Last Post from D.C.

I cannot believe this day has already come. My six weeks here have just flown so fast. This experience has been a once in a life time opportunity and I have learned so much. I am so grateful to have had this chance, especially at such a historic time. My job wasn't always easy and not all the time fun, but those moments were just a blink of an eye compared to the overall wonderful experience I had. My favorite part was probably going into the House Gallery and watching debates and House votes. I also enjoyed wandering aimlessly through the capitol, just because i could. I worked where History is made, where our Country happens. I still can't get over that. 

My last week of work was pretty laid back. After they went into recess there really wasn't much left to do but answer phones and give tours. I actually gave three tours, which is a lot for one week. (I was usually only giving one a week.) I loved giving tours and being able to share something with people. The phone calls this past week were horrible though. People were so ANGRY about the debt budget deal. There was this one guy that called me almost everyday this week. He was very much a tea party conservative and fed up with the direction the republicans were heading. He said he didn't really know who to vote for president because he didn't know who he could trust anymore. By the last day these were his remarks, "Miss what's your name," and I responded, "Kylee." After that he goes on to say that if he continues to be unimpressed with the presidential candidates and there was no one to represent him that he was going to call the office and get my information and was putting my name on the ballot. The funniest thing about this was that he was serious. The guy was so funny and that was the best phone call to end my internship. I think I was laughing for an hour after I got off the phone with him. 

Yesterday was my last day to tour around D.C. I went to the National Mall and saw all the monuments I hadn't had a chance to see yet. They're pretty amazing really. I'm glad I had a chance to see them before I leave. I didn't get to do a lot of things I wanted to because I worked Monday-Friday from 9-6, so by the time I got off work most everything was closed. However, I was here for the internship and not vacation so I was okay with it. Just hoping to make it back one day on vacation. I need get to see and do a lot of things though. 

Well, my flight leaves tomorrow at 6:35. So early! So most likely I will be catching the last train out of Union Station tonight to Baltimore and just the night in the airport. I'm mostly packed, except for things I need to get ready for church. Laundry is all done just need to vacuum and dust the room I have been staying in. I still can't believe this is it! I'll be heading back to the West, in Utah for a week and then home to Oakley for a few days then off to college at Dixie State. This summer has flown by, but it will be one that I will remember and cherish the memories forever! Goodbye D.C.! It's been great! 

Trip to New York!

Being a dancer, there was no way I could go Back East without Visiting the dance capitol of the country! So Saturday morning I hopped on a bus to New York, New York. It was about a 4 1/2 hour drive, but a very scenic drive. The bus was actually really comfortable and super nice as well. Definitely the way to go. I got in to New York around 1:30 and went to meet up with a friend from Hawaii who so kindly let me stay for a couple days. For the rest of the day I just walked around a little and then went to an outside show at the Lincoln Center. I think I was more excited at the fact that Julliard was right behind where the show was. Of course I had to walk by and was very tempted to sneak in to one of the dance studios, but I decided I didn't feel like getting arrested while in New York.

Sunday was PACKED! Left for Time Square in the morning by 9 in order to get to the Mary Poppins box office so I could get my student discount for the show. After ticket was in hand my friend and I went and walked around Time Square. Absolutely amazing! I pretty much was on Time Square for the majority of the day. We went and saw the huge Toys 'R Us and the Disney store, just to name a couple. Then headed to Olive Garden for lunch where my view out the window was the Wicked billboard. I was in heaven. I then went to the matinee showing of Mary Poppins on Broadway. My first Broadway show and it was spectacular! The special affects, choreography, singing, scenery, was just amazing! Couldn't have been any better and fulfilled all my expectations. I would have to say that was the highlight of my trip. After the show I went to Ground Zero where they are now rebuilding the World Trade Centers. That area is very quiet and so crazy to imagine 9/11 happened right there. After that I walked to Battery Park and saw the Statue of Liberty. I'm now a true American:) Then it was back to the apartment to get my rest for the audition the next day! 

AUDITION FOR THE ROCKETTES! Even though I didn't make it, it was an amazing opportunity and experience. The auditions were scheduled to begin at 10 Monday morning. I got there at 8:30 and there was already a line! After waiting outside for an hour they took us in to Radio City Hall where we were all ushered upstairs into rooms to stretch and wait for our turn to show the judges what we got. I was probably in the audition for 40 minutes tops. 50-100 girls (many former Rockettes) were soon put into a rehearsal hall. Keep in mind There were 3 other groups this size. They taught us a short combo and then divided us into 3 large groups where we could practice a couple times full out before performing in front of the judges. The music was a live pianist which was really cool!! After going through group rotations 3 times it was time to show the judges. They took three at a time and we only got to do the combo once. After all the girls had gone through they announced who made it past the first cut. I didn't make it, but I didn't feel bad at all. There were only 10-15 girls who were called back. Not many at all. Even a girl I thought had it in the bag didn't make it. It's a very competitive audition, but I'm so glad I got to go and do it. I felt like I had the choreography down pretty well and went out there and performed and gave it what I could and I had a blast. I can't wait to get more audition opportunities. 

