Internship in DC, more than just politics!
Going for an Internship program, far from Albania and after 6 years of experience is always a tough decision, but deeply I knew that I had to go with it, as it’s a lifetime opportunity not only for my career but also for me as a human being.
When I first decided to start the internship at USGBC in Washington DC, I thought the city would be just a random boring politics-based city, with the White House as his main attraction. I started to search a lot about city lifestyle, places to visit, and pros and cons.
I still remember how amazed I was when I first landed here, back on September 7th, 2021. From the plane window, you could see and admire huge green public spaces but also the lovely city’s urban planning. As this was my first real touch with the city, I felt like misjudging it before I really saw the potential.
The first days were all just about walking around and exploring the city as much as I could. As I look at my walking app today, I see that the walking distance in the first 2 weeks in DC was around 20km per day. All these steps were spent in the best way to see more than just the White House. Exploring the National Mall museums, hidden gems by the Potomac River but also old vibrant neighborhoods like George Town, Adams Morgan, etc.
As days were passing quickly, I had to get my focus back on my real goal, my Internship at USGBC. Working hard and being assisted daily basis by ArcSkoru team members, especially my boss, Chris Pyke, an inspiring person, gave me the opportunity to get involved with a lot of projects not only in my field of expertise but also in helping the team with other projects.
It was hard, GIS was a new field for the ArcSkoru team, and I had to prove myself and my potential. We started to understand each other’s, what the organization does, and how I can fully support and improve their product. Now, after more than five months, I’m proud to see my work being presented by me and team members at different meetings, as a new way of communicating and data representation for clients.
Unfortunately, as a large organization, with more than 100 staff members only in the DC office, we have struggled to get back to the office as they take COVID-19 seriously and their main goal is improving people’s lives, not putting everybody in danger.
When I see today’s date, I start to recall all my moments here, all my challenges, and think about what I could have done else. Now, I’m not counting months anymore but days traveling back to Albania. I do miss you a lot my country, but I feel sad that maybe the greatest experience in my life is coming to end soon.
All the thoughts above, made me reflect a lot on how this whole experience will impact me in an environment like Albania.
Today, I feel proud of what I have given and gained during my staying here. I feel proud that the AADF trusted me, and I succeeded. Lately, during a conversation with my boss, we both feel positive to keep working together on more important coming projects for ArcSkoru and USGBC.
I’m looking forward to what the future reserves for me back in Albania.
I know this is just the beginning of this amazing journey, there is hope!
Until next time,
All the best
©️ Abas Kasa MIP Internship Fellow 2021, Host Institution: U.S Green Building Council, Washington DC.
