Mount Vernon

This semester I am taking a class at the Mount Vernon Estate. The class is entitled George Washington and His World. I really enjoy it, and I'm really excited to research and write my paper for the class! A couple of weeks ago we were able to actually tour the house! Mount Vernon is the nation's first house museum, so it's kinda considered the mecca of house museums. Many other house museums strive to be like Mount Vernon in their areas.
Because I am in the class, we were given a special tour by one of the curators. We were able to go into the basement, spend a little bit longer in 'the new room', and also go up to the third floor! The third floor is rarely seen because logistically you just can't get a lot of people up there, and it would really block the flow of traffic for a sight that gets millions of visitors a year. The third floor is pretty special though. It's where Martha Washington moved her bedroom to after the death of George, and also allows access to the coupola. The curator at Mount Vernon said there isn't anything that indicated that a ladder was stationed at the coupola like there is now, but it definetly provided light and air flow for the house. Regardless I got to go up into it and I took a few pictures of the grounds from that great vantage point! I appoligize in advance, these are from my phone so they of course are not the best quality.

The Mount Vernon website is full of information about the house and I would consider it one of the premier museum websites out there. There are all sorts of education information, trip planners, and even a virtual tour of the mansion. Check it out at http://www.mountvernon.org/

Nooshi

I got home from work today and really wanted sushi. I had to go downtown to pick up something from school, so I asked my roommate if she wanted to get sushi. We decided to try out a restaurant in D.C. called Nooshi. It's on 19th Street between L and M streets. It was really good!
I decided to just dive in and get sushi. It was reasonably priced with rolls ranging from $4-$12. I got the California Roll, Yellowtail and Cucumber Roll, and Soft Shell Crab Roll. I only spent around $17 for all three and was so full when I was done. The soft Shell Crab was my favorite roll. There was a mixture of the crab, with a creamy sauce in it and maybe lettuce or cabbage. I just thought it was super tasty. My roommate got the Tuna and Avocado roll and a noodle bowl. She said they were both really good, and the noodle bowl was huge it could have fed 2 people.
This is definitely a college/young professional hang out because of the excellent prices.
I will be going there again and trying more things soon! I think it will become one of my new favorite sushi restaurants.

Random Thoughts

Well there isn't much to report about up here in the District. I have begun working at Starbucks about 20 hours a week and I'm of course still in training. Learning to make some drinks and such during my shifts.
I was able to have a completely free day on Monday. My first labor day off in 3 years, because well Flagler does not believe in that holiday. My roommate and I went to Ikea. It's about 30 minutes away in another town with a huge outlet mall beside it. I bought a bunch of stuff including Ikea meatballs and cream sauce, Yum! School is back up and running. I have all three classes next week, and a paper topic due. I have no idea what I am going to write about. All in time. I'm staying pretty caught up on readings so far, and actually taking notes on the readings. Which mainly has to do with the fact that I have to pay for all of my printing here.
On Tuesday, I left class and took a 1.5 mile walk through D.C., past the White House to the National American History Smithsonian to take a look at their special 9/11 exhibit. 50 items were on display on tables for people to look at. There were objects from the three 9/11 sites (New York, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pa) as well as the TSA. It was really interesting to see what survived out of that horrible day. At the end of the exhibit was a short film, about the day from the news and news anchors perspectives. Then a place where people could reflect and write their thoughts and memory of the day. I thought it was fantastically done, because if someone had a question about an item, they could ask different staff and volunteers at the tables. Also it left the objects up to interpretation. There weren't text panels or anything like that, just labels as to what the object was. I think the video was the most powerful part of the exhibit, because it was right there again in front of someone's face. I'm really glad I braved the rain on Tuesday to see it.
It has been raining like mad here, and I feel wet and damp all of the time. It's gross, and I'm willing it to dry up and the humidity to depart from this place. I want beautiful fall.
Also a new random fact. I am falling in love with yoga. I felt like trying it because I was so stiff. I bought a yoga mat which was also for my dvd cardio/strength style workouts. However, I just decided to try an online streaming yoga video, and I just love it for getting all of the tension out of my body. I have found a Weight Watchers meeting here in town that I am now attending. I have been in a plateau all summer, and I'm trying to get out of it. I lost 1.6 pounds this week, so if I can lose another pound I will be super happy.

