Blog 1.5 Impressions (Isaiah)

I drew once in the airplane.

You know, I imagined that when I would arrive in DC, I’d be outside a lot. I would have my sketchbook everywhere I go, sightseeing, and drawing all the things I liked, then later coming home with a sketchbook filled with all my favorite architecture and portraits. That's like, the dream I envisioned for myself. 

I’m not blaming the sun or anything, but okay wow it's definitely the sun's fault for my empty sketchbook. I’ve don't think I've been ever miserable seeing the sun, until now. As of TODAY (6.20 @ 1 pm), summer in Seattle is currently reading at a nice 60 degrees, unlike this 89 degree humid swamp hellhole that is DC. It's one thing to be out in the hot day, but it's a whole different dynamic when you have to wear your business clothes. My sketchbook is too heavy and I need the energy. I'm running out of shirts. The sun is attacking me and I am greatly perturbed.

If there’s something I’m happy about, it has to be the growing familiarity of my new routine. I know where to shop for groceries, where the cleaners are, the latest I need to wake up and leave for work, the multiple train routes, the arrival time of my coworkers, the good places to eat, etc. Although I admit to using food delivery service more often than I need to, DC is slowly becoming home for me, and I’m settling down and becoming comfortable. 

I’m thankful for Interfaith. My job title is “Communications and Publicity”, so part of my work entails me to read and pay attention to a lot of articles and social media trends, especially in the DC area. I'm in touch with all of these new spokespeople, developing my own viewpoints, and responding and publicly representing the organization with my words. I never saw myself doing this in the future, but I realize that it’s all so fascinating. Basically, I’m like really woke now. 

Our Interfaith building and the staff numbers are a little small, but I think I prefer it that way. I greatly appreciate that everyone in the staff has spent the time and patience to get to know me and make sure that I get up to speed with things. I feel comfortable and have a clear sense of direction as to what I need to do everyday. We’re even getting a new intern next week! So I’m excited to share that Interfaith hospitality with them. Today, I found this external drive with a buried folder of letters from past interns to the next, and it’s almost surreal reading the past experiences, and even tips and tricks, passed down from one intern “generation" to another. Apparently, the insider intern secret is that our receptionist loves dark chocolate. It makes wonder what I’m going to say in my letter to the future intern. 

I really still miss home though. I just read my group chat and my Seattle friends will all be going to this concert that I really really wanted to go to. I'm trying to convince them to print out a picture of me on a popsicle stick so that when they take pictures, I can at least still be there (in spirit). 

But something I didn’t realize for myself is that being cooped up in the contentment of my own faith and neighborhood environment, and not really going out of my own “comfort zone”, has made me too "unworried" with everything. And because of that comfort, I realized I’ve turned a blind eye to things I should be paying attention to. God's plan. My commute involves a lot of walking through a series of rougher neighborhoods. The difference between the capital, where I start my commute, and where I end my commute, is almost night and day. The neighborhoods and streets are so dilapidated, and there are homeless people in need everywhere. I can’t help but feel a little heartbroken that these types of places exist in a short train ride away from the capital. But at the same time, it inspires me in that there’s work to be done.

It feels so invigorating, so refreshing to be part of a young adult, ethnic group. We all come from different backgrounds, upbringings, and cultures, but we’re more alike than I sometimes realize. It’s when we share those experiences of our backgrounds, upbringings, and our faith journeys that make us as individuals grow closer to one another. And oh my goodness, everyone here in EYA is incredibly smart. I’ve never been part of a group with this much motivation and knowledgeability on church and social justice. It's a wonderful group, and I would have no other to walk alongside me on my faith journey. And I also want to give a huge shoutout to the intern coordinators! They’ve been so supportive and so flexible with us, and I’m incredibly overjoyed at the sense of community that they've helped built in such a short amount of time. 

I talked a lot about purpose and meaning in my last blog. And although it's not much, I want to reaffirm my purpose and find a way to use my gifts and talents to honor God. Even though the organization is small, that just means that everything I do matters. Even though we're still collectively a minority, the work we do still matters. And most importantly, God still matters. 

Hopefully I can put something in my sketchbook soon. 

Isaiah (Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington)