I'm in!

Today was the big day!  After a few conflicting messages, I got word late yesterday afternoon that I was to report at 0830 this morning.  I was up bright and early, made it out the door, down the hill, on the Metro, and took a scenic (meaning lost) walking route to the Department of Labor (DOL) building.

I was escorted to the Occupational Health Nursing (OHN) office on the 4th floor of a six floor building.  I have a cubicle that is probably bigger than my dorm room, my own computer and phone extension, and an ergonomically friendly chair.  I met the other OHN intern, Georganne, from University of Cincinnati, who also got to start today.  Her wait was 2-1/2 weeks, so I guess I should be thankful mine was just a few days.

The OHN department is comprised of three nurses and one admin person, so by DOL standards, it is a very small department.  I was given my project for the summer, which is to develop an etool program addressing demanding work schedules and worker fatigue.  As a night shift worker for most of my nursing career, I acknowledge the toll it has taken on my health and well-being.  I have observed the effects of worker fatigue on my fellow co-workers, whose health and well-being are also important to me.  I am excited to review the material from last year's OHN intern, and to develop something that can be helpful in business and industry.

I received a tour of the DOL facility and am quite impressed! There are many services on-site: a full-service cafeteria offering several different cuisines, snack bar, gift shop, daycare center, post office, dry cleaners -- and most exciting is a workout facility with cardio equipment, free weights, weight machines, and organized classes, all for an affordable monthly membership.  All these services make happy workers and improve employee retention.

I watched a live-stream hearing held by the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections with a panel of OSHA senior officials, academia and industry representatives.  This was called so the subcommittee could obtain information about an OSHA program called the Voluntary Protection Program, a voluntary safe workplace program run by OSHA.  It is quite an comprehensive program which promotes collaboration and partnership by business and OSHA to promote workplace safety.  In the middle of the hearing, the committee chairman interrupted the proceedings to announce the decision of the Supreme Court.

Following work, I went to the Kennedy Center and took in the daily free performance.  Folkfest started this week at the Smithsonian, and the musical group Quetzal performed today as part of the Folkfest celebrations.  Their music tells social, cultural, political, and musical stories of people in struggle.  The ensemble is energetic and talented, and the music invigorating!

Below is a link to the taped webcast of the musical performance:

http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/artists/?entity_id=79309&source_type=B

And my pics of today:

Commute to work

My cubicle

View from the 6th floor balcony outside the cafeteria

Kennedy Center

Well said, JFK

Groundhog Day

Well, it isn't really, but I am still on hold to begin my internship.  In the meantime,  yesterday I checked out the Dept. of Labor building and walked around outside the Capital -- saw the press corps out in force waiting for the Supreme Court rulings.  I went to evening Mass at the Shrine and then took a drive out to Arlington and walked around a shopping center.

The word yesterday was that the contract was with USF legal department; late today it was sent back to OSHA, and I did call them, got voice mail, left a message, but no call-back yet.

And so I wait...

Today I went to the Franciscan Monastery for morning Mass and then a guided tour of the church and catacombs.  The priest today spoke of the Golden Rule, which reminds us to treat not only others (as in people), but all things as we would wish to be treated.  The church and catacombs are replicas of many revered places and structures in the Holy Land, and there are some religious relics also on display.  I was unable to tour the 40 acres of gardens because of the storm that passed through here on Friday night, but I am certain they will reopen while I am in DC.  The storm system, a microburst, caused a lot of damage in the neighborhood.

Now for you Florida folks, my weather story pales in comparison with all the excitement of Tropical Storm Debby, but that is my contribution to the weather talk!

Later today, I navigated through getting on different Metro lines to get from here to the area around American University and then south to Alexandria, VA.  I walked through Old Town and down by the waterfront.  Pictures are below, and links to some of the things I've mentioned.

http://www.myfranciscan.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microburst

Capital Building

Department of Labor (where I'll be interning)

Franciscan Monastery

ABCs for Life

Waterfront at Old Town Alexandria

I plan to update next when I start my internship!

