Corn Beef and Gangsters

June 7, 2011

     This morning another group of 125 8^th graders came into the museum! I was a little nervous about them. I had not had my coffee and was not sure I could handle them. Luckily, they were good! I only had to tell one kid not to touch something! They did not really ask any questions but were amazed at the replica of an outhouse we have. “You mean you had to pee in that thing? And there was no toilet paper?” Fantastic. Ryan over heard one kid says, “They had Pepsi back then? (the then being a picture from the 80’s). I did not get to watch the Immigrant Trunk show today; instead I had a meeting about the Brews and Schmooze program I am helping put together!

     The museum is going to start a First Thursday of the month program called Brews and Schmooze. The museum will be open late and people will get to come in and look around, eat, drink, and sometimes take away a little craft. It’s going to be awesome (hopefully). So if you know anyone in Baltimore tell them to come down to the Jewish Museum of Maryland on July 7 at 6 for our very first one! Did I mention that I am helping with the advertising J! After my meeting and Ryan finished up with the school group (I know I left him with all the kids, bad fellow intern) we headed up the street to Attman’s Deli. OH MY GOD THE CORN BEEF!!!!! Ok so Attman’s has been a tradition for a very long time (its even in our museum) in the neighborhood that the JMM is in. Let me tell you it was worth the wait in line. I also got to make friends with this very nice lady behind me. I asked her if she came to Attman’s a lot to which she replied, “I have been coming here since I was a small thing. I remember when they had stalls outside and you could pick your own chicken. Then they would kill it and you would take it home.” She was really neat so I kept talking to her. She told me what was good and what to get (corn beef of course) and who to make my sandwich. She also told me to get the hot dog (which is wrapped in bologna) and the corn beef. Eat the hot dog first so your stomach is prepared for the goodness that is your corn beef sandwich. But it’s not healthy for you so you have to be good for the next couple of days. She was a hoot! So I took her advice and got the Ruben. IT WAS AWESOME! Melt in my mouth good! It was hot and melty and there was sauce, so good. Did I mention it was the best lunch I have had in Baltimore so far? To top it off I had a Dr. Brown’s Cream soda and Crab Chips (Old Bay flavored chips, I am telling you they put Old Bay on everything). After lunch, it was back to work. At about 2 o’clock some people came through for a tour at 2:30 Elena was super busy so I volunteered to take the people through. However, I kinda forgot that I have never given a tour. Oops. But it was all good in the hood. Ryan quizzed me on the material and Elena helped with the Hebrew names and I was set to go (I did have cheat cards to help me). Ryan cam with me to make sure I covered everything and to show the group the ritual baths. All in all no one laughed at me or complained to the boss so I am guessing I did a decent job! The tour consisted of a couple from Canada and two ladies from Israel. After the tour, I worked for a bit longer and then it was time to get ready for my first Fluid Movement practice.

     I got to the park and waited with the other group members. Everyone was a bit quite, but they all seem fairly nice. The directors are this adorable couple Sid and April Pink and Patti (So my directors are called Patti and the Pinks, epic band name, I think so). We went over the play, which sounds super funny! My scene is the opening act! We get to be gangsters. I wont say much about costumes but they are going to be fan-tab-u-lous! Just think 1930 gangsters but with more glitter. We played couple of get to know you games (Thank you Converse College for preparing me for such games) and then we called it a night. I did not realize that the park was a little over a mile and a half from my Apartment so I may be adventurous and walk but I am going to check out the route a bit more (don’t worry dad I will make sure its safe). Then I went home made a salad, I am trying to be good and eat right! Its hard though when there are two pizza joints, a pub, Starbucks, and a Cold Stone on your block. Well better hit the sack got to get up extra early in the morning to go help out with a school!  

LUNCH

Please for the love of all things Holy do not touch that!

