Day 5

1. I can honestly say that it was in D.C. that it really hit me: we are in the midst of a media revolution. From a meeting at the State Department (very informative) to talking with NPR ombudsman Alicia Shepard (very inspiring) the view point was the same. Media is going in places we never thought possible and at breakneck speeds. We have to learn to catch up! Social media especially is in an uprising, and in our travels throughout Washington I realized not just the positive power of these social media outlets but the potential downfalls and shortcomings as well. In a world of Twitter, Facebook, blogs and other easily accesible media sources, we have to learn how to post our opinions and thoughts in a effective way, but also find ways to sift through others opinions and thoughts and find the truth. Another thing to keep in mind besides the rise of social media illustrated the best at the Newseum - was the age old problem of government censorship and propaganda. That is a problem worth fighting. Good steps are programs like DOTCOM!

2. I loved meeting the Armenian and Azerbaijani students in D.C. I have learned about there respective countries and custom, but also about the students as individuals. I really think we all have more to learn about each other. And I am excited for that process to begin in earnest- though we have really taken steps towards that. (Though this is dipping into a Vermont reflection I think that today's adventures at Bolton and scavengar hunting in Montpelier helped the process. As did yesterday's fishbowl experience, though it was hard and intense. It is happening already.)

3. The hardest part of DOTCOM in D.C might have been the language barrier. There are two beautiful languages being spoken around me, but I they are tongues I do not understand, and that can be frustrating. Only frustrating on my side however- so many times in a DOTCOM day I wish I could speak fluent Armenian and Azerbaijani. That being said-
4. Learning even the small words "Barev", "Salaam", "Vonce es?" is something I LOVE. The language barrier may be hard but breaking it down with asking how to say something, laughing at the pure awkwardness of a situation or just some good ol' fashioned charades is a huge success. And in short, really connecting with the students from overseas is what excites me most about the project so far.