The Banner

My name is Monica Martinez and I am in Washington, D.C. for the semester. I was the News Editor for The Banner in the fall and have left the position for this opportunity. The first week of January was my last week at CBU for the academic year. I was accepted into the Washington Journalism Center, one of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities' Best Semester DC program. I am promised to learn an intense amount of information in three different classes while also obtaining an internship at newspaper.

I arrived on Jan. 14 in D.C. at the Dulles airport. As soon as I walked out of the airport to get on a shuttle to take me to my destination, I saw snow on the ground in large chunks. I'm a California girl so seeing this snow amazed me. But the magic was just about to start.

The shuttle dropped me off at the Dellenback Center, the place also known as my temporary residence. I walked unaware of what lied ahead of me. I walked unsure if I had made the right decision to come here. I walked in scared of what was expected.

As these thoughts continued spinning around in my head I saw other students arriving in the same condition and that honestly made me feel at ease. The day was filled with students moving in and registration. I met my roommates, Courtney, Jessica and Sara. Courtney is from Eastern University, Jessica is from Gordon College and Sara is from Messiah College. Courtney and Jessica are part of the American Studies Program, suited for those interested in public policy. Also, this is my first time experiencing residential living. Back at CBU I lived at home, so this was all new to me. But my roommates fit my personality so we live well together.

The following days were filled with introductions, orientations, meet and greets and a scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt took about two and a half days to complete. I went to Ben's Chili Bowl, Watergate, Gravelly Point Park (where planes look like they are landing on your head), Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Jefferson memorial. The city of D.C. demands miles of walking, public transit riding (either the Metro or bus), coats, scarves and gloves. The last few items weren't really in my closet so some shopping had to be done to prepare for the cold weather.

As I am writing this piece, participants of the March for Life campaign are making their voices heard as they trek to the Capitol. Some of my roommates left to see the people exercise their right to assemble. To make matters more interesting, I was at a press conference at the National Press Club on Jan. 21 for the National Right to Life organization. I went with one of the editors of The Washington Times. This is where she decided to meet with my in order to do an interview to see if I can land an internship with the paper.

I will be here in D.C. until the end of April. I will be here scoping out news relevant to the CBU community. I will focus on presenting to CBU news that can impact California, Riverside and Christians. As your Washington correspondent, I look forward to delivering you news as they are happening outside my door to give you information direct from the nation's capital.