interesse Washington DC office

明けまして、おめでとうございます。
昨年は皆様に大変お世話になりました。
本年もどうぞ、よろしくお願い申し上げます。

ついに２００７年ですね。DCオフィスがオープンしてからそろそろ２年と思うと、時の経つのが早いこと早いこと。
アメリカではクリスマスホリデーがある分、お正月が１日しかなく、このシーズン、得してるのか損してるのか、微妙な気分ですね。

クリスマスはファミリーでまったりと〜、そしてNYEは街でパーティーというのが、ここDCの基本のようですが、皆様はいかがお過ごしになりましたでしょうか？私が今シーズン経験したホリデーのお勧めスポットを３つご紹介します。

お馴染みのホワイトハウスのツリー！！（夜１０時頃行くとすいていて◎です）
http://www.whitehouse.gov/holiday/2006/index.html

クリスマス前のサンデーブランチはジョージタウンのフェアモントホテルがお勧めです！お値段が＄６０／人と高めですが、バッフェでシャンペーンつき。新鮮な魚介類から、よりどりみどりのチーズ、ケーキ、考えつくありとあらゆる食事が、おいしそう〜に並んでいます。言い過ぎではなく、ホントに、食べものが幸せそうに、品よく整列しているという感じでした。
http://www.fairmont.com/FA/en/CDA/Home/Hotels/Promotions/CDHotelPromoDetail/0,1140,promotion_seq=77971317&property_cd=WDC&property_seq=100140&propcode=HOTEL&promotion_rate=PRCWX1,00.html?cm_mmc=icppc-_-Washington+DC-_-google-_-fairmont+hotel+dc

そして、NYEをDCでパーティーして過ごすにはK street loungeが良かったです。ヤングプロフェッショナルが集まるクラブ。もちろん混雑しているものの、清潔で、よく整理されていて、泥酔している人は見当たらず、とても感じのよいクラブです。毎週各イベントがあるようなので、是非お試しを。
http://www.kstreetdc.com/default.aspx


この冬は例年より早く始まったものの、気温は例年よりは暖かく、DCで雪を見る日があるのかな〜と思う程ですね。平地で雪がふってもスキーができる訳じゃないし、ただ寒くて交通渋滞を巻き起こして不便なだけ、、、という見方もありますが、やっぱり１度か２度くらいは雪景色のDCも、いつもと違ってロマンチックで悪くないと思います。

では、また〜。

Washington DC's monuments and museums are famous for not only being some of the best in the world, but they are free to all who visit. With special events happening somewhere in the DC metro area almost every weekend you have to keep up to date or you'll miss something spectacular. A great way of keeping track is the Washington Post weekend guide which always seems to have helpful tips to finding the best events for the weekend.

Although not many seem to be aware of it, November is Native American month. To celebrate the National Museum of the American Indian in DC has events throughout the month with displays from different tribes, dances, story telling, wood carving and much more.

This past weekend I decided to venture over to the American Indian museum to watch 'Ksan Performing Arts group from Canada perform some tribal dances, and tell stories about the animals and birds that are important to their culture. It was fascinating to see the imitation of animals within the dances, and to see three generations of 'Ksan dancing together in celebration of their way of life.

Although most museums show the history of a culture through ancient artefacts and stories of the past, the American Indian museum is about how Native Americans are keeping their culture alive today. Native Americans believe that the history of their people should be kept within their tribe/ reservation, so the artefacts are few and far between.

Over seventy tribes have areas set up within the museum to show the diversity of the Native American population today. It is fascinating to see how these cultures have not only survived, but also changed to fit with modern technology and life. Despite all these changes Native American tribes continue to prosper and enjoy their history and culture.

If you have a chance to visit the American Indian museum this month have a look on their website for special events that might be taking place.

We hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend. We will update you on some of the highlights of our Thanksgiving celebrations next week.

Halloween in Washington DC is a big event. From the Georgetown, Nightmare on M street parade, Boo at the zoo, to the kids in costumes walking around their local neighborhood collecting huge bags, full of candy. There is so much to see and participate in!

There are local farms in Maryland which hold Halloween activity events, pumpkin picking , and hay rides, and spooky corn mazes where you can get lost for hours. One of the greatest things about DC is that it doesn't take long to be out into the countryside on a hay ride for the evening, even if you live in the city. Depending on where you go, there is warm apple cider to drink on the ride, and spooky haunted houses for the kids to get scared by.

The parties started on Friday and carried on until Tuesday. On Saturday, Seiko and I went to a party in Oakton VA, it was a charity event for breast cancer awareness. There were so many costumes, Seiko went as a vampire Japanese school girl, and I went asa killer black cat. We saw several geisha's there, along with a lot of cowboys, superman, a man dressed as a baby, mad scientists, butterflies, angels, and devils, and so many more.

