Day Three: Realization Day

Day Three in the Pence office was quite a day. In the morning, I was trained on a few of the office processes and learned a lot. After lunch though, my activities on the Hill finally took a turn toward more action.

An intern in the House Republican Conference office went on a "Scavenger Hunt" around Capitol Hill with me. For 1.5 hours we were to find rooms that we could potentially be visiting during the summer. We got lost a couple of times and frequently asked regular employees which direction to turn. Exploring the hallways of the Capitol, while at times frustrating, was a great experience. Many people will never get to see the Capitol from the point of view that I had today. Many wrong turns later, we returned to the 4th floor of Longworth, glad that our journey was finally over. I know my sore feet were especially glad for the end.

A few more hours passed before the end of the workday was reached. I recently learned that I could walk through the Capitol on my way home from the office. Never being the one to turn down air-conditioned walking when the muggy outdoors is the other option, I embarked on this walk.

Still not knowing the correct way to the Capitol, I went the wrong way and ended up getting to the elevator when many Members of Congress were rushing to the floor for a vote. The policy during votes is to ALWAYS let Members have the elevator before you. Following this policy, I prepared to wait for the next round of elevators. One of the Congresswomen called for another person to come in. Soon Congressman Ralph Hall of Texas was motioning for me to squeeze in the packed elevator. (I recognized him from the many hearings I've watched while working at C-SPAN Archives.) Following his instructions, I happily jumped into the crowded quarters.

Congressman Hall told me when I entered that I was the only one that he would let in because he thought I was a granddaughter of someone. He said that grandfathers love you more than anything in the world. Grandmothers make you cook and clean, and they really run the show. He encouraged me to go see my grandpa. I noted that my grandpa was in Indiana and that I wouldn't see him for a while. Still, Congressman Hall persisted that I make contact with my grandpa because he knew that he loved me.

Inspired by this short elevator ride up, I soon called my grandpa to talk. The conversations with Congressman Hall and my grandpa are both memories that I will probably keep forever.

It was on this walk home, through the Capitol, after my conversation with Congressman Hall, that I truly realized that I am working in Washington, D.C. this summer.