As I watch the Democratic National Convention, I am reminded of the brief period in college when I was not quite sure if I was in fact a Democrat. I took a job with a Republican, tried out Rush, and consulted various parties. One of those parties was my Hispanic grandmother. I asked her if she would ever vote Republican. She told me "no." When I asked why, she responded, "My Daddy voted Democrat his whole life, and I will vote Democrat my whole life." It said a lot to me. As I look out in the crowd of the DNC, I am struck once again why she stuck by this. It was because she would never vote for a party that didn't look lik her Daddy, who didn't care about people like her Daddy- a man who was born in South Texas and never learned any English.
I am so glad I got to have that conversation with my Grandma. It's a conversation that I will remember my whole life- as a Democrat.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Summer!
Well, I finished my first year of grad school with a bang...
First, I was offered a teach assistant position next year. I'll be TA'ing the undergraduate Introduction to Public Policy class. This means I'll attend all their classes as well as lead two discussion sessions. Cannot wait!
Second, I was named Editor-in-Chief of the Virginia Policy Review. It's the policy journal at the public policy school. I've assembled my amazing staff and we have big plans for next year. I'm totally pumped. We plan to host a national conference, prominent female policy makers, and produce a couple of top-knotch issues.
Third, I was offered a research position with the Tim Kaine campaign. For political neophytes, he is the former governor of Virginia and former chair of the DNC. He is running to fill the empty seat currently held by Jim Webb. I have been working for the campaign one day a week since after spring break when I decided I needed to work a campaign and why not try out working for the guy whose bumper sticker I had on the back of my car? :) I love the people I work with and am hoping to stay on part-time through the end of the campaign in November.
Cville is great. The drive to Richmond every day is easy and I've found a nice gf on the campaign who I crash with on the nights that I can't drive home to Cville.
I also found that I can 'borrow' the pool next store where one of my classmates used to live. So perfect.
In other news, I quit my side-job...no more traveling! It was wearing me out. Glad I can now really enjoy summer.
First, I was offered a teach assistant position next year. I'll be TA'ing the undergraduate Introduction to Public Policy class. This means I'll attend all their classes as well as lead two discussion sessions. Cannot wait!
Second, I was named Editor-in-Chief of the Virginia Policy Review. It's the policy journal at the public policy school. I've assembled my amazing staff and we have big plans for next year. I'm totally pumped. We plan to host a national conference, prominent female policy makers, and produce a couple of top-knotch issues.
Third, I was offered a research position with the Tim Kaine campaign. For political neophytes, he is the former governor of Virginia and former chair of the DNC. He is running to fill the empty seat currently held by Jim Webb. I have been working for the campaign one day a week since after spring break when I decided I needed to work a campaign and why not try out working for the guy whose bumper sticker I had on the back of my car? :) I love the people I work with and am hoping to stay on part-time through the end of the campaign in November.
Cville is great. The drive to Richmond every day is easy and I've found a nice gf on the campaign who I crash with on the nights that I can't drive home to Cville.
I also found that I can 'borrow' the pool next store where one of my classmates used to live. So perfect.
In other news, I quit my side-job...no more traveling! It was wearing me out. Glad I can now really enjoy summer.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Blooming and Booming
I have never spent a Spring on east coast until now. Now, being in the middle of it, I think everyone should spend a Spring here. It is the most gorgeous season I have ever witnessed. Nevermind the changing color of the leaves in the Fall. That was pretty but it was nothing compared to the blooms that surprise me everyday to the point where I constantly have my iphone out snapping pictures and sending them to my grandma.
Besides the blooms, it has been an incredibly busy season at Batten too. First, our Congress class was offered the opportunity to meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He was incredibly candid and sharp.
Second, our Congress class did a day on the Hill where we met with senior staffers, lobbyists, and a Congressman. We talked politics, process, procedure, and anything else we threw at them. All of our meetings were interesting and informative. Our meeting with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's office even ended with us scoring a visit to the Speaker's balcony.
