first day of work

At 9 am I walked into my new office for the semester. I felt very important wearing business clothes (the picture is me heading to work for the first time-to the right is the building I work in) and tried to play the part as "a usual." I don't know how hot that was because when I went through security, my belt made the metal detector go off, I tried to explain that is was my belt, and quickly learned that you don't go through more than once- the sensor goes off, you go straight to the metal detector wand. There is no time in the House of Representitives for re-walking.

When I arrived at the office I was greeted with several "Good Mornings" and "Hellos", as well as many happy faces. I knew instantly that I would enjoy this office. Rae-Lynn, the Staff Assistant, is my main helper (I like to call her my life saver) around the office, building, hill, and Washington, D.C. in all! I already owe her a bunch for everything she has done for me. Because of Rae-Lynn, I now know how to get to the nearby Target (the only store I am familiar with).

I spent the day learning daily duties in the office. I learned what bell rings mean (which are a big deal we the congress is in session); I learned how to handle phone calls, make coffee, sort mail, and the places I need to go for errands. Though the tasks I learned were not very hard, it was a lot to cram in my head in one day. It is so exciting to see how the office works!

Once everything starts to become second nature, hopefully I will be a very efficicent intern. To add on the information, I am being trained to give tours around the hill on Monday, and my first real tour is that Friday- can someone say hectic?! haha. But I think I will enjoy giving tours, and showing younger students, future college students, the things that made me want to intern and do what I am doing now.

Tomorrow I am off because our office is on a retreat, so if the snow is not too deep a group of us are going to continue sight-seeing. Smithsonian? I think so!!!

until next time,
madelon