Blog: The CHCI Experience

Week Three: Highlights of the Hill - A Fly On the Wall

June 26, 2010

A hush falls over the chamber as Chairman Frank knocks his gavel against the table. “The conference will now reconvene,” he says. Sitting a few feet away, I nervously glance towards the TV cameras which, by the request of the conferees, are covering the Conference Committee on Financial Reform. The House and Senate chairs of the Banking and Financial services committees are in conference to debate final points on Wall Street reform. On the docket tonight, the contentious Volker Rule—which would limit banks and other financial companies from betting with either Fed or taxpayer dollars on risky derivatives trading. The House’s version of the bill banned derivatives trading for financial institutions with their own assets—a move which the Senate disagrees with because they believe that it would drive derivatives trading overseas, away from the watchful eyes of US regulators. A few minutes later, Chairman Frank calls yet another recess, stating that the House needs time to review the Senate’s counter-offer on language for the legislation. Staffers hustle about, quiet side conversations fill the air, and I can’t help but eavesdrop. It is a privilege to even be in this room—especially as conference committees are only convened about once every ten years. Flavio pounds away on his Blackberry, flurries of emails flying between him, staffers in the room, and unseen collaborators who are scrambling to reach a consensus on language before the official counting of votes. Around 6:45pm, I pack up and meet Flavio in the hallway and tell him that I am going home. I am exhausted from running back and forth from the House to Senate sides all day for the committee. Although I should have stayed longer—the conference ran well into the wee hours of the morning—I can still say that I was there. I was a fly on the wall in the committee which determined how Wall Street will do business and hopefully stave off another collapse of global financial markets in the future.

Week Three: Highlights of the Hill - Knowing the game

June 25, 2010

Working on the hill has definitely been a unique experience. This is the first time that I actually work in an office or go to work in a suit and tie. It has all been difficult, from getting used to the hot, humid weather to riding on the overcrowded metro and knowing where to switch trains. However, I think that the biggest challenge has been working in an office and getting used to the working environment. Before I came here, I didn’t know what I was going to do in regards to actual “work.” People back at school told me that I was going to be sorting mail, running errands, filing paper, basically doing “busy work”. Although that is true, there are other tasks that are considered real work. One of the disadvantages that I had was that I missed the first week of CHCI which was the orientation week due to school and finals. During this week, CHCI taught the interns where to research, what to expect, and other valuable information that would facilitate their experience working on the hill. Therefore, I didn’t know how to draft a constituent letter, conduct research on government sites, or where my office was located, for example. On my first day, I arrived early hoping that would calm my nerves, it didn’t. I was nervous because I didn’t know what to expect and didn’t know how to “play in the game”. I call it a game because everything that I do, school, music, sports, and internships for example, have their own written or unwritten rules and guidelines. For me, once I know the “game” and know where I stand, then I can adapt, manipulate the game, and win. During the first week, I was overwhelmed with the amount of information that was presented to me. After I drafted my first constituent letter I submitted it to one of the staffers for approval and it came back with pen marks all over it. I was actually relieved because I knew that the staffers were taking the time to review my work and give me feedback. In doing so, I was able to restructure my letters and understand the “game” more clearly. The only way that I could overcome these challenges was by directly confronting them. That is, when I was asked to draft my first constituent letter I said “Sure, what do I have to do?” I never back down and I am not afraid to fail because as my Congresswoman said, “When you fail that is a success because you learn how not to do it and you are closer to achieving your goal.” What keeps me going is this belief: it doesn’t matter how hard it is, it doesn’t matter where you come from, it doesn’t matter how many times you fail, it doesn’t even matter that you come from nothing, all that matters is how much you have accomplished, experienced, and that you reach your dream by the end of your life.

Week Three: Highlights of the Hill

June 25, 2010

Working on Capitol Hill is amazing! My first two days were a little slow. I learned to handle the phone and constituents, and I also learned how to sort the mail. However, I started going to hearings the third day and it has been amazing. I’ve been attending hearings on racial profiling, the immigration system, cyber-security, cyber-bullying, press freedom in the Americas, the future of the U.S. Post Office, and also about pollination. I love to learn new things, so I feel like I have hit jackpot. In addition, I am starting to see a lot of Members of Congress that I see on TV and also Members of Congress that have done a lot of good for the American people. My boss, Congressman Ed Pastor from Arizona, is simply amazing. I have also met Congressmen Grijalva, Stupak, and Rangel. I have seen Kucinich, Pelosi, Reid, and Hoyer. I just need to meet Congressman Gutierrez, and I will be a happy man. The people in my office are amazing, including my supervisor, who really wants me to learn as much as I can. The toughest challenge I have had so far are the angry constituent callers. I have to be courteous no matter how outrageous or insulting the callers’ comments are. Also, getting lost in the sub-basement is inevitable…why don’t they have maps? Finally, I love writing down the constituents' messages or comments to the congressman, because he actually reads them. This may seem like the easiest task in the world; however, it's very important to Congressman Pastor, and I feel extremely proud every time I write these messages down.

Week Three: Highlights of the Hill

June 23, 2010

The main highlight of this week for me was getting to know the staff in my office. The first week, I felt like I did not belong and people barely spoke to me which made me feel a little uncomfortable. I knew that I had to make it my goal to get to know the staff bettter. When this week began, I started to make conversation with my follow staffers. It also helps that the World Cup is going on because the games helps to clear the tension of work. I enjoy going to briefings because I have the opportunity to see presentions about differnt issues. I am having a great time.