June 6, 2011

  So today the JMM had 130 eighth graders to see the exhibits and the synagogues and it was an experience. The groups were broken into four groups, two went to the synagogues and the other two were split between the two exhibits. Ryan and I were in charge of making sure the students did not break any thing in the Voices Exhibits and to help them if they had questions on the scavenger hunt. Working with eighth graders today made me realize I never want to teach middle school. It was as if I was playing police today. After asking them not, to touch stuff they did it any way. I told one girl to get off the platform (nicely) and that she could touch, the sewing machine but she could not touch the real ones. So what did she do, she touched the real one right in front of me. I could have slapped her. I wanted to ask her if her mom raised her in a barn, but I was nice about it. Then one girl got right up in my face and asked me why Jews go to church on Saturdays, because that was weird. And another one asked me why they had to wear all those funny hats. I did not know what to do! I answered both of their questions but the looks they gave me were priceless.  They (not all of them) also had the worst attitude about doing the scavenger hunt. It was crazy, but we made it through the morning. But I did learn that I do like working with the students that want to learn. I also like answering questions that the kids have. Sometimes you have to take the bad kids with the good kids!

            The students also got to watch Immigrant Trunks. Immigrant Trunks is a great program in which the museum uses the stories of the immigrants who came to Baltimore. Several years ago, a girl interviewed her grandmother for a school project. Her grandmother had immigrated to the US in 1913 at the age of 17. She told her the story of her life before and after immigration. Well the granddaughter gave the interview and the pictures to the museum. So now, one of the more popular trunks is this woman’s story. It was really good and I think that it is a very good story for students to hear. I was a little miffed that so many of them were talking and moving, but there was nothing to be done really. The teachers were good about getting them to stop so that was good. Ryan and I did survive and will have to do it all again tomorrow!

            After lunch I sat down with my mentor Elena, and talked about Brews & Schmooze, the program I will be working on this summer. We talked about how they want me to make the program a more lasting program and getting the programs nailed down until December. It is a little overwhelming but I think that it will be a good experience. I will also be helping with the Food exhibit that will go up in September. It is going to be an exciting time at the JMM. I hope I can do everything to their liking!            

            When I got home tonight I decided to make tacos! I have not made them in forever. They turned out pretty good! I am pretty exited that I am getting a hang of cooking! Plus I got to use my new homemade salsa I bought yesterday! My roommate came in today from her trip to visit her family so I split my dinner. She did not die and had seconds so I guess it was a good meal! She seems very nice and will be a cool roommate to have for the summer. So tomorrow is the first rehearsal for the Fluid Movement show, I am so nervous! However, I think it’s going to be a lot of fun! I will let you know how it goes tomorrow! It’s late and I have to deal with another group of 100 plus eighth graders in the morning! I am going to be now!! 

Chocolate Milk and Festivals!

So this morning Ashley and I went to the Farmer’s Market under the bridge. It’s the coolest farmer’s market! I got fresh chocolate milk, homemade salsa, squash, sugar snap peas, and apples! The chocolate milk is the bomb.com. It even comes in a glass bottle! There was a guy selling snowballs and I was told by my fellow intern Ryan that I had to have one of these. A snowball is just like a snow cone but with lots more syrup. Delicious! I mean 9:30 in the morning is not too early for sugar right? After the market, we headed to Eddies for a breakfast sandwich. Yummy, bacon, egg, and cheese croissant! Ashley then headed home. I then took a nap! I love naps.

     After my nap it was time to hit the Charles Village Street Festival. It was a nice three-minute walk from my building. It was a cute little festival. There was live music and venders. When I was there, a teen band was singing and playing on stage. They were playing several songs from 10 Things I Hate About You. They were actually pretty good. Plus I love that movie! It was hot as Hades so I got some free stuff from NPR and the bank and then headed back to my place. But before I left the NPR lady talked me in to volunteering for NPR if they needed someone. I figured if I had time I could help and it would be a cool way to see Baltimore. After getting back to my apartment I signed up to be in the Fluid Movement show this summer. So Fluid Movement is where they take a play and put it in the water and then put synchronized swimming to it. And there are funny and outrages costumes! I am scared to do it by my self but it will be a good way to meet people and how many people can say they were in a synchronized swimming play?!? Don’t worry I will post videos and pictures when they become available! I then did laundry, boring and expensive! Then I made dinner! I made squash, chicken, and rice. It was ok, but not as good as the first time I made it. I am going to have to work on the recipe. It was pretty much a normal lazy Sunday. I stayed up and watch Miranda on YouTube. It is a great British comedy; it’s my second favorite show (the first is Big Bang)! Well its time to go finish up Miranda! Write again later!    

