A Foot in the Door

There are four unknown soldiers in the Unknown Soldiers Tomb.

Placing flags before Memorial Day at a gravesite is known as "Flags In". The flags are centered and a foot away from the tomb.

Slugging: is to randomly jump in a car headed in your direction to work. It's a free ride and it happens because the driver must have 3 people in the car in order to exit to the Pentagon during hours. However, you are riding with a stranger but its hundreds of peoples transportation to and from work.

After WWII, American Soldiers went to to Japan and taught them our way of technology. Once we left, they put their culture on it and focus on quality instead of quanity---> maybe that's why they are so far advanced compared to us?

Last Tuesday was my first day out by myself. My destination: Holocaust Museum.

I walked ten minutes to the bus stop and made it on and off the bus with no problems. My stop was at the Ballston Mall. From there I had to walk about five minutes to the MetroRail (underground train). Work is really close to the bus stop and the MetroRail so I thought if I headed in the direction of work I was going the right way. WRONG! Instead of walking to work I was suppose to turn left at the mall. I walked about four blocks and turned right! I ended up at the Metro Station stop that is AFTER the stop I get on! Although I was so confused as to why I was getting on the opposite side of the train and why the entrance looked different I pursued to get on. I quickly figured out what I did wrong.. that won't happen again!

I remember when my mom was here and the first time we went to the ride the MetroRail people were frantically running to catch the train. I specifically said to her, "I will never be one of those people who run after a train."

Again, WRONG! That day I ended up on the wrong side of the tracks and I sprinted up the escalator and back down the other side and barely made it on. I was one of those people.

I wandered my way to the Holocaust Museum without much trouble. To be honest I was so afraid I was going to end up lost and I am sure people could recognize the look on my face when I was looking for signs pointing where to go. The museum was amazing. A middle school was touring so they were a pain but the meaning and knowledge I learned from the museum will remain with me forever. For once I made the connection of what I had heard in school all these years and put it with visuals and stories. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take pictures in the museum so I only leave with mental images.

After the museum I wondered my way back to the metro. I was headed to the Washington Monument for an up close view when I realized my camera didn't even work! I turned around and headed for a soda and hot dog. However, soda's were $2 and hot dogs were $4 so I settled for a soda and went to catch the train.

I made it to the train with no problems and as I enter I read a sign that says "No food, drink, pets, flammables etc. If caught you will be fined and arrested." Ha, I was not going to get arrested for having a soda and I wasn't about to dare to try my luck so I threw the rest away.

I made it back home and from the Metro I decided to walk 2 miles to get home. Sounds like a lot but it's really not that bad. I went to McDonalds for dinner on my way and ate alone.. all alone. First time I have ever done that. I usually go through the drive through when I am alone. But others were doing it too.

Thursday, I ran into a friend on facebook who is stationed out here with the Navy. He hadn't seen people he knew in 4 months and well I don't know anyone. We met up and I ended up in the "neighborhood that's not safe" thanks to him. I was a little concerned riding the train back alone late at night, but I made it back and had the chance to see the bridge and Capitol lit up.

Sunday, I decided to leave the house to on my last day before work started. I decided to go look around Ballston Mall. Okay, the mall is mostly nail, hair, and food places but it does have some places to shop. Again, out of my comfort zone because I never shop alone but I did alright. I again walked 2 miles to get home and stopped at McDonalds again for dinner.

A homeless lady was there and as I bit into my Chicken Club Sandwich she bent down to watch me through her purse strap draped on the table. Sure she had food. A kids meal sized burger and drink, but I couldn't finish mine when I knew I could afford mine and she begged until the cashiers gave hers to her.

Monday, I started my new job and boy was I scared and like 30 early! I was so early I walked around the block one and a half times to waste time. I finally went to the fourth floor to meet my boss to head to the 6th, but when I tried the door it was locked. Panicked that someone would open the door and be like who are you? I ran for the elevator.

My boss said that if no one was in the office then just head upstairs myself and so I did. I got to the 6th floor and rang the buzzer like I was suppose to. No one came. Finally some ladies got off the elevator and unlocked the door and just walked in and left me standing there. Finally, one asked if I needed help.

I went into a conference room with 3 other interns all on different floors. We all filled out some paper work, a lot that was way over our heads and we had no idea what we were doing. We got to one form titled "Disabilities". The girl next to me turn to the lady checking us in and said, "Disabilities? I don't have a disability. What kind of paper work is this!?" The lady laughed and said, "It's procedure, we have too. I didn't mean to make you feel disabled." The girl laughed and said, "Yeah, I was gonna said I am not challenged."

Looking at the form there was a place to circle for asthma, seizures, and heart conditions. I sat there. A few tear drops ran down my face unsure if I should circle or not and waiting for the girl to get distracted and not see me circle them.

After paper work we had to stand, raise our right hand, face the American Flag and read the oath. The same oath soldiers read when they enlist. I never thought I would ever get to read that oath. I was wrong.

I was escorted up to my office. Oh, you have to have a special badge to unlock the doors. All doors, including the bathroom... that's why I couldn't get in.

I met everyone at work, got my desk/computer in my shared cubicle and prepared for work. Monday was slow. Projects were due and everyone was busy and I don't have my software in yet so I can't start working. But ended up working 10 hours instead of 8.

Today I timed the bus to get to work at 7:54 which is perfect time. I walked in like I knew what I was doing. Checked my government e-mail and researched some links. I had to fill out some more paper work because work will pay my bus fare to and from work. Saving me $53 a month.

I established goals with my boss and learned all the places I get to tour for free that a normal person visiting here cannot. They are getting me into the Pentagon, Pentagon Channel (Pentagon's Newsroom), Capitol Hill to meet Missouri Senate and House of Reps, and Walter Reed Hospital.

I worked in the studio some today learning tripods and cameras. Learned somethings the school has never taught me and somethings that I would of never learned if I didn't come here. I also learned a lot of "behind the scenes" technical work the the website and got to help create a new link for web users and create the icon. Again, there is so much information that I am sure I will not remember, but will be valuable in the long run.

Work is good. In the past two days I have earned $228. I know I wouldn't of made that at home. I do miss home. More than anyone could ever understand. I haven't had enough time to figure out if the area is something I could do all the time or not yet. And I am not sure if I could live out here for good, but this is already become an experience I will not forget. It is one of those chances in life you take just to know and so you don't end up later in life thinking "what if."