Update on Life…and an Embarrassing Confession

A quick warning: this blog is a little jumpy.

I know this blog is about D.C. and all, but I feel I need to continue with a discussion I started in an earlier entry about my uncertainty of life after undergrad. I think I have finally settled on a decision – apply for AmeriCorps (and hopefully obtain a position), then pursue a dual degree program for an MSW/JD. This is my best laid plan to date, and then I don’t have to rush to take my entrance exams. If you are trying to decide what to do, I strongly suggest taking a look at the AmeriCorps website.

But enough of that, you came to read about D.C. I was given the daunting task of drafting a motion to change a permanency goal from reunification to adoption. It sounds simple, but in order to write this, I had to go through all court orders and reports to find out services the parents were not participating in that had been court ordered. I also had to read a few mental health evaluations and a bonding study to state why adoption would be in the best interest of the child. So far, my draft is at thirteen pages. I have to outline which services were ordered, and how the parents violated the orders and services. For example, I could write, “Mom was court ordered to participate in parenting classes at XYZ at the Disposition Hearing on December 13, 2008. Mom missed the first two classes due to illness, but has yet to reschedule as of March 29, 2009,” or “Mom had a housing appointment on March 13, 2009 but did not call or show. The agent tried to contact Mom several times unsuccessfully. Then, the social worker also tried to contact Mom several times, leaving messages to call the agent back at such-and-such time in order to reschedule a time. Mom has not rescheduled the housing appointment as of March 29, 2009.” I also have to include background information on the facts as to why the child was originally removed from the home.

I want to start this paragraph by saying that I am fully embarrassed to admit this: back home before coming here, I couldn't really have cared less about the news. There, I said it! My name is Emily and I didn’t have a clue as to what was going on in the nation prior to January 28, 2009. I didn’t have a local paper delivered to my dorm, and I rarely watched the news on TV. My only news source was really whatever was featured on Yahoo! News, and even then, Yahoo! only shows four news stories on the section I glance at. Since I’ve been here, I grab a free paper every morning and read it on the Metro. I must say, the news is addictive. I always want to know what’s going on and if I don’t understand terms (such as economic and financial ones that have been thrown around since the AIG scandal blew up), I am eager to look them up online. I have now set CNN.com to my homepage on Firefox and I even check the Commercial Appeal, my local paper back home, online. It’s a strange craving, and I am always sad when I realize there is no free paper on the weekends.

As for civic engagement, on Monday I go to my orientation for Offender Aid and Restoration, so I will have more updates next week on this. I can only say that I am very excited! I still go to D.C. Area Books to Prisons Project and I still love it.

On a social note, Kevin, Yes, and myself went to Third Edition in Georgetown last weekend. It is a two story club/bar and is usually very, very crowded. The DJ plays really good music, too.

First, we ate at CPK (California Pizza Kitchen). If you haven’t ever had CPK, go find one – it’s so good!! Be sure to ask for bread with Ranch and Ranchito!

Before going out for the night!

Can you see all the people in the background??

Advice for the day:

I don’t have any advice for the day, but words for my Memphis Tigers: WE STILL LOVE YOU! You’ve made us all proud!

My friends Howie and Missy (along with me) at a Tigers game last fall. If anyone underestimates the fans’ love for Tiger basketball, just look at Howie’s face.

Changing Tides in the Emily Ocean

It has only taken me seven weeks to realize my workload and responsibilities at the OAG have changed drastically since February 2, 2009. I once complained of not being mentally challenged by the work set in front of me, and that I sometimes became bored. Now, I grasp the error in my remarks. In the beginning, my attorneys gave me file jackets in which I had to tab certain documents of importance, such as the petition, initial hearing order, stipulation, etc. Then, my attorneys passed on the task of pre-filling information into court documents. This consisted of typing in the child’s name, docket number, social file number, and other personal information into a template. Since my attorneys have seen my abilities in these basic assignments, I now have the responsibilities of drafting court documents such as the stipulations, joint pre-trial statements, and motions; filling out subpoenas and summons; and interviewing witnesses, such as social workers and doctors. One of my attorneys even used my notes from a hearing to refresh her memory on the case! Needless to say, my responsibilities as an intern have turned completely, and when given these new projects, I feel mentally challenged.

Last Monday, I attended a joint Law and Criminal Justice and International Affairs programs’ event titled “The Terrorist Threat and the Law.” I really enjoyed this event, which is totally different from my opinions on the previous Leadership Forum events! The speakers were both very interesting and kept their voices above a monotone volume level. I commend the second speaker, Mr. Charles Stimson, on his part of the lecture. What I liked best is that he laid out the political terms in simple, common terms that an average person could understand. This made the lecture more enjoyable and easier to follow. Both speakers were very knowledgeable on the subject (not to say other speakers are not), and I liked the fact that both sides of the political spectrum were represented. I wish every President's Lecture Series could also be like this event.

