Congratulations class of 2018

First, I want to refute what Annie said in the previous blog about Shake Shack. It is nowhere near anything as good as In-N-Out. Blasphemy.

Now here's my post.

My internship is with a consulting firm called Development Transformations (DT). Mostly, it handles government contracts for international development and military training work. Currently, DT has consultants in countries like Afghanistan, Libya, and Yemen, among others, and trains soldiers and officers on military bases all around the country. DT approves grants and works on developing, stabilizing, and/or political reporting in each of these countries. The soldiers DT trains learn how better to communicate and work with community leaders in places like Afghanistan, to find solutions that help both the US and the individual community they are deployed to.

My job is mainly supporting these consultants by helping them plan their travel and keeping them well supplied and well paid, then going to embassies to get them visas (Yemen, Libya, and Afghanistan so far) and supporting the home office staff (in DuPont circle) by researching current events and taking care of administrative tasks for them. The stories the people I get to work with tell are incredible, as most of them are brilliant and have extensive field experience working in areas of conflict.

Most of DT's funding comes from the government or private NGOs and charities. What this means is that a government agency, in this case either the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) or the Department of Defense wants to get something done, but can't do it directly, doesn't have the means to do it by themselves, or wants to let the private sector do something. The agency then releases a description of what it wants out into the world, and contracting or consulting firms like DT will try to demonstrate to the agency that they would be best able to help the agency out. The process is far more complex than this, and is partly responsible for issues like the initial Affordable Healthcare Act roll-out and some of the private military contracting going on, but also responsible for great things like a lot of foreign aid and the work DT does.

One of my favorite things about my internship is that although it has offices in California, DC, and Yemen, DT isn't an enormous contractor like many of its competitors, so I still get some of that small business feel. While there are certainly benefits to being an intern for a large organization, as the only full time intern, I get tasks from every member of the organization, from the Program Assistant to the Managing Directors. Instead of having 'the press intern', 'the social media intern', 'the development intern', 'the accounting intern', 'the receptionist intern', 'the research intern', and who knows what other kinds of interns, DT has Lucas. I get to learn how to do all of these things, and I get to feel more like a valued member of the team. If I need some advice about my summer plans or help with my research paper, I can get anyone in the office to take some time out of their day to talk it over with me. Again, this is not to say that people interning with larger businesses don't enjoy certain things I don't (like going to big events and talks every day, or running into the President in the hallway) I just want to illustrate the benefits I have found of working for a smaller business, and why I feel it was right for me.

I found my job because my boss went to Pomona and was actually in the DC program as a student. She sent an e-mail to Dr. Spalding who forwarded it around to the rest of us. As an ROTC cadet, the military aspect definitely appealed to me, and as a student of Arabic and international culture and development, the conflict stabilization work appealed to me as well. After consulting with friends who had worked in other offices I was thinking of working in, and doing some research of my own, I decided DT was the right call for me, and I'm glad I did. My boss is looking for another Claremont intern for the fall or summer and I can't recommend it highly enough. Please feel free to check out the website at DevelopmentTransformations.com or ask me about it any time.

Here are some pictures from the non-profit I volunteer with's trip to the National Cherry Blossom Festival event at the National Building museum. More to follow as soon as I can make it out to the actual cherry blossoms, the weather here has been ridiculous. The only nice thing about getting back from spring break in 80 degree Miami and landing in 38 degree, raining DC was seeing the cherry blossoms along the river on the metro ride back from the airport.

Also, congratulations to the class of 2018.

Until next time,

Lucas Brooks
CMC '16

SPRING BREAK

IT'S SPRING BREAK! And, so much has happened even though I went to work!!!

Monday
We had a snow day. I know, it's been a really long winter. It's mid-/late March, and we're still seeing snow... I hope that this upcoming Tuesday is the last of the snow, so that the cherry blossoms can finally bloom and we can all be happy.

Monday's intense snow

BEAUTIFUL!!!

I think the cherry blossom festival is supposed to start this Thursday, and it is going to be so beautiful and pink!

Tuesday
I wrote a press statement for an incident that happened in my Congresswoman's district and it got published on her website ANDDDDD the Los Angeles Times and a bunch of local newspapers quoted her press statement, meaning that I got to see my words in print!

