Pleas'd look forward, pleas'd to look behind, And count each birthday with a grateful mind

I just saw Obama's motorcade as I was walking past the White House, and my heart did a little pitter patter. I imagined he was waving at me from whichever one of the tinted cars he was in, and that's the story I'm sticking to.

My apologies for the lack of updates; I know it has been awhile. I've been busy with my stream of beloved guests, and my evenings have become increasingly filled with outings in this glorious city. But here's an update of what's been going on for me since I last blobbed, the Reader's Digest version:

I am writing this post as a bonafide 21-year-old. July 15 has now come and gone, and while I don't really feel older or wiser, I do feel more legal. They do let Louisiana girls into bars around here I was assured by a bouncer at an Irish pub a couple nights ago, at least ones with of age IDs. My first cider on tap in the U.S. wahoo!

The birthday itself was a wonderful celebration shared with old and new friends. My good friend from USC Julia came to visit me for the week and we were joined by fellow AEI interns and my friend Claire from Baton Rouge for the night's festivities. We first attended AEI's intern happy hour where I proudly drank my first legal beer, Corona of course, and then went out for a Mexican dinner in Georgetown (good but no El Cholo) and some barring.

Celebrating 21...the day finally came!"

I'd like to think Daniel Radcliffe gave me a personal birthday present: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince came out on my birthday! Julia and I went the next day and I've been again since with my sister. It is quite the cinematic masterpiece, or at least a highly entertaining two and a half hours for Potter fans. Quick anecdote: the night my sister and I went to see Potter, the man sitting behind us belched loudly (really, really loudly which my sister and I cracked up about for a few minutes) as the movie was starting and then kept cracking his knuckles and making loud comments during the movie. We decided to move, and as we did so, my phone fell onto the floor and all the pieces came apart. I spent the next 5 minutes on my hands and knees in the dark theater while the man laughed at me. Lesson learned: loud belching is an omen of worse things to come.

Julia's too-short visit also included a lovely afternoon of jazz in the sculpture garden, some quality time with Lincoln, and a day in Georgetown. I bid her adieu early Sunday morning and welcomed my next visitor, my sister, on Wednesday. Katherine didn't care so much for the DC sights (she asked me "what the shit happens here?" as we were standing in front of the Capitol) and we headed to NYC for the weekend.

I spent five weeks in the Big Apple the summer following my junior year of high school and got to know the city pretty well during that time. It was great to be back and to hit up some of my favorite places and Katherine's too (she did the same program last year). Since the Moser girls have seen all the major sights before and didn't really want to do them again, we were free to do what we do best: eat. We ate alot, walked alot, shopped alot, and just took in the vibrancy of the city. I was reminded last weekend just how vibrant the city is. It has a very different feel than DC; it is much more diverse and much more alive, especially at night. It was refreshing in a way and in another way made me miss Los Angeles.

One really enjoyable thing we did was go to a Yankees game. Since starting playing for the Brooks Brothers I've gained a new appreciation for baseball and we both really wanted to see the new stadium and take in a game. The baseball way of life is a nice one indeed: sitting outside in warm air and eating hot dogs is an excellent way to spend a few hours, and it doesn't hurt that the Yankees have some good looking players. Other highlights of the weekend including strolling around in Central Park (I made it to the castle, one of my favorite spots), eating tons of delicious food, and walking around in Times Square at night.

Katherine left Monday and Jennifer arrived that afternoon for her one night in the city. We catz had a blast going to dinner in Georgetown and then out to a couple bars. We even managed to run into filming for the Real World DC, which is not so "real," but it's funny to think of those people as my peers and not much older than me, which is how it has always seemed. On Tuesday Jennifer and her friend Leif from study abroad came to have a delicious lunch with me at AEI and then off they went, and I was sad to see them go.

Things have been picking up as they are ending, and this past week has been very busy as well. On Tuesday night we had our intern appreciation dinner and sappy me got sentimental thinking of leaving this city and the friends I've made here. I've been very fortunate in the past year to meet lots of wonderful people from all around the world, and the DC saga will soon be another page in the memory book of my mind. In this final week I want to revisit some of my favorite places, especially the Lincoln Memorial at night. There is no better place to think and to just enjoy. I will miss my good friend Abe dearly.

Other things I will miss: living two blocks away from the White House, nighttime strolls in humid air, AEI food, AEI cookies, seeing the monuments and memorials at night, a metro system that takes you the places you want to go, random musicians in the streets playing Jeff Buckley, a 24-hour 7-Eleven on the ground floor of my building, and feeling like I am in the middle of things...the list could go on, I am sure.

There are things I won't miss, working 9-5 and tempermental dorm laundry machines being two of them, but I won't recant that list here. It is short anyway and it needs to roll around in my brain for a while longer before I share it with the world. And even though I will miss alot, I'm looking forward to going back to things and people I've been missing for a long time. One week in DC, a few days in BR, and then this Helen will be back in Troy.

Growing up, and growing to love this city

While I don't plan anymore to be a professional journalist, I will always be a journalist at heart. The virtue of curiosity, the merit of questioning and reflection, and the power of the written word are all things to which I ascribe. Also, I love the news -  I am an active consumer of news, and especially so during the summer months. Slow time at the internship equals more time to find out what is going on in the world. Reading the New York Times online has become a part of my daily routine, and I find it is at its best on Sundays. Today I gleaned this nugget, a quote from a reverend who officiated one of the weddings featured in the style section (laugh if you want but I really do read EVERYTHING): "We are the sum total of everyone who has had a part in our life journey, all the people who have touched us along the way."

As this week marks my entrance into my third decade of life, this quote made me stop and think. I've been fortunate even just in the past year to have had a plethora of incredible experiences, starting with turning 20 last summer in Taiwan. The year brought me home to Louisiana, to school in California, to Scotland and beyond, and finally here, to Washington DC. What I find defines each experience for me is not so much the experience itself, but the people who I meet and grow to care about and learn from in each place.

These musings are all a lead-up to discussing what comprised my weekend. On Friday, another Parliament intern who is interning here for the summer and I welcomed two of our fellow interns to DC. It was really great to see them again, to reminisce about Scotland and to catch up on eachother's lives since. We had a wonderful weekend exploring the city and saw quite a bit in the last few days. On Saturday morning we made out way from Eastern Market to Union Station to the DC zoo (really cute pandas) and finally on a night walking tour around the monuments. Today we had brunch and then explored Georgetown, and the night ended with us playing gin rummy on our building's roof...it was an excellent weekend, and we have plans for more reunions in the works.