Spending a semester in Washington, D.C. is interesting, fun, and a little stressful. I really love this city because there is so much to do here for any age, not just people over the age of twenty-one. I enjoy being in a culturally and historically rich environment. I also like the fact that I am in the center of the policy making of America! I’m still not sure I’m going to ready to leave D.C. in May…

Sarah and I at an after work dinner at a Moroccan restaurant!

They had a belly dancer there who made Sarah and I dance with her!

What is stressful about spending a semester in D.C. is planning my course load for next semester without physically being there, and getting scholarships together before the deadlines. I have had to write essays and find professors to write letters of recommendations without being able to meet with them. Deciding on classes is a little more difficult when trying to communicate through email than I thought it would be.

Advice for the day: If coming to TWC, be prepared to balance work with class, TWC events, papers, and your home institution dealings. It is a little overwhelming, so buy a planner and use it!

The Beginning of a Strenuous, Stressful Journey…

The weeks here seem to be flying by! I can hardly keep my days straight and remember what I have been doing for the past week. The biggest event that occurred since the last journal is that I attended a Supreme Court hearing. The question at hand was whether a prisoner had a constitutional right to biological evidence after a conviction. I read that forty-four states allow it–this case came from Alaska, a state that does not allow prisoners this right. I have never been a big political science person, but this was really a neat opportunity. The Justices were only a few feet from me, and it was different than I expected. They were sarcastic yet funny and asked so many questions it made my head spin! I could not tell 100 percent which way they were leaning. The defense attorney brought up a good point when he asked why the prosecution would not allow his client access to this DNA when the prosecutor said the defendant was “slam-dunk” guilty. The defendant originally waived his rights to DNA tests at trial and later pleaded guilty, possibly to win parole, argued his defense attorney. A decision has yet to be made.

Angie and I waiting in the frigid snow storm for the Supreme Court hearing (I look like a boy….).

My friends came in town this past weekend, and while I enjoyed their visit, it made me homesick. I love D.C.; it just does not have my family and friends here. While they were here, we visited the White House, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, and the World War II Memorial. Although I have seen these before, they will always be breathtaking to me. Of course, we could not leave out the quintessential shopping in D.C.!

Me, Missy, and Angel at The White House

The Reflecting Pool was emptied for some reason, so everyone walked through it. Missy and I danced in it.

I came to a realization recently that I’m not sure what I want to do after undergraduate, and that I might take a year off from school before pursuing any other higher education since I can not decide between law school and graduate school. I have never even considered this option. My friends being here only added to my frustrations about everything. I loved that they came and really enjoyed their company, but I feel as if everything is going to be a whirlwind when I go back to Memphis. This is the beginning of a long, arduous process that will probably end in many stress breakouts and a huge consumption of comfort foods.

I spoke to an attorney the other day that took a year off and said it was the best decision of her life. She told me that many students come out of their education with the grades, but not the experience – and some employers are not impressed unless you have the experience with it. I plan on speaking with my attorneys later this month about everything they went through with law school. The attorneys are there for reasons other than work!

On a lighter note, Yes and I tried this so-called happy hour in the District a couple weeks ago and we were not impressed. It was probably because we ordered the drinks that were not on special and sat in a corner by ourselves. After our not-so-happy happy hour, we hit up a Thai eatery at the very end of King Street because we were starving. Let me tell you guys – best food ever and on top of that, best drinks that were inexpensive! I will try other happy hours to let you legal ones know which are the best.

Yes and I found the riverfront on King Street!

As for the civic engagement part of TWC, I can’t seem to resist the urge to keep signing up for projects! I already participate in Books to Prisons every Wednesday (for those of you in D.C., think about stopping by sometime! The address is on the website…take the red line to Dupont, then walk down P Street until you get to 16th. It is on the corner in a church, and starts at 6:30pm.), an organization that receives letters from prisoners around the country requesting reading materials and the organization, in return, sends those books per their requests. Check them out if you ever get a chance: http://www.quixote.org/ej/bookstoprisons/ , it’s a nice organization. The letters sometimes are brief and to the point; others tell their life stories.

I’ve also volunteered with Hope and a Home. I, along with others, entertain the children of parents who participate in workshops to create stable and strong households for their families (http://www.hopeandahome.org/). Hope and a Home is comprised of different elements that enable low income families to make positive changes in their lives. For example, they offer transitional housing, educational services, employment training, and much more.