Arriving to DC

I arrived Saturday afternoon, after a very long drive compounded by heavy traffic from Richmond north.  I ended up arriving about 5pm to find a group of sisters in full habit in the backyard hacking away at a felled tree and cleaning up brush.  Friday night, a storm came through the neighborhood so there were numerous trees down in the Brookland area (where I am living).  I met Sr. De De, the Mother Superior of the Little Workers of the Sacred Heart, which is the order that owns the residence hall where I am living.  She gave me a quick tour, and I learned a little about her.  She retired in 2008 from the US Army, is a family practice physician and a surgeon.  It was quite a culture shock (and deja vu) to move into my dorm room; the dwellings are monastic and eclectic, but for now, the Casa Sacri Couri, is my home sweet home.  The house is located in a very walkable neighborhood in the Brookland area, northeast section of DC.  Because of its proximity to Catholic University (CUA), this area is also called "Little Rome."  There are several religious homes in the form of convents, a Franciscan monastery, and the Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception all within walking distance.

Sunday morning, I walked to the Shrine for Mass and checked out the neighborhood.  I met up with Sr. Maria, a Benedictine nun and resident of the Casa, who is completing her PhD in Latin and Greek at CUA.  She, along with Sr. De De, gave me information about the Fortnight for Freedom event going on Sunday afternoon: a prayer rally at George Washington University (GWU).  The rally at GWU was well done; it was attended by about 1000 people, held in the gymnasium, and sponsored by the diocese.  The program consisted of prayer, speeches, movies that had been done about the history of religious freedom in the US, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and song.  A choir from St. Augustine's led the singing.  St. Augustine's is the first African-American parish in DC, so you can imagine the quality of the music.

The US Catholic Bishops have initiated the Fortnight for Freedom as a time of fasting and prayer regarding the HHS mandate that all employers must provide birth control and sterilization services as part of health insurance coverage to their employees.  So, the position of the bishops, in accordance with the teachings of the church, is that the federal government is infringing on our constitutional right to religious freedom.  Several employers have filed lawsuits against HHS.  I must say that I agree with the church regarding their stance -- if provision of these services contradicting their teaching are mandated by the government it does indeed violate the constitution.

Also today the Supreme Court ruling regarding Obama-care is expected.  It certainly is a historical time to be in DC.

I attended the rally with Sister Maria, who was dressed in full habit, so that was an interesting experience to accompany her throughout the city.  Another resident of the Casa was with us, Jennifer, who works in the education department and is also a graduate student at CUA.  Later in the day, I met Mary, the house liaison, who after completing 2 yrs of medical school, took some time off because of family issues.  During this hiatus, she started working in the administrative end of Catholic Charities, has her MPH, and has done numerous environmental health and human rights projects on the international level.

What an incredibly talented, educated, intelligent, and humble group of women I've added to my circle in the past few days!

Another plus of yesterday, was having the guidance of Sister and Jennifer to navigate the Metro.  We traveled by way of the Metro to the rally, so I am familiar with getting around, the neighborhood location of the stop, and the bus to take back up the hill if I come home at night.  We went to Trader Joe's to get some groceries -- fantastic store!!  So, I carted my bags throughout DC, a very different experience for a gal who grew up in the suburbs.  I have a blister to prove it.  One of today's projects is to find comfortable footwear with walk-ability.
 
So, that's my day in a nutshell.  Hopefully good news will come in today, and I can start at OSHA tomorrow -- the good news being that the internship funding has gone through.  I found out on Friday afternoon, en route to DC, that the funding had not been approved for me and the other student who were offered the internship.  I'm not quite sure why I was notified at the last minute.  The other intern has been here for two weeks waiting.  In the meantime, I am planning on taking the Metro to the Department of Labor today to plan my commute and then check out the Mall while I'm in the area.
 

Bob and the girls have kept me updated via text about the Tropical Storm Debby.  The little girls sound happy and back-to-normal on the phone.  They both told me "no more tears," so I'm glad they adapted so quickly.  It's a credit to Bob on his parenting abilities to have them transition so well!  We are all lucky to have him.

Here are a few links and picture about the things I've mentioned:

 http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/fortnight-freedom-special-masses.cfm

 

http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/national/thousands-attend-celebration-of-freedom-rally-in-dc 

http://www.brooklanddchistory.com/ 

The Casa Sacri Couri

Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (side view)

Front steps of the Shrine

One of the numerous prayer niches inside