[caption id="attachment_466" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="From the seat of the Scottish government to the highest court in the land...Parliament interns reuniting."][/caption]

One exciting tidbit from last week: I SCORED A RUN!! In AEI softball, that is. I was on fire Tuesday night - or at least not as pathetic as I usually am. I said earlier my new goal in life was to make it to first base, and I accomplished that three times as well as getting two RBIs (I now know what that stands for) and the mentioned run. AEI beat CSIS 13-6.  Woohoo! If this (insert career goal here) thing doesn't work out, I may be coming after Jenny Finch.

Apart from sporadic rain that requires umbrella carrying, the lady luck of weather has been on my side this summer. I fully expected DC to be as swampish as Louisiana, but everyone keeps saying this summer thus far has been uncharacteristic. It usually doesn't get past 80 most days, and it's not humid much at all. Some days it's even chilly when I walk to work in the morning...and the evenings are gently warm and lovely ahhhh. Perfect for lots of strolling, as I am a fan.

One more thing I realized this week: DC is really growing on me. I think it took two different memorial tours (one earlier in the week by day with fellow AEI interns and the one I did at night with the Parliament interns) to make me realize how beautiful this city is. On Saturday night we sat on the steps of the Lincoln memorial and looked out over the reflecting pool to the illuminated Washington Monument and I felt as though I could sit there forever.  The journey from FDR to Jefferson along the basin is lovely as well, as are those two memorials. I think FDR is my favorite now...there is something about being able to reach out and touch a president, even if he is made of bronze. I gave him and Eleanor both big hugs.

I think I've started to blend in better as well, to feel like and appear to be a citizen even though I'm really just a 10-week tourist. Other tourists have started asking me for directions: A couple this week asked me how to get to the White House when we were probably about 50 feet away, and another couple (with distinct Southern accents...my kin!) asked me "where the mall at?" when we were across the street from the mall.  I laugh a bit inside but never at them - I know what it feels like to be in an unfamiliar city, and I am always happy to return the kindness that has been shown to me. My favorite tourist observation this week happened at the Jefferson Memorial, when a mother told her son not to jump down the stairs, because if he got injured they wouldn't be able to go to Dollywood. There is always something to spectate here, and oftentimes to chuckle about.

Two more days at 20, and then this week brings me finally to 21...and hopefully to more adventures and people to share them with.

Trials and tribulations of the brothers called Brooks (and a capitol fourth!)

Happy 4th of July, two days late, from the place where it all goes down. A Capitol Fourth is definitely an experience that makes one truly appreciate the good ol' USA as well as develop a further aversion to massive crowds. But first:

Tuesday night was my second performance - aka failure - on the AEI softball team. But I'm a firm believer in perseverance, so try to make it to first base I continue. Still no luck in reaching my personal goal at Tuesday's game against the Drug Enforcement Agency, and alas the night wasn't so lucky either. It started with extreme trouble in finding a field, as much of the grass space on the mall was commandeered in preparation for the fireworks display. Eventually, we found a tiny space to play on, and the game commenced until massive rains necessitated its demise...or so we thought. We were ahead, and the DEA didn't want to lose (there's a joke in there somewhere, i'm sure), so we played on in the downpour. It was kinda fun...until a girl on our team was smacked in the arm by a DEA batter, requiring an ambulance takeaway. By this point, the DEA finally relented and AEI came away with its second victory that I can claim stake in. Yeaaa Brooks Brothers (AEI's president's name is Arthur Brooks...clever, huh?)

As my other entries and the softball game description may suggest, it rains ALOT here. I never leave my dorm without an umbrella, and on two different occasions in the past two weeks my clothes have been completely soaked through. Luckily I am usually in the mood to find it exhilirating. And there's nothing better than being woken up by a thunder and lightning storm.

On Wednesday night I saw Up again with some intern friends. Not having to chaperone 60+ children this time afforded me a better viewing experience, and the movie was wonderful. I cried a bit the first time, and way more the second time now that the story made sense from beginning to end. It always surprises me (and sometimes makes me feel pathetic) how easily I am moved, but this time the tears were well deserved. See it.

On Thursday I worked the mics for an AEI event on presidential succession and CSPAN2 was there! Look for me if you're ever up in the wee hours of the morning flipping through the channels.  The topic was very interesting and I liked that both sides of the debate were presented on the panel...it made for feisty discussion (or as feisty as it can get for CSPAN2).

The 4th of July here is, as expected, a pretty darn big deal. Tourists started flocking into the city at the end of last week; there were noticeably more fanny pack wearers and map carriers on the metro. I didn't realize the scope of it all until Saturday - some friends and I made it down to the Mall to picnic on the grounds, which were covered with tents housing exhibitions and food and stages. We found a nice place in the shade and made our way through a whole bag of laffy taffy (minus the banana ones, of course, which I had eaten the night before).  That night we waded through throngs of people who had taken temporary residence on every green space in the city and went to the rooftop of my building to enjoy the fireworks.  I've seen a good number of fireworks displays in my 20 (almost 21!) years, but this was pretty spectacular...especially with the Washington Monument in the background.

[caption id="attachment_449" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Le Monument, surrounded by revelers"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_450" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Picnicing on the Mall"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_451" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="View from the top of my building...now that's a view"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_452" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="My attempt to capture the fireworks...I bow down to those who can take good fireworks pictures"][/caption]

A good Independence Day it was, indeed. Nothing else much exciting last week except my first motorcade sighting...I grinned widely, hoping a certain someone was in one of the black cars. And now another week of work, starting with attending a conference on some poll tomorrow morning...I am knee deep in polls.

I have decided that my favorite place in DC is the Lincoln Memorial...kinda cliche, I know, but there's nothing more peaceful than sitting on the cool marble steps and musing while looking over the reflecting pool to the monument and the Capitol. It's a great place to people watch too: I made it there tonight and was amused to hear two kids asking the couple they were with (who are getting married in DC, I assume)  if their honeymoon would take place at the memorial.

This weekend I welcome my first visitors to DC: Two friends from Scotland are coming to see another Parliament intern and me. That's to be followed by a good friend from USC, my sister, another good friend from USC, and finally a friend from Baton Rouge. The Helen Moser hotel is open for business...and I am mighty excited for my guests!

If I could spell out how a gasp sounds, that would be my title

Whenever I hear news that is shocking or I am physically startled, I let out an uncontrollable dramatic gasp. This week I gasped a lot.  I'm pretty sure people in my office think I'm crazy by now. But it was a crazy week: the horrible DC metro crash, big news stories relayed to me via CNN text update as soon as they happened, and my sister's emergency surgery.  May this next week be less eventful.

