Hi Stonehill!
My name is Casey Gallagher and I am a junior international studies major.
I decided to do this semester in Washington after looking at the opportunities it presented and realizing that it would be a good place to fulfill my internship requirement.
Though not totally what I expected, it has turned out to be a good experience thus far.
First off, going into the program, being from an American institution, I figured that most other students would be from American schools. However, just over 50% (or so I was told) in the program actually come from around the country. The rest are from schools all around the world, which we began to find out as my roommate Erin and I were pleasantly surprised with a third roommate from Germany.
Being in one of two Foreign Policy sections in the American University program, my class is made up of 4 American students and 17 international students- from Germany, France, Sweden, Morroco, Japan, China, Saudi Arabia and South Korea. This makes the class a truly unique experience. Everyone in the class is interested to hear the perspectives of someone from another country. We have had several interesting speakers and lessons, like a simulation on drafting policy as Mexican or American policy makers regarding the Mexican drug war, but the learning truly extends beyond the classroom. You become close with your classmates as you travel around the city to different speakers with them each week, and you begin to learn about how students from around the world view various issues, such as immigration, an issue of every country. In addition, you begin to feel the need to learn a foreign language as most of your classmates appear to converse freely in English, it being their second or third language. The class dynamic mixed with the speakers' insights will truly make this semester unforgettable.
Along with taking classes 3 days a week, two days of our week are devoted to internships. This semester I am interning with the Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach, a branch of the Columban Missionary Society. For those of you planning on doing the Washington Semester Program at American University, I would advise to being your internship search
early! Coming here without an internship proven to be highly stressful. However, in beginning your query as soon as possible, I would suggest thinking up and researching the places and types of places which you feel you would really want to intern with most, and carefully craft cover letters to each, and submit them in accordance with their online directions and due dates,
and follow up on the application! Trying to apply over the summer, I found myself trying to send out many cover letters and resumes and not really catering each to a specific internship and then summer became too hectic to follow up. However, if you do not have an internship or interviews set up upon arrival, the internship bazaar American University puts on is very helpful. It allows you to make personal contacts that help when following up with them after the fair. I received two offers from places that I had met in person at the fair. In addition, I received offers from each place that I had conducted an in person interview with, but could not seem to land an offer over the phone. So, I would suggest trying to get in person interviews, or being thoroughly prepared for an over the phone interview (sitting outside of a starbucks and talking outside the morning after supervising a camp out are also not ideal for phone interviews :)).
At my internship, I am responsible for researching updates on Climate Jusitice issues, which is everywhere as the international talks at Copenhagen approaches and there is a push for the Senate to pass a Climate Change bill before the summit in December. I am also trying to devise my own project to do while here, but waiting to get the ok on it. The information I am finding is very fascinating and I am anxiously waiting/trying to find ways to put it into practice in the context of the organization.
The third component of the American University semester in Washington is the research project. For my project, I am researching the factors that go into the policymaking in regards to the crisis in Darfur. Right now, I am exploring articles and Senate Committee hearing transcripts that dealing with US Foreign Policy in Africa and Darfur. These next two weeks, my class is having speakers on Africa and US Foreign Policy making, that will really help with my project and in making contacts for interviews for research.
Finally, everything to be learned in this city does not come from books. There is so much to explore here there should never be a dull moment! Along with all of the
free Smithsonian museums, there are monuments and statues scattered throughout the city waiting to be found. One Saturday, I cam upon a statue figure of John Marshall staring over a small park, and upon walking a bit further I came to AaBenjamin Banneker (an African American whose mathematic and astronomical work supposedly helped design the city) memorial, that was on the root of some sort of independent walking tour of the city (much too long for me to start to try and follow that day). In addition, during another days exploits I came across a display in Union Station promoting the culture of Colombia and learned a lot about the country and its heritage (along with a free tasting of Colombian coffee) There is a new adventure to be found at every turn and I can't wait to see what lies next!
