Week 3

After a bit of roommate drama and a particularly nasty midterm, the week has been a bit of a low point.

Work is still going well though, and I'm starting to feel more confident in my contributions to the organization. Basic computer skills are my saving grace- my supervisor was amazed by my ability to use Publisher to make a binder spine label. Still, it was a stressful week as my understaffed division tried to prepare for a conference in Atlanta taking place next week. After a lot of coming in early and leaving late, and feeling like I was making the same corrections over and over again, the binder I had been working on got assembled and out the door.

Every week, I seem to get at least one or two speeches on "How Washington Really Works." Apparently, how it works is networking. This is a city that thrives on happy hours and business cards. I get lecture after lecture on how to keep a roladex, the importance of thank-you notes, how the only thing that matters here is who you know. Its intimidating. For starters, getting ahead by who you know and not by merit does not settle well with me. Plus, I'm still not sure what branch of government I want to enter yet- I'm still debating between trying to work on the Hill or in the Administration, working for a NGO, or for a think-tank or more academic policy organization. I don't know if I want to stick with the women's community, or focus strictly on economics. And without knowing this, who do I know who I need to suck up to?

I have decided that lobbying is not the place for me. I love the strategy of it, and have no moral qualms- I'm a firm believer that it is lobbiests who are the movers and shakers of policy, not congresspeople or the president- I'm just not social enough for the job. I've spoken to two lobbyists this week, and  they are just constantly talking to people, having BBQs, going to events, and being extremely careful of how things are paid for and how they present themselves. I need more downtime than that. I also tend to make people angry, and don't need everyone to like me, two very bad traits for a lobbyist. So that career can be crossed off my list.

I have also found a fantastic place in Georgetown called Georgetown Cupcakes. It sells 20 types of gourmet cupcakes, made with imported European chocolate, bourbon, the works. I had a Lemon Blossom cupcake, and it was totally worth the $3.75.