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Day Four - At Work
Just a quick update today. This was my first day working with the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies from the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand. I walked to the office this morning, passing The White House and Washington Monument on the way. The office I'm working at is new and modern, and after firstly passing through the (slightly intimidating, very humourless, and very heavily armed) security screening, I was lead to my desk for the next fortnight. Without going into detail, we had a fun day and meeting people in similar roles from different countries was great. We finished work today around 4pm and headed across the road to a bar for a quick drink.

I'll do some work reading tonight and tomorrow, I'll be back at work.

This sounds like its going to be an amazing incredible experience, awesome Keith. By the way, loved the photos from the air museum.

2weeks of work in a different country would be fine by me

Day Five - At Work
Nothing new to report today - still working really hard and discovering the secrets of the United States

I did have a close encounter with a big motorcade - it wasn't the President but it was someone heading to The White House.

About to head off for dinner now, and then more work tonight - boo.

Tomorrow will be a big and somber day Keith.

Tomorrow will be a big and somber day Keith.

I'll be interested to see how it is handled in 'the real world' here. We only see the media and politician's representation of what September 11 means to people, so I'll be interested to see what it is like in a normal US workplace. I fully expected there would be some sort of service in all Government offices, but there was no talk of such yesterday, so maybe it is not such a big thing now as we would think it to be. I'll let you know when I get home tonight!

Day Six - At Work
Today is September 11, so I wasn't sure what to expect going to work today.

For all intents and purposes, it looked like an ordinary day - security was about the same as any other day (which is pretty high here - lots of visible police everywhere on the streets). In the subway it was business as usual with people heading to work. I did notice a few more uniformed military people today, who I assumed were heading to services for the anniversary.

Once at work, it was just a normal day until 9:30 where we stopped for a minute silence then straight back to work - it was very low-key and I thought tasteful. It was a recognition of the event, but no morbid re-telling, so I was impressed.

I noticed all the flags in the city were at half mast when I came back this evening to the hotel.

Anyway - back to it all again tomorrow!

Day Seven - Still at Work
Another day in the office. It was warm again this morning and I headed to the Metro, but we were told that a change was coming this afternoon and that there may be storms. It got to about 34 degrees during the day, but it is the humidity that you really notice. It feels okay though - especially coming out of winter.

My team finished all our work early today, and looking out the window, we could see the black clouds rolling in over the Pentagon and Jefferson Memorial - so I grabbed my backpack and headed back towards the Metro.

By the time I got off the train at my stop at Farragut West, it was pouring! It was just like one of those torrential Sydney summer storms. Fortunately, my hotel is right above the station, so I was able to duck into the hotel without getting too wet.

I'll pop out again later to grab a bite to eat and I can then relax for the evening.

Catch you all again tomorrow!

Day Eight - Work
Nothing new today - just working still.

I went to a food van at lunch up near L'Enfant Plaza to get some Indian food which was delicious and cheap. Washington has these food vans everywhere, especially around Government precincts where there are a lot of workers. They sell any type of food you can imagine from any country - lots of Korean, Indian, Chinese, Turkish, Mexican - you name it, there will be a food van that sells it.

I have some work to complete this weekend - so I hope to get it done on Saturday, then I may have Sunday free to do a bit more exploring.

I don't have many new photos to share - so I'll just throw this one in that I took this morning on the way to work. It is my subway stop at Farragut West - I just like how they have done the ceilings in the Metro - it looks cool.

My team finished all our work early today, and looking out the window, we could see the black clouds rolling in over the Pentagon and Jefferson Memorial - so I grabbed my backpack and headed back towards the Metro.

Now there's a statement you don't make every day at work!


It's also interesting to note the differences between a trip report that covers a day at work and then a day in the parks.

It's also interesting to note the differences between a trip report that covers a day at work and then a day in the parks.

Hehe - yes, it is difficult to make it interesting when I'm really just going to work each day. And to think - I have another week of doing just that!

I have been invited to the FBI offices next Friday - and they have a merchandise shop for their staff that I'm allow to buy stuff at, so that should be fun

I can just imagine it. The only exit available from the building after a tour or even just after a days work, is only through the merchandise shop.

Any fluffies do you think?

Any fluffies do you think?

I wonder what an FBI vynalmation would look like?

Day Nine - Saturday
Not at work today, but still working. I had to spend most of this weekend developing a paper and associated presentation for Monday, so my time for sightseeing was pretty limited.

That said, I did get out this morning and walked past the White House into the shopping part of town. I wanted to pick up a book at Barnes and Noble, as well as some post cards. It was a beautiful morning, the heat and humidity have gone and it was cool and clear. After the shops, I headed down to the National Archives as I wanted to see the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, however when I got there, there was a giant line at security and I really didn't have the time to spend there waiting, so I headed back to the hotel. I grabbed a great panini for lunch (bacon, chicken, turkey, ham, salami, cheese, BBQ sauce - yummo - I could feel my arteries hardening LOL!)

Back at the hotel after lunch and I worked for a while up to dinner time. I then grabbed some food for dinner, skyped with Della, then watched a bit of TV in the evening.

Day Ten - Sunday
Another beautiful morning, so I did a bit of my report in the morning up to 11:30. Then I headed from the hotel, past the White House, across the Ellipse, past the Washington Monument, then down the Mall all the way to the Capitol Building. There I had the tastiest hot dog I have ever had (I should have eaten a couple more, they were so good!). I then headed back to the hotel and spent the afternoon on my report again - it is just about finished. Now I'm watching the Nascar racing which is on hold because of rain - oh well. I'll be getting dinner soon.

In the meantime, here are a couple of photos of the Capitol Building from earlier today.


US Capitol Building


Amazing sculpture depicting the civil war


Close up of the US Capitol Building