Off and Running

I have just finished up m first week of classes at GWU. So far I think it is going to be a really good semester. Monday, I had George Washington and His World which takes place at the Mount Vernon Estate each week. I'm really excited about the tours coming up. I also have to figure out what I would like to do for my final paper/project. My professor would like me to do something Museum Studies related, but as I told him I don't really have much experience yet with my field, so we'll just see what happens. Tuesday, I had Exhibit Design Curatorial Planning. Basically we will be focusing on the role of a curator in the museum profession. This really pertains to my chosen track of Exhibitions, so I think that this class will help me in my future career. Thursday, I have Museum Management. Although, I'm probably the least excited about this class, I am confident that this class will help me understand how museums operate from the management perspective. Overall I think this will be an exciting semester full of new things.
I also have started attending National Community Church at Ballston. I really like how the church emphasizes community within as well as contributing to the surrounding community. They also preach straight from the Bible, and really emphasize one's personal relationship with God. I'm excited to become more involved in the church and meet more people there. I'm considering trying to join a small group this semester. However, with the scheduling between school and my new job, I don't know if I will be able to balance it all this semester.
Finally that brings me to my new job. I am now a "partner"/employee of Starbucks. Lots of free coffee! I love how God provides every time I need a job. He is constantly showing His hand in my life.

Memorials

Well today was an errand/adventure day. I took the metro down to GWU and got my student id which is needed for everything! I then had lunch at J-Street, which is the dining facility on campus. Then I decided to check out the library. Oh man I'm in love with the library, there are so many books! 3 floors of books, plus a floor of periodicals, and study areas everywhere! I'm can't wait to use it. 

I then went on my way and decided to walk from GWU  to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial which is on the tidal pool. It was a super long walk but was well worth it! I walked by the Lincoln Memorial, and the Korean War Memorial on my way to the MLK Jr Memorial. 

Lincoln Memorial

They are redoing the reflecting pool (hence now water) WWII Memorial, Washington Monument, and Capitol

Lincoln

Lincoln Memorial

I wasn't completely sure where I was going, but when I saw all this paraphernalia I knew I was heading in the right direction.

The memorial was really nice, and full of people. It is the opening week, and the official unveiling ceremony is on Sunday. I was walking around, and found it really moving that a bunch of people were on the phone talking to others who weren't there. These people seemed to be recounting many of their Civil Rights Movement era experiences, and it just reaffirmed that this memorial not only belongs on the National Mall, but how much this man, and the movement impacted people's lives. It was a great time.

The memorial is lined with some of his quotes, this one is about the Vietnam War.

View from the Memorial.

 I then walked a forever long way past the Washington Memorial, and finally ended up back at the metro. It took me forever to get back to the metro, because the MLK memorial is kind of in the middle of nowhere so it is quite a hike, and I was not wearing the right shoes! 

Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial

National Park: Floral Library

Jefferson Memorial

My Shoes! I walked 2.5 miles between GWU and the Smithsonian Metro Station

I finally came upon the Holocaust Museum and Bureau of Engraving and Printing building. So I quickly new exactly how to get to the Smithsonian Metro station which would take me right back to my station closest to home. 

Holocaust Museum is the closest building, and the big square one is the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. 

 I thoroughly enjoyed wandering around downtown today. I really think that The District is the only city I could really live in. I was just thoroughly delighted today, and I think that God keeps giving me the gift of delighting in Him through where I am now! "The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." Psalm 37:23

Apartment Tour

I decided to go ahead and make a video tour of my apartment last night. There is much work still left to do on the common areas, but my room is basically all unpacked and even decorated minus a few items. I apologize if the video is terribly shaky, I obviously was walking around, and have never claimed to be the best videographer, especially with my little camera. Enjoy! 