I really love my new internship, and I am so glad that I switched. Surprisingly, I don't do as many admin tasks/work as other Hill interns do. I mean, I write constituent letters and pick up phone calls, but maybe like less than a quarter of my time there. The staffers give me substantial work, like revising and writing press statements and speeches; I get to go to hearings and briefings that interest me; and even on the slow days, I watch and read the news, and get the opinions of all the intelligent staffers.

Wednesday
Oh! President Chodosh came to visit Washington, DC, and so we grabbed lunch at this amazing restaurant called the Firefly.

It was great that he spent a couple hours of his time in his busy day to meet and get to know us, as did we vice versa to the prez. Prez Chodosh is great, and I am excited to see how he guides CMC in the future.

I stole this picture from Yelp, but cool interior!

Silly friends

Lunch

It was a prix fixe menu, and everything was delicious. Let me try to remember what I had: parmesan garlic fries, deviled eggs, kale salad, shrimp and grits, and coconut-lime sorbet! Omg, the parmesan fries were soooooo good - Jessica and I probably ate 2 baskets-worth.

But, that being said, there are so many great restaurants in DC. Despite it being expensive to eat out, I really encourage going out and trying a new place. The good thing is that you can always find a place that is suited to your budget; or, you can find deals on Groupon, or go during happy hour!

My friend came to visit last weekend, and we went to Hank's Oyster Bar for DOLLAR OYSTERS! And, the oysters were fresh and totally safe! I think we only spent about $12-15 each, including tip, for dinner by just going during happy hour.

After work, there was a CMC evening reception with alumni and parents in the Washington, DC area to hear and meet President Chodosh at the Metropolitan Club. It was great to hear advice from alumni and the path they took after graduation -- it made me realize that CMC has a such a great alumni network, and that everybody is willing to help if you ask.

Oh, the best part of the night was when John Faranda took us to Shake Shack! It was my first time there, and I must admit that it is maybe even a little bit better than In-N-Out. Young alumni, CMC staff, and President Chodosh also came for the late-night snack.

Prez Chodosh having a beer after his long day

Thursday
I went to a Cashmere Cat concert at U Street Music Hall! Here's my favorite Cashmere Cat song: Mirror Maru - Cashmere Cat. DC has a great nightlife, even for those of us, who aren't 21!!! You should check the calendars for 9:30 Club and U Street Music Hall - those are two of the best concert calendars in DC, in my opinion. Their prices are also way  more affordable, than some big concert venues that sell tickets for $60+.

The ticket to Cashmere Cat was about $20, including the service charge. I don't want to share any pictures because it was extremely hot and stuffy, and nobody looked good that night.

Friday
I was extremely tired from Thursday night (but, totally worth it!!!), so Nate, who was visiting for his Spring Break, came over for a movie (and wine) night. Yay Netflix!

Great movie

Saturday
I went to Georgetown early in the morning to get some research and homework done for my classes. It was a beautiful day of high-50s!

I studied outside on the lawn, and went inside the Georgetown library when it got a bit chilly. I must say that Honnold is way better and more organized than the Georgetown library.

After a long day of studying and working, I went out to The Tombs in Georgetown. By the way, I always have a great time there, especially because the crowd is much younger and college-ier.



I can't believe that half the semester is already over, and I still have a long list of museums, parks, and restaurants that I need to visit. When you're in DC or a new city, take advantage of all the free time you have, because the days pass by so quickly.
Annie

March 16, 2014

Congratulations to everyone accepted into the Fall 2014 Washington Program class! Now start looking for jobs and housing.

I’m only slightly kidding. You all should be very excited about the amazing program you are going to take part in, but you should also take the preparation process seriously. Although I started looking for housing soon after I got accepted, we had some crises in the process and we did not end up finalizing our housing until the weeks between thanksgiving and finals. I was extremely busy and it caused me a lot of unnecessary stress during that time period. Thus, I would advise you to look sooner rather than later. Also, be wary of Craigslist and always verify postings with the property manager. You want to limit your anxiety as much as possible during this process, so do not be afraid to reach out to program alumni and friends in DC for help.