I made my debut on AEI's softball team on Tuesday night and had a great time, even though I made no real contribution other than my gender. Each team in the league is supposed to have a certain number of girls on the field at all times, which translated into constant playing time for me. Note that I haven't played any version of the game since my 7-year-old teeball days, and I went into the game thinking that you get people out by throwing the ball at them (turns out that's kickball). I did manage to hit the ball on my first try all three times at bat, though - I just didn't make it to any bases. But fortunately many of the other players are damn good, and the Brooks Brothers (where the sisters at?) walked away with an impressive 20-6 victory. Our next game is this week and my new goal in life is to make it to first base.

In regards to exploring more of the District, on Friday night I went with some friends to the sculpture garden for their weekly free jazz concert. It was a lovely evening, and we sat in the grass drinking sangria and listening to jazz sort of since we were far away due to the massive crowd. Just as we left it started torrentially pouring and hailing, and after chilling under a deserted tent we somehow managed to get a ride in a cop car to the metro. We felt pretty BA.  May any future rides in cop cars I take be under such amicable circumstances.

On Saturday I continued my one museum per weekend trend and went to the Natural History museum. Highlights included the giant squid, dinosaurs, and the Harry Winston gallery, home of the Hope Diamond. I also went to a great IMAX show - Deep Sea. I didn't stay very long because it was outrageously crowded, and I'm thinking hot Saturdays just aren't the best time to go museuming. I'll stay away next weekend for sure since I'm guessing DC is popular among the tourist crowd for July 4.

Today I took my second field trip with the kids. What was supposed to be a pool day turned into a movie day since rain was in the forecast. We saw Up, although I didn't really get to see too much due to the exploits of rambunctious 5-13ers. But it was fun and I'm enjoying spending my Sundays this way. As for Up, I'm planning to go back sans small children - what I saw I really liked.

I'm continuing to enjoy being at AEI and learning about a diverse array of topics. This week it was geoengineering, organ donation and Zahra Rahnavard. Next week I'm scheduled to attend a conference on presidential succession...oh me, oh my!

I can't believe four weeks are already gone and it's about to be July.  I suppose I'm at an age now where everything feels like it goes by fast, and the summer especially so. Now only six weeks to go of DC rumination and exploration and two weeks left as a 20-year-old. When asked which age they would like to return to many women say 20, so I'll cherish the next two weeks even though I believe the best is yet to come.

Just call me Lindsay Lohan

Part of the reason I decided to continue blogging from DC was to have a record of what I thought about the city. It's a place that I've thought for long I may like to live one day, and I chose to spend my summer here to get a good idea of what this city is all about and to see if I fit into the puzzle.

After three weeks that have passed very quickly, DC continues to befuddle me. It's easily defined as our nation's capital, the city where the president lives and where the big laws are passed, but other than that I'm still lacking a clear vision of what really makes up this place. I mentioned my confusion with the southern efficiency/northern charm quote in an earlier post and I'm no closer to figuring that out. As a Louisianan I see charm and inefficiency in the South  - perhaps the quote is intentionally confusing to reflect the confusingness that is DC, sly JFK. Or perhaps it is more about perspective.

What I think I've deduced is that DC is more an amalgamation of cultures than holder of its own. Apart from the kids I worked with today, most everyone I have met here  is a transplant. In a way this city is a microcosm of the U.S.: People from everywhere take up close quarters and share the ideas and ways of the places they come from. I've experienced that just with the other interns at AEI.

The beguiling nature of this city also translates to its weather. Some days this past week have been extremely hot, humid and sunny; others cloudy and chilly. Rain starts and stops at a moment's notice, making for a very frustrating start for the AEI softball team (I've decided to start playing next week to show off my mad skills), and also producing wardrobe selection confusion.

I'm catching up on my chillaxing time right now, having had a pretty busy, but fun, week. Notable excursion: Friday night we went to a Washington Nationals baseball game - aka the worst team in the Major League. One guy in our group caught a foul ball, which wasn't saying much since there were plenty to be had. I'm no baseball expert, but even I could tell they were pretty bad. The Nats and the Toronto Blue Jays were tied 1-1 at the end of the ninth, and I stayed until the eleventh, right after which there was an amazing play that won the game for the Nats - major shucks. It was a fun night, though; I liked sitting outside on the humid night and we got great seats since the stadium was half-full. As my favorite part of USC football games is the fake car race (and Traveler, of course!) the best part of the Nats game was the U.S. presidents race - people dressed up as Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and T. Roosevelt raced around the field. There's some DC culture right there.

In AEI news, the office was abuzz this week about the situation in Iran; it dominated lunchtime discussion and work assignments. I'm curious to follow the developments and hopeful that some justice will happen for the people there.

Yesterday I braved extreme heat (made a major faux pas and wore jeans) to visit the American History Museum but didn't stay too long because the crowds were redonk. I'll have to go back and see the First Ladies exhibit, my favorite, right. The tourists have started swarming in and I often have to weave through large groups on my way to work in the morning.

Today I started volunteering with Horton's Kids, an organization that works with children in a less privaleged DC community. They do tutoring for the kids during the school year and summer camp and field trips during the summer. I had a great time on a field trip at a park, and I'm planning to go on as many Sundays as I can while I'm here. Today the kids guessed I was 36 years old and told me I'd look like Lindsay Lohan if I had a little more freckles. I'll spend some more time in the sun and own it proudly.

Ahhh to be young again...

It's a slow day at work and I'm on a post-sugar cookie high. Thought I'd use my time to share instead of scouring the New York Times website again for stories of strange and interesting.

You can never go home again, and you can never relive your freshman year of college...except if you're a summer resident at one of GW's dorms. I'm one for nostalgia, just not this kind:

1. Early a.m. fire alarms because someone burned something in the provided microwave - although it is always somehwhat entertaining to see how everyone reacts. And there's an opportunity to learn new things: Last time I learned (via an overheard cell phone conversation) that investment bankers work on Sundays and every day into the wee hours of the morning. No thanks.

2. Damage - the glass front doors to my building are currently smashed out. What's up with the violence, yo?

3. Locking yourself out. This happened to me yesterday, and it will probably happen again. It's a loonnng walk to get that replacement key, but it's just part of the experience.

4. Weird smells. Nuff' said.

5. Randomness. Last week I desperately needed to take a shower after going running, but the women's bathroom was locked on my floor...and on the next floor. I was sweaty sweaty and decided to take a chance in the men's, knowing full well that if caught people would think I was a creeper. My pink toenails would have given me away in a second, but I don't think anyone saw me - I hope!

