A Week of Balancing Acts
On Sunday, my high school best friend flew down to DC, and we immediately hit the road to Williamsburg. Fortunately, the ACC allows interns to work from home every Monday and Friday, so I didn’t need to make any special arrangements to work from Williamsburg. On Monday, we set up shop at the William and Mary Law Library. It was great to catch up with the library staff and see a few friends while we were in town. For lunch, we took a break at Rick’s Cheesesteak Shop, where I indulged in a delicious turkey club. After wrapping up our work for the day, we moved my belongings into my new apartment in Williamsburg and then drove back to DC.
My friend booked an Airbnb right by the ACC office and generously let me crash there for the rest of the week. This was incredibly convenient, as it made my commute a breeze. With the scorching heat in DC this week, I opted to take electric scooters to the office instead of walking the 15 minutes to the office. The scooters only took 4 minutes and ensured I arrived at work without breaking a sweat—something I’m sure my fellow interns appreciated.
Work at the ACC was relatively quiet, allowing me to focus on wrapping up some significant research projects. I’ve made substantial progress on hazard communication standards and am excited to dive into my final project, which involves federal preemption of state law.
Despite the workload, it was also a busy social week. On Tuesday, we attended my college roommate’s competitive karaoke league. Wednesday was more relaxed; we got takeout and watched the RNC. Thursday was a double celebration: my kickball team, Scared Kickless, won our first game of the season by 8 runs, and it was my birthday! We celebrated with cake and then went out for a beer after the game.
Friday was my friend’s last day in town, so we decided to explore DC a bit more. We worked from the MLK Jr. Memorial Library, which provided a fantastic workspace with stunning views of the city. In the evening, we enjoyed dinner at Gordon Ramsay’s Fish and Chips on the DC Wharf. The fish and chips were, as expected, fantastic. After dinner, my friend headed back home and I'm so thrilled and thankful that he visited.
Saturday was a treat as I drove down to Lynchburg for my college roommate’s annual family pig roast. The pig was delicious, and catching up with old friends was wonderful. Rather than drive all the way back to DC that night, I stayed over in Charlottesville, my old stomping grounds from my undergrad days. It was a nostalgic visit, filled with memories of my college years.
I woke up early on Sunday to grab a Bodo’s bagel, a Charlottesville classic, before heading back to DC. The bagel was as good as I remembered, making it a perfect start to my day. The rest of Sunday was dedicated to catching up on much-needed chores. I’m glad being in DC allows me to travel all around Virginia and see old friends.
I can’t believe my summer is reaching its end! This week was a perfect blend of productivity, socializing, and nostalgia. As I look forward to the remaining weeks of my internship, I’m excited to see what new adventures and challenges lie ahead.