Now that I’ve given you some preparatory advice, I will return to discussing the experience in DC. Most importantly, I have some more recipes for you!

As a native Southern Californian, I am a huge fan of Mexican food. You can put almost anything in a tortilla with cheese and it will be delicious. (Even the Internet agrees!) Mexican-inspired dishes are also very easy to prepare on short notice with the food you have lying around the house. I always keep canned beans, frozen vegetables, tortillas (or some sort of wrap) and cheese on hand because they are perfect for a quick meal after work. In general, I suggest you buy canned and frozen vegetables because they are very inexpensive and will last the entire semester. You also never know when you’ll be trapped inside from weather! We have had numerous snow days this semester and having good food on hand has been enormously convenient. Last week I was really busy and was unable to go grocery shopping, but I had enough supplies that I could throw together a delicious and healthy meal after class in under 25 minutes. 

 

I am a vegetarian and try to eat gluten-free, so I made this veggie and egg quesadilla with a teff flour wrap. The wrap can be unwieldy and fall apart, so it is easier to use if you cut it in half.

When I have more time on the weekends, cooking can be very relaxing. I’ve started amassing a repertoire of my favorite dishes and this one is definitely on the top of the list. It is a basil pesto zucchini pasta with sweet peas on a bed of arugula. The one tool you need for this dish that you might not have is a box grater – they are cheap and useful so I highly recommend getting one. The dish is fairly simple and the only labor intensive parts are finding fresh zucchini during the winter and then actually grating the vegetables. Otherwise, the ingredients are easy to find and the recipe is predominantly guided by personal taste.

First, I washed and grated the zucchini then pan-fried it in a little olive oil. Then I added about a tablespoon of crushed garlic – it is much easier to buy the jarred garlic and store it in your fridge than manually doing this.

After letting the zucchini cook until it was dark green and tender, I added two tablespoons of basil pesto and a tablespoon of Greek yogurt. You can add whatever dairy product you like or none at all.  

 

Finally, I added half a can of sweet peas. I let them cook for a couple of minutes with the zucchini before placing the mixture on a bed of arugula. Topping the dish with

Parmesan cheese is also highly recommended!

Although staying home and cooking with friends can be fun and relaxing, sometimes it is also nice to get away on the weekends. Washington, DC is conveniently located on the Eastern seaboard near numerous vibrant cities. Moreover, it is unbelievably easy and fairly inexpensive to book a Megabus online, which departs from Union Station. You can take the metro right into the station to catch your bus. Sarah and I both have family in Pennsylvania, so last weekend we took a trip to Philadelphia. It was a four-hour trip on the way there (because we made multiple stops) and only three hours to return. Not only was it great seeing my family, but Philadelphia also has so many historic attractions! I love the impressionist movement and the Philadelphia Museum of Art has an extensive impressionist and post-impressionist collection. It is also connected to the Rodin Museum (not the Musée Rodin), where you can use your Philadelphia Museum ticket to see a moderately sized collection of the artist’s famous works. Of course, you can’t miss out on Independence Hall and the founding-era sites. It was very touching to visit the birthplace of our nation now that I’m working at the federal government. I highly recommend everyone do this at some point during your time here. 

The Rodin Museum

 Independence Hall

 View from the top of the steps Rocky ran at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

I cannot conclude this post without a culinary suggestion, so I have to mention Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal & Market. This huge indoor market occupies what once was the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad’s Terminal Station. It began operation in 1892 as a colonial-inspired market and now houses tons of diverse food and grocery stands. The bazaar-like atmosphere is exciting and the food is delicious. This in itself is worth the bus-ride. 

 

 Reading Terminal & Market (pronounced "Redding")

Somewhere around week 7: Apartment search, commute, and other interesting things

Good evening everybody,

Congratulations to all those who are coming to DC in the fall. I know from current experience that you'll have  a great time. Hopefully the weather will be better for you (snow day tomorrow, but I probably still have to go to work). I know it's early but feel free to reach out to me or the guys if you have any questions about stuff.

For now I can tell you how Aman, Dane, Henry and I came to live where we do now. I'd say the first thing that we considered when looking for housing was where we were going to work, and then worked outwards from there to find places that would make for an easy commute. One of the (usually) great things about DC is the walkability and public transportation, this meant we had two options, either we find a place that was in easy walking distance from our respective offices, or we find a place that was in easy walking distance to either a bus or metro station that runs by our offices.

