Day 8: DC Here We Come!

Submitted by Susan Moerder

As our first week of research at SIO comes to a close, we packed and got ready to embark on the second week of our journey.  So no one in their right mind would be up at 4:00 in the morning to get to the airport but not only were we up at that time but so were the three RA’s who were driving us there. Sleepy and groggy we loaded the vans and said goodbye to Tioga dorm and UCSD for now. As I reflect back on the first week of the program I am thankful for Veronica Tamsitt and Bonnie Ludka for their dedication and expertise in teaching the students about data analysis and patterns to discuss. The students began preparing their first draft issue papers and their first practice run through of their Congressional meeting. We’ve got a lot of work to still do for them to be ready for Wednesday!

Veronica Tamsitt and Bonnie Ludka, SIO Researchers 

The flight was uneventful except for the fact that this was Juan’s first time EVER flying!  It was fun to see his excitement and his anxiousness with every detail that we had to cover from checking in, checking luggage, going through security, take off, landing, and not having his luggage turn up in DC. Well it did turn up, seems it was sent on an earlier flight from Austin (our stop-over) and so his apprehension about losing his stuff was calmed quickly.

Sporting our AC GELS shirts!

Juan and his "Build Your Own Plane"

After checking in to the hotel, we walked to a local pizza place. Ah- east coast Italian food- can’t beat it!

Now we are ready to take on the hill!  Well, we do need to practice more first so we are looking forward to working with Danny Richter from Citizens Climate Lobby tomorrow to learn how to handle ourselves in our congressional meetings this week.