This practicum is a phenomenal trip for me. DC is always on my travel list in the US. I’m glad that I could join this class and visit DC simultaneously. Professor Gamaghelyan and Louise did a fantastic job organizing the schedule. We met and visited numerous places that represented the US government and grassroots organizations. As students, we also had the autonomy to explore the city and museums. It was incredible to see all the monuments I saw in books, movies, and news in person. I felt overwhelmed and grateful to be part of this journey.
Before the trip, we had three classes discussing track two diplomacy, restorative justice, and the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The visiting scholars shared how they tried to build a peace bridge between the two countries.
My flight was on 3/6 morning, from San Diego to Dulles international airport. It was beautiful to overlook the beautiful view of the middle states from the plane. I was glad that my flight was direct because sitting in a small seat for 5 hours without tv was super dull and painful. There was a protest for supporting Ukraine in front of the White House when we landed in DC. Unfortunately, I couldn’t join the event, but I saw many people carrying Ukrainian flags on the way to our hotel. Our hotel was full of women empowering art pieces, and it was a “Hertel”! I was amazed by the interior decoration, especially the portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg made of tampons. After having a simple dinner, my roommate and I fell asleep at 10, which was super early because we flew from the west coast.
On Monday, the next day, our schedule started a little late, so I seized the chance to walk around the White House. The weather was lovely, and the streets weren’t crowded. I could still see some posters from yesterday. The view of the White House was beyond my expectation. Due to construction, the White House was surrounded by fences. It was far away from me. I guess COVID also significantly impacted the White House tourist business. Despite the inconvenience, I still had a nice walk. After the short walk, we headed to the US Institute of Peace. It was an honor that we were the first group that visited USIP indoors. The staff introduced how USIP operated around the globe and the concept of transitional justice. Later, some of us walked to Lincoln Memorial Hall and other monuments. It was unbelievable to see the statues in front of me. I felt impressed and respectful to those who sacrificed in war and fought for human rights. Thanks to the International Center, at night, we had an incredible Spanish opening dinner with visiting scholars.
On Tuesday, we attended two universities, Georgetown University and George Mason University, to join conferences. To me, it was interesting to hear about all the peacebuilding projects implemented by the scholars. After visiting two schools, I took the bus alone to walk around Georgetown. I bought some famous cupcakes and enjoyed the area. The houses looked like the buildings in 1900s Europe, but there were modern clothes shops or cafes inside those buildings. It was so gorgeous that I slowed down my pace even in cold weather.
It rained on Wednesday morning. Thus, we took Uber to Rayburn House Office Building to join a conversation with Lev Bagramian in the Committee on Financial Services. After the discussion, Lev Bagramian showed us around the building. We were so close to taking the shuttle to the Capitol, but we failed. Later, we headed to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The exhibition was fantastic but also sad. I could see the suffering of black people in the US. Also, this museum gave me a new perspective of US history. I didn’t know black people were crucial in the American War of Independence. The history I learned before was whitewashed and only briefly mentioned the discrimination in US society. The truth was even more cruel and heartbroken.
We had a small reflective session on Thursday morning. Next, we went to the Search for Common Ground office and had a lovely coffee time with members of NED. Some people went out for drinks, but I was exhausted and stayed in the hotel. The next day, we went to the Friends Committee on National Legislation to hear how they lobby the bills. Also, Monika from Active Lab and Olivia from Code Pink shared how they bring peacebuilding in DC. I walked alone in H street after the dialogue. I took many pictures in this area because there were numerous paintings on the building. And then I realized it was a black people community. I could feel their energy and passion through those arts. Taking streetcars to Union station, I took a short walk around the US Capitol and the park. It was difficult to imagine that protesters occupied the Capitol in January 2021. Our last schedule was closing dinner. We enjoyed Georgian cuisines in Supra. Everyone’s belly was all full and round after the dinner.
I left DC on Saturday evening. In the morning, it snowed a lot, which was cool to me because I came from a tropical country. I had never walked in the snow before. Unfortunately, Washington Monument was closed due to strong winds. I was so excited to see the view of DC and finally got the ticket the day before. I guess this is a sign that I have to revisit DC.
Overall, I love this city. The streets are easy to identify and pedestrian-friendly. Public transportation is much more convenient than the one in San Diego. I appreciate Kroc School provides this opportunity for students to take this valuable course.
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