January 13, 2009
Yesterday was my first day as a Tennessee Legislative Intern. The day was mostly filled with orientation sessions going over security and various other formalities of procedure. It was a nice day, and I got to meet quite a few of the other interns. I didn't find out who I will actually be working for.
Lessons from the first day:
1. Always wear your name badge
2. Don’t play with the bomb-sniffing dog unless you ask first-then it’s ok
3. If you bring your computer to the capitol, it will likely be stolen by one of the
homeless people that wander in off the street
4. If you leave anything in your car, the front windshield will get broken and your stuff will
get stolen
5. If you have a hand-gun carry permit that’s cool (great even) just leave the gun in your
trunk
6. Don’t forget to take the bullets out of your purse when you put the gun in your trunk (it’s
easy to forget the ammo sometimes-so just a reminder)
7. If a reporter asks you a question and you give a stupid answer that answer will appear on
the front page-above the fold- of The Tennessean the next morning
8. Don’t go to legislative parties unless you are officially invited
9. Don’t drink too much if you are invited
10. If you dance on tables at a bar after work, everyone in your office will know the next
morning before you get there
11. Girls-“Be mindful that if you wear a low-cut shirt and you lean over…”
12. There are LOTS of good looking legislators- "you will get hit on"
13. Just because you are in college, working toward a degree, doesn’t mean that you don’t have
to make copies-or coffee
14. Don’t fall asleep in a committee meeting-especially if it is streaming live on the internet
After I got home Chelsea (my roommate) and I decided to go to the grocery store. As we were coming home, I got lost…really lost and we ended up in a park. No one else was in the park except a police man. He pulled me over because I was speeding as I was trying to leave the dark, abandoned area (33 in a 20). I explained that I was just lost, new in town. He took my license, insurance, and registration but…he didn’t give me a ticket!!! He helped me find my way back!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Two Weeks-One Great Trip
I was in China for two weeks-December 7-22. During that time I not only visited Beijing but several other cities as well. Danny and I took a week-long trip to Xi'an and two cities in southern China-Guilin and Yangshuo. I saw nearly every Chinese historical/tourist site I associated with the country as well as experienced and explored the culture, food, and beautiful landscape. I loved being in China! (All possible because of my tour guide)
Please see dannyclimber.com/blog for more posts of the details of the trip.
Please see dannyclimber.com/blog for more posts of the details of the trip.
Ni Hao China!
December 7, 2008
I arrived in Beijing a little after 7:00 pm-I think. The flight from McGee Tyson was great. I actually slept the entire way so the two hour plane ride only felt like about 15 minutes. Arriving in Newark, I found out that the flight to Beijing had been delayed from 12:15pm to 3:00pm. I disappointed but decided to just get a cup of coffee, read some magazines, and walk around the airport a little before having to sit in the plane for so long. At about 1:30, however, the flight was delayed again until 4:00. The woman that made the announcement then told us that “they” were still in the process of fixing the problem with the plane-a mechanical problem. I was really frustrated at this point-and incredibly tired. I had been not only counting down the hours to see Danny, but also to when I could sleep. I had been studying, taking exams, and moving out of my apartment for the last days prior to leaving and hadn't slept in about 40 hours. At 3:45 the 4:00 was delayed to 4:30. Then at 4:10 it was delayed to 5:00. (I would like to mention here that all the flights in my terminal were “on time”-I know because I walked past each one while waiting.)
Finally, after making friends with an Alabama fan, who was pretty upset about not being able to watch the SEC Championship, and a very short guy with an incredibly gross and scraggly go tee, I boarded the plane. We took off a little after 5:30!!!
The 12 hour and 44 minute plane ride was actually not bad. I took Dramamine within the firs 30 minutes of the flight. This, combined with sleep deprivation, was a great combination for the ride! The two people sitting on either side of me were very nice. Ian, a junior at a small liberal arts college in Minnesota, was really nice. He even saved me an ice cream while I was asleep to have when I woke up :) The woman on my left was also really nice. I can't remember her name (it was Chinese-that's not why I don't remember, actually maybe it is). She was going back home after spending a month in the States-mostly visiting friends in New York.