Essentially, during the months before we got to DC, we all checked out padmapper.com or craigslist, or asked around, then sent inquiries, and kept an e-mail and facebook message chain going discussing the options we liked. In the end, we chose an apartment complex, and option number two (close to a metro station). We decided to go with an apartment complex, and especially a relatively new one, because they are designed to be convenient and easy to live in, and generally with the times. Here are some perks of our complex: washer/dryer, dry cleaning if you take your stuff to the concierge, free wine and cheese every once in a while, a trash chute on our floor, a balcony, the sweet capitol view, the pool, small gym, and integration with the Harris Teeter supermarket. It's in walking distance of the Capitol and Union Station (~15 minutes) and right above a huge supermarket (we discovered it's possible to get there and back without ever going outside). There's also a network of other residents, which is how Henry found a free TV to replace the 55" one we already have when I give it to my sister for her birthday in May.

The only issue so far (the same reason I wouldn't want to live in a tower) is the elevator system, which sometime takes a while in the mornings, can make getting guests/ food deliverers to our apartment a struggle sometimes, and meant it took us like 45 minutes to find the apartment where the free TV was. There's apparently a whole separate elevator system for the apparently entirely separate area of our apartment complex where the previous owner was. Our key fobs didn't work for the other elevator, nor did the one we got at the concierge desk, so we spent like 30 minutes climbing up the stairs and coming out in various sections of the complex we'd never seen before. At one point, we climbed from the first floor to the sixth and the stairs just ended there, no explanation, and when we got out we were back in the same building we'd started in. Later on, I remembered that in that particular stair case on the fourth floor, we had passed a door that led to another staircase which led past the sixth floor, which was eventually how we made it to the free TV. I'd map this out and attach an image if I thought it was possible. The closest thing I can compare it to is that room with the moving stairs in Harry Potter. Ben said it was like the hotel in The Shining. Still an adventure though, and it was only a one time thing, so it wasn't that big of an issue. Altogether, we really like our apartment and building. Lot's of people just out of college and dogs, even a shar pei puppy which makes my day every time I see it. If anyone is looking for a place to live in the fall, or especially this summer (because our lease doesn't end until July, but Dane and I are leaving in May), let us know. You're welcome to come check it out any time.

Back to the paragraph before that confusing story, we found a place that fit all our needs, and chose option number two, and currently live a half a block from the NoMa/Gallaudet U metro station on the red line. In the mornings, Dane gets off at Metro Center, Henry and Aman get off one stop later at the Farragut North station, and I get off one stop later at the DuPont Circle station, when I get off the escalator at the DuPont Circle stop, the door to my office is about 50 feet away, so I walk farther from mid quad to class at Kravis than I do during the entirety of my morning commute. Depending on the unpredictable combination of factors that dictates the speed of the red line, and whether the escalators are working or not, my commute can take anywhere from 15 to 25 minutes from the door of my apartment to my desk. CMC's suite is in turn about a 4 minute walk from my office, and a 2 minute walk from the Farragut North metro station. DC geography can be pretty confusing, although still not as confusing as our apartment complex, so here's a map.

Although public transportation is pretty decent, DC driving can be kinda rough, maybe not as bad as the city of LA or the state of New Jersey, but still inadvisable, especially for those unaccustomed to driving in a city. My next blog will discuss my job and some of the job finding process. Until then, here are some pictures from this past month.

Kids I work with visiting G Town

City Council Member and Mayoral Candidate Tommy Wells reading "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" at a Black History Month Celebration in a DC Public Library

Walk/snow ball fight back from an Indian food restaurant with Henry and Alana

Visit to the Corcoran Art Gallery's Question Bridge Exhibit with the non-profit I volunteer with

Fajitas I made for the boys a couple weeks back, kicked up with bold flavors

I wish I could attach some pictures of me asking His Holiness the Dalai Lama my question, but there was no photography allowed until after the event, check out Annie's blog/CMC website/His Holiness' facebook page for pictures of that.

Lucas Brooks

CMC '16