Let's back up a bit

I have now been in the DC area for 3 weeks and I can confidently say it has been nothing short of an adventure. I made it here with just over a day to settle in to my new home and began work the following Monday.

My first week as an intern at the National Institutes of Health was a bit nerve-wracking - I fumbled with my campus map trying to find my building and slowly learned what my role would be within the group of investigators I now call my colleagues. My work is similar enough to things I have done previously that I feel competent in doing what is asked of me, but different enough that I have to venture into unknown land and explore new skills as a scientist. I have a great mentor who knows how to guide me when I need help but has given me all the freedom I want and need to take on an individual project for the summer.

Unfortunately, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows out here – literally speaking. Less than a week after arriving, there was a huge freak thunderstorm that hit knocked out thousands of power lines all over the DC area and beyond and my house was unfortunately one of the worst affected. There was no physical damage, but we lost all power for 6 days, 2 of which registered as record high temperatures for Bethesda. We had no air conditioning, no phone service, and no electricity, which means we had no food or means of communication with the rest of the world.

Fortunately for me, I have a wonderful network of generous people who offered to help me through the worst of the storm. I ended up staying with a friend for 2 days, during which time we celebrated the 4th of July. My day was filled with friends, food, and fireworks, and despite being somewhat homeless, I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate America’s birthday in the nation’s capital.

Fast forward a week or so, during which time I settled back in at home and did a bit of city touring, and we come across my next bizarre experience.  Earlier this week I went out for a run to try a new route in my neighborhood (I’m doing pretty good with this so-called half marathon training so far). I revel in the cool evening air because it is not uncommon to have 90+ degree weather at the end of the day and suddenly notice rain drops begin to fall around me. It becomes a slight drizzle and I continue my path – I’m about 2/3 of the way done, so I figured it would be quicker for me to finish it up – but within minutes, the drizzle becomes a full on downpour. I’m not far from home, but there is no shortcut for me to take. I’m soaked from head to toe within seconds and all I can hope for is that no lightning strikes and that my electronics make it all the way home. I’m physically treading water by the time I make it back to my neighborhood, but somehow my phone and iPod made it through.

At least 20 years from now, when I’m telling my kids stories, I can officially tell those ridiculously exaggerated stories.

“Back in my day, I survived without air conditioning in a record heat wave. I had to tread water and run in the pouring rain…”