Considering, though, I have it good - another intern told me today that her room at a student boarding house came with a "pet rat." When she moved in her roommate suggested that they use books to cover the vent that the little creature scurries from.

Vienna waits for youuu

I'm not in Vienna, not even close - there is a metro stop called Vienna and I've had the song stuck in my head for days. Since I have a single room here I've been able to perfect my Billy Joel singing abilities.  It is a lovely song, indeed. I just hope my hallmates think so too - or that these walls are thick!

Week two down, and I'm not getting lost so much anymore. I'm more comfortable now with the city overall and am starting to feel like an actual resident of the District, as the cool kids call it. I've mastered the metro - minus an incident last night that involved me having no idea how to refill my metro card and that ended with me singing "I've got the golden ticket" as we just made our train. We've even managed to find a few places that allow younger clientele, and it's been nice to go out a little, but I'm honestly OK taking a break after all my pubbing in Scotland.

I haven't decided yet if I think this city is for me long-term, but I really enjoyed this past week.  Work is continuing to go well, and it's gonna heat up after Wednesday when my supervisor bids AEI adieu. It's been a really great experience to be surrounded by so many intelligent people with a spectrum of opinions, but sometimes I feel as though my brain is in overdrive. Friday, for instance, my scholar hosted a conference on changing election demographics in the 2008 election that I found really interesting (even though I was the hated person holding up the time cards for the speakers). That was followed by intense intellectual discussion among the interns at lunch and then by a staff forum on changing demographics in the Muslim world. Whew!

Week two also brought some crazy weather. On Tuesday I was awoken at 6 am by extremely loud thunder and I lay awake watching the lighting and rain outside my window. Louisiana has some pretty great storms, but I haven't experienced one in years - I enjoyed it. Round two happened that evening: I took the metro to the Capitol stop to attend a meeting and was met by pounding rain and HAIL at the exit. I couldn't find where I needed to go and got completely soaked. That said, I hope it happens again.

Yesterday I visited the Newseum and enjoyed it immensely - it's the only museum I think I've managed to spend three hours in ever (I was the person that dashed through the Louvre in 45 minutes). It has been a long time coming for me and that building: I attended a journalism conference in DC my senior year of high school that was sponsored by the Newseum's founders. They took us to what was the building site at the time and I told myself then that I would be back to see the finished product. Worth the wait - they have some pretty great exhibits. I especially liked the gallery of Pulitzer-winning photographs and the interactive exhibit where you can watch clips from big news moments  in history; I could have sat there for hours. I also attended a lecture by a journalist who has written stories from Pakistan and Iran. Very cool place for a journalism enthusiast such as myself. One interesting tidbit: the museum sits on Pennsylvania Avenue right by the Capitol and has a huge stone slab on its front with the First Amendment to remind the Congressmen and women who drive by on their way to work everyday.

Today I did two things that I really enjoyed - I met some people at the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival at the National Mall (nothing is better than a jazz version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" while soaking up the sun) and then went to a slam poetry performance. The Kennedy Center has free performances every night at 6 pm, and tonight it was a group of high school students from Chicago presenting their original works. They were awesome.

Something I'm confused about: JFK said that Washington is a city of southern efficiency and northern charm. Shouldn't it be the other way around? But I've got more time here in this fabulous city to figure that out.

Stay cool cause I won't be able to - it's getting freaking hot!

Thank goodness I brought an umbrella, now I just need a good map...

A week into living in Washington DC, I’ve been lost more times than I can count.  You would think that since the streets are arranged in ascending numbers and letters I would stand a chance, but even such sensible logic can’t help the extreme directionally challenged. My biggest problem is that I often have gut feelings about which way is the right way to go, but such feelings are always wrong.

Getting lost can be a good thing when you’re trying to explore a new city, just not when walking home from the metro stop late at night or carrying heavy bags of groceries.  But I’m getting craftier: Today I got off at the stop for the National Shrine to go to mass, had absolutely no idea how to get there, and then stealthily followed a guy carrying a Bible right up to the doors of the church. Whatever works, right?

Apart from constantly getting lost, I’ve settled into life in DC pretty easily. I have enjoyed my walks to and from work, except when it has rained – I often wondered this past week if I were back in Scotland. But now the weather is just how I like it: sunny, sunny, sunny and hot, hot, hot. And getting hotter!

My walks take me past the White House, and while I haven’t laid eyes on Mr. President yet, I’m pretty sure I saw David Axelrod one morning (or maybe it was wishful thinking, having watched the NBC special about the Obama White House the night before). I’ll update again if I have any more “celebrity” sightings – they’re my celebrities anyway! I was pretty excited.

My internship is going well; It has been fun getting to know the other interns and the kitchens are well-stocked with tons of drinks and AEI’s homemade cookies to break up what can feel like pretty long days. I think I have a better understanding now of what a think tank is (or at least what AEI is): The scholars, who are the very well educated top dogs, research and write about different areas of public policy. Then, their findings make their way into the public sphere and often into the hands of people who actually draft policy. AEI lets its scholars have free reign to work on topics that interest them, and to present whatever conclusions they want to make. Our HR rep told us at orientation that AEI has its fair share of liberals, conservatives, and “raging moderates.” It’s definitely been interesting so far and an overall nice place to work.  We had our company picnic this afternoon, complete with a dessert contest - I didn’t participate, I just “judged.”

I’ve been having fun traipsing through DC in my free time and just getting to know the city. After an a.m. fire alarm went off at the dorm yesterday (woo hoo for microwave fires!), I walked from GW to the National Mall and visited the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. I have to say I was a bit disappointed – I’m not a museum person anyway, but this one just seemed to be lacking overall. I may just be jaded, though, because there is nothing quite like experiencing the culture firsthand. I’m planning to hit up the American History Museum, the Natural History Museum , and the Newseum (all about journalism and the news) in the coming weeks.

One other thing:  July 15 can’t come soon enough! We youngsters have managed to find some places to go out, but this town just isn’t that friendly to the under-21 crowd. I’m hoping my GRE score will make up for it, though (aka I haven’t started studying yet).  I will be one appreciative 21-year-old, that’s for sure.  Luckily there are enough restaurants to try, places to walk to, and free concerts to get me there.

Guten nacht from the District of Crime and here’s hoping I don’t show up here.

Just for shiggles

I raved about AEI's lunch fare in my last post, and I thought it would be fun to share this week's  menu with my readers:

Monday, June 1

Appetizer
Sweet Shrimp Tempura with Vegetables and Thai Ginger Sauce

Hot Entrée
Grilled Teriyaki Tenderloin of Beef with Japanese Coconut Fried Rice and Lemongrass Port Sauce

Cold Entrée
Pennsylvania Cobb Salad with Grilled Paillard of Turkey, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Tomatoes, Hard Cooked Eggs, Avocado, Onions, Fresh Basil and Roquefort Cheese

Tuesday, June 2

Appetizer
Rice Crepes Filled with Spinach, Chicken, Golden Chanterelle, Shallots and Fresh Herbs

Hot Entrée
Pan-Roasted Alaskan Wild Striped Bass with Tomatoes, Truffle, Bouillabaisse and Spring Assorted Vegetables

Cold Entrée
Asian Mixed Green Salad with Grilled Black Angus Beef, Vine-Ripened Tomatoes, Vidalia Onions, Cucumbers and Sesame Yuzu Vinaigrette

Wednesday, June 3

Appetizer
Vietnamese Barbeque Pork Loin Kabobs with Eggplant, Shiitake with Sweet and Spicy Cucumber Relish

Hot Entrée
Grilled A.E.I. Organic Chicken Breast with Corn, Cilantro and Black Bean Salsa served with Asparagus and Risotto Cakes

Cold Entrée
Salad of Pan-Roasted South Pacific Salmon with Red Bell Peppers, Artichokes, Tomatoes and Kalamata Olives tossed with Lemon Thyme Vinaigrette

Thursday, June 4

Appetizer
Pan-Seared Asian Ahi Tuna Burger with Wasabi Aioli and Fries

Hot Entrée
Linguini with Gulf Prawns and Red King Crab Legs, Sautéed Blue Foot Mushrooms and Green Peas in a Delicious Lightly Spiced Basil and Brandy Sauce

Cold Entrée
Kaiso Salad with Chinese Black Peppered Chicken, Ginger, Cucumbers, Carrots, Scallions, Green Cabbage, Papaya and Fresh Red Chilies tossed with Citrus Sesame Dressing

Friday, June 5

Buffet-Style Luncheon Served

I feel a little silly, but I know I'd eat this up if I were reading!

OK, enough puns and enough about food - I won't talk too much more about my gastronomical adventures. On a non-foodie note, tonight I took an evening stroll to the National Mall and had some nice face time with Honest Abe. Dusk here is lovely right now; it's delightfully warm and just humid enough. My research assistant reminded me today that it's a farce, but for now I stroll.

DCeeeeee

Helloooo from Washington DC!

I have some good news: there is a 24-hour 7-Eleven on the ground floor of my building! I shall not go hungry, or without slurpies!

I was very excited to see my favorite convenience store after a tiresome day of travel yesterday - BR to DC involved two takeoffs, two landings, a looonggg cab ride into the city, and a fairly hectic check-in process with two gargantuan bags. But now I is here, coming at you from my fabulous (ok maybe not so fabulous) dorm room at GW. I don't think the building has been renovated since it was built likely in the 1920s, but I have everything I need and I'm quite content.

The J-O-B started today, and after encountering one of DC's most eloquent truck drivers ("You don't even need to work, you a honey!) and getting a bit lost (shocker), I found the tall AEI building. But all in all the stroll was quite nice - it was actually cool this morning and I tried to savor it, as I know it will be hot as hades soon. I people watched as I walked - this city is bursting with young people in power suits off to their jobs in the political world. 

I really enjoyed my day at AEI, especially lunchtime; it's an hour-long full table service affair and the food is very, very good. Today we had various types of sushi for an appetizer followed by some sort of teryaki beef and coconut rice. Mmmmm - and everything tastes better when it's free! 

Apart from describing the food, I won't be able to do much blobbing about my internship; our HR supervisor listed it as a big no-no in our orientation today.  What I can say is that my scholar seems very nice and the projects I'll be working on are interesting and right up my alley. As a bonus, my supervisor (every intern is assigned to an AEI scholar as well as his or her research assistant) is leaving for good in two and a half weeks, and I will be essentially taking over his job, office and all. Seems a little daunting now, but hopefully I'll learn the ropes quickly. 

I haven't had much time to sightsee, but I did go by the White House today. It seemed smaller than the last time I saw it, but I've probably just gotten bigger. I'm planning to hit up some of the monuments and museums this weekend. 

I'll update again when there's more to say, but for now this working girl says good night from the executive city. Oh and get ready, I have tons of googled DC nicknames up my sleeve!

Life would be easier if airlines didn't weigh bags...

"It is sometimes called the City of Magnificent Distances, but it might with greater propriety be termed the City of Magnificent Intentions." - Charles Dickens

Washington DC has intrigued me for a long time, and I'm finally getting the chance to spend the summer there. In less than two days I'm leaving one swamp for another.  After Scotland, though, the hotter the better. Bring it on!

I've been to DC as a tourist a few times, but I think there's a big difference between just visiting a city and living in it; I'm hoping 10 weeks will give me a good idea of what it's like to live and work in the nation's capital. I'll be interning at the American Enterprise Institute, a think tank that contributes to research and education on a number of public policy issues.  At least that's what it says on the website -- hopefully working at a think tank will clear up my confusion about how exactly one operates.  But any place that gives its interns free breakfast and a gourmet lunch sounds pretty solid to me :)

I'm living in a dorm at George Washington University, conveniently 15 minutes from AEI and just two blocks from the White House! My morning stroll to work will take me by 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and I hope a certain someone will make an appearance at least once.  The summer is starting out to be quite interesting already: it will be exciting for this political junkie to be in DC while the Supreme Court confirmation hearing is taking place. 

DC is supposed to be a really fun place for college students to spend the summer and I plan to make the most of it -- trips to memorials (the Iwo Jima one is my favorite), to museums, to nighttime movie showings on the Mall, and to neighboring places in Virginia and Maryland are in the works. I also will be turning 21 while there, woo hoo!

Will my admittedly too-full suitcases make it onto the plane? Will I be able to think enough to do OK at my job?  Stay tuned for more of me, live from the nation's capital!

Not done quite yet!

I'm back in good ol' Louisiana now and glad to be home after almost three weeks of travel through Europe and a semester with the kilted. I'm trying to muster up the motivation to update about my fantastic escapades through France, Germany, and Austria, but until I do check out the blog of my ginger friend: http://londonlillylass.blogspot.com/.

Lilly traveled with me in France and Germany and is doing a darn good job updating about our experiences there; her most recent post about the all-nighter we spent in Paris caused me to break out in hysterical laughter much like the kind we shared in the train station. Read on, read on!

