Orientation, The Mall, & Butterflies

Today was the first day of orientation with the Department of Defense (DoD). I found two other individuals in my apartment building who had orientation at the same hotel as me, so we all met in our apartment lobby at 8:15 and went together. We started with an ice breaker, had a brief security briefing, and had several lectures on strategies to get the most out of the internship. Overall, it was pretty good-they did there best to present some very dry information in an intersting and enjoyable way. The Department of Transportation was having an orientation next door to us, and they supplied Papa John's pizza for both groups. I was able to get to meet almost all of the other DoD students and speak more with those students from my apartment building. There are several students at TWC for the second or third time, and they had some good tips too. 

Orientation ended around 2:45 (originally, we were supposed to meet until 4), so I said good bye and headed towards the Mall.

The Smithsonian information center-I love that it looks like a castle

The Capital

This Buddhist Monk was examining the map for several minutes...I pulled out my camera, because I wanted to caption his picture 'A buddhist monk looking for the path to enlightenment', but as soon as I pulled out my camera he started to walk away :-(

After walking around for about an hour (I turned around when I ran into the river), I went back to the Mall and went into the Museum of Natural History. I absolutely love that the museums are free. Here is a buffalo skelaton (I thought of Rachel)... and a picture of me in the butterfly jungle. I was sweaty.

The Washington Monument

I did however pay extra to go into the butterfly jungle, where they had over 500 butterflies and 50+ differnt varieties. It was like a swamp in there, but beautiful. Here are a bunch of butterfly pictures that I took.

1st Day in D.C. (ok...technically Alexandria)

I got into Baltimore International Airport this morning at 9:45am. I've decided that both Continental Airlines and Newark Airport suck; my gate changed 5 different times (and to far gates that required me to keep getting on shuttles). Regardless, I got to Baltimore barely late and proceeded to take the most expensive cab ride of my life. Graon. Never Again.

After quickly unpacking, I decided it was time to go eat and find the grocery store. There is a little convenience store in the apartment complex, but it is kinda expensive. I asked the security guard how to get to the 'Giant' Grocery Store, which is supposed to be only 5 blocks away... but isn't (and he told me the wrong direction). 

I left at 12:00 and didn't return until 2:30. I did spend 30 minutes in there eating a yummy swiss mushroom burger, but the rest of the time I just was walking--but it wasn't at all bad. It was around 70 degrees outside, muggy, but absolutely gorgeous. I had so much fun just getting a little lost (ok, REALLY lost) in old town Alexandria. It was mid-day, and lots of people were out walking. I just kept asking directions and eventually found the store. Then it was another 45 minutes finding my way home, but I figured I would have trouble and didn't buy anything too perishable.

It's only 3 now, but I'm going to sign off. I'll try to post some pictures of the apartment tomorrow. I'm on the ground floor, which I don't really like, but at least I'm not higher than the 6th floor (where the ladders can't reach).

A lovely park not too far from my apartment.... it's called a park, but is mostly just pretty, green, and tranquil.

Old Town Alexandria is beautiful. Red brick sidewalks, big lush trees, plants on the patio---it's just so pretty!

I couldn't resist taking another picture.

The little diner that I ate in. Mmmmm :0)

Tomorrow

Tomorrow night I leave for Washington D.C. for the next ten weeks; I am so excited. I am going with The Washington Center (TWC) where I will be interning, taking a class, and doing a lot of exploring. Tomorrow has been a long time coming--I started working on my application to TWC back in October. My flight leaves at 10:30pm and after layovers and switching flights, I'll arrive in Washington International Airport around 9:30am.

I'll be staying in a two bedroom apartment with three other girls (I don't know their names yet) in Arlington Virginia. 

I'll post more when I get there!