Well, I have landed! I arrived Monday after taking a red-eye that would have been great except for the screaming kid. It’s an easy trip from Reagan National Airport to my place. I just hop on the metro at the airport, change trains once and get off at Union Station to walk 8 blocks to my doorstep. My roommate was already settled in and raring to go out exploring with me, and some of the other fellows had also arrived, so we have done a few outings as a group to get to know one another.
Tuesday, we went on a beautiful hike at Great Falls, Virginia. It is a national park on the Potomac River, where George Washington had grandiose plans to make the Potomac into the Thames of America. A series of 5 locks were built just at the end of the 1700’s, and for about 25 years, until 1826, boats with goods did travel up and down the Potomac to what was then the frontier. The falls are beautiful and surprising. There is much I plan to explore this year beyond the Capitol.
Wednesday I had made plans to go in to my office and get my badge and meet with my supervisor briefly. It turned in to a full workday and I ended up working Thursday and Friday as well, so I guess I have officially started my fellowship. I am assigned to the Office of International Science and Engineering, which is involved in funding scientific research that involves international collaborations. I am also assigned to the Americas Group, which means I will work specifically with Canada, Central and South America, and the U.S. I actually have several “supervisors.” One for the whole OISE, one for the Americas group and another for another group I am assigned to called Broadening Participation, which will focus in increasing NSF’s inclusion of K-12 student and teacher opportunities in their funded grants.
I have much to learn, and it is quite different than preparing for 30+ students, but everyone has been very kind and helpful. It is very strange, though, to spend an entire morning researching and the afternoon reading what you’ve gathered. I have been asked to help on a database project on Latin America, and to go to the International Math Congress in Mexico next summer. One of my co-workers also invited me to go with him and my Americas Group supervisor to a meeting at the State Department, and suggested my attire be just a bit more formal than what I had worn to the office. I’ll let you know if I see anyone famous. I’ll be firming up my other travel plans this week, so then those that are planning to come visit will know when I won’t be here!
The weather has been hot and humid- normal for DC for this time of year, but finally this weekend cooled down to a comfortable 84 with low humidity, and it is supposed to be very nice all through Labor Day weekend. Some of us went to the Capitol National Symphony Concert, which is right on the lawn in front of Congress! It was a beautiful night with the Capitol at our backs and the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in front.
One of the women who is the NASA Fellow lives in MD and invited all of us over for a Labor Day BBQ today, and on Tuesday we all go to the Triangle Coalition, in the NSTA building, for an all day (10am-8pm) orientation. Then it is to work, and exploring DC and surrounds on the weekends. The very cool thing is that most of the events and museums are all free.
Sorry this is so long. I will try to do more frequent, shorter posts. Hope everyone is well and has a good start to the school year. Keep in touch!
Ruth

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