Here's one snippet from my travels on the continent, from perhaps the coolest thing I did. If you're a Sound of Music fan, you'll understand:

[caption id="attachment_384" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The gazebo in Salzburg: I am 20, going on 21, I know that I'm naive!"][/caption]

I'm home in Baton Rouge for two weeks and will then be spending the summer interning in Washington DC -- not as exotic as Taiwan or Europe, but Helen of Troy may still have a few things to say from our nation's capital. Y'all come back now, ya hear?

 

With a day to go in the land of haggis and whisky...

I'm always a sap when it comes to saying goodbye, and in less than 24 hours I'll be bidding farewell to Scotland. Bear with me, because this post will be gushy.

Before I talk about what this experience has meant to me in general, I'll fill the readers of this blog in on what has transpired since I returned home from Rome. Not anything too notable last week, if I'm remembering correctly. On Tuesday night we celebrated an intern's birthday at the Filling Station, an American-like pub I've mentioned here before. And on Thursday I went to the Southsider, a local pub that's supposed to have great fish and chips. Naturally, I got the fish and chips -- the first I've had here and an experience I wanted to check off my list. Very greasy, but very tasty. Oh and chips = french fries. The British can make some good chips.

On Saturday, I went with another intern and another intern's friend (but not the one who came with us -- confusing sorry) to St. Andrews. The three of us were the southern triumvirate - one from Mississippi, one from Alabama, and me from Louisiana. They are very nice girls, and we had alot of fun chatting about the South and its customs that are befuddling to so many. A crawfish boil? What? One of the other interns referred to it as a less classy lobster bake.

St. Andrews: what a beautiful little town on the sea. It's the home of golf (boring!) and also home to St. Andrews University. We picked a great day to go -- lady luck was on our side -- because the Kate Kennedys (from what I gather a club of St. Andrew's poshest students) were doing their annual procession through town. We happened upon a group of lads on campus decorating a buggy in yellow flowers and got the scoop. The whole town came out to see the students dressed convincingly as historical Scottish figures walk through the streets. St. Andrews students wear red dress robes that are right out of Harry Potter. It was a really neat thing to see.

The rest of the trip centered around walking through the town and visiting its castle and cathedral. St. Andrews is very small; we could see the whole thing from the cathedral tower. 

[caption id="attachment_372" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The Kate Kennedys decorating the buggy on university grounds."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_373" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The sea!"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_374" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Ruins of St. Andrew's Castle"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_375" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The town from the cathedral tower."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_376" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Kate Kennedy procession."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_377" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The oldest golf course in the world -- it takes years on a waiting list to be able to play here."][/caption]

And that plus some mandatory gelato at B. Janetta's was my St. Andrews experience. I'm glad I was able to see it on my last weekend here.

This past week has been full of intern romping through Edinburgh and some formal goodbyes. On Tuesday night we had our "graduation" from the parliamentary programme. I have a certificate and everything! Paddy gave a surprisingly brief speech followed by others who were involved with the program. When it was the interns' turn no one else spoke up so I told Paddy I would say a few words. 

[caption id="attachment_378" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="PADDY!"][/caption]

Yesterday was my last at Parliament, and while it's been a really good internship I'm glad to be done.  I finished up my project and did a few other things before cleaning out my desk and saying my goodbyes. I will miss that cafeteria food and its custard covered desserts.

[caption id="attachment_379" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The interns minus two on our final day at Parliament."][/caption]

Last night was the INTERN BLOWOUT, but it didn't turn out to be much of a blowout at all. We're all really, really tired. We started at an apartment and went to two bars/pubs before calling it a night.

I realized last night that I probably won't see some of the people who I've shared the last 15 weeks with again; it's a saddening thought. The interns spent an exorbitant amount of time together -- we saw eachother every day and most nights. It was a great group and we had had alot of fun. (Yes, I did cry a little when I was hugging everyone goodbye). 

Now I'm starting my last day in Edinburgh, and it's cold and dreary as it should be. I wouldn't have wanted to go out any other way. I really am ready to go, but I'm still a mix of emotions. 

Four months has been a long time to be cold; I will not miss the weather at all. What I will miss: the interns and other people who have made this experience, being able to walk everywhere I want to go, lovely Scottish music in pubs, pubs, being able to drink legally (my 21st birthday is in July), cider, Scottish accents, kilts as normal dress, train rides, Parliament gossip, I could go on...

Tomorrow I'm flying to Paris with Lilly and two other girls and thus will start my 3-week European adventure! I'm doing a week in France, a week in Germany, and a week in Austria. I'm ready to see some more of this world.

Thanks to those of you who kept up with this blog; it was fun to write and I hope fun to read as well. I may not be able to blog so much in Europe since I'll be at the mercy of hostel computers, but I'll try to do some if I can. 

One last time from Scotland, with some Deep Scottish Love!

Sun and gelato in ROME!

Edinburgh is covered by a blanket of fog today, and it's making me miss Rome even more. Ahhh Roma, what a beautiful city! 

Easter weekend is a pretty great time to go to Rome, but it's also one of the worst. Everywhere we went was crowded, don't get me started on the Vatican. But it was such a special experience that it was well worth it...

Four of us interns awoke at the so early hour of 3 am on Friday to make it in time for our 6:30 am flight out of Edinburgh. Our flight was delayed, of course. As Lilly put it well, Ryan Air is now on my "dead to me" list. I suppose that you get what you pay for is an accurate description of the airline, so I shouldn't complain so much. I would just prefer that my flights aren't 3 hours late, as happened on the way home. But for 1 p, which is what I'm paying to fly to Paris in a couple weeks, I will settle for literally anything except a plane crash. I will never buy a scratch lotto ticket on board, though.

When I stepped off the plane I was met by wonderfully warm air and the light of the sun. How I've missed thee! Then and there I decided it was going to be a pretty great trip. 

We took a bus into the city and then found our hostel near the Cavour metro station. An older Italian lady who didn't speak a lick of English greeted us and showed us the hostel - aka her apartment with bunk beds stuffed in a couple rooms. But it was clean and in a great location, so we were rather pleased with the find. 

Then it was time to explore! We had a pizza lunch at an outside cafe then roamed the streets in search of the Roman Forum. We found it, but as it closed early for Good Friday, we made our way to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps instead. On the way we tried our first gelato -- I remember thinking "I love my life" as I downed it in the sun. There are as many gelato shops in Rome as there are 7-Elevens in Taipei and pubs in Edinburgh; they're basically everywhere you look. Which is a great thing, because gelato is amazingly delicious.  We had it 5 times in the 3 days we were there and it wasn't enough.

