Jenn Stinnett

I wish I had been able to blog before now. This week has been…a whirlwind (to say the least).

The adjustment has been monumental. You know how you get to college and all of a sudden you don’t have to wake up early anymore (or at the most you wake up early three days a week)? I distinctly remember having conversations with people about how the only way I made it through early high school mornings was because I didn’t know any different. I mean, how did I make it to school every morning by 8 a.m.? HOW?? After a taste of the college “mornings” I was certain I couldn’t go back.

Cut to me awake at 5:30 a.m. Monday morning. Dear Lord. Of course it’s not always that early. Now I wake up at 6 a.m. I had this plan before I left to start slowly easing myself into my new routine. I knew it would be a big change and I should do it slowly. Does anybody reading this blog think that happened?? Nope. There’s really nothing more jarring than waking up at 5:30 for your first day at a new, very intimidating job in a new city when you’re used to rolling out of bed at noon.

So I guess you could say I’ve been a bit tired. After a week, though, I think I’m getting the routine down. It’s really not so bad once I start getting used to it. I can, in fact, manage to get myself out of bed….but it still feels like the most painful thing ever.

My commute to work (I walk half a mile to the metro, ride, switch lines, ride, then walk another half a mile when I get off) takes about 45 minutes…sometimes an hour. My schedule before was going to be 9 to 5. But when I left at 5 this week it took FOREVER to get home….over an hour. Seems a little excessive when you consider I’m really only traveling less than three miles! Anyway, since that horrible commute I’ve changed my hours to 8 to 4, which means I leave my hall at 7 a.m. This way I’m missing most of the metro/commuter traffic, and actually the day seems to go by quicker. Which means I wake up at 6 a.m. Like I said, it’s getting less and less hard each day. And it helps that if I DON’T wake up on time, my commute takes substantially longer (extra incentive).

(Side note. This schedule is also turning me into an old fart. I go to bed at LATEST by 11 p.m. every night. And tonight, Friday, I am so looking forward to a nice sleep…hi Unisom! I’ve missed you!)

Oh, did I mention the weather? Well, actually today the weather was quite nice. I think it reached 50, which is well within my comfort zone of temperature (45-75 degrees, thank you). However, when I arrived/the beginning of this week the HIGHS for the day were around 30 degrees. Which, when you’re walking a total of two miles a day in dress clothes, ain’t comfy.

Which brings me to Day 1. (Don’t worry I won’t be going through each day individually). Anywho, prior to our start date they sent us out an email saying that our first day would be orientation. We were to arrive BY 8:30. Now, first off, most people are early on their first day, right? Second, the use of the word “by” insinuates that earlier is preferred, and that 8:30 should be the latest to arrive. Well I, like MANY other interns arrived at the Department of State pretty early…around 8:00 (there were already eight people there when I arrived). Well to my absolute shock they made us wait OUTSIDE with no shelter in 20-degree temps until exactly 8:30. We were all absolutely freezing. I mean, let’s break this down. First, say “at” 8:30, not “by” if you’re going to make us wait outside. Second, couldn’t there have been some warning? Like, “Oh, ps, you’re totes gonna have to freeze outside on the sidewalk, even though you’ve all had security clearances and there’s a completely separate security screening room you could stand in where we could then hold you in the lobby. Just fyi. Love, DoS”

First day, like most was boring. I want to tell you what we talked about….but they’re pretty good at instilling fear in us all. According to them, just by mentioning my name and workplace I am now fo-sho getting my identity stolen, and probably causing the complete destruction of the nation. (I mean, not really, but they really are very intense about social networking sites, talking about work, etc.)

I will share this nugget with you, though. According to one of our briefings, it is NOT OK for me to post the floorplans of the State Dept building on this blog. Dangit!

I would also love to tell you about our badges and all that, but common sense tells me that’s a no-no.

My job. I’m working for the International Information Programs, with the Global Digital Programs department. We are working on a project called co.nx (co-nex…connects!). I’ve updated my resumé section of my blog, so you can read specific tasks there, but basically we are hosting/creating web chats (video and text) geared towards international audiences. Does that sound confusing? We are a relatively “new” thing and we’re struggling with how to best describe what we do. Here’s our Facebook page, it would be awesome if you could check it out (you don’t have to have an account!) http://co-nx.state.gov

For instance, one of the events we’re working on is Secretary Clinton’s upcoming speech on Internet Freedom. It’s a big policy initiative and she’ll be presenting it this coming week. Our team is going to be there filming it and streaming it online so that people from other countries (and the U.S.) can see how this will affect them. There will be a roundtable discussion afterwards, and co.nx will be the sole person airing that event (streaming it online). We will be taking questions from our chatroom and the round table contributors (from various countries which aren’t published yet) will be answering them!

It’s actually really interesting and pretty exciting, as this use of technology in the DoS is relatively new.

Oh, and I will get to go and see her speak in person with my team…how exciting! It’s how I would imagine people get excited about meeting Hollywood celebrities…H.C. is my star!

Fun Stuff! Well I’ve gotten to do a lot of fun stuff, much of it through my job. We’ve taken “field trips” (actually run throughs with our equipment for upcoming events) to various government buildings. I saw Marine One flying off from the White House(!). Today my group went to lunch to an Indian restaurant. Everyone is so nice and welcoming. I’m so extremely grateful I am in such a great office.

Last Sunday I decided to explore for the first time. Bad idea. I wanted to walk around aimlessly, taking in the major sites on the Mall. Well it was like 23 degrees and windy and I was MISERABLE. Literally my legs were numb. I have figured out that when I leave it either a) needs to be a nice day or b) I need to have a specific destination in mind.

Tomorrow I’m venturing out again to Chinatown. I think it will be fun. Probably go to a museum…the great thing about D.C. is that there are tons of interesting museums and most of them are free.

I haven’t made a photo album yet, but when I do I will post it.

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I feel like there are a lot of things I’m leaving out. But hopefully this will be the first of many blogs. I’ve had trouble with Internet at the hall, but it seems better now.

Comment on anything and let me know the kinds of things you want/don’t want to hear about!