Pineapple Snowball

Taking on the Nation's Capital

June 4, 2011

Washington, DC

     This morning Ashley my friend and fellow MTSU grad student drove down from PA to pick me up. It was road trip time to DC. So we got to DC and realized that the Breast Cancer walk around the mall was today! Holy crap parking is bad enough and now they shut down the roads to the mall. I dug out my quarters and got a parking ticket to put in the window (once we found a space, which was just as hard as finding a needle in a hay stack). We then walked the block and a half to the mall where we noticed the blockade was now down. OH FATES How you annoy me sometimes!! So we went back got the car and parked for FREE on the mall! If you are ever visiting DC try to get there early and park on the mall. It says three hour parking until 4:30 but Ashley says they do not really check it that much, so try it. Our first stop was the Smithsonian Castle. It was so pretty. There is not too much inside but I did get to see a piece of the Hindenburg and the gloves and helmet of one the US 1980 Hockey team players worn at the miracle game! We then walked to the National American History Museum (we are both history nerds). I love the NAHM. There is so much cool stuff! They just redid a bunch of the museum so there is a lot to see! I won’t list everything but I did get to see a vest from a Titanic survivor, Lincoln’s hat, Julia Child’s kitchen, the American flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner, and Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers. Also, there are so pretty fun statues in the transportation part of the museum. We had fun taking pictures with them. I can’t resist a fun picture with a statue. I think it may stem from that time Dr. Walker let us loose in Fort 96’s museum and Parrish and I took funny and inappropriate pictures with the mannequins. Good times. Well anyways, we looked about the museum for a couple of hours (not enough time, but we had a lot to see- I am just going to have to go back!) and it was awesome. I want to work for Smithsonian so bad. Mostly, so I can play with all the old stuff, wait that might not be allowed, oh well at least I could look at all the HISTORY.

     After the NAHM, we headed outside to walk to the National Portrait gallery. First, it was time for some food. We walked to Chinatown and found this restaurant called R.F.D Washington. They have about 300 beers for one to buy. It sounds like a good place to stop and check out. I got the fish and chips. The fish was the length of my beer bottle. Sadly, it was a bit bland ;(. But it was still good to get some food. After eating, we headed down the street to the National Portrait Gallery. On the way, we passed this man on the crosswalk singing and busting a move while listening to his iPod. It made my day. I mean it was like watching America’s Best Dance Crew Solo. The NPG is a very large three story square building. There is so much there! I was blown away at some of the stuff I got to see. My favorites were the painting of Pocahontas when she went to England, Queen Elizabeth, the original Obama HOPE Poster, and Marilyn Monroe (a Andy Warhol). By the time we got to the top floor and saw that there was an additional 3000 art pieces on the fourth floor (did not even know it was there) are brains were on information over load. I am going to have to come back and see all the stuff I missed on the first round of the museum, plus all the stuff on the top floor! By this time, it was 5:30. We were exhausted! It was time to head back to Baltimore. When we got back we headed to Ledo’s Pizza for dinner. It was quite yummy. I am super tired. Going to bed so I can get up and go to the Farmer’s Market in the morning!

Washington Monument 

The Smithsonian Castle 

Titanic Life Vest!!

OMG look its a train!?!

Which way to the nearest pub?

You read Twilight too?!?

I'm late for a very important date...

Man this bus is slow

Michelle Obama's dress. LOVE IT! 

I would like to borrow these

Look big feet like me! We should be friends and swap shoes!

Ruby Slippers 

Flowers in the butterfly garden

Playing with the color on my computer!

Pocahontas when she went to England

Queen Elizabeth

Monroe

Miracle on Ice 1980 US Hockey Team 

Starbucks in Chinatown. I like the sign.

Lunch, biggest fish ever!