[caption id="attachment_341" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The accordion player who serenaded our pizza lunch."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_342" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="One of our first views of the city."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_343" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The ladies in Rome! I believe the building behind is a shrine to Emperor Emmanuel. Notice my tank top - woo hoo!"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_344" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The Trevi Fountain. The saying is that if you throw a coin into the fountain you'll be back to Rome. I threw in two!"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_346" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The Spanish Steps, covered in people. We hiked to the top and had a nice view of the city from there."][/caption]

After dinner at a lovely place  - mmmm homemade pasta, bruschetta, and red wine of course -- we went to the Coliseum for a very special performance by DA POAP! That's Pope Benedict XVI, who led an outside stations of the cross for Good Friday. It was all in Italian so we didn't understand a word, but it was still a really cool experience, one that I'm sure I'll remember and talk about for the rest of my life.

[caption id="attachment_347" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Very bad, blurry picture of the pope leading stations of the cross - he's in the red!"][/caption]

The next day we woke early again, but not early enough. By the time we made it to the Vatican it was already mobbed by thousands of people. The line to see St. Peter's Basilica wrapped around the square, and after waiting for a bit we decided to do the Vatican Museums (which house the Sistine Chapel) first. The path to the Sistine Chapel is overwhelming to say the least: you are surrounded by amazing art, sculptures, and images and there's simply not time to truly appreciate it all. The Sistine Chapel was, as expected, breathtaking. I must say I thought the painting of God touching Adam would be more prominent since that's the image everyone knows from the chapel, but it's almost hidden among everything else.

Next we went back to St. Peter's and were relieved to see that the line was much shorter. We made it into the basilica and were hit with more extreme visual stimulation. The basilica is HUGE, ornate, and just all in all filled with really incredible things. Michelangelo's Pieta is in there as well as many famous works of art. Unfortunately the crypts were closed for the day, but that only gives me a reason to go back.

[caption id="attachment_348" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Moi in St. Peter's Square with the Basilica in the background."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_350" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Ornate pathway on the route to the Sistine Chapel."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_351" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="God touching Adam, the most iconic image of the Sistine Chapel."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_352" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Another view of Michelangelo's greatness in the chapel."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_353" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Lilly and I with the square to our backs -- the entrance to the basilica was being adorned with flowers for Easter mass."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_354" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Inside the basilica."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_355" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Michelangelo's Pieta."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_356" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The dome inside the basilica."][/caption]

After some much-needed gelato (coconut mmmm), we hiked it (or rather metroed it) to the Piazza del Popolo and had an unforgettable experience with one of Rome's hustlers. They're everywhere, shoving flowers and other items in your hands and then asking you to pay for them. This one fella wouldn't take no for an answer, and even after he gave us the flowers and promised us they were gifts, asked the guy in our group to pay for them. He relented, only after I threatened to put the roses on the ground. 

[caption id="attachment_357" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Holding the hustler's roses in Piazza del Popolo."][/caption]

My Europe guidebook says Rome has more ruins and historic sites than dog poop, and that's a pretty accurate description. Everywhere you look is something amazing. Close to the Piazza is Villa Borghese, a really lovely park with a pond, museums, and lots of green space. We strolled, sat, and enjoyed being in the sun. I came back with a bit of a sunburn that's turned now to a little bit of a tan, and I couldn't be happier about that.

Dinner that night was in Campo, a great little square lined with restaurants and bars that's centered around a fountain. I enjoyed lasagna and red wine as another accordionist serenaded us. 

[caption id="attachment_358" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Lilly and I at dinner in Campo - this semester has turned me into a red wine fan!"][/caption]

We went to a couple bars for a bit, but nothing too exciting was going on, probably because it was the night before Easter. Lilly and I departed a bit early to head back to the hostel and had some interesting encounters with Italy's gentlemen. Prior to then I was a bit skeptical about the rumor about Italian men being true, during the day it's completely fine. But we were very uncomfortable walking back - with men blantantly staring at us and making comments as we passed. We encountered some real sketchsters in the metro and were glad to make it home.

The next morning we attended Easter mass at the Pantheon, which has recently been converted into a church. I was surprised that there were not many people there at all, but I guess most tourists were at the Vatican - we chose to avoid it.

[caption id="attachment_360" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The Pantheon inside..."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_361" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="and outside."][/caption]

After a delightful pizza lunch, more gelato, and a canoli, we went back to the Roman Forum to see what ancient Rome was all about. I must admit I didn't have much of an idea what anything was, but it was fun to imagine the site in its heyday. We also climbed Paletine Hill, which was where the ancient Romans built their fancy homes. It has a great view of the city and the forum below.

[caption id="attachment_362" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Standing amidst the Roman Forum, ancient Rome's cultural and political center."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_363" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Beautiful flora on the way up Paletine Hill."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_364" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Rome view from the top."][/caption]

Next up was the site of fighting and death for the Ancient Romans: where else but the Coliseum? The building itself is pretty fascinating, as is its macabre history.  Funnily enough I associate the Coliseum first with the Lizzie McGuire Movie since Lizzie performs there. Kind of a contrast of ideas, but I would associate fighting and death with a Disney chick flick.

[caption id="attachment_365" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The inside of the Coliseum, with the maze below. I believe the people would wait there before they fought?"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_366" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Shamelessly sunning myself in front of the Coliseum. Those pale, pale legs are a little tanner now!"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_367" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="A question I posed to the group: Do brown pigeons know they're different? What do you think?"][/caption]

 We hiked it to Trastavere, Rome's hippest neigborhood so says the guidebook, for a 3-hour dinner followed by more gelato. Our waiter spoke no English, but he did speak a bit of German interestingly enough, as do I, so that's how we communicated. It was so nice to sit outside as the day turned to night and enjoy delicious Italian food and wine. A good end to a great trip.

And that was Rome! The next day wasn't so great due to the 3-hour flight delay, but we made in back to Edinburgh with enough time to rest up - I was completely exhausted. I must admit I wasn't so happy to be hit with a wall of cold air when I stepped off the plane, but in about a week and a half I'll be in France enjoying the warmth again.

Why did I love Rome so much? 1. gelato 2. gelato 3. gelato

hehe but seriously, it was refreshing to be in a place so entirely different. The UK is very similar to the US, while Rome screams ITALY! The culture is everywhere, and I'm so glad to have experienced it. I'll be back someday, for sure.

My adventures in Scotland are soon coming to an end; look for one more post from Edinburgh and then I'm on to more places! I'm ready to go!

