Current reading: We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda, by Philip Gourevitch (to be interrupted this weekend by Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Yes, I will transition from reading about genocide to reading about wizards. Somehow, this isn't surprising to me.)
A great quote from the beginning of the book:
"The best reason I have come up with for looking closely into Rwanda's stories is that ignoring them makes me even more uncomfortable about existence and my place in it. The horror, as horror, interests me only insofar as a precise memory of the offense is necessary to understand its legacy."
Being one of the 29 million Americans who commutes to work every day using public transportation, I was slightly concerned to be living near the District when the bombs went off in London. At first I thought the French had finally gone overboard in losing housing the Olympics to London, but as the news rolled in and one of our investigators told us to be careful on the Metro, I knew we were dealing with something truly terrifying. Fortunately, living in Virginia and working in Arlington I didn't see any armed guards patrolling the rails or anything, and of course, everything was fine. It almost seems like old news now, which is unfortunate. I guess things like that will always seem distant as long as they don't happen on our doorstep.
This week I've realized that working here has been great and definitely a learning experience, but it is reminding me that I really do love journalism. I've been following the Judith Miller case, I want to read Bob Woodward's new book and definitely kept the front pages of the Post from when Deep Throat was revealed. I'm writing much more PR style and trying to get a certain message across, which is fine and understandable for an organization. I have also had my fare share of complaining about deadlines in the Optimist office, but now that I don't have many, it's annoying. I'm always asking my supervisors for deadlines and more work. I like the immediacy of it all, and how every day is a new day with something else to be done. Who knows what I'll end up doing, but I don't think I can give up on news writing just yet. (Because of my background in journalism, I am definitely the one all the other interns turn to for editing advice. They're surprised at what I catch and how quickly I catch it. You never realize how prepared you are for something until you're actually out doing it. I'm always surprised at how much my department at school has taught me.)
Things that freak me out: People who don't wash their hands in public restrooms; creepy guys on the Metro bus; anything I learned from just watching Fahrenheit 9/11, so basically anything related to Saudi Arabia; the fact that I'm technically an adult; the fact that I'm graduating in about 10 months.
I'm thinking of cutting my hair. It's half-way down my back now, and I've been toying with the idea of cutting it to a little above my shoulders. Any comments? I'm too indecisive and attached.
I've added new pictures to my www.shutterfly.com account. User name is my school e-mail and password is my screename. If you don't know this, e-mail me. If you don't know my e-mail, well, then we aren't really friends, and you shouldn't be looking at my pictures anyways.
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3 comments:
If you cut it, make sure the person cutting it is good. I made the wrong decision earlier this summer and am still regretting it :( I think you would look very cute with short hair.
No matter what Jaci says about her hair, I think it's cute. And I cut my hair, too, because it's freaking HOT here. Every day this week is at least 105 degrees, so I had to shed some of that weight. I say go for it--it's just hair, and if you don't like it, it'll grow back.
Cut it.
I got you an appointment with Diana.
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