Back in the DMV
"I would never live in D.C." -me, despite having traveled here three times in one year... but how could I not stop here for a few days before starting my internship in Maryland?
After spending so much time in D.C. proper in my last few visits, I decided to explore outside of the downtown area and the National Mall so I could enjoy some new views, perhaps some new company as well. I took a solo bus trip this week to Columbia Heights, which I have now decided is my favorite part of the DMV (D.C./Maryland/Virginia area) and one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. I got off at the stop for the Meridian Hill Park, and I felt like I had just stepped into a dream.
The park is massive, with multiple fountains, a castle-type set of stairways, greenery everywhere you turn, and friendly faces napping in the grass or walking dogs along the sidewalk. When I compare this setting to the parks I’ve been to at home or New York or Vancouver or Georgia or practically anywhere else I’ve visited, I realized that this is one of the few parks (that I’ve seen) that isn't dominated by one specific demographic (i.e. primarily upper-class families, homeless population, impoverished children, or other socioeconomic groups). Rather, there was a diverse array of children, adults, students, elderly, etc. all carrying on with their day, all emanating some strange buzzing feeling that reminded me of a song, "When Everything Was New" by Flume. I felt like I could close my eyes and keep walking, so peaceful that I thought I may float off the ground. No one giving anyone else strange looks for sleeping on a bench or talking too loudly; this was already one of my favorite days, and it was only two in the afternoon.
Once I was hungry enough to tear myself away from the park, I started walking through the neighborhood to find a bite to eat. On my way, I passed a youth center for Latino youth, and I was immediately flooded with memories of my first volunteer experience abroad with Global Scholars in 2016. Even the bright paint on the outside of the building seemed nostalgic to me, and I began debating whether I should go in and inquire about any volunteer opportunities.
Would that be unprofessional since I didn’t schedule a meeting? Is this too impulsive? Am I being weird?
As I mentioned, I have yet to start my internship, and from what I've discussed with my organization, I've gathered that my schedule will be quite flexible. So, I reasoned with myself a little and followed the impulse to inquire about chatting with someone inside about their summer programs. Coincidentally, the assistant for the summer music program was there, so he described the program's goals, the lesson plans, and asked me about my musical experience. Having been a volunteer music teacher in Peru a few years ago and a musician all my life, I could feel the excitement starting to bubble up inside before I could even start gushing about the prospect of being involved. I was very transparent about my commitment to the International Dyslexia Association this summer and only wanting to help at this organization with 1-2 workshops about singing and songwriting for the music program. This is something we are currently discussing, and I am super excited about the possibility. He seemed to be very confident in the team they have for the first few sessions of the music class, but had recently been discussing the need for someone with vocal experience, so I could potentially be helpful in the latter half of the summer once the students begin writing their own lyrics. This is something I’ve done before with the Spanish-speaking youth I volunteered with in Peru, and it can be so empowering to these students when they learn how to mold their thoughts, words, and feelings into a creative product they can share with others and call their own.
While this was not a part of my initial Moellership plan, I still feel compelled by the opportunity to contribute in a small way to a different population I care about, children and teens who look like me and who could benefit from seeing someone who looks like them in these learning opportunities. This work would be more connected to mentoring and musical activities, which are very different from the research I’ll be doing with IDA, so it could be an interesting balance of my interests. With the time and resources I have, I am hoping to share more about this side project moving forward, but we will have to see how scheduling/timing works out between the two organizations. Until then, all I can say is that my first days back in the DMV have been nothing short of spectacular, and I’m more than ready to get to work with the IDA team this coming week!;
— Valeria Rigobon