A Great Week

This week, I had such a great time. I went to a showing of a political talkshow, Crossfire, at GWU with State co-workers. I also attended a Press Conference at State and watched Adam, the spokesman, defend US foreign policy tactfully. I really need to learn those skills for my oral assessment, the final step in the foreign service officer test. That's what got me the first time.

I had a special tour of the Operations Room at State, where task force teams deal with international crises. I saw the highly secure command center, with people at work. On the way to the Ops Room, security let me pass through the diplomatic sitting rooms and right by Colin Powell's office. That area of State is so beautiful, while the rest can look institutional.

On Friday, my supervisor, the Chief of the Regional Security Office, brought me to a Deputies meeting. It was very intimidating to be the only young person in a small meeting room with the Assistant Secretary and the chiefs of all the departments. When it was my supervisor's turn to speak, right off first introduced me as "David, the one handling the East Asian Affairs calendar, National Security calendar, and the Assistant Secretary's weekly updates," while all eyes were one me. The acting Assistant Secretary, who answers directly to Colin Powell, then personally welcomed me to the group. I was so excited to be there! I hope I will be back as a more permanent member of that group someday.

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Preliminaries complete

A quick recap of my second week in DC, I finished the preliminary study of my first major research project here for the Regional Security Office, Bureau of East Asian Affairs, at State. It turned out to be a 20 page project, which is good for spending only 4 days on it. One word is centered on both the header and footer: Classified. So it's not something I can discuss, period.

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Today's plans

My roommate is in CA now, so I have the whole place to myself, which isn't that great because I don't like being by myself. Today, during this quiet time to myself, I finally have a chance to rest and regroup. I'm reading a writer's style manual along with a Women's Study Bible (since I can't find my own), all while I wait for my laundry.

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Fellowship at CCC

I'm starting to be more involved with CCC, which is great because they are such an inclusive and encouraging group. I'm used to co-workers who are quite the opposite, who plan exclusive parties where only a few people are invited. I'm attending church tomorrow by myself, and they also invited me to another going-away party later that night. The church crowd, juxtaposed with the outside world, is so much more sensitive, caring, real, and loving. My other friends just party superficially, drink, and act like friends when they really care a lot more about themselves than for you.