JOURNAL ENTRIES
Young_Leader: Jonathan Kerr
Date: Tuesday, August 01, 2000
Time: 03:23 PM
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Well what can be said that hasn’t already been said about the great NY adventure?
Well for a start I don’t think anyone has quite managed to capture the smell of our Israeli friend Doran’s feet. For me it was more apparent because I was in a room upstairs by myself which despite my fears of being killed, raped and/or mugged but not necessarily in that order smelt a great deal better than sean’s ‘stag party’ crew.
I think we can safely say we managed to pack a lot into the weekend in terms of cross-cultural expereiences, although some such as Paddy would have liked more of a closer variety (Danish bacon anyone?).
For me the personal highlight was simply walking round Times Square and Broadway, everywhere we went felt like we were in a film. It was truly breathtaking and I can’t wait to go back.
From this today has been uneventful, except I think my rusty phone survey technique has picked up as I was chatting up a girl working somewhere in Massachusetts who knew a girl i knew from Coleraine. Its a small world, etc.etc.
I also listened to Mike Beard (the President’s ) tales of drunken phone conversations with Ringo Starr and meals with Billy Connolly, I’m going to take over this coalition to meet some famous people.
Speaking of, I just heard I’m getting a West Wing tour tomorrow night, which is great. I;ll keep you updated on whether I meet Bill.
Till then, remember violence never solved anything…….
Young_Leader: Jonathan Kerr
Date: Sunday, July 23, 2000
Time: 05:49 PM
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Well after the excitement of meeting Duncan in the flesh, not to mention Bobby Robson, the game itself was a bit of an anticlimax. Duncan didn’t get on and Newcastle were dire. Watching Americans try to pretend they knew what was going on and cheering as DC won 3-1 was just annoying. However our chants to some unlucky fans in reply, including the infamous “Who ate all the pies?” kept up the Irish name. Today I have had two slices of American culture, firstly this store called the Container Store which is heaven for the sort of people who alphabetize their CD collections, and have to have something to put everything in. I recommend it due to the sheer stupidity of some of the items on sale, including a “genuine fake grass bulletin golf board”. not forgetting portable duct tape. the fact that the store was crowded was disturbing. I also played American football for the first time, it was alright, but I’m looking forward to getting home for some “soccer”.
Its the one game in the world the Americans at least know they’re not the best at.
Young_Leader: Jonathan Kerr
Date: Thursday, July 20, 2000
Time: 02:57 PM
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just a quick entry to say that after watching everyone else meet famous people all over the place, today I met Bobby Robson, loads of Newcastle players and my personal hero over all – ‘Drunken’ Duncan Ferguson, ex-Evertonian who still bears a place in my heart. I have photos to prove this, and autographs. I can die now my life is complete after meeting Duncan. I was so much more excited than all the kids we were meant to be chaperoning but anyway.
Young_Leader: Jonathan Kerr
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2000
Time: 03:56 PM
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Okay its the eagerly awaited (by my mum and dad anyway, a big shout to Coleraine) third installment and I’ll try and do a bit of a catch-up for them. Anybody else reading this bear with me.
Firstly after murmurings from me about the scarcity of work I am now absolutely knackered with stuff spilling off my proverbial desk (I don’t have my own). To finish it all I won’t leave until Christmas.
2002. But its good.
Last night however was a bit of a disaster, suffice to say I ended up on the Mall at the outdoor film show by myself unlike the evening I had planned. I am not normally a social recluse. After that fell through I naively thought I could find everyone else, but the fact that there were thousands and it was dark did not help. Singin’ in the Rain was still good though and was slightly helped by the American girls beside me sharing my blanket for a while, making it look less like I was there by myself. I nearly fell asleep on the way home until a well timed kick from one Mr. Kevin Carlin woke me up. Cheers Kev, although you’ve obviously learnt the knack
of hurting people’s knees coming from Derry.
Some quick highlights from last week –
some of the dancing at Tequila Grill on Friday night rivalled that of Ricky Martin, although the girls in the place seemed suprisingly unimpressed. However particularly Adam and John can be proud, and i even chipped in a little.
Earlier that day had been the Holocaust museum which was definately worth seeing and I would recommend. It was a worthy place to spend a day off.
My golf exploits have already been detailed I was informed in other journal entries, by those ‘teetotal’ lads. Unfortunately my driving of the golf carts were less to do with alcohol and more the fact it took me 4 times to pass my driving test at home. However my golf made up for it.
Tomorrow I’m hoping to go to see Martha’s Table a homeless shelter in Washington and help out for a bit which should go some way towards showing the other side of the city that has been much talked about recently. I pledge to try and write in this more regularly, which shouldn’t be hard. I think I;ll head to Xando’s now, i haven;t been there for about two weeks, surely some sort of group record!!!!!
Young_Leader: Jonathan Kerr
Date: Friday, July 07, 2000
Time: 02:44 PM
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Well its the end of a hard two and a half day week, and the start of a hectic weekend. The reality of the work set in this week as the phone surveys hit in full force. As some of the people I was surveying were of the elder variety I was having to shout in their ears, the poor people. I also ended up talking to an 80 year old woman for 40 minutes, the most success I’ve had so far in terms of American women! Still a wealthy benefactor would be a good green card prospect I suppose.
The weekend will be taken up with looking after lots of kids in the back end of nowhere, whoever thought I was of the responsible variety obviously will find out the hard way. If Niamh and I come back alive we’ll be chilling at the pool party on Sunday, where the real physiques of the group will finally be seen, which should be interesting! Have a good weekend guys!
Young_Leader: Jonathan Kerr
Date: Thursday, June 29, 2000
Time: 02:18 PM
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Well obviously the hardest working interns such as me are the ones who are only getting round to writing in this for the first time now. We can’t all spend our days waxing lyrical, some of us have work to do.
Anyway, talking about work, what hit me for the first time this morning was how hard people in a non-profit organisation such as the one I am with work, not for monetary reward. It is the issue that drives and motivates them, which is great. It links with the guys last night and the non-profit work they’re doing and shows another side to leadership.
Next week I have to do phone surveys all week which means by the end I will sound like a telephone operator and only understand one word answers.yes. no. None of the Americans understand my accent on the phone either, so I should think about speech classes. I may have to join with another intern here and hire a shrink (with you guys that I’m out here with its probably advisable anyway).
Now I’m going to continue the fight to save the world against guns, hopefully I’ll have done that by the time I leave, but maybe thats a bit optimistic.
looking forward to the music tonight
Young_Leader: Jonathan Kerr
Date: Friday, June 23, 2000
Time: 05:51 PM
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Jonathan, welcome to Young Leaders 2000 from the Webmaster. We all look forward to following your summer adventure here in Washington, DC through your Journal. If you have any questions or problems with your Journal, please email webmaster@storywise.com. Good luck!