Category: Fall 2014
Katie Hunter
In What Ways Is Washington Similar To Boston? In What Ways Is It Different?
By Katie Hunter
Fall 2014
Boston is very much its own city. It has its own revolutionary history with Paul Revere and the Boston Massacre. Even in recent tragedies, it has come out strong. In the wake of the Boston Marathon Bombing, the city as a whole united to become “Boston Strong.” The city of Boston has strong identity. It is not the only city that has a clear sense of self. Washington, DC has a similar culture and historic center and one that has already made an impact on me. Being raised in the Washington DC area, I definitely see DC in a new light after this semester.
Ashli Tagoai
How Does Your Internship Relate To Your Major?
By Ashli Tagoai
Fall 2014
I have spent my semester interning at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF); a Congressionally appointed, nonpartisan, government agency committed to monitoring religious violence across the world. As an International Relations major, it has been a great experience to see how a U.S. government agency works with international religious leaders, prime ministers, and ambassadors to make sure that basic human rights and religious freedom are a reality for all people. Countless hours of research go into the Commission’s annual report, and I’m very lucky to be a part of the work that the staff and Commissioners do to make religious freedom a priority in America. After all, the global effort to uphold human rights is one of the reasons why I love being an International Relations major.
Harsh Gupta
What Policy Issue Are You Most Following While In Washington?
By Harsh Gupta
Fall 2014
When it comes to the federal court system, outside observers, such as the media – and the public in general – tend to view the courts as fair, independent arbiters of justice, uninfluenced by the political partisanship that plagues Congress. Most individuals who are indifferent about the judiciary tend to assume that the courts are separate from the rest of government or that judges come to occupy their benches in a manner unadulterated by ideology. But the more I become acquainted with the judicial confirmation process, the more it seems the system of checks and balances tips away from this view.
Graciela Mariño
How Was Your Adjustment To Washington? How Did It Compare To The First Few Weeks On Campus Back In Boston?
By Graciela Mariño
Fall 2014
When I arrived in DC in late summer (last week of August), I noticed the hot sun on my skin while the typical warm end-of-summer breeze comfortably brushed through my hair. I remember seeing the Capitol Dome for the first time on my first full weekend here…a structure both rigid and monumental, while also majestic. Behind me, the Washington monument stood tall; this is known as the landmark that allows tourists to identify the city from a distance. I spent my first day in Washington D.C. walking through the National Mall and taking in the grandeur of the nation’s capital. It was not my first time in D.C., but it was the first time that I realized what this city means; the first time that I felt I understood its history, its people, its architecture and buildings. It was the first time I saw myself living here and being part of this complex, passionate, and powerful community.
Or Ashkenazi
How were your first two months of the semester in Washington? How does it compare to the first few weeks or months of a semester on campus?
By Or Ashkenazi
Fall 2014
My first two months in Washington D.C. were definitely action packed. Although I didn’t leave the country for my “abroad” experience, the feeling was very similar – there was so much to see and so many places to explore. I’ve been to D.C. in the past, but it’s different seeing it independently, without your family or friends. Washington, as a city, is so different culturally from Boston. The people are different, the layout out of the city is different, and most importantly, the metro system is different (and it’s super embarrassing when you accidentally call it “the T”… even two months into the semester). Besides the new and temporary location, my routine is completely different. I work every morning and take classes every night. I’m way busier than I ever was on campus. I had maintained a job while going to school in Boston… but not like this, not at this pace.
