Staybridge Suites Dulles, Va Herndon

... we went to Smithsonian American History Museum. We were really tired from our all night flight so we rested at the museum for a half an hour. At the Museum we saw the American flag that inspired our national anthem. After dinner we had a night tour of the Thomas Jefferson memorial. Then we finally went to the hotel and headed to bed.

Well this week has not been as exciting as my first week but I have learned some interesting things. Tuesday I met with another member of GLIFAA who works for USAID. We talked about Foreign Service careers outside of government and what sort of educational background I need to work for them. Most require a Masters. We also discussed the merits of the Peace Corp and how it can help get ...

... Omi brought us beautiful necklaces and Abdullah insisted on giving us some riyals. About an hour later two sisters stopped by to say hello. Maybe they didn't understand Sandye's request--maybe they didn't care. Abdullah stayed at Omi's apartment and we did not see him again until he took us to the airport for home. When company visits, the hostess makes Arabic coffee (I thought it tasted like perfume and was nothing like coffee here) and serves ...

Well....we're off. We werent sure if we would make it out of VA today, we made our deadline We are super exicted to be beginning this adventure, and am happy to be able to share with all of you. Thanks to our lovely roommate Damon, we have internet in our car, so as long as we have cell phone service, we should be able to post some blog entries...however pictures might be a little slower being ...

... by me). Lesley has been working hard doing research at WWF (World Wildlife Fund), BCTF (Bushmeat Crisis Task Force), and interviewing various officials that work in the area of her research. It's been very worthwhile for her to be doing this. There is no other way that she would have been able to get this information without actually being here and it looks like it will be invaluable to the overall outcome of her project.

... But one of the coolest headstones I have ever seen is this carving at the cemetery in Eklutna, Alaska. I want to know the profession of the man whose marker is this carved moose! Was he an artist, or a hunting guide?? The flowers are all in full bloom, all across South Central Alaska right now . . .truly beautiful.

... energy and as the technology improves, which is happening, the initial cost will be reduced. In conjunction with the new Stillwater Wind Farm and the solar panels around the Tower of the Americas, renewable energy accounts for ten percent of the power supplied to San Antonio. Most of the towers are manufactured in Germany, while a growing number are coming out of Minnesota. American Electric ...

... dollars) on creating hybrid technology for cars. This was the impetus for the Japanese who didn't want to be left behind. So they developed the Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid etc. Then the Bush administration killed the project and it was several years before Ford came out with the Escape Hybrid. Great movie. When I got back at first I didn't know how to answer people's inevitable questions about my trip. Once I started ...

... way. I mean she's just like anyone I would have met at church in Indianapolis. Yet, she's lived in the Village her entire life. The others in the office, too, are super cool, like I described above - we get along really well. Not to mention that my talent and education and experiences have been recognized by almost everyone in the office. In addition, the office is really spacious, very nice, quiet and comfortable. It's lovely really. So, this experience dismantled my ...

... just trying to convince Heather to not take so many shoes. Now as I sit here on my last day of work, in my last hour of work. I am really looking forward to a little celebration this weekend! It is really starting to hit me that I will be soon living in Jaipur, India. This was one long hot summer and I am ready for INDIA!!!!!