Mr. Scott goes to Washington - Act Three, Scene Eight: The Heart of Darkness
I know I let my posting slide again, but I've been quite busy. As we're coming into my last week in Washington, I've been trying to get all of the essays and papers written that I have to submit as part of my 'internship portfolio.' Had I done them during the term, rather than leaving them all to the last minute, it wouldn't be an issue. But, sadly, that was not the case. This entry will cover the period from Wednesday, Nov. 30 to Sunday, Dec. 4.
Wednesday (Nov. 30) wasn't a particularly exciting day, as a couple of my bosses were out of the office, and Congress was still on recess. So I spent the day working on one of the essays that I mentioned earlier. That night after work I went out for pad thai with a bunch of people.
On Thursday (Dec. 1) morning, a group of the embassy’s interns went on a tour of the US Capitol. One of the interns in the political section knows someone who works in Senator Debbie Stabenow’s office, and arranged the tour for us. It was quite informative, and best of all we got to ride from the Senate office buildings to the capital in the Senators’ private subway. I was somewhat disappointed, though, that it was more like a miniature train and less like the space-age tracked pod-cars I had envisioned.
That afternoon I attended a lunch at the United States Chamber of Commerce as part of their ongoing series on strengthening capital markets. The luncheon speaker was the Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young. I felt a little out of place because, unlike other events I attend, I was the only diplomatic representative in the room – everybody else was from the Chamber or from a major accounting company. While his speech wasn’t overly interesting, I had a really great discussion with a guy who works for the Chamber about a number of Canada-US issues, so it was a really enjoyable time. Also, the food was really, really good (Uncle David, you'd be proud of me - it was salmon, albeit smothered in a delicious cream sauce so you couldn't taste the fish).
Then, after work I went out for... more pad thai at a different restaurant with a different bunch of people.
On Friday (Dec. 2) I attended a Conference at the Brookings Institution entitled “Tax Reform in an Open Economy,” focusing on the international ramifications of the tax reform plans put forward by the President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform. It was sort of the culmination of the tax reform work I’ve been doing for the Finance Counsellor all term - he referred to it as my graduate seminar. I returned to the embassy around 3, and had a lengthy discussion about what was said with the Finance Counsellor. Going to another of these conferences only served to reinforce my belief that I need to get a Ph.D. in economics to reach my full intellectual pretentiousness potential.
At any rate, I was quite proud of myself because I was actually able to somewhat follow what was going on: when the Chief Economist from the President's Panel was talking about a part of their new consumption tax proposal, I was sitting there thinking to myself "Why, that amounts to an import tariff and an export subsidy. That would lead to import substition!" Then, during the question period, one of the Harvard economists in the front row asked her "Aren't you basically talking about a tariff on imports and a subsidy for exports? That would be disasterous for international trade relationships..."
I had to restrain myself from jumping out of my seat, yelling "Boo-yeah," and doing my geeky, white-boy, economic version of a touchdown dance .
Friday night... I can't remember what happened. I think that I did... something. But, for the life of me, I can't remember what it was. I really need to either write these things closer to the time that stuff actually happens, or take notes on what I'm doing...
Well, whatever I did, I slept in bloody late on Saturday. It was wonderful.
Saturday evening I went for a romantic moon-lit (well, moon- and streetlamp-lit) skate at the National Gallery with Kristina, Jake, Claire, and Brendon. After that, we went for a romantic chilidog at Ben's Chili Bowl, the famous Washington institution. It was amazing; I had the Bill Cosby special: a chili half-smoke with onions and mustard. I can't believe I didn't think to take my brother up there when he was down here! Oh well, there'll be plenty of time for chilidogs when I live here permanently...
On Sunday (Dec . 4) morning (I use the term 'morning' loosely... I think it was around 1pm) , Jonathan and I ventured brazenly into the heart of darkness - Southeastern DC - in search of the fabled Eastern Market...
Hidden in a neighbourhood that cannot be found except for those who know where it is. Find it, we did. There be the market, inside be the vendors, we looked at them all... hoping maybe, just maybe, to find some Christmas presents for pleasurable company...
I'm sorry. I don't know how I got from "Heart of Darkness" to "Pirates of the Caribbean."
After that, I returned home to do some more work on my much-hated portfolio papers. Speaking of, I should be working on the last of those right now! So, having successfully procrastinated via blogging for a little while, I'll leave you here for this afternoon.
Wednesday (Nov. 30) wasn't a particularly exciting day, as a couple of my bosses were out of the office, and Congress was still on recess. So I spent the day working on one of the essays that I mentioned earlier. That night after work I went out for pad thai with a bunch of people.