I arrived in Beijing at about 7:30 pm local time!!!! The lady that sat next to me offered her phone to me to call Danny. He was there waiting! I went to claim my bag and then “go through customs”. Even though I had to stand in line for about 15 minutes, all the guy did was look at my visa, and look at the card I gave him saying what flight I arrived on. They didn't look at anything. -not that I had anything illegal to bring in...but my experience in Chile of nearly not being allowed through because I had an open bag of trail mix made me expect at least a little concern.
I left customs and wheeled my 43 pound bag through the next door. There was Danny!!!-- on the other side of a gate/fence but...oh my goodness, I was so happy!!!! We walked/kind of ran to the end of the divider to see each other. He had the most beautiful bouquet of roses and lilies! We (I did not carry it) took my incredibly heavy bag downstairs to the subway. I didn't actually get to see Beijing in the daylight until the next day, but I got to experience a little of Beijing transportation in the motorcycle-driven cart after we left the subway station. I also ate some quar (pronounced “chuar”-anything cooked on a stick-this was chicken) and permison (a fruit similar to a tomato) that Danny had gotten when we arrived at his apartment.
I arrived in Beijing a little after 7:00 pm-I think. The flight from McGee Tyson was great. I actually slept the entire way so the two hour plane ride only felt like about 15 minutes. Arriving in Newark, I found out that the flight to Beijing had been delayed from 12:15pm to 3:00pm. I disappointed but decided to just get a cup of coffee, read some magazines, and walk around the airport a little before having to sit in the plane for so long. At about 1:30, however, the flight was delayed again until 4:00. The woman that made the announcement then told us that “they” were still in the process of fixing the problem with the plane-a mechanical problem. I was really frustrated at this point-and incredibly tired. I had been not only counting down the hours to see Danny, but also to when I could sleep. I had been studying, taking exams, and moving out of my apartment for the last days prior to leaving and hadn't slept in about 40 hours. At 3:45 the 4:00 was delayed to 4:30. Then at 4:10 it was delayed to 5:00. (I would like to mention here that all the flights in my terminal were “on time”-I know because I walked past each one while waiting.)
Finally, after making friends with an Alabama fan, who was pretty upset about not being able to watch the SEC Championship, and a very short guy with an incredibly gross and scraggly go tee, I boarded the plane. We took off a little after 5:30!!!
The 12 hour and 44 minute plane ride was actually not bad. I took Dramamine within the firs 30 minutes of the flight. This, combined with sleep deprivation, was a great combination for the ride! The two people sitting on either side of me were very nice. Ian, a junior at a small liberal arts college in Minnesota, was really nice. He even saved me an ice cream while I was asleep to have when I woke up :) The woman on my left was also really nice. I can't remember her name (it was Chinese-that's not why I don't remember, actually maybe it is). She was going back home after spending a month in the States-mostly visiting friends in New York.
I arrived in Beijing at about 7:30 pm local time!!!! The lady that sat next to me offered her phone to me to call Danny. He was there waiting! I went to claim my bag and then “go through customs”. Even though I had to stand in line for about 15 minutes, all the guy did was look at my visa, and look at the card I gave him saying what flight I arrived on. They didn't look at anything. -not that I had anything illegal to bring in...but my experience in Chile of nearly not being allowed through because I had an open bag of trail mix made me expect at least a little concern.
I left customs and wheeled my 43 pound bag through the next door. There was Danny!!!-- on the other side of a gate/fence but...oh my goodness, I was so happy!!!! We walked/kind of ran to the end of the divider to see each other. He had the most beautiful bouquet of roses and lilies! We (I did not carry it) took my incredibly heavy bag downstairs to the subway. I didn't actually get to see Beijing in the daylight until the next day, but I got to experience a little of Beijing transportation in the motorcycle-driven cart after we left the subway station. I also ate some quar (pronounced “chuar”-anything cooked on a stick-this was chicken) and permison (a fruit similar to a tomato) that Danny had gotten when we arrived at his apartment.
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