Crafting

After drooling over various projects on Pinterest, I finally decided to make something that I saw on there. I saw a project for putting a decorative backing on a bookshelf and I knew that I already had the perfect bookshelf. I found my backing at Michaels for $1.80. It was vinyl shelf paper that was on sale. It was probably not the best thing to use, because it ended up getting a little messed up on the overlap part, but that is hidden by a shelf anyway so it wasn't a big deal. 

Bookshelf Before = boring

Supplies: Vinyl Shelf Paper, Rubber Cement and Scissors. I didn't really need the rubber cement, but I added a little bit to the corners and where the vinyl ended up overlapping in order to provide  a little extra hold. 

After! There are some bubbles and creases after applying the vinyl, but they aren't that noticeable especially with stuff on the shelf. 

After with shelves on. 

In my room with the books and random supplies. I really think it adds a little bit of color to my room. 

Close up of the backing. The pattern isn't really that noticeable because it's so light and small, but I think it's really cute. 

Once I have finished organizing and unpacking everything, as well as cleaning up the boxes I plan to do a little video tour of my new apartment! 

Smithsonian

I have finally ventured out of my apartment! I decided to go downtown to my absolute favorite Smithsonian, and one I hope to work at one day. The National American History Smithsonian. Full of all things American from pop culture, wars, people, and presidents. It took me about an hour to get there. I left my apartment later than planned and after a 15 minute walk got onto the metro. From there it was maybe a 20 minute ride to the Smithsonian station. I then took a wrong turn out of the station and walked around the USDA building (an entire block) finally found my way to the Mall and found the building. By that time it was about 10:30am. I got a free map, and the woman asked me what I wanted to see. My answer: everything, and I did just that. I was in the Smithsonain until 6:30 ( a total of 8 hours) and I was exhausted afterwards! I completely fell even more in love with this new city that I lived in. I just love the fact that I can take a trip downtown and basically have a free day to wander around a museum for free!

Some of my favorite exhibits were of course Julia Child's Kitchen, The First Lady Exhibit, The American Presidency, and The Price of Freedom: Americans at War. But by far I think my favorite exhibit was For All The World To See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights. It combines two of my loves: history of the civil rights movement, and how media shaped and influenced it. That is what I love studying in addition to of course Women. I thought the easiest way to share my adventure was through some random pictures I took. I did see everything, but there are some items like the Civil Rights exhibit, and the Star Spangled Banner where for preservation reasons pictures are not allowed. Also I apposition for the quality of the pictures. I took them with the flash off (because I believe in conservation), and my camera died so I also used my phone.   Enjoy my favorite things at the Smithsonian. 

Lunch counter from Greensboro, N.C. where the first Civil Rights Movement sit-in occurred. 

Women factory workers during WWII

This is a shoe that a Chinese woman with bound feet would have worn. 

I thought it was funny that a van similar to what my family had when I was little is now in the Smithsonian.

Cartoon of the Scopes Monkey Trial. 

Atomic Fire balls, part of American after WWII and how the atomic bomb and plastics began to change and influence our lives. 

Modern 1950s kitchen, plastic is everywhere!

1950s living room.

The invention of "The Pill" I personally liked the header 

Julia's Kitchen 

Julia's copper pan wall!

Julia's cookbooks and videos

Another view of her kitchen. 

Me and Julia's Kitchen!

Vintage lace from the late 1700/1800s

A very blurry picture of one of Martha Washington's gowns. It still looks beautiful and pattern on the dress was actually hand painted! 

First Lady Michelle Obama's dress!

The Red Slippers! They are not as beautiful as they once were.

Fifinella! The WASPs mascot during WWII. 

Vietnam nurse

Vietnam nurse

Vietnam POW bracelets. People used to buy them, and each bracelet had a name of someone who was MIA/POW.

A piece of the World Trade Center from 9/11

Freedom of Americans to petition. Civil Rights Era

Vietnam War protesting poster.

March on Washington button. 

Votes for Women button. 

Hope you enjoyed this extremely long post about my recent adventure. More to come!

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