Mmmm, internships....

I've been posting a lot the past few days, but rest assured that this does not indicate an increase in the amount of thinking that I've been doing--it is simply an increase in the amount of time I have at my disposal to create useless blog posts. Today's topic: internships.

Everyone at G-dub is supposed to have an internship somewhere in their college career. Why? Because it looks really good on a resume and there is no reason to pay as much as we do and look bad on your resume. So around the time you become a sophomore, there's this big rush to try and get the best internships on the hill, keeping in mind that while G-dub kids are undoubtedly the closest to Capital Hill, we are still competing with kids from Georgetown, American, Catholic, and George Mason, all of whom have kids that came to DC for the same reason G-dub kids did. Your best bet is to try and get an internship with a senator or representative from your home state. Lucky enough for me, I am officially considered a resident of the great state of California now, which makes me eligible to apply for internships with such wonderful people as Speaker-Elect Nancy Pelosi, or Senator Dianne Feinstein (who is a ranking member of the Judiciary committee and the Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee). I'm not going so far as to say that I think I'm guaranteed internships with either Congresswoman, but it's nice to know that I have the residency requirement down.

It has also been brought to my attention that the Japan Information and Culture Center (part of the Japanese Embassy) is looking for some interns as well. If the application wasn't due in a week and a half, I think I might have a shot at that one, but unfortunately, I don't think I do. It would be an amazing opportunity too, perhaps give me a chance to make my Japanese suck less. I'm sure that even if I don't qualify for this internship, I'll at least have fun applying. Maybe my Japanese teacher would write me a recommendation.... (*snicker*).

Anyway, the point of all of this is the experience. Not only does it look great on a resume to say that you worked for some important senator or a foreign embassy, it makes you feel good too. It's a good way to spend your school year doing something beyond reading a thousand different textbooks or writing a million different essays. It's an opportunity to show something for your years as an undergrad. Internships combine the benefits of a part-time job and an educational resource. Even if you don't go to some big DC school, I thoroughly encourage all of my undergrad listeners out there to see about nabbing an internship in your field of study. The experience is something unrivaled, and certain to be one of the more interesting experiences of your four years in college.

Isolated and Alone

Sometimes I really wish there was a device that could transcribe your thoughts for you. I was walking around campus today, looking at the empty streets and thinking about how strange it was that there were no people lined up in front of Starbucks or vending machines sitting in front of the library. In my head, it was really eloquent and well-thought out. Sitting here in front of my computer, however, I feel kind of let down by my lack of ability to describe exactly what it is I felt. If I could write a book copying down exactly what goes on in my head, I would be a published author many times over.

I rather enjoy the feeling of isolation I get walking around campus with everyone gone. The only people on the streets are quiet, caught up in their own thoughts or purposes. It's easy to imagine they aren't even there, and that you're the only person out walking, particularly if it's nighttime. I enjoy people, and I enjoy being around people, but there are just some times when being alone is the most comforting feeling in the world. The night air is cool, and when you can bundle up, you feel complete, content, alone. It's such an amazing feeling, walking without a real destination in mind, the only person on the street. I enjoy feeling that way when the rest of the world gets too busy. All the students normally on campus are just so busy, hurrying between classes and work and internships. I admit, most of the time I'm one of those students too. Walking alone at night, the isolation I feel is the most comforting feeling in the world.

And now for something completely different--
"I know what will make you feel better..."
"Oh no, Michael, not another box of dogs!"
"Another box of dogs!"

A positive Thanksgiving?

The holiday season is engineered to make people think. Stuffed with carb-loaded and rich foods, it really begs you to sit around and consider life, since you aren't up for doing much else in your fattened state. Thanksgiving in particular is supposed to be all about counting the things you're grateful for. It is in this spirit that I offer up this blog.

