Internet Addiction.

Hello friends! I'm blogging to you from the NAFIS conference here in downtown Washington, DC. Nothing too exciting, it is a block from where I work everyday. I'm actually sitting in my office now because after over 24 hours of no internet access, I was starting to bug out. Sometimes I think about how unconnected to the internet I would be if I had actually gone to India, but what can't be denied about life here is Washington is the ridiculous "blackberry culture." I kid you not it is acceptable to be on your blackberry in a meeting (I don't have one -- and taking out my silly pink phone is definitely not an option, so I just observe everyone else). In meetings I go to people will make some heartfelt speech about education and then five mintues later be checking their email on their blackberry. I personally think it is pretty rude, but you have to be accesible here in DC. Another take on it that of my roommates relayed, "everyone in this city thinks they are so damn important..." Haha, I like that response. I think I'm a little too accessible these days with blogger, twitter, facebook, skype... but after one whole day of being cooped up in the hotel I was feeling pretty isolated from the outside world! I'm dissappointed I didn't really get to enjoy the warm weather this weekend, but the conference has been a good experience. I had to cut my weekend pretty short, and definitely missed out on some penthouse festivities, but it has been a good reflection period for trying out that whole "find my own path, do my own thing" ordeal. I'm growing up! Being at this conference really has me feeling like a working girl for sure.

If you haven't caught on at this point, NAFIS, where I have my internship at is hosting a conference this weekend. I've been doing general help-out and sitting in on some of the workshops/lectures, and trying to make some good contacts. In a weird way I do feel like my co-workers are starting to become like a family to me. My work family. hehe. They are all so nice, and I really admire how they all stay so calm and kind even when it seems hectic.

I'll talk more about the conference once it's over and I have more time to write... but basically the food has been GREAT, I have my own room, access to room service, VIP guest status... I can't complain! I'm being spoiled! I'm just a little lonely at times, and no one here is my age really... but, a funny story before I depart: So for VIP guests apparently housekeeping comes in during early evening and "pulls back the bed cover" and turns on the TV to some strang nature/soothing music channel for when you come back to you room. Well I did not know this was normal and called the front desk asking if someone broke into my room. The guy could NOT stop laughing. I'm sorry but if anything it was CREEPY that nature music was playing, not soothing... I thought you would all be amused by that though.

Alright back off to the real/grown-up world and being unaccessible... although now that I am back on the internet, I think a few more days without it will be just fine. Have a great week everyone!