I've got DSL, and I'm not talking about high speed internet

After three days on a bus in the Scottish Highlands, I feel as though I've really gotten to see the best parts of this country. USC paid for us studying in the UK to take the trip -- my tuition dollars at work -- and it was a great time.  Luckily Lilly was able to go too, and she was my seat mate for the journey. If we had seen six more white horses, she could have been The One -- I'll explain later.

We left early Tuesday morning from Edinburgh in a bright yellow Haggis Tours bus. In addition to being bright yellow, the bus had WILD & SEXY written on the side, so there was no way we wouldn't attract attention. Our tour guide, a hip guy named Matt, assured us we would, in fact, have a wild and sexy time.

[caption id="attachment_311" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Lilly and I showing what wild and sexy is."][/caption]

There were 23 USC students to begin plus our director, and the bus was almost completely packed - I joked it should be called the "Chain Smoker Express" since it seemed many people were often late due to their smoking habit. The first stop was the tiny town of Dunkeld, not too far away from Edinburgh. The main site there is the Dunkeld Cathedral with its adjacent ruins. Plus some ancient murderer is buried behind the altar. I'm blanking on his name, but I know it contains "wolf." He was a bad guy -- so bad, Matt said, that most tours don't mention him.

[caption id="attachment_312" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="da ruins"][/caption]

Then it was into the Highlands! We stopped first at Aviemore, a ski resort village, for lunch, and then made our way to Culloden Battlefield, the site of the massive 1745 battle between the Jacobites and the Hanoverian British Government. It's a very solemn place -- just an empty expanse marked by flags. 

[caption id="attachment_313" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Culloden Battlefield"][/caption]

Next was Loch Ness, time numero dos for me, for some Nessie hunting. I'm an honest-to-God Nessie believer now; we didn't see anything but Matt  went through the different theories and told some very convincing stories. The lake is 23 miles long and as deep as 900 feet -- plenty of room to hide for a  friendly monster!

[caption id="attachment_314" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Bonny Loch Ness"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_315" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Copping a feel -- es war sehr kalt! (But that didn't stop a couple guys in our group from swimming in it)."][/caption]

 We drove along the shores of the loch, stopping for photo ops, and then moved very quickly to make our way to the Highland culture presentation. We sat in a recreated Highland dwelling and watched a guy explain how Highlanders lived -- what they ate, wore, and did. He needed people to demonstrate traditional Highland dress, and when no other girl volunteered I stepped up to bat, after being assured I would not have to strip completely, as Highland women did. 

[caption id="attachment_317" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Undergoing the intense tying and folding process."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_318" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Me as a Highlander woman! Notice the red wig: 95% of Highland women were gingers!"][/caption]

Don't I look great? Funnily enough, Highlander dress was very versatile. Think one of those things from American Apparel that you can twist into a million different outfits. The basic piece is just a super long strip of tartan fabric that is folded, tucked in, and wrapped many different ways depending on the occasion. No undergarments allowed, which I think could be very freeing. One other great thing about being a Highland woman was that the bigger your butt was, the more beautiful you were considered. Later that night, we ran into the the man who gave the presentation at a pub and he said he knew it was me from across the room because of my bottom! I should have lived in the Highland times.

We stayed that night at a nice hostel near the loch in a sleepy village.  A search for dessert later at night turned into quite the experience for Lilly, another USCer, and me: We met some interesting English chaps who had a penchant for dissing everything American. I held my own, but Lilly tells me making fun of Americans is many an English person's favorite hobby. Gotta seep in the culture, right?

The next morning it was up bright and early to hit the road again. First stop: Eilean Donan Castle, the most photographed place in Scotland. For the ladies reading this, Made of Honor was filmed there. The castle is on a small island connected to the main land by a stone bridge, and it is a lovely sight indeed.

[caption id="attachment_320" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Eilean Donan Castle"][/caption]

Then it was on the road to the beautiful Isle of Skye. We first made a quick pitstop by a river to hear the tale of the one-eyed woman. It's too long to recount here, but basically a woman who had her eye ripped out dipped her face into the river's water and was made beautiful again. Lilly and I dabbed water on ourselves in an attempt to preserve our 20-year-old looks, of course.

[caption id="attachment_321" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Hip tour guide Matt recounting the tale."][/caption]

We crossed over the Skye Bridge, a very expensive work of engineering that caused a public protest, and were greeted with amazing coastal views. Ahhh the sea! I must go down to the seas again...

Skye is commonly regarded as one of the most beautiful places in Scotland, and it's easy to see why. Why don't you take a look:

[caption id="attachment_322" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="In Portree, Skye's main town, hoping the seagulls don't poop on me."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_323" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The most commonly photographed image of Skye."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_324" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Sheep!"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The lovely, lovely sea."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_326" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Oh, Skye."][/caption]

A night at Saucy Mary's, our hostel/pub combo, was a good time. Saucy Mary was a woman who back in the day would flash ships passing by. There are many imitators, but no one in our group got saucy (at least as far as I know).

On to day three (I was exhausted by this time)...We left Skye and made our way west to Glen Coe. Matt stopped for several photo ops on the way - the road traveled through a very scenic mountain range.



 



 



Glen Coe was the site of the intern trip many weeks ago, but it was great to go back. I think it's now officially my favorite place in Scotland. Matt took us on a different route through the "valley of the weeping," so I was able to see more of the Glen's amazing scenery. 

[caption id="attachment_331" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Moody, wonderful Glen Coe."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_332" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="da bridge in da glen."][/caption]

I was sad to leave Glen Coe, but I'll be back one day, I'm sure. I've got DSL, Deep Scottish Love. Matt talked about DSL throughout the whole trip; he says everyone on his trips catches it and it definitely happened to me :) The other thing Matt talked about alot was what happens when one sees 30 white horses on a trip to the Highlands. 30 white horses spotted, and the person sitting next to you is your true love.  We got down to 6, so there is no Insalata/Moser wedding - at least not yet. JOKES!

The final two stops of the trip were Hamish and Stirling. Hamish is a Highland cow, Stirling is a town. Hamish was awesome!! Except he has Bovine herpes, so no mouth-to-mouth allowed, shucks. In Stirling we went to the William Wallace monument aka Braveheart. I still haven't seen the movie, shameful I know.

[caption id="attachment_333" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The most photographed Highland resident. "][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_335" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The tribute to the man who had a very brave heart."][/caption]

After what felt like an eternity on a bus, we rolled back into Edinburgh Thursday evening. It was a great trip, but it's good to be back. The Lillycat spent one more night here with me; it was fun showing her the Parliament and of course a trip to the Elephant House was necessary for us Harry Potter fanatics. 

Only three weeks to go in the land of haggis and whisky. Time has flown by. From Scotland, with love.