Stories and Maccabeats

June 3, 2011

            Today was a slow day at the museum. Well it did not start out like that. So Ryan and I were walking to the West Wing (yes I work in the West Wing) and we shut the fire door behind us. However, we forgot that the gate was down to go into the West Wing. We were trapped in the danger zone. The danger zone is the small space that is the bathrooms and coat racks, that once the fire doors are closed and the gate is down going into the museum, you are stuck. But there is a bathroom and a water fountain so you wont die. I knew that one day I would get trapped there, but I did not think it would be the third day. But it was all good we yelled for help and then called the phone. Finally we were freed! Also glad that our rescuer did not tell the other staff and interns. Embarrassing, actually I don't know why I am writing it down here.....
        Since the museum will be closed next week for two days, for a Jewish holiday my Mentor was out of the office. So we took inventory of the education materials in the office. The department just got new office furniture and new cabinets, so we needed to know where everything ended up. I love inventorying things. I know it’s extremely weird. Plus I got to use a label maker, and who does not love those things! After going through the stuff I helped Rachel on a project that they are doing with a local school. Last year Baltimore took some of the schools that were failing and completely redid them. The federal government gave the schools a lot of money to get new staff and find new ways to teach and reach the students of the failing schools. One of the schools that the JMM is working with is a middle school. The JMM is doing a project with them to make tiles to be put up in the school. So I helped Rachel find the images the students ask for to use on their tiles. It was fun to look up pictures for a bit. We also watched the Maccabeats (the greatest Jewish cappella group) music videos for Candlelight and The Purim Song. Look up the songs, you will love them.

            This morning we also met the director of Educational Programming and the Co director of Educational Programming, Deborah and Ilene. They are very nice. Ilene thinks I have a sweet accent (she had not even heard me say oil or night). Ilene was going to go to one of the other turn around schools this afternoon for a program that the JMM had been working on with the students. The program this afternoon would feature high school students from Patterson High School telling their stories about their lives before and after their immigration to the US. The JMM has brought in a professional storyteller to help the students with their stories. We were invited to go and listen to the program, which would be held at Moravia another turn around school JMM has been working with. The program was amazing. The three students told stories of their lives in their former countries and of their first day of school or a dream they had for the future. The only girl was from Nepal. Her story of her first day of school was so touching. She started to cry because she did not understand what was being said around her. A girl came up to her and told her to stop crying because she would be her friend and help her through the day. She was so touched by the compassion that she stopped and the two have been friends since. One of the students was a boy from Ethiopia. He told of how if he could take one thing to his homeland it would be all the free schools that the US has. He would pick up the schools and carry them to his country and set them down. He would then go to the tallest mountain and tell the people that there was a safe place to go to school. He would see all the young men and women come to the schools trough the doors and windows to learn. It was so moving. Here is a kid that came with nothing, to a strange country, but has overcome that to become a educated young student. It made me think about all the kids that complain about having to go to school. They should sit down this young man and talk about the values of education. I also really enjoyed the stories told by the young man from El Salvador. He told stories of his grandmother’s home in El Salvador and of his first day at school, where he spoke no English. He said it was nice that someone came up to him and told him not to worry they would get English. He said “I could not speak English seven years ago and now I can stand in front of you and tell stories in English.” I was so impressed with these three students stories. I was equally impressed with the younger middle schoolers when it came time to give some appreciation. A girl said she was glad they got up there and told their stories because it showed her that she could do it (she was from the Congo). What a great program. It made me want to go home and write down the stories of my past.

            After work today I went to the grocery store. WootMaccabeats this morning), chicken and brats) I was on my way home. Tonight I mad brats and potato pancakes for dinner. It turned out pretty good. It would have been better with a cold beer, but I got to watch the cash and water is cheaper! So on this my first Friday night in the big city what did I do you may ask. Well I ate dinner and then watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Yup, super exciting! But tomorrow my friend Ashley is coming down from PA and we are going to explore DC for the day. Well I had better go get ready for tomorrow and get some sleep. Getting up super early to get a good free parking space! Adventures to write about tomorrow!

We shall see how it taste!

Naked Statues and Folk Music

         THE HEAT WAVE IS OVER!!!! Today should be a cool 85! Which seems hot, but its cool compared to the past three days of 100 degrees. I am used to the heat, I am not used to buildings not having air conditioning. Thank goodness JMM has it. But this whole sweating in my living room is not cool. This morning when I got to JMM instead of going with the other interns to learn past perfect Ryan and I followed Elena on her tour. This morning’s tour was a group of third graders from a local Catholic school. I am glad that we got to follow Elena. Since we are in the education department we will both be giving tours of the synagogues and the museum in the near future. It was a great learning experience. The kids asked many questions and it was good to see how Elena acted to all the questions. My favorite part was when a little boy said after getting to the top of the synagogue where the women sit, “I wish I was a girl, they do have the best seats!”  It was priceless. I also enjoyed it when one of the third grade girls argued with me about Finding Nemo. Her group was the one working on the archeology activity. They had to decide if they had found a spittoon or a vase. I explained to them what a spittoon was used for (which got some great faces). Elena then told them that most dentists still use a kind of spittoon. I said it was the thing that Nemo went down in the movie. She said I was wrong it was the toilet. Wrong kid, wrong. But its all good, I kept my cool and before I could tell her to re-watch the movie some other kid told her, she was wrong. Priceless. I really like that the museum has activities for students to do in the exhibits. I think that it gives the students a better connection to the history. It also seemed like they liked doing all the activities.

