Congratulations to the Alaska Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellows of 2009: Celeste Leroux, Erin Steiner, and Mary Bozza!!

Congratulations to the Alaska SeaGrant Knauss Marine Policy Fellows of 2009: Celeste Leroux, Erin Steiner, and Mary Bozza!!

 

I cannot wait to see you all at placement week this December.  I am sure each of you is very excited. Perhaps now that you are ‘in’ many new questions and concerns are on your mind.  The wheres, hows, whys and whos are blanks that I could probably help you with.  Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. 

 

The logistics of the move/packing can be daunting.  The fellows in my class seem to have approached this a variety of ways ranging from only a backpack and a bike to an extended U-Haul truck (full) + Motorcycle+ 2 bike+ sports car . . . .Some fellows are moving to DC for good.  I have a good feel for the safe neighborhoods and party zones.  What I do not know first hand I can find out.  Fellows pay around 900-1000 per month to share a place and over 1000 to live alone.  Of course settling on a place to live should wait until after placement week.  Fellowship opportunities are spread throughout the beltway and one would not want to limit themselves. 

 

It has been around 100f here in DC and it is only June.  In Jan/Feb we had several nasty windy ice stormy days so you should bring clothing for all weather.

 

 I am slowly learning how dangerous DC can be.  It is being improved and is safer than it was 10 years ago (so I heard).  Run down parts of town are being redeveloped and these areas are generally safe but crime is just underneath the surface.  One fellow I know had her wallet stolen at a Congressional reception.  At last week’s Congressional Ocean Week celebration, there were 100 reports of stolen goods at a single reception.  Two of the current fellows had their apartment broken into while they were at work and had laptops/computers (Dissertations) stolen. 

 

But trust me the fellowship is worth enduring the downsides to DC.

 

In addition to the fellowship opportunities DC has much to offer culturally that Alaska lacks.  I read that the DC area is second only to NYC in variety of ethnic cuisine.  The museums are incredible and most of them are free.  I would hit all the museums you can in the winter; the mall is a zoo starting around March and ending . . . well certainly by December!

 

I am beginning to ramble but get in touch with me for specifics.  I will let you in on the secrets of placement week.

 

Congratulations and welcome to the club!

Seanbob