Right now I'm headed back to DC on the bus. We were stuck in a crazy rain storm so I'm sure the trip home is going to be a little longer than it was going. Good thing there is Wi-Fi to keep me occupied:) I still can't believe that I leave for home a week from today. Time has seriously flown by. It's been such a wonderful experience out here and I have learned a lot. I am however getting excited to go back to the West where I can shop at a Wal-Mart for groceries and where the humidity doesn't kill me, and of course to see my family. Gotta make the most of my last week here! Lots to do! 

P.S. Washington, D.C. metro system is a lot easier to use and cleaner than New York's. Also, you don't have the homeless walking across car to car while it's going asking for money and singing you awkward love songs. Just saying. 

Half Way Done!

I cannot believe how fast my time has flown here in D.C. It's been quite an amazing journey. Since the Congressman I'm interning for is the Majority Whip he has to different offices, personal and his leadership office. For the majority of the time I have been in the personal office, but had the opportunity to intern in the Whip office for a week. That was a neat experience to be able to be more involved with different Congressman and what is going on the floor and who is voting for what.

Today is a big day on the Hill. Votes are tonight for the Cut, Cap, and Balance Bill. It's suspected to pass by all Republican votes, however Obama is planning on vetoing it, very disappointing. There has been a lot of work put into this bill and as of right now this is our best bet to get our economy from dropping even more than it already has. I'm hoping to sit on some of the debate today as well as going to the vote.

Overall things have been well. Just have stayed really busy during the week and then wanting to do nothing but relax on the weekends. I went to the Smithsonian (American History) on Saturday and Arlington Cemetery on Sunday. Arlington was breathtaking and amazing. Really makes you think about all the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our country and our freedom. I still have a few more monuments to go see and will be heading to New York for the weekend in a couple weeks. (As well as to audition for the Rockettes). Sad I'm away from home during the 24th celebration, but I am receiving an experience of a life time here. I've learned a lot and so grateful to be here. Hope all is well with everyone back home:) 

Week One Almost Complete!!!

I cannot believe I have already almost finished my first week of my internship! Absolutely insane! As fast as it has gone, it also feels like I have been doing it forever. Kind of weird how that works though. So anyways I would have to say my favorite day of the week was Tuesday! I had gotten the first day done with and I was getting the hang of things. I had never been to the Capitol before and I got to participate in a tour. It's absolutely amazing, and I love that I get special access to different places:) One of the fun parts of the job are the hilarious phone calls and letters you get in the office from the constituents and sometimes just random people in the country. We had the Savior of the world come by our office on Tuesday. He's been on the earth for 11 years but just decided now that he wanted to make an appearance. Not weird at all right? I also had a lady call one day and tell me that the Democrats were attacking the Republicans and she was calling to give us ammunition under us and fight them back. I told her I agreed and would make sure Congressman McCarthy would get right on that. Haha!

So today, Thursday, was Capitol tour training day aka 4 hours of rambling from people who think they know EVERYYYTHING. It was good information, but started getting repetitive after the first 2 hours. Oh well at least I can give tours now:) Plus it was cool to go through and see everything again. We also had an intern lunch and got to go down to the House floor and chill. Two things: they're seats are super comfortable, and they're also bullet proof and they're gas masks under the chairs. We're safe! Or not.... I don't think the bullet proof chair even covered my head, but hey it's Congress whatever they say is true right? haha. Oh and one more thing. There is a door in the Capitol that has real live snakes on the handles!! Okay they aren't real, they're dead but it's not fake. Kind of grossed me out blahhh!

So Tuesday night I also went and toured DC a little with one of the other interns. I hadn't really seen anything besides the Capitol so I was pretty excited! As we were walking to the White House the President's helicopter goes right over us! And when we get there the First Lady and her 2 girls were chilling on the balcony. Yeah totally saw them. Also walked to the Monument and then walked the mall back to the Capitol and Union Station. I had so much to see and do still, but it's hard when I don't get off work until 5 and most everything is closed by then. So my weekends will definitely be packed with things to do.

Well the fourth of July weekend is coming up and it's going to be full! I've been invited to do a few things with my roomies and then probably will chill with some of the other interns on the fourth. Hoping to see the Gettysburg reenactment! I also have been forgetting my camera, but prepared for lots of pictures:) That's all for now!

First Day!

Surprisingly things went pretty smoothly today! I was freaking out about getting off the wrong stop at the metro and then not being able to find the right office building. I have no idea where all of a sudden I'm good with directions, but hey look at me go!:)  Only went the wrong way once coming home but it only took me one stop to realize it, unlike Hawaii where the first time I took the bus we got off about 30 minutes too early. So I would consider the metro mastered! 

