amor fati

Sooo.. I’m going to try and start documenting some of this DC experience via tumblr. It started snowing today during my lunch break, and it was a soft flurry rather than an aggressive storm. It was chilly but the flakes were light, which was greaaaat since my coats didn’t arrive until after I returned from work. The past week in DC has been a whirlwind, considering I had inconveniences left and right from the get-go. My commuter flight from SD to LA was delayed to the point where it caused me to miss my LA to DC cross country flight. I was offered a hotel and meal voucher, and stayed the night in LA until the next available flight. I arrived a day late, missed several orientations, and was full with suitcases and a stomach virus from what I believe was a bug I contracted from airplane food. Do not purchase food on your plane! It is overpriced and will get you sick!

I spent my first real day in DC yakking and trying to sleep the pain away. Trying to go out without fully recovering probably wasn’t the best idea either.. even without consuming ridiculous amounts of alcohol (sometimes none at all) I still barfed in a bar and a club because I couldn’t hold my food down. I think I’ve covered almost every possible public area now. Needless to say, it was far from a smooth transition. BUT as I recovered, I started engaging in city-like activities. I took a run around the area, circling the Washington Monument, passing the White House and the War Memorial. I visited the National Archives and saw the original preserved document of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. The Magna Carta is also supposed to be housed there (why the hell we have that, I can’t figure out) but is in the process of restoration until March. I went to Arlington, VA for some good pho, and have started to grow accustomed to the metro system. I walked Georgetown for some shopping and the home of DC Cupcakes, and finally got my UCDC ID card about a week after everyone else! Andddd today, I started my internship for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. I was fingerprinted and received by badge today; swiping my ID through the machine and not having it erratically alarm the entire floor made the entrance to the building even more real knowing that I’m actually permitted and have clearance to work there!

The work they do blew my mind. My first assignment, along with the other intern, was to review a CARE and CRS report on AANAPISIs, which are educational institutions classified as having over 10% AAPI enrollment and at least 50% of its students on federal aid, among other requirements. A lot of the work I read about today was on retention of minority students, and the false nature of the “model minority” myth. Everyone thinks Asians and Indians are the “smartest” and most overachieving individuals, but the stereotypes lack depth. I met a dude that works for the Initiative as well, who is borrowed from the Census Bureau to do the statistics. He talked to us about how when the data is disaggregated, several groups of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are actually struggling in terms of attaining higher degrees and positions in the workforce, and that’s what the initiative is there to do: to promote inclusion, not only in terms of education, but in all areas. Labor, civil rights, etc. I only took a bite out of education in the reading I did today, but I already know I’m going to love this experience. The work is hands on rather than administrative, so I’m not copying papers or stapling documents. I’m actually researching and performing action on issues that matter to the AAPI community, and I’m really happy with the way it’s going. The biggest part that made my week was the timing—apparently the Initiative has a White House briefing on Youth Leadership this Thursday, so I get to go to the White House for it!! Ahhh I was so stoked on that. Although we’re employed by the White House, our office is housed in the Dept of Education, so that was really exciting news. 

Other than that, the biggest struggle is trying to determine if I should do my work or go out. It’s a lot harder than you think to prioritize in another city. Blogging, journaling, taking photos, and keeping up with friends back home and even here is a challenge in itself. Trying to juggle a social and educational life is on some other shit. I guesssss that means I’m done with this essay since I’ve probably rambled for way longer than necessary. I guess what I’m tryna say is that the West Coast is still the best coast, but the East isn’t doing too shabby!