On Thursday (Dec. 1) morning, a group of the embassy’s interns went on a tour of the US Capitol. One of the interns in the political section knows someone who works in Senator Debbie Stabenow’s office, and arranged the tour for us. It was quite informative, and best of all we got to ride from the Senate office buildings to the capital in the Senators’ private subway. I was somewhat disappointed, though, that it was more like a miniature train and less like the space-age tracked pod-cars I had envisioned.
That afternoon I attended a lunch at the United States Chamber of Commerce as part of their ongoing series on strengthening capital markets. The luncheon speaker was the Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young. I felt a little out of place because, unlike other events I attend, I was the only diplomatic representative in the room – everybody else was from the Chamber or from a major accounting company. While his speech wasn’t overly interesting, I had a really great discussion with a guy who works for the Chamber about a number of Canada-US issues, so it was a really enjoyable time. Also, the food was really, really good (Uncle David, you'd be proud of me - it was salmon, albeit smothered in a delicious cream sauce so you couldn't taste the fish).
Then, after work I went out for... more pad thai at a different restaurant with a different bunch of people.
On Friday (Dec. 2) I attended a Conference at the Brookings Institution entitled “Tax Reform in an Open Economy,” focusing on the international ramifications of the tax reform plans put forward by the President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform. It was sort of the culmination of the tax reform work I’ve been doing for the Finance Counsellor all term - he referred to it as my graduate seminar. I returned to the embassy around 3, and had a lengthy discussion about what was said with the Finance Counsellor. Going to another of these conferences only served to reinforce my belief that I need to get a Ph.D. in economics to reach my full intellectual pretentiousness potential.
At any rate, I was quite proud of myself because I was actually able to somewhat follow what was going on: when the Chief Economist from the President's Panel was talking about a part of their new consumption tax proposal, I was sitting there thinking to myself "Why, that amounts to an import tariff and an export subsidy. That would lead to import substition!" Then, during the question period, one of the Harvard economists in the front row asked her "Aren't you basically talking about a tariff on imports and a subsidy for exports? That would be disasterous for international trade relationships..."
I had to restrain myself from jumping out of my seat, yelling "Boo-yeah," and doing my geeky, white-boy, economic version of a touchdown dance .
Friday night... I can't remember what happened. I think that I did... something. But, for the life of me, I can't remember what it was. I really need to either write these things closer to the time that stuff actually happens, or take notes on what I'm doing...
Well, whatever I did, I slept in bloody late on Saturday. It was wonderful.
Saturday evening I went for a romantic moon-lit (well, moon- and streetlamp-lit) skate at the National Gallery with Kristina, Jake, Claire, and Brendon. After that, we went for a romantic chilidog at Ben's Chili Bowl, the famous Washington institution. It was amazing; I had the Bill Cosby special: a chili half-smoke with onions and mustard. I can't believe I didn't think to take my brother up there when he was down here! Oh well, there'll be plenty of time for chilidogs when I live here permanently...
On Sunday (Dec . 4) morning (I use the term 'morning' loosely... I think it was around 1pm) , Jonathan and I ventured brazenly into the heart of darkness - Southeastern DC - in search of the fabled Eastern Market...
Hidden in a neighbourhood that cannot be found except for those who know where it is. Find it, we did. There be the market, inside be the vendors, we looked at them all... hoping maybe, just maybe, to find some Christmas presents for pleasurable company...
I'm sorry. I don't know how I got from "Heart of Darkness" to "Pirates of the Caribbean."
After that, I returned home to do some more work on my much-hated portfolio papers. Speaking of, I should be working on the last of those right now! So, having successfully procrastinated via blogging for a little while, I'll leave you here for this afternoon.
posted by Scoops at 2:07 p.m.
3 Comments:
What intrepid adventurers we are, eh? Now that I've survived Southeast DC, the next frontier is to cross the Potomac. ;)
Ah, Polka, what a bittersweet day this must be for you! How great to be going home to Elliott and yo' mumma and Uncle David and Aunt Liz, Gramps and Gramma, da boyz...but how sad that your wonderful adventure is ending - for now! I have so enjoyed living vicariously in DC through your blog, many many thanks for taking the time to keep the hinterland both amused and educated. Most sincere thanks as well, Scotty, for the wonderful friend you have been to Claire, a mum just could not ask for a nicer, more intelligent, true blue loyal, funny, friend for her baby - you are the best!
Love from Mrs. Marchant
Hey! You didn't explain why your appreciation for Mexico was subsequently diminished as you promised in the previous entry!
Do tell!
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