Anyways on to the important stuff... So I'm working in the Cannon Office building, which is right across the street from the Capitol pretty much. There are quite a few different buildings but they all connect under ground. It's kinda cool actually. It even connects to the Library of Congress where I will be headed for part of the day tomorrow for some training. (Super stoked for that!) So right now there are oh about 10 interns and next week I think we will be around 15. Pretty much my job is to sit around in the office, answer the phone calls whether they be constituents or the important people, write letters, lead tours of the Capitol, and do anything else that the important people ask me to do. I've never been a person who liked to talk on the phone but I think that is all about to change now. We get some pretty insanely hilarious phone calls from constituents or even just random people. Today someone called in saying they had proof that Obama's birth certificate had been forged. Another person called in cussing out one of the girls telling her we had to get Obama out of office and something about czars?? Yeah there are some pretty crazy people in our country that's for sure. 

Today I didn't really have much to do. The House is in recess so it was pretty calm today in the office. So I was asked to write some random letter for a pamphlet and then took some notes on the Capitol's history so I could get a start before I have tour training on Thursday. It's crazy to think that I have never even been to the Capitol before and next week I will be giving tours of it! Thank goodness the training session is 4 hours. I think I may need those 4 hours to prepare and feel more confident. I'm shadowing someone tomorrow giving a tour as well so I think that will also help to prepare me a little more. I think giving tours will be my favorite part! Just not to self: WEAR FLATS! I don't think I will want to be walking around the Capitol for 2 hours in heels. Oh and here is a random picture of my desk. Yes, I'm official and have a desk. However it's subject to change a little. 

Well that's pretty much it for now. I'm sure there will be a lot more going on tomorrow. At least I will have a little more to do to keep me busy anyways. One more thing.... I forgot how sheltered I am in Oakley. That's all! 

Internship at the U.S. Capitol

Well after a long, and I mean long, day of traveling I finally made it last night to the place I will be living for the next 6 weeks. It's a very nice, cute little home with 4 other girls living here. I haven't met them all yet, but they seem to all be very nice. One problem, they are all BYU grads and law grads.... and then there is me. So I do feel a little out of place for now, but I'm hoping that will change. Plus once I start my internship tomorrow I'll be home to sleep and that will pretty much be it. I am grateful that I have my own room. I think a lot of people take it for granted, I know I did, but it's a good feeling to know that if I want alone time I can have it.

To my dad: I would give anything at this time to have our freezing cold house back. My room is upstairs and I forgot how hot it gets upstairs, especially during the summer and then add in the humidity. The main level is fine, but of course my room isn't on the main level:) So dad go turn the thermostat down and think of me. 

I'm hoping to also be able to adjust to the time change soon. It was an interesting night. I was so exhausted but my body didn't want to settle down for the night. Part of that was probably jet lag as well. But I guess I could say I took a leap 2 hours into the future haha:) At least for TV shows. I'll know who got off SYTYCD a whole 2 hours before anyone back home knows. That's a plus right? And at least 3 o'clock church will only feel like 1 o'clock church for now. 

I haven't had the time to go sightseeing yet. Hoping maybe to get a little in tonight though. However, we drove past the Capitol from the train in the taxi and what an amazing thing to see! I think my jaw may have dropped to the floor, but it's so funny how to people who live back here don't even really realize it. I was in the cab with a girl from New Jersey who commutes to NYC everyday and it was like she didn't even see it. That I don't understand, but I guess it's because I'm definitely not a city slicker and not used to such things at all. One thing I do love here is how green it is. And they call Boise the city of trees? Yeah right... Everything here is gorgeous. I don't think I've seen one dead tree or anything. Even every lawn is as green as could be! 

Well that is everything in a nut shell for now. I begin my internship tomorrow morning so I'm sure I will have plenty of stories to update my blog with. Let's just hope I can find time!

Semester comes to an end!

I cannot believe three months has already passed. It's amazing how fast time flies, but yet how long ago it seems that I have seen my family. I have been blessed to have so much support throughout my first semester by loving family and friends. As finals approach, stress and anxiety seems to rise, but I know I have a wonderful family I can rely on. I have been so blessed here in Hawaii from finding a place to live to the wonderful experience I am receiving from my job. My heart is filled with so much appreciation to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with such an experience. How many freshman get to be a part of the theater fall production, or even get to work on the sidelines for a NCAA Division I football game. The stress has definitely piled on, but thinking back on the last three months I wouldn't take any of it  back. Finals are approaching and I have one of three completed. Research paper is due tomorrow along with my final Media Productions assignment. Everything is wrapping up and I'm doing my best to stay calm. I just have to keep imagining the snow, cuddled up next to the fireplace, Christmas decorations and loved ones near. There really is no place like home for the Holidays, and I will be there in five days!