            After the tour, we rejoined the others and learned how to research in past perfect. I think this will be a good tool to learn, but it’s a tad confusing so I am going to need some help at first! However, the JMM has a great collection so there should be lots of stuff for the projects we will be working on this summer. I could just go crazy in the photo collection room. Then it was time for lunch, which is always my favorite part of the day.  After lunch, it was time for our second workshop. Elena my mentor gave a workshop on photography in museums. We learned how to set our cameras to manual and take pictures. I liked this workshop, but I don’t remember half of my manual settings or how to change them. I really need to find my camera’s instruction manual!! Nevertheless, it was a good overview of how to take pictures and who to take pictures of. Once we were done with the workshop, we were paired up and sent on a photography scavenger hunt. Ryan and I were partnered up. Before we left, we had to pick a toy to photograph in the wild (outside). I naturally picked the statue of David, I thought the naked statue would make funnier pictures to take. So we hit the streets around the JMM. This scavenger hunt was a chance for us to get to know the neighborhood and work with our fellow interns. We had to take several pictures of each thing because we had to keep changing the settings. Let me tell you two people walking down the street talking pictures of random things, while carrying a lion and a tiny statue got us many a strange look. One of the challenges was to ask someone to let us take their pictures. Talk to strangers, well my mom said never to, but you know me. I can resist the chance to talk to random people. I decided to go into Attman’s Deli (which is apparently the place to go for a corn beef sandwich, yum) and see if I could get someone to pose for me. Well most of the people looked at me funny when I walked in with my big camera, so I thought I should play it safe and find someone who did not look at me as if I was crazy. Good luck. I spotted two police officers eating lunch. Police are supposed to help in an emergency and this was a emergency, I needed to take a picture. I went up and said “Hi, I am an intern at JMM and we have to practice taking pictures for the museum. Could I please take yours? It will only take two seconds and two shots!” They both looked at me like I had just asked them doughnuts were square. I thought for a minute they were not going to help me. But after a few more seconds of asking and them laughing and trying to decided which one would take the picture, I came out of the deli with my picture. They also said, “Have a good day. Be safe out there.” It was awesome, I felt like I was on set of some cop show. Good times. We then headed back to the museum to upload our pictures, which will be judged by the staff.

            We then went to talk to our mentor Elena. We talked about museum stuff for about five minutes and then spent the next hour talking about everything from Quidditch (Ryan plays on his college’s team), to accents, Baltimore food, and my personal favorite, which place has the best BBQ North or South Carolina.

             Tonight Angela and I went to Ottobar to see Johnny Flynn and the Gussex Wit. I was not sure how the concert was going to be, because Indi Folk Rock songs on not usually what I listen to. I was a good concert. The three bands were good; I liked the music (not always the lyrics, some of them were so random). I also immensely enjoyed the man who danced by himself. He had a painted mask on his face, bells on his feet and arms and a Mohawk. It was epic. He was just a movin’ and a grovin’ to the music all by his self. I wish I had that much confidence in my dance moves. Well today was one packed day and I cant wait for tomorrow.

Roses outside the museum

Take a picture of something ugly (could not be a person, because that would be cruel)

Take a picture of something from all sides. 

Oh David, just hanging out....

All Greeks like a good tree to lay under. 

Street view

Getting the paper, its an Urban life for this ancient dude.

Colorful coke (NOT POP) crates

David where are you?

Purple flower

The nice officer who agreed to be phtographed

Reflection 

Naughty David. 

A beauty shot

Johnny Flynn

Do you have any questions......