Unlike most students, I'm staying on campus this Thanksgiving break. More than that, my one good friend who is also staying on campus with me hates Thanksgiving and all Thanksgiving food. I, on the other hand, have quite a sentimental attachment to Thanksgiving. I've always looked forward to the family and food that come with Thanksgiving. So despite the fact that I'm here alone, I'm trying very hard to be positive and thankful. I made my dinner: turkey roast, mashed potatoes, and crescent rolls--all the best parts of Thanksgiving food. I know it's no one's fault that I'm spending my first Thanksgiving alone. I just want to send out a message to all those people who's parents are willing and able to bring them home more than twice a year--be thankful for the fact that you can spend this time with the people you care about. I know we're all stressed out; exams are coming up and we're all tired and cranky from the beginning part of the semester. I know that you're all going to spend the weekend sleeping in late, eating home-cooked meals, and being annoyed by you family that you conveniently forgot was annoying while you were away. But I hope you spend at least a little bit of time thinking about how lucky you are and how thankful you should be that you have this chance to get away and unwind.

I know that this isn't much to be offering up today, but it seems to be the best I can come up with while trying to beat the migraine monkey that is currently bashing on my head. >.<

At least its not drugs

I've been known to spend outrageously when I get depressed. The addition of new pretties to my collection of material possessions is usually enough to distract me from whatever is going wrong in life. This semester has been no exception. While I have been having a wonderful semester so far, it has been a wonderful semester because I've been ignoring all the things that make me unhappy, rather than dealing with them. So far this year, I've bought myself a new computer (Nanashi), a new mp3 player (unnamed), a trip to Singapore, one of those slim PS2s (also as of yet unnamed) complete with both kingdom Hearts games, and a myriad of different pieces of clothing, jewelry, and shoes. These pretty things make me happy, if only for the fact that they are new and shiny. I know that they don't make all the bad things right. I know that they don't fix my emotional issues. But they do a good job of distracting me from all the stress and unhappiness that otherwise might consume me if I didn't have anything to distract me.

I've been told that this is just part of the coping process and that I shouldn't worry about it. But I can't really go around racking up my credit card bill to support my depression. I need to find a better way to deal with all the stress and drama of being a college student. My tuition is expensive enough without having to support a habit on top of it.

At least it's not drugs, right? ^_^

My secret pain

I know its not good to be laughing at someone else's pain, but I just can't help myself sometimes. Other people's pain is just so funny....

I mean...

I can't believe he's so abusive. So he says he was just trying to lay down next to me, but really he was trying to knee me in the kidneys. Seriously? You didn't mean to knee me in the kidney, cause me pain? Sure. I believe you. NOT. Who "accidentally" knees someone else in the kidney? Seriously!

^_^

I'm an awful person.

Dying in Real Life

I wish I could say that I have a brilliant political rhetoric to go along with this cartoon, but I am sad to admit that I do not. It just made me smile today, which was nice. I enjoy the occasional dumb humor....

Life's Gonna Suck

This s a special moment right now,
We'd like to take this time to tell all the kids at home,
Send your parents out of the room this is a kid's song.
Life's gonna suck when you grow up,
When you grow up, when you grow up
Life's gonna suck when you grow up,
It sucks pretty bad right now.

Hey! If you know the words, Sing along!

You're gonna hafta mow the lawn,
Do the dishes, make your bed.
You're gonna hafta go to school until you're seven-teen.
It's gonna seem about three times as long as that

You might have to go to war, shoot a gun, kill a nun.
You might have to go to war, when you get out of school.
Hey cheer up kids, it gets a lot worse.

You're gonna hafta deal with stress
Deal with stress, deal with stress.
You're gonna be a giant mess
When you get back from the war.

Santa Clause does not exist, and there's no Easter Bunny,
You'll find out when you grow up, that Big Bird isn't funny.
(funny, funny, hahahahaha!)

Life's gonna suck when you grow up,
When you grow up, when you grow up
Life's gonna suck when you grow up,
It sucks pretty bad right now.

You're gonna end up smoking crack, on your back, face the fact.
You're gonna end up hooked on smack, and then you're gonna die.

And then you're gonna die-ie-ie-ie-ie.

Something for the kids,
Well, I think I smell a lawsuit in that one, What do you think?

-Dennis Leary, Life's Gonna Suck When You Grow Up

Dennis Leary gets a good star for truthiness today. His biting sarcasm and bitter insight are certainly deserving of one.

As a side note, I'm not quite sure why I'm keeping this thing around. The whole blogger name has bad memories attached to it, and I know no one even cares to read this thing. I think I'm going to make a new xanga for the occasion. Something spiffy that can counterpart this blogger as part of my ambition to start over with life. Yeah, that sounds yummy....