FELLOWSHIP BEGINS-Washington, DC

One of the funniest things about Washington, DC is its weather. One moment it can be 85 with a heat index of 103 and humidity that will make the average lady with hair run for cover. The next thing is it can take on London like rain for days.

This was the case when I arrive to DC. Yet, my focus was not on the weather, but the destination ahead-the headquarters of the German Marshall Fund, the main coordinator for this fellowship I was honored to be a participant of.

As I arrive at the building, you see this stone staircase that takes you up to a level that is welcoming and warm. In the conference room, one of the participants already await. Introductions are coordial and sincere. More summer fellows enter and I start to sense a feeling of "wow, I'm a part of this" From Executive Directors to law firm partners to VP's, you have it all. Even more noteworthy was the professional humility in the group. In other words, this group was confident enough in its individual stature, achievements and skills they bring to the point that expressing it was unnecessary. True professionals indeed.

What's even more amazing is the people at GMF who coordinates this program-Neil, Emily and Sasha. They work is truly appreciated and it shows in the fluid, organized manner our program has been administered thus far. I'm confident in speaking for the summer group that their hard work is truly appreciated and will have a lasting memory with all of us.

GMF set up some briefings with the 2009 Summer group. From current issues in the European Union to Transatlantic Perceptions, we learned a tremendous amount in a day of briefings. The main course of the two day briefing was a recently Transatlantic Academy completed report on Immigration Management in selected European countries. As MMF's we had to read the report and had the opportunity to discuss the findings with its contributors over dinner. The next day, we were briefed on Transatlantic Relations by Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff, Senior Director for Policy Programs with GMF. Ken talked about the economic impact of the Obama Administration with the European Union.

We then closed out our briefing with Differences Between American and European Beliefs and Values with Professor Gary Weaver of American University. Professor Weaver dove into the various factors that cause differences in beliefs between the two and the existing similarities.

Now it was time to depart for the airport-Washington Dulles to be exact. This was not a short drive and Friday rush hour in DC is stop-and-go hell, so we were leaving early. We stopped first to take a group photo in front of the GMF building to mark the beginning of our travels together.

Now it was time to hit that bus and begin our journey to our first destinaton-Brussels, Belgium. Of course everyone was making last minute calls, conversing about what it's going to be like and what they're looking forward to on this joruney.

As for me-I was just soaking it all in. It's rare when you can be in the same continuum of a moment in life and actually get to watch and live it simultaneously. This was that moment for me. Through all the interviews, paperwork, e-mails, coordination, preperation, it was coming down to this bus ride to the airport-check in culmination.

So, we're off to Brussels. I will post again at the conclusion of our Brussels leg. Make sure you check back as I find out who this NATO is, how unified is the European Union and is the Belgium Waffle really all that. ;-)


Like Denise Huxtable's mysterious absence on the Cosby Show, I'm out!!!!