Third, the Clinton Global Initiative invited a group of Batten students to attend their annual conference in DC. President Clinton was there all weekend speaking to us. Usher made an appearance. Chelsea Clinton moderated a panel. And, the event ended with Jon Stewart and President Clinton speaking to us for over an hour about development. It was a great event.
Besides the blooms, it has been an incredibly busy season at Batten too. First, our Congress class was offered the opportunity to meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He was incredibly candid and sharp.
Second, our Congress class did a day on the Hill where we met with senior staffers, lobbyists, and a Congressman. We talked politics, process, procedure, and anything else we threw at them. All of our meetings were interesting and informative. Our meeting with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's office even ended with us scoring a visit to the Speaker's balcony.
Third, the Clinton Global Initiative invited a group of Batten students to attend their annual conference in DC. President Clinton was there all weekend speaking to us. Usher made an appearance. Chelsea Clinton moderated a panel. And, the event ended with Jon Stewart and President Clinton speaking to us for over an hour about development. It was a great event.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Spring Break/ The DR & Panama City
I took extensive notes on my whole trip to the DR on my iPhone only to accidentally erase ALL of them the minute I got back to the States. So, instead of attempting to retype the whole thing I will attempt a bullet point summary:
- Arrived in Santo Domingo after an 8 hour flight which took us through Panama
- Taxi driver Kelly knows buys us "welcome" beers.
- Go to the Monumento de San Francisco for awesome Dominican dancing and Latin music
- Wake up and go to Peace Corps office- eat delicious mango
- Take a bus to Kelly's site
- Two motorcycle taxis take us to her site--I figure out where to put my hands on a 70 yr old man
- Tour Kelly's site--reminds me of El Sal (everything does)
- Eat Dominican food--lots of yucca, egg plant (La Bandera)
- Give out gifts to Kelly's friends-- meet Americans learning about the water filter project
- Get haircut and nails done Caribe-style
- Leave Kelly's site and visit Joe Kennedy's Peace Corps project- 27 Charcos-- Waterfall tour
- Take buses to Cabarete, big beach town
- Check into sketchy hotel
- Hit the beach and drink happy hour beers at the local Irish bar
- Go back to shower for dinner and Kelly has discovered thirty dollars missing. I tell her we will find it in the morning
- Next morning, I discover I am also missing a thousand pesos. We figure out the maid ripped us off. We explain to hotel owner that now that we've paid $60 on the room instead of the original $30 we don't think we should pay. She agrees.
- We hit the beach for an intense day of tanning before we leave-- its overcast off and on.
- We get way too much sun and Kelly looks bright pink
- Take a bus to Capital- at hotel I discover that I have a sunburn for the first time in my life. Kelly passes out in the lobby from heat exhaustion and dehydration.
- Plane to Panama the next morning. We lay over for 8 hours so we decide to explore Casco Viejo.
- While looking for ATM we are offered a free tour of the Palacio Bolivar where Simon Bolivar convened his Latin Congress against US Manifest Destiny.
- Eat lunch at the Fish Market--yummy
- Plane back home to US
Guagua- Micro (ES)- Van
Si (deep voice)
guapo-enojada (ES)- angry
colmada-comedor (ES)-restaurant
Bola-drunk (ES)- hitchhiking
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Longhorns are everywhere
I've noticed this before but today was exceptional. On the way to and from the gym today, which is a mere mile from my house, I saw THREE silver Longhorn decals on cars. I did note that all three had Virginia license plates. I bet they are mostly grad students like me but it is interesting...until you consider that UT graduates thousands of students every year and then it doesn't seem so implausible to see THREE Longhorn decals in Charlottesville, VA.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Virginia Winter
I lucked out this year. Winter has been very mild and allowed me to adjust without completely freaking out about the cold. It's pretty chilly right now but we still haven't seen any significant snowfall. I consider this a good thing since the only thing that snow is good for is skiing and I haven't had the time to do that anyways. Although we did go snowtubing at Wintergreen which was pretty cool.
