Phase I: Washingshon Dee Shee

I'm sitting outside my dorm on the campus of George Washington University typing away in the swimmy mugginess of a D.C. night. It really is too hot here. The campus is located on the "foggy bottom" stop of the metro. I've been told this refers to its historical topography of swamphood, and judging from the heavy air and the bugs on my computer screen I'm tempted to think its true. After a fantastic farewell dinner with Andrea, Josh and Wendy at Wild Ginger (thanks Richar), I boarded the red-eye to DC. The airline lost my luggage so I spent most of the day being very sweaty and smelly. Feeling much better now, thanks to a shower and a clean shirt from my recently-arrived backpack.

Part of the getting-clean process was shaving the four days of growth I had planned to use as a base. This is going to be a tough project! big ups and respect to all you bearded men (and ladies) out there. Growing a beard is no easy task apparently!

Well, I've got one more paper to write over the next two nights, and this is just simple procrastination. Gotta get at it.

The beginning

So I've created this bogsplot to document the trip I'm about to take. Documentation becomes especially important when you have a memory as faulty as mine. Also, this is shaping up to be a pretty important summer in my life, and I'm excited to share it with whoever cares to take a peek.
Here's the scenario: In two days I leave for Washington DC where I will begin a six-week program with Humanity In Action, a New York based NGO. HIA's goal is to create and maintain a trans-Atlantic network of people in multiple fields who are committed to the protection of vulenerable populations, and who are concerned with the issue of minority rights within democracies.
I am one of approximately 40 students from the US (you should read the bios on these people-I have no idea how I squeaked in) who will be joining students from Europe in a really unique and incredible program of study. I'll be spending most of my time in Paris, but will also be in Amsterdam and Copenhagen. After the program ends I'll be taking a couple of weeks to make my way from Amsterdam, en train, to Moldova via Croatia and Slovenia (if I can swing it) to visit Mum and Dad who've been living there about a month now.
So this is the intro to my summer. Right now I have to go so Andrea and I can do the cleaning bee I promised her before I leave. Watch out tub! Here's comes Marty and he ain't fooling around!