Last Week!

Today is the first day of my last week at the NJ! I can't believe it. I actually counted (like a geek), and there were 38 days total that I came into the office. That seems like so much fewer than I thought. I mean I was here for 2 months, and minus weekend days and my one week off I guess it makes sense, but I honestly feel like I've been here for many months.

Last week, David Ledford, the executive editor here, had a big dinner for all the interns. I was honestly hesitant about going at first, because I really have not met any of the interns all summer, and thought it might be a strange thing to sit down to a dinner with people I haven't met all summer, even though we have been working together.

Anyway, I was apparently in the same boat as everyone else, as when all the interns arrived at David's house, pretty much everyone was being introduced for the first time too. I had expected hamburgers and hotdogs, but David was grilling salmon and asparagus, and had brie and crackers and tomato and mozzarella cheese appetizers--a really impressive spread. His wife even made homemade fruit tarts and creme brulee for dessert. He made us feel very welcome, and we all bonded a lot over stories from our summers and eachother's advice. It was really nice.

One of the higher-ups here, Greg, who I didn't know even knew me, also came up to me at the dinner and told me what a great job I was doing, and so did Betsy, and David mentioned how excited he was to read my volunteer story. It was so great to know that my hard work is being noticed here.

Last week I did get to pop into an intern meeting as well. Only one other intern was here (we are all steadily beginning to leave the NJ), and we learned about databases and how to use Excel and Access to compile info.

Also, Betsy came up to me one day last week and asked me to cover a breaking news story. Very exciting. I talked to the editor of the section, and it was to be a story about military personnel arriving home, so I would be able to go speak to them and their families in Smyrna. The problem was, it was already 10 and it would have taken me two hours to get there and back, plus the time to write the story, and I have to leave the office by 2. I had to pass on the story which really stunk. It really is a downer sometimes that I'm not here as much as full-time interns are. I do so much in the time I'm actually here, but when I have to pass on stories because of my other job, it is a disappointment.

One of the coolest things I'm learning about myself here as a reporter is that I don't really need to write down interview questions anymore. I used to plan out my interviews meticulously with questions, but now I just sort of go with the flow and see where the interview takes me. I mean I obviously have some questions in mind and know where I want to go with the interview, but I'm learning to just conduct an interview like a conversation, and it's becoming much easier for me.

Whew-long post. I'll do one more before I leave!