I planned on attending an event tonight with House of Ruth, but thought I was coming down with a cold. I didn’t want to get the children sick if it was a cold – our job as volunteers was to play with the children. House of Ruth provides services to women, children, and families who are triumphing over domestic violence, homelessness, mental health disorders, and substance abuse (http://www.houseofruth.org/). The CFSA has ties to House of Ruth, and this is how I initially found out about the organization.

Another project I am starting on March 30 is volunteering with Offender Aid and Restoration. They initially offered me an internship placement, but I had already accepted at the OAG. OAR is located in Arlington, VA (http://www.oaronline.org/oar/index.asp) and offers assistance to offenders and ex-offenders in order for them to transition smoothly back in society. They provide an array of services such as supervised community service, reentry aid through classes and programs, employment counseling, and support for the offender’s family.

Advice for the day:

Always keep snow boots handy! They look ridiculous, but you never know when you’ll need them (such as last Monday during the snow storm…).

I Bring the Fire

The weeks are slowly creeping past! I can’t believe it’s almost March…and you know what that means? March Madness! Of course, I’m rooting for Memphis to make it all the way again! Go Tigers!

I’ve settled into my routine for the weekdays. Wake up at 6:30am, get ready, catch the metro at 8:00am, eat lunch and go to CVS with the other interns (seriously, we are there everyday), leave at 5:15pm, then come home and rest. I have never loved my bed as much as now!

Me and Angie on our way to CVS…who knew?!

Jenn and me outside our building. The security to get into this place is the bane of our existence!

Fun in the intern cubicle during lunch!

Speaking of work, it’s been crazy. I feel as though I’m not going to pursue a career with the government as far as an assistant attorney general goes, but I’m not going to discount it either. I like to write, and to my enjoyment, I have been able to draft a few stipulations. I take out facts from a petition and write out these facts with careful wording. For example, instead of saying “Ms. Mom hit Child”, one would say, “Ms. Mom acknowledges that she used physical discipline on Child.” The point of the careful wording is that you want the mother to stipulate to the facts and pass an evidentiary trial. This seems to be the only creative outlet as far as writing goes with court documents, other than a joint pre-trial statement. The others have templates and information is simply filled in to complete the document. There is not a lot of room to add more text to permanency hearing orders, dispositions, initial hearings, etc.

Last week was interesting as far as court hearings go. I sat in on a revocation of protective supervision hearing. The process behind this is that after a child is initially removed from the home but the mother shows a level of commitment to the child, such as taking them to therapy and attending any other court ordered services on a regular basis, the court places the child back into the home of the mother under supervision of the court. If a mother slacks off her court ordered services or neglects the child again, then the court holds a revocation of protective supervision hearing, in which witnesses are called to testify to whether the child was neglected or not. The mother in this case contradicted herself on the stand under oath and did not do what she needed to do for her child, so the judge ordered a revocation of protective supervision. The mother became so upset that the judge had to call the U.S. Marshals in to gain control.

In The Child Protection section, you realize that everyone present is there for the parent(s) – it is not like a criminal trial where one party is for the government and the other party is for the defendant. The mother in the revocation hearing said, “That AAG got what she wanted!” which is untrue in all aspects. After the revocation hearing, my AAG stated she did not want to say she “won” the trial, because she really did not win at all since the goal is reunification of the children with the mother. The social worker who removed the children from the home is for the parent, the AAG who represents the government is for the parent, the GAL is for the parent, the parent’s/parents’ counsel is for the mother, the judge is for the parent – it is a joint effort to help this parent/these parents be the best they can be and achieve their goals. It can be compared to a mother punishing a child for bad behavior. They only want the parent to learn from their mistakes and become a better person because of them.

In terms of roommates, I’m still glad I have mine – they really are the best!

The roommates minus Florieli

The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution

Yes and I with my metro coffee cup. It’s a little tourist-y, so I leave it at home, but secretly I LOVE it!

Advice for the day: If moving to D.C., invest in Verizon as a cell phone carrier. They have towers in the underground parts of the metro, and let me tell you, that would be nice to have since most of the places I travel to are underground. T-Mobile should get wise to this. I can’t get any service until I’m about 3 feet from the top of the escalator.

Virtual Apartment Tour

Okay, I know a lot of people are interested in how the apartments look; I know I was! Unfortunately for me, there were only floor plans for my apartment and no pictures; fortunately for you guys, I have pictures (but only for one building...others may provide different layouts and amenities)!

Let us start the virtual tour then!

That door to the right is the entry door and this is our kitchen. It’s very spacious!

The door on the far left is the entry door again. The door in the middle leads to the guest bathroom, and the door on the far right is a food pantry.

The rest of the kitchen

Our living room with the enclosed balcony/dining room.

This is very important – a map of the Metro!

