From the Fields to the Metro Station

Arriving

Saturday 05.24.25- Sunday 05.25.25

For the first time in my life, I was traveling alone. As the youngest child, I had always been guided by my siblings or parents, but this time I was headed to a place neither I nor my family had ever been. Getting onto the plane to D.C. was terrifying, but as soon as I landed, I was greeted with the warmest welcome from Patrick and Virginia. Meeting the other interns felt effortless and exciting, as if we had all known each other for some time. That evening, Patrick, Virginia, and the interns had dinner together, walked around the nearby area, and settled down for the night at a hotel.

The next day, all of us interns moved into our residential hall, where we quickly realized we had no clue how many necessities we needed to move into a new place. Although Virginia and Patrick took us to buy groceries and showed us numerous stores, we found ourselves constantly returning to the store for little things like dish soap and water. I've definitely learned my lesson! Patrick and Virginia also taught us how to use the Metro, explored the local area with us, and overall supported us throughout the settling-in process. We also had the chance to meet the CHCI Interns at our welcome meeting. Overall, it was a wonderful first two days.

Exploring

Monday 05.26.25

Monday was Memorial Day, and all of the interns, guided by Virginia and Patrick, ate breakfast together before heading to the National Mall (which, surprisingly, isn't an actual mall)! There, we visited the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. It was amazing to catch a glimpse of U.S. history and remember those who fought hard for our country's freedom and safety. After that, we toured the Capitol and learned more about important figures who shaped American history. Later, all the interns returned to shopping for our dorms. That night, Andres was kind enough to make dinner for us, starting a new tradition of all the interns eating together once a day. We gathered and enjoyed our evening as we prepared for the first day of CHCI programming the following day.

CHCI Orientation

Tuesday 05.27.25 - Thursday 05.29.25

The first day of orientation was great. I got to interact with all the CHCI Interns and learned more about everyone's background and journeys. It was amazing to know that despite our diverse backgrounds as Hispanics, we were all just nervous interns eager to see what this experience would bring.

On Wednesday, our orientation began at the Smithsonian American History Museum, where we not only learned about American history but also Latino history in the United States. It was enlightening to see Chicano history and understand how Hispanics contributed to the rise of the United States. The next day, all the interns from both CHCI and HEP/CAMP took headshots. We walked around Capitol Hill and learned more about what it means to be an intern for a congressman. Overall, orientation was fantastic, preparing me for my first day on the Hill and helping me bond with the other interns, who I now consider friends.

Settling In

Friday 05.30.25

Friday was filled with visiting each of the HEP/CAMP intern's placements. We started in the House of Representatives, where we met the office of Rep. Vargas of California, and then the office of Rep. Leger Fernandez of New Mexico. We traveled through the underground tunnels of the Capitol, where we then met with my placement. It was calming to see the work environment I will be in for the next few weeks and meet some of the staff. Next, we headed to NVG and had lunch with their team. They were extremely welcoming, and all the HEP/CAMP interns got to take home a week's worth of food! The next stop was LULAC, where we received a heartfelt presentation that hit close to home. It was incredible to meet everyone's placement, reinforcing the idea that each of us was placed exactly where we were meant to be.

Later that night, we had our final dinner with Virginia, Patrick, and Patrick's lovely wife. We shared final laughs and smiles together, where we interns surprised Patrick and Virginia with thank-you cards and a cake for guiding us throughout the transition. Our gratitude cannot be expressed. Thank you so much, Patrick and Virginia, for everything you do!

After saying our goodbyes, the HEP/CAMP Interns joined the rest of the CHCI Interns for a movie night, where we all gathered with snacks and great energy. It was wonderful to see everyone outside of their professional roles and become a family as we settled into this new chapter of our lives.