to bring streetcars to their district and am currently researching a bill that will grant trainers of guide dog the same rights as the physically disabled with a service animal. Daily I contribute a brief and have been adding the "Heart of the City" brief which gets your name on it (twice now!). Thursday I was asked to write a sidebar about etiquette that got published with the cover story.

The internship has been going well but I would be lying if I denied how stressful it gets. I keep hearing stories from my journalism program about students who reach an emotional breakdown at least once a semester. That was almost my first day. I was handed a brief and a story to cover due that day within the first hour that I entered the newsroom. I freaked out a little, but enough to leave me feeling physically ill from the stress. Not to mention I stayed up til two in the morning writing an article to file the next morning. But don't worry, things have gotten better and I'm in for a very exciting internship experience.

I'm a bundled up journalist, officially.

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!