I broke down today and ended up just dumping Lysol on the bathroom floor. There's a stink in there that I just can't seem to search out. Perhaps the worst thing about it is that I have absolutely no idea what the smell is. Or maybe worse, that I have no idea where it is coming from. I think it's the bathroom, but at sometimes I swear it's simply emanating from all parts of the apartment. Anyway, I went out and bought more air fresheners.
The place I'm living in- I won't call it home until it smells a bit more like me- is a decent graduate housing building. It's at least in a fairly safe neighborhood, and nobody has shanked me on the way to the metro stop yet. Anyhow, it's what you'd expect of neglected graduate housing- it's an apartment version of the freshman dorms poor first years have to suffer through. At any rate, I've attacked the bathroom and my bedroom with Lysol, two sponges, a scrubber, some ajax, and various other toxic chemicals. I'm crossing my fingers that nothing's growing on the wall anymore. I'm not complaining by any means though- $300 in D.C. is a steal.
I'm interning with a group called The Protection Project (www.protectionproject.org). My job? I'm helping compile a manual to train persons assisting human trafficking victims in Qatar. What does that entail? Well, that's not nearly as glamourous- I sit at a computer and search for previously used manuals that I'll eventually compile to create a super-duper-awesome manual.
Really, when I think about it, I'm not in D.C. for the internship. Granted, it's an amazing opportunity, and definitely will help me in the future but just being in the city is a fantastic time. A few of my fellow interns seem to forget that they are allowed to enjoy themselves, while a few others constantly have the look of "why am I here?" Several of them are diplomats' kids, several are from other countries, several are Georgetown law grads- overall it's a pretty incredible mix of talent....maybe I'm one of those people with the "why am I here?" face.
I miss friends and family, but I'm enjoying the opportunity to be on my own in a new place. It gives me time and space to simply think- and I often get lost in all of the monuments, buildings, people.
This posting is getting long so I'll cut it off.
Song of the Day: Jacksonville by Sufjan Stevens. http://music.aol.com/song/jacksonville/6704799
Special prize to the person who guesses why.
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