The time between Thanksgiving and the holidays is speeding by. Julie and Don were here for Thanksgiving, and we had a wonderful time. Julie spent her days prior to Thanksgiving seeing all the sites in DC, and we also had a chance to go out to the Shenendoah Valley and Appalachians to see the fall colors and go to some outrageous caverns.
The following week, I served on the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math & Science Teaching review panels. It was quite an experience and I now have much more of a true understanding of how much work is involved in the review process at NSF and other agencies. We worked from 7:30 am to 8 or 9 pm each night and ate as we worked. It was pretty exhausting, but a great learning experience.
Last week was a busy one in OISE at NSF. The reviews are just about all in for the IRES proposals and also for some Doctoral Dissertation proposals, so I spent most of the week in panel reviews and writing review analyses, summaries and abstracts. When I first interviewed for the position, I was asked to submit an “on the spot” writing sample, and now I know why! Lots of reading and writing involved in this position, particularly at certain times of the grant cycles.
I did also attend a House Science & Technology briefing on Technology and 21st century Skills, including some research on successful technology integration to improve student learning and on Virtual online schools. I also took part in an ISTE web seminar at NSF about Emerging Technologies.
The holidays have definitely arrived in the Capitol. We had our Einstein Fellowship Holiday Party on Tuesday. It snowed about 4 inches and was very cold all week, and the white stuff added to the Holiday feel of the Capitol Tree Lighting on Wednesday night and the White House Tree Lighting on Thursday night. The Capitol tree is from Vermont, and since one of the Fellows, Jennifer, works in Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT) office, she was able to invite us to the reception after the lighting in the U.S. Botanical Gardens. It was beautiful and they served the best food we’ve had at a reception so far! Friday it began to warm up to the 40’s and rain, and now the snow is melted and it is just gray. (The photo on the left is the White House Tree, next is our patio, next is the snow on our street (my house is the one by the streetlight), and the last 2 are the Capitol Tree.)
This week and next are bound to fly by quickly. I have a meeting on STEM education at the Wilson Center and a science and technology briefing in the House on Tuesday, as well as an American Youth Policy Forum briefing on Friday. The rest of the week and beginning of next, I will be working to finish up my reviews and leave things organized at the office before I head home to Oregon on Dec. 19th. I am ready to come home for the holidays and see my family and friends! I will be home until the 1st of January, and then will take the red-eye back here to DC.
Megan has a month off between contracts, and will be coming out to stay with me on Jan. 4th for 2 weeks! I can’t wait to see her. It was very strange not to have her with us for Thanksgiving, and I am sure it will be even more so at Christmas. But, she is having a great time and we will see her shortly after the 1st of the year. She will have to adjust to cold DC weather after being in Hawaii! One thing I am excited about is that she will get to join the Einstein Fellow tour of the Capitol and White House while she is here. How cool is that?
I hope you are all well and that I will get to see many of you while I am home. I will also be home in February for a long weekend (16th-20th) so if I don’t get to see you this time, hopefully I will see you then.
Have a wonderful Holiday! I will not be updating the BLOG until mid-January.
Cheers!
Ruth