School is busy, especially with 18 hours on my plate. And, I spent a lot of the month of January doing work for my job. My bosses came into town on a speaking tour at Whole Foods and I was their guide. The month wore me out. Not to mention, the second weekend out I had my purse stolen at a popular college bar. The purse had my new camera in it and Peace Corps passport. It had my wallet and a million other little things but those things were the biggest. The camera was obviously a financial pain but losing the PC passport with all of the stamps of my wonderful journeys would have been sad too. Luckily, I woke up at 8 am and immediately started making calls. I left a message for the bar just in case it turned up...I didn't really think it would but I thought it was worth a try. I soon found out that whomever had stolen my purse had gone to a convenience store 5 doors down from the bar and bought $50 worth of something. Then, they went to Qdoba 3 doors the other direction and used my other credit card to buy a late-night snack. College student? I think so. A couple hours after I filed my police report, the bar called. They had my purse! I was soooo happy. I asked if my camera was in it. They checked the random little pocket it was stored in and confirmed it was. Thank G-d for random little pockets thieves don't think to look in. So, my wallet was gone but I got my passport and camera back. Not bad.
Since then, I have been laying low doing lots of school work. We are overwhelmed with group projects this semester so those meetings take up much of my time. I did go wine tasting yesterday for the first time. It was great. I went with a small group of girls to Keswick, Jefferson, and Blenheim (Dave Matthew's) Winery. Dave's place was hands-down the prettiest. All the wine we tasted was really good but his views and the tasting room were phenomenal. Even at this time of year when everything is dead, it was beautiful.
Other than that, just working and then working off my stress with frequent trips to the gym and hot tub. One of the best things about UVA is definitely the giant hot tub next to the Olympic-size pool, right near my favorite ellipticals.
Future events: Dominican Republic for spring break! I'm pumped. Then, going to the Clinton Global Initiative University Conference in DC. And, of course, waiting to hear about internships. I'm hoping to wrap up that search sooner than later...
School is busy, especially with 18 hours on my plate. And, I spent a lot of the month of January doing work for my job. My bosses came into town on a speaking tour at Whole Foods and I was their guide. The month wore me out. Not to mention, the second weekend out I had my purse stolen at a popular college bar. The purse had my new camera in it and Peace Corps passport. It had my wallet and a million other little things but those things were the biggest. The camera was obviously a financial pain but losing the PC passport with all of the stamps of my wonderful journeys would have been sad too. Luckily, I woke up at 8 am and immediately started making calls. I left a message for the bar just in case it turned up...I didn't really think it would but I thought it was worth a try. I soon found out that whomever had stolen my purse had gone to a convenience store 5 doors down from the bar and bought $50 worth of something. Then, they went to Qdoba 3 doors the other direction and used my other credit card to buy a late-night snack. College student? I think so. A couple hours after I filed my police report, the bar called. They had my purse! I was soooo happy. I asked if my camera was in it. They checked the random little pocket it was stored in and confirmed it was. Thank G-d for random little pockets thieves don't think to look in. So, my wallet was gone but I got my passport and camera back. Not bad.
Since then, I have been laying low doing lots of school work. We are overwhelmed with group projects this semester so those meetings take up much of my time. I did go wine tasting yesterday for the first time. It was great. I went with a small group of girls to Keswick, Jefferson, and Blenheim (Dave Matthew's) Winery. Dave's place was hands-down the prettiest. All the wine we tasted was really good but his views and the tasting room were phenomenal. Even at this time of year when everything is dead, it was beautiful.
Other than that, just working and then working off my stress with frequent trips to the gym and hot tub. One of the best things about UVA is definitely the giant hot tub next to the Olympic-size pool, right near my favorite ellipticals.
Future events: Dominican Republic for spring break! I'm pumped. Then, going to the Clinton Global Initiative University Conference in DC. And, of course, waiting to hear about internships. I'm hoping to wrap up that search sooner than later...
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