I'm back home now, but only for a week. Its nice to be able to wind down for a bit before going back into the whole walkabout environment. So far, to sum it all up, walkabout has been pretty good. It reminds me a lot of my first semester internship in several ways. The first time I went to Peggy's Monogramming, I dreaded going back a second time. The place was so empty, with just me and my mentor working for several hours. It was quiet, no one really to talk to about random stuff, no laughter really, just working and work conversation.
My walkabout is currently a lot like this. Only, for the whole week. I wake up and go to the office, where there is not much conversation, not much laughter, not much random conversation. Just me and my mentor working on the computers, talking on the phone (work-related conversation) and lunch break (love it). Thats one reason I really value the time I get to go to presentations. Its good to get out of the office.
But just like my first internship, its gotten better. Maybe I just needed to get used to it. Things haven't changed too much, but I'm learning to handle the lifestyle. So its definitely gotten a lot better.

Yesterday (tuesday) I spent most of my day at a school called Banneker High School. We gave four presentations there, for four different classes. It was long, but in my opinion, each presentation was better than the one before.
So I've been here for about two weeks, but I feel its high time that I got ready to give some presentations myself, and apparently my mentor feels the same. And just the night before, my dad calls and says "are you giving presentations yet?" and all I could reply was "uhh, not yet". So the signs are all there, now I just have to prepare thoroughly. I've watched it enough that I know most of the information. The hard part will be letting it all come out smoothly, in the right order, and in my own words. I really hope that the lack of age difference between me and my audience will work in my favor.

Last night, I took the subway to meet some friends at the AMC theater, and we watched a prescreening of Be Kind, Rewind. It was pretty sweet.

On friday I went to help with a presentation given at a school. I'd been to one before, so I thought I new what to expect. But it turned out to be a very different experience from the first one (in case I didn't say this before, the organization I'm working with is a non-profit HIV/AIDS organization. They give presentations to schools and the like.) So anyway, first of all, it was different because this time, my supervisor was giving the presentation. Second, the kids were a very restless bunch, unlike the last school we went to, where every kid kept every hair in line. It was difficult to get through the presentation smoothly, and I think my supervisor got a bit ruffled.
Ok, so we were supposed to give presentations to three classes, but somehow, it was taken down to two classes in the time it took us to drive there. Then, we went overtime, so it was taken down to one presentation, after which we went back to the office.

Later, at lunch, I talked to this guy who works in the same office building, but different department. This guy is from russia, works with incredibly expensive cameras, computers, and equipment in general. I became immensly jealous and then promptly went into mourning for myself, because he happened to be looking for an intern. Well, maybe after high-school, I can check it out.

I left a bit early Friday, and spent the weekend with friends I have in DC. It was great.

February 14

so far, the work has been....here and there. sometimes, i'm just reading material, sometimes, i'm working on their website, calling schools, and sometimes i go help out with presentations that the organization gives.

i think the most difficult part about this walkabout is the monotony. alot of my work is monotonous, and theres no one here to break it. plus, i have never had an internship quite like this. i've worked in a preschool, in a small market, a small wall-graphics company, and an even smaller embroidery company. so in comparison, this place is quite the monster. it has four floors, three of which are offices. it has the typical break room, employees in business suits, and i get my own desk and computer. so i feel a bit out of place, to say the least. plus, a lot is expected of me, with even less guidence. i realize that i'm a senior now, its time to take direction of my own life, and which direction i go in. but i love getting directions. i love it when i'm given a specific task that i know i can accomplish. sure, reading material is chill, but calling schools has an end goal that i can reach. it keeps me busy, and it doesnt drag the hours all over the floor.

working on the website is a very, um interesting mix of direction and non-direction. i have a goal, but the goal is so far off in the distance. i have never made a website before, and my mentor has asked that i create a completely new website for the organization (theirs is crap). so i'm starting from zero, teaching myself as i go. it requires a lot of reading, a lot of scratching my head, and a lot of swearing. but at the same time, at least theres a goal.

i'm interested to know how much i'll have learned by the end. i think i'll learn more then i realize.