Living in Washington DC has once again shown itself to be a great time all year round!
From me, Heather in DC, have a great week.

DC -The air is crisp and the leaves are finally beginning to change into beautiful Fall colors and drop to the ground. It's definitely getting cold, so we're patiently waiting with our ski's in one hand and gloves in the other for snow, although I'm sure it's a few months away yet. Coats are now a must for any adventures outside and the heating is on full force for the cold mornings.

Lucky for Seiko(DC career consultant), DC weather was changing just as she headed out to Hawaii for a long weekend with her USTA team, to play in the National champion's league for tennis. They didn't win but they did get to experience a 6.5 Earthquake. Wow! She had a great time! Good job Seiko for making it to the National's!

DC had it's U.S. Air Force Memorial dedication at the Pentagon on Saturday 14, and what a monument it is! It is the first Memorial, for the US Air Force branch of the armed forces, in DC, and is dedicated to over 54,000 airmen killed in action. With three arching metal spikes rising over 200 feet into the sky, it looks like a maneuver airplanes would complete. The Pentagon parking lot was turned into an air field, where you could experience sitting in the cockpit of a plane, learning about tactical warfare, safe bomb detonation, the Armed forces on Assignment, and so much more. Veterans came to admire the Memorial and reminisce about the adventures they experienced while in the Air force. It was a great chance to listen to the amazing stories they had to tell and be inspired.

Sunday 22, Seiko and I headed out to take part in a local Park restoration. We decided we would help with planting new trees in Highland Park to do our part for the local environment. Unfortunately we were a little too late for the tree planting, as there were only 20 trees to plant and enough volunteers for three to a tree, so we ended up spreading mulch and pulling up Ivy for two hours! No one can say we haven't done our part for the environment this weekend!

Halloween is coming up next weekend which means the Georgetown Halloween parade, and parties, parties, and more....candy!!! Until next time..........

I must admit the thought of running 10 miles makes me have nightmares!!! So it was a great relief when Seiko Watanabe, my co-worker at DC office, did not ask me to join her in her attempt to complete the Army 10 miler run on Sunday 8 October.

It was an absolutely beautiful day, perfect for running, I was told, because it was just a little bit chilly. As we entered the Pentagon parking lot where the race was to start we were amazed to see parachuters dropping out of the sky above us and landing inside the Pentagon's perimeter. The music was loud and people were ready to start the run. There were stalls full of snacks and games for the children waiting for their parents to get back from the race.

23,000 runners! As you can imagine as soon as the cannon was shot there was a surge of runners sprinting to get to the Memorial bridge first! I think it was around that point that they realized they might not make it all the way at that speed! Although I hear the winner was going at around 5 minutes per mile, which is beyond my comprehension how you would do that!

The course was amazing. It started at the Pentagon, past Arlington cemetery, across Memorial bridge, looped around the Kennedy center, along Independence Ave and made a loop of the Capital building. Back along Independence Ave and across, what Seiko now calls after the run "The longest bridge in the world", actually known as 14th street bridge, back to the Pentagon.

Seiko completed it in an amazing time of just under one hour and 16 minutes! I cheered for my fellow employee from the 5 mile marker, and 8 mile marker, and she beat me to the finish, despite the fact I was riding the metro!!!! Great job Seiko, I'll be back next year as your champion cheerleader!

On Sunday October 1, Gaithersburg celebrated their annual Japanese Fall festival. It was a beautiful day and Japanese locals were out to celebrate their culture along with many other nationalities who were there to learn more about Japanese tradition.

There were games, food, music, entertainment, and a raffle which, despite the unexpected heavy rain half way through the number calling, people stayed late for because of the great prizes. Flights to Japan, champagne brunches at the Fairmont Hotel, stereos, and so much more.

People were wearing their colorful kimono's, including myself, and because of the beautiful sunshine we had no difficulty handing out our Interesse fans. We sat and watched the children from a local Japanese school sing Japanese nursery rhyme and everybody sang along. It was great!

It was fun to see so many of our applicants and clients at the festival, and it was a busy afternoon meeting and greeting so many familiar faces. Thank you so much for your welcome applicants and clients, it was great to see you all after so many phone calls.

We played the games, and won a raffle prize, ate too much and drank too much, and overall had a really wonderful day. We look forward to next year at the Gaithersburg Japanese Fall festival.

１０月１日に秋祭りに参加してきました。メリーランドでの秋祭りには家族連れ、友達と、大にぎわいで、大盛況のお祭りのようでした。金魚すくい、輪投げ、けん玉、綿あめ、お好み焼き