Week Three: Highlights of the Hill

June 23, 2010

"Oh I'm so sorry, I thought you were Kate!"

It would seem that I would know the names of the staffers after one week of working at the office but that was clearly not the case. I continuously confused one staffer with another and seemed to be on a constant hunt to match names to faces while trying to complete specific tasks. Now, there is no doubt that the mind can work in very unique ways, especially when working under pressure, but I sure do need to work on memorization skills. This has probably been one of the bigger challenges I have come across after working on the hill for two weeks. It seems that this issue carries over into many more issues. I have to know the staffer's name in order to transfer calls, deliver mail, send email and faxes and if I don't know their names, how am I supposed to get the task done? Fortunately, little by little, I have begun to memorize names and the specific responsibilities each staffer has. I can't refrain from mentioning that everyone in the office has been extremely helpful and thankfully no one has gotten mad when I have confused them with someone else. Word of advice to all of you with a memory like mine: try your best to learn people's names as soon as you meet them and find a unique method that will help YOU memorize names quickly; it will truly make your life easier.

Week One: First Week in Washington, DC

June 18, 2010

Orientation week was intense. Clearly, the ropes course was what stood out to me the most. There was an activity where we were latched on to a rope. Then, we had to pull that latch to break ourselves free from the rope, which would then send us swinging back and forth at a fairly high altitude. I cannot describe it any clearer, but I can only describe how scared I was. Guess what, I was volunteered to go first! I had no idea what to expect…our instructor, Chad, told me what to do, but he never told me what was going to happen. I knew it was going to be scary though. However, I purposely put on a macho act so that I wouldn’t scare the others…because they all look up to me. Just kidding! I was scared and it showed! One last thing that struck me the most happened after our first reception. We walked across the capitol building and through the park area during the evening. There weren’t any tourists, and everything looked beautiful and serene. As we walked through the park area, we saw fireflies. The weather was perfect and I felt like staying there forever.

Week One: First Week in Washington, DC

June 18, 2010

I like to draw squiggly lines; lines that blend and criss-cross. With each stroke, they manifest into a thought or an emotion that creates a better sense of the world. The transition from my thoughts, to my hands, to a sheet of paper establishes an organic order expressing my individuality. A circle is a line that has no beginning or end. It represents a union of infinite points that come together as one form. This past week I encountered a magic circle. Picture it: The majestic hills of Maryland, one small road leading me out of civilization and immersing me in the branches of nature. I’m standing in a circle with the rest of the interns and I’m pulling on a rope that is carving into the palm of my hand. At the same time, I can see the rest of the interns; pulling on the same rope, the same expression of anguish, pain, and exhaustion paints their faces, as we try to tighten a sailors knot along the rope. Afterwards, I held that knot that we created and envisioned the struggles that each of us have faced and will face as we continue along our own paths. We each pulled in our own direction, with only the knot to connect us; yet that tie, that knot is our own manifestation. The knot being a bundle of squiggly lines, criss-crossing, no longer representing my own individuality, but the communion of our efforts converging into a greater work of art.

Week One: First week in Washington, DC

June 15, 2010

To all of you window shopping Fashionistas out there: Think you've encountered the best of the best fashion after window shopping down 5th Ave, Rodeo Drive, or Michigan Ave? Well, you ain't seen nothin yet! After walking into the wonderful world, or should I say exhibit, of the First Ladies of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., I can say I have come across the cream of the crop in fashion and window shopping. Forget all of those Dolce and Gabbana, Prada, and Marc Jacobs dresses - The spotlight here is on the dresses that have been worn and donated to the Smithsonian by various United States' first ladies. Nothing can compare to the stunning one-shouldered silk evening gown that Jacky Kennedy wore to the Kennedy administration's first state dinner. Or First Lady Michelle Obama's white one-shouldered, chiffon inaugural gown. Tons of eye-catching gowns left all of us women there wishing that we could try at least one of these dresses on. Walking down these halls felt as though I was walking through window shopping heaven! After spending my first week in Washington D.C., I can say that this is one moment that I cannot and will not forget. While I have stumbled upon a ton of fun things here in D.C., I have to say this was both an intriguing and educational first experience at the Smithsonian. This surely tops my list of things to remember as a CHCI summer 2010 intern!

Week One: First Week in Washington, DC

June 15, 2010

Walking backwards with both hands grasping Eduardo's shoulders, I guide him and nine others down the winding forest path. Ten pairs of eyes remain closed, their arms forming a chain which cautiously proceeds following the directions of my voice. It is the fourth day of our internship orientation week--a day which some in the program had awaited with nervous anticipation--the team building day at Upward Enterprises ropes course in Maryland, close to the Pennsylvania border. We arrive at our obstacle--a horizontal log about seven feet off the ground, held stationary by two tree trunks. The chain stops moving; their eyes remain closed. After a moment of confusion they line up under the obstacle and we formulate a plan. Just as we are about to begin, Billy, our facilitator for the course, cries, "stop!" "From this point on," he says, "everyone has to close their eyes!" My peers and I simply look at each other in amazement. How could he actually expect us to do this? Is it even possible to get ten people over a log seven feet in the air if none of us can see? Our plan is shot. We have no way to proceed other than blindly charging ahead. One by one, we somehow manage to get our peers over the obstacle. We open our eyes. Our group has no discernable organization yet we somehow managed to fulfill our goal. We glance around at each other in astonishment. At that moment, we realize how resourceful and determined we really are. At that moment, we realize that if we work together, we can overcome any obstacle. This is only the beginning.