Hi Everyone,
So sorry I haven't updated the BLOG for so long! 6 weeks have come and gone since I last updated you on my DC adventures, and of course, during that time I spent almost 2 weeks at home. I was able to visit with many friends and relatives, and it was great to be home and see everyone, but that now seems like a long time ago.
The 10 days before Christmas were hectic at NSF as we were focused on getting in all the IRES proposal reviews. Since the first of the year, my work has been primarily aimed at representing the Americas group on the internal IRES panel, and it is all very interesting and a great learning experience for me. I am continuing to have wonderful opportunities to go to briefings, panels and symposia on "the hill" and places like The National Press Club and AAAS on a myriad of education topics. The greatest focus in DC right now is on America's competitiveness with Asia and with teacher quality in STEM disciplines and how it affects student achievement. Much research is being conducted on how to improve teacher professional development, teacher quality and student learning.
Coming up in March, my directorate, OISE, is presenting a 2 hour briefing on what OISE is/does to the Director of NSF, Dr. Bement. Everyone is quite nervous and working to make this an impressive event. I have turned out to be the "point man" on helping everyone in with their Powerpoints! Hopefully, I won't be remembered just as the PPT animator girl....but at least I am contributing!
Megan was here with me for a little over 2 weeks, from Jan. 4th-22nd, and we had a great time. She got to see all the usual sites, and then Don came and joined us over MLK weekend and we went to Mt. Vernon. George's home is quite interesting and I plan tp go back in the spring when it is warmer. Megan was also lucky enough to be here when we Einstein's were given a White House, Supreme Court and Capitol tour. All very cool, and we even got to ride the underground subway that connects the House and Senate offices to the Capitol itself.
One of my fellow fellows also had his college age daughter here while Megan was here, so the two of them hung out a bit, and over a weekend we all went to NYC. We had a blast! We took a $35 round trip us and stayed at a real flea bag by Madison Square Garden, but had so much fun. We saw RENT on Broadway, went to Ellis Island, ate midnite dessert at Carnegie Deli, went to the top of 30 Rock, and window shopped in SOHO and Greenwich Village. We also met our friend, Bryce Clark, from Waldport, for coffee. He is a nurse at Columbia-Cornell and loves it in NYC. We had fun, but I actually like DC better! It is like a small town compared to NYC!
I also spent some time with Cheryl, from Oregon Dept. of Ed. Science person. She was at NSF for some meetings and workshop, so we had dinner one night. It is so strange to make more connections with folks from Oregon while I am here than I did when I was back home....I have had several wonderful opportunities open up , as well as several coincidences and interactions with folks that are like "6 degrees of separation...."
I have some great photos I will upload tomorrow, but need to get to sleep right now. I am taking a Spanish refresher course 2 nights a week and have a midterm presentation to do next week...
Until I post photos and next BLOG, I hope all is well with all l of you! Drop me an email and come for a visit! Happy 2008!
Ruth
