Time is Flying and the Cherry Trees are in Bloom...

It is hard to believe that 10 weeks have passed since I last updated the DC BLOG! Time is going by rapidly, and though I am continuing to have a wonderful experience, I am looking forward to coming home in 3 1/2 months. Life here in the Capitol is busy and, at the same time, routine. I have really gotten used to walking and metro-ing everywhere, and know it will be a big adjustment for me to go back to driving long distances everywhere in Oregon. I am surprised at how much I am enjoying city living,

So, what have I been up to these last few months? Well, in February, I went down to Jefferson National Accelerator Lab for a tour of the facility and also to help out the the Virginia Regional Science Bowl.

  I also spent 10 weeks taking a Spanish refresher course 2 nights a week in preparation for a trip I am making on behalf of my NSF office to Monterry, Mexico in July to attend the International Math Congress. A few other things I've been working on are an Interagency project with other Einstein Fellows revising a Climate Change curriculum kit for middle school teachers, developing a white paper for my office on cyber-collaborations, and presenting on a Senate panel sponsored by Oregon Senator Wyden for Nano Days.

I also spent much of February and March traveling, so if I have not spoken much to many of you, it's because I have been on the road...or in the air! I went to Portland for a home visit, to Boston for the AAAS Annual conference, DC for the Triangle Coalition Conference, Seattle to a technology conference where I met up with LCSD folks, another tech conference here in DC, and finally back to Boston for the NSTA conference, where I presented 3 sessions. Whew! Very busy few months.

 And, while jetting the country, I was continuing my work as NSF on grants management, Broadening Participation workgroup, and attending some very thought provoking and enlightening panels, briefings and hearing here in town.

Just to give you an idea of a few: a House Physics Education Summit, several forums at the Carnegie Institute on education reform, No Child Left Behind, Teacher Quality and Professional Development, and several Nano technology events during Nano Days, including a premier of a new PBS series on Nanoscience called "The Power of Small" which you can all see on your local PBS stations in May.

All of the Einstein Fellows were also invited to lunch by Congressman Mike Honda of California, who is a great person. He is a former high school science teacher so he really "gets it!"

I also met with staffers from Congresswoman Hooley and Senator  Wyden's offices, where I had a chance to offer my "teacher perspective" on education issues. One thing I have gained this year is a perspective on the complexity of our federal system, and how difficult it is to effect change on a national level. I have also learned that our congress people work very hard to represent us in this complicated system, much harder than I ever imagined! Every minute of their time is planned out and accounted for, and they are tired!

Around the middle of March, the current fellows hosted 27 applicants here to interview for next years fellowships in DC. We organized some DC tours and gatherings at current fellows homes, and tried to give them a bit of an idea of what to expect if they are chosen. It was rather bittersweet to think that just over a year ago I was here for interviews myself, and that my own experience would now be winding down. There is bit of "Potomac Fever" that I think most people get after being here, and I would certainly think about returning some day!

I've been able to see Don pretty regularly the past few months, in Seattle and Portland, and for 10 days during his Spring break He came to DC on his birthday and got to come spend a day with me at NSF and see where I work, He was also present for a presentation some of the Fellows did at NSF, and then spent a few days touring on his own and meeting me after I got off work. We were very lucky when he was hers that my next door neighbor gave us preview tickets to the new NEWSEUM, a fabulous new museum about the news on Pennsylvania Ave. on the National Mall.

He went with me and the Einsteins to NSTA in Boston, and we had a great time. Don got a chance to meet all my fellow fellows and see who I have been talking about and hanging out with while I have been away from him! The next few months will be a bit more challenging in terms of our  connection times, but we should be able to see each other  once or twice before I come home for good July 31st.

The weather has definitely turned to spring and this week is the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The trees were just starting to blossom when Don was here; now they are in full and beautiful.

It is definitely the best time of year to be in DC. Unfortunately, it will soon get hot and humid, and then I will be dreaming of the cool, Oregon Coast.

I hope everyone- friends, family, colleagues and students- is well and happy. Please drop me an email or call me to chat! I will try to do another update in May. See you all soon!

Ruth