Week 4: Raíces en el Capitolio

Commuting, Caffeinated, and Comfortable

Monday, 06.16.26 - Thursday, 06.19.25

This week was much calmer, and I am finally beginning to get over my homesickness and truly embrace life in D.C. Throughout the week, I've been overwhelmed with gratitude for being here. Reflecting on how far I have come and how far my parents have come brings tears to my eyes. I used to believe there was no life outside of those blueberry bushes, but here I am today, dusting off my heels to work in the Senate building.

This week at work didn't bring anything new, but I definitely grew closer with my staff and began standing up for myself while taking the initiative on legislation I am passionate about. When I first started, I wasn’t entirely sure if working in a Congressional office was right for me. However, after attending hearings on constitutional law and current issues, my passion reignited, and I am eager to begin work again next week.

I've definitely felt the shift from being a tourist to a local this week. On Wednesday, after work, Yaisy and I went for a night walk toward the National Mall. It's incredible that the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument are practically in my backyard! Although I couldn't attend any Juneteenth events on Thursday, the HEP/CAMP interns used our day off to do our weekly grocery shopping and catch up on work. It’s these small moments that really make a difference.

Weekend Adventures

Friday, 06.20.25 - Saturday, 06.21.25

On Friday, my boyfriend came to visit me in D.C.! After work, I was so excited to show him around the city I've grown to love. We first went to the Pentagon City Mall, then met up with the rest of the HEP/CAMP interns to watch the latest episode of Love Island, which was interrupted by a fire alarm! Instead of waiting for the building to reopen, my boyfriend and I took the opportunity to ride scooters around the National Mall, where I showed him all the memorials I had visited during my first week here. It was heartwarming to spend the evening with someone from home, and it made me realize I no longer need Google Maps to navigate D.C. since it's almost become muscle memory.

On Saturday, I took my boyfriend to Bullfrog Bagels. Next, we met the other HEP/CAMP interns at the Smithsonian National Zoo, where we saw bears, elephants, and many birds! After the zoo, we made our way to the U.S. Botanic Gardens, where I also got to share the beauty of Capitol Hill with him. All of the animals and plants were stunning! To top it all off, my boyfriend surprised me with a lovely dinner at The Hamilton that evening. Looking back on the week, I am truly appreciative for being here and for the wonderful experiences I get to share with others!