The master bedroom, which isn’t any bigger than the guestroom, it just has one door leading to the bathroom instead of two. The guest bathroom also has the washer/dryer in it. I know in other TWC apartments the washer/dryer are in the hallway. My bed is the one with the green comforter!

Our closet is walk-in, and it’s so big I couldn’t fit it in one picture!

The bathroom is through here…

Although some apartments are lacking in the bathroom and closet space, they may boast cable in the rooms…we only receive cable in the living room.

The master bathroom also has a HUGE closet…the guest bathroom does not since the washer/dryer are located in there.

I’ll leave you guys with this picture. Since Florieli and Bianca are from Puerto Rico and Yes and Bianca speak French (and I, un petit peu…), we started the Language Wall. Upon this wall, we have index cards with a Spanish word, the French equivalent, and the English translation on the back. I am determined to learn SOME Spanish and work on my French while here. Wish me luck!

Down to the Nitty Gritty

I’ve had my first two weeks of internship and class. What a week! I work with the Child Protection Section in the Family Services Division of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). The section is not located in the OAG office but rather in the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) building. The building is in the best place ever – a few feet from the L’Enfant Plaza metro stop! There are many food places around to eat at during lunch, and there is a shuttle that runs between the CFSA building and the court house, which is nice because the court house is across The National Mall (although it’s a very nice walk – Hello, Capitol! – I would not want to walk that everyday, back and forth).

My work at 400 6th St. SW

I work well with the assistant attorney generals I have been assigned to, and I really like them all. I have enjoyed all the projects they have given me so far – not a lot of boring intern work, but rather very informative projects. I’ve written several case notes for one attorney, drafted a stipulation (which is an agreement that certain circumstances existed which caused the child to be neglected), edited a few other court documents (such as permanency hearing orders and disposition orders), read court cases, attended court hearings, served someone with a subpoena, drafted witness questions, and copied a few things (you gotta get used to the few mundane tasks you have to do at any job, although these types of tasks for me have been few and far between). I am very happy with my placement!

The court hearings are a lot different from the ones on TV (obviously). At some of the court hearings, the parent/guardian isn’t present; at others, they are. A lot of the hearings are small and seem more like a discussion. At one hearing, I felt the anxiety and frustration of one attorney when a social worker arrived a half hour late! We were running in and out of the courtroom trying to track this social worker down.

I like all of the interns in the office. We go to lunch together and do our work in the same cubicle, if possible. The atmosphere surrounding the office is different than I expected. I thought it would be very strict and uptight, but everyone is laid back.

My academic course for The Washington Center is International Organizations and Humanitarian Law. I have not had any previous courses in either of these topics, so I am eager to learn. My professor seems very knowledgeable on the subject and is a published writer as well. He has studied around the world and extensively researched humanitarian law. I hope to take whatever I learn in the class back home to help bring about change in the world and change in people’s thoughts on the importance of humanitarian law.

As stated above, I haven’t had previous classes in international relations and I am feeling a bit lost in the class. A very nice guy in my class, Nick (meet him at this blog) gave me some IR terms to look up and Professor Hilaire suggested a book for me to read. I feel a little better about the class, but still lost-ish. Hopefully I’ll get through all this reading material and understand it finally!

My friends and I walked The Mall over the long weekend. Here are a few pictures from it…we can’t end this blog on work and class!

In front of Tennessee!

At the Lincoln Memorial

A very neat saying at the Korean War Memorial. I especially liked it because I was born in Seoul, South Korea and my granddad fought in the Korean War – if not for him and the others, I’m not sure I could have been adopted!

A telegraph from WWII – it says, “Airraid on Pearl Harbor X This is no drill.” – from the war exhibit in the National Museum of American History

Astonishing!

Things I’ve Learned So Far in D.C.

A comprehensive list of lessons for a newcomer

1. ALWAYS stand on the right side of the metro escalator unless you are running up or down it. Getting yelled at or huffed at is embarrassing.

2. When you do stand on the left accidentally, do not yell back at them, “I’m sorry! I’m new to the city!” This only points you out as a tourist and a target. (Note: My friend did this. Thank goodness no one was really around, other than the angry pedestrian).

3. Almost everyone has an iPod or book in hand on the metro. Note to self: always keep the iPod handy.

4. Fashionable shoes don’t matter on the metro – it is ALL about comfort. And I do mean comfort – forget those cute little heels. They hurt. You don’t want to be walking funny in front of your boss.

5. DC people keep to themselves. This might seem like a negative, but it’s not. You don’t feel obligated to make awkward small talk with a stranger. Along with this, you have to realize that a lot of people don’t give you small smiles when you look at them.

6. There were no accessible outlets in the Starbucks in Chinatown. This is important to note because from my experience at Starbucks, they have one every two seats.