Recess! ... postponed

When I came to Georgetown, I wanted an internship on the Hill. But I soon became lazy, and the prospect of a long metro ride was too daunting for me to leave my room. Therefore I blog.

Today, to make up for my past sloth, I did take the Capitol tour. And you know what? I wasn't impressed. Government kinda sucks.

Though the statues of dead Americans are rather impressive (especially look for the statue of King Kameamea, seen at right, who is, one might remark, quite gilded), all anyone goes to see is the House in session. And in session it was. Ish.

Today was supposed to be the last day before August recess (think 3rd-grade Ted Kennedy being beaten at tetherball by a demonic pre-pubescent Hillary), disputes in the House over a malfunctional voting machine caused the session to spill over until tomorrow. When my tour group finally entered the Gallery of the House, we were witness to a fight nearly as spectacular as the fabled Lincoln-Douglass or The Devil and Daniel Webster conflicts.

Instead though, a Republican "gentleman from Michigan" sought to end the frivolity that is our representative republic and go home. Upon his motion, many bald Democrats (and several haired ones) strongly voiced their "Nays."

And then it was time to go home. For me at least; Congress has at best another day.

Interning ... on M St.

As a Georgetown student, there's some pressure to intern. Joe Hoya asks, "What are you doing this summer?" Jane Hoya responds, "Oh, I'm interning." Good answer. It's the only answer to give, if you ask me, with the exceptions of a.) traveling or b.) doing a summer program/taking summer classes. Notice that these exceptions require a few grand of your parents money. Are you purposely sabotaging your resume? Just working retail or just working at a camp doesn't seem to cut it anymore, because Harvard Law isn't impressed that you managed to sell a $300 winter coat in July. Should they be... just a little?

I'm one of many Hoyas straddling the line of interning and working retail. When people ask me what I'm doing this summer, I tell them I'm interning and working retail... to pay the rent. Always say to pay the rent. Don't leave that out. The internship is supposed to be the glamorous foray into white collar work while retail is the blue collar labor you're going to college to avoid. It's almost scary for me to say it... but I think in retrospect, I enjoyed the retail more. And no, it wasn't the people (I work alone). I just liked it more. I could wear comfortable clothes and walk around when I felt like it and was surrounded by stimulating, brightly-colored clothes. It's possible that I'm overly cynical to think that fellow Hoyas frown upon retail, but it's true that to just work retail for the summer casts an ominous shadow on your future as a real person in the real world. Even so, I'm happy with my time on the (in)famous M Street. "Have a nice day."