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By: Sofia Bergstrom

Editorial Columnist

Senator, governor and House Majority Leader. These are all words in the English vocabulary that are familiar to most Americans. To Swedes however, these words might as well be gibberish.

Interning in the nation’s capital among thousands of other workers means that you have to get used to the extensive use of political jargon. It is especially important for me since many of my responsibilities at the public relations firm Howard Consulting Group involve keeping track of numerous lawmakers for the clients.

The close proximity to the Capitol has definitely had a major impact on the business climate here in the District: you always run in to someone who has worked or interned for a politician — or at least knows someone who has — and most conversations revolve around politics. Although I have enjoyed this new world that has opened up to me, it has definitely been challenging.

In addition to navigating through the jungle of American politics, working in D.C. means getting up early. Two days a week I start my days at 6 a.m. with compiling a report for a big client. This in turn means that I have to wake up at 5 a.m.

Believe me when I say that a lot of bad words come out of my mouth when my alarm rings that early.

After I put on my make-up in a somewhat sloppy manner (you are allowed to be sloppy at 5 a.m.), I head to the Metro. As you might assume, there is not a soul in plain sight at the Metro at the crack of dawn. Well, there’s the station manager of course, and some homeless guy counting his last spare change, trying to figure out if it will take him somewhere.

As I get closer to downtown D.C., the metro train looks less like a setting from of a post-apocalyptic movie as it gets more crowded with people. Although, there are some similarities between the Metro and thriller movies now when I come to think of it: most of these people are in zombie-like states with difficulties keeping their eyes open while holding a big cup of heavily caffeinated coffee in one hand, an iPhone in the other and waiting patiently to become human.

At 5 a.m., it is way too early for the brain to function properly. That’s for sure.

I personally get through this early commuting by blasting music as loud as I can on my iPod. I guess we all have our tricks to stay awake before the rest of the city wakes up.

At this point of time, the faces of the zombie-like commuters are like blank canvases waiting for the brushstrokes of their working day to color them. After a long day at work, when it is time to head home, these faces have either turned colorful, gloomy or completely worn down. My face is usually the latter since I am a complete wreck after a day at my internship. But that is a consequence I am willing to take. I wouldn’t want it any other way – I like to work hard.

During rush hour however, the Metro in D.C. and the surrounding areas is swamped with interns and workers, all in their nicest suits and pencil skirts. The pace is high, people are stressed and are running up and down the escalators to get in time to wherever they’re going because God knows waiting six minutes for the next train is unbearable.

These aspects of my life are unlike the experiences that I had on campus last year. The life of a commuter in the nation’s capital is definitely not as relaxed as the life of a college student. It is definitely better dressed though.

During these observations, when I reflect on the American business culture that I am a part of, I often wonder what all these people do for a living. This is especially the case when the train passes the Pentagon and numerous men and women in fancy business attire get on or off the train.  Someone there might be a close buddy to the president, although that is unlikely. A commuter could be the head of the United States Marine Corps, or the press secretary of a senator in some remote state.

You never know whose eyes you are meeting.

The working climate here is indeed fascinating and there is no doubt in my mind that politics is a key contributor to what makes this city so exciting to work in. No wonder people all across the nation come here to intern and work. I am truly privileged to be a part of the buzz that is D.C. This is where it all happens.

By: Contributing Author

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