June 1, 2011

     Today was the first day of my internship at the Jewish Museum of Maryland. It was orientation for the new interns. But before I could get started the JMM, I had to go see a man about a parking permit. I went and got another contract with the address on it and a letter from my landlord saying that I do indeed live there and I am not a crazy woman trying to take random parking spots. I then headed down town. I got there and there was only one person before me! Good sign number one! When I got up to the counter I was very nice and explained what I needed. The lady was super nice, so much better than the grumpy pants I had yesterday. Once I had my permit in my hand (its now on my car window!!), I headed out for my museum. I was a little early, but anyone who knows me knows that I have to be early for everything, so it was ok!

     Once in the boardroom we made nametags and picked a pencil from the colorful pencil jar. I chose the breast cancer one because I love pink and Nancy and Oma both beat it. I also figured they would ask why we picked the pencil so I wanted a good story. Avi the director of the museum talked to the interns before we got started. He seems very nice and he was interested in all the new interns. After Avi’s talk, Jobi who is in charge of collections and the interns went over the standard rules, regulations, and expectations.  The staff and interns then went around and introduced themselves. It seems like the museum has a good group of people to work with. The assistant director then told us about the boardroom in which we sat. It had apparently been a boardroom/ office in an old Jewish ice cream factory. The owner did sold the paneling to the museum to renovate the room. The former room had once held the ice cream owners porn collection (which he sold to China). This was pretty funny, but made even funnier when we saw in the exhibit that the street that the board room is on was at one time the Red Light District of the Lower east side of Baltimore.  

     After the meet and greet the interns went down stairs to see the archives, photo collection, and the collections storage. Once down in the collections we were able to walk around and look at the objects in collection. There was so much cool stuff! I wanted to pick up everything, but then I would have broken the first rule of orientation. Look with your eyes and only touch with gloves on. After looking around we had our first workshop: how to pick up an object. It was a good lesson on how to handle the boxes, getting things out of boxes, touching objects, and putting them back in the boxes and back on the shelves. Then it was time for lunch. Today I brought my lunch, but there is a good Jewish deli right down the street. So I may try that on Friday. After lunch, we went on a tour of the two synagogues, which are Lloyd Street Synagogue and B’nai Israel Synagogue. These are both kept by the museum and the B’nai Israel Synagogue is still in use today. They are beautiful. At the bottom of the Lloyd Street Synagogue is an exhibit called The Synagogue Speaks. It is about the transformations that the synagogue has gone through since it was built in 1845. It was first a synagogue, then a Lithuanian Catholic Church, and then it was restored to a synagogue. After touring the synagogues, we headed back to the museum (which is right next door) and were able to look at the two exhibit halls in the museum. Right now, the museums’ main exhibit is called Voices. It gives the story of the people who lived in the neighborhood from the beginning through the time people started to move out (the 60’s and 70’s, I think). It is a very nice exhibit. There are many things for kids and bigger kids to look at and touch. I really liked that the museum has family packs at the front desk for families to take around the exhibit with them. Inside is a scavenger hunt, a book, and plastic food to recreate Seder. It is something that I think families would really enjoy doing together. I mean I wanted to take the bag around and do all the stuff, but we did not have time ;(. The other exhibit is in a smaller gallery and is of a local artist. Loring Cornish is an African American man who takes everyday objects and turns them into these huge murals. There are some very cool pieces in this show. He took apart shoes and made a huge mural that spelled out Montgomery Bus Boycott. His art is about the black freedom movement and how it can be connected to the plight that the Jewish people have also faced over the years. After we looked around, it was time for pie and last minute comments and or questions. Jobi and Rachel (both staff) gave a talk about the synchronized swimming plays that a group puts on in Baltimore that they are both apart of. They want the interns to participate! I am thinking about doing it. It sounds fun but I am not sure I want complete strangers to see me in my bathing suit! So far, I think that this is going to be a great experience. I believe that the museum is going to really show me how to work in a museum.

     When I got home this afternoon, I took a nap! At Converse, I became the queen of naps. It was so nice to take a nap in a cool room. I am not used to this sweating in my living room. I don’t know how people stand it with out air in all rooms! I guess I am just pampered. Tonight I made potato salad for lunch tomorrow. It turned out pretty good if I do not say so myself. Good golly it’s late! Well to write again tomorrow.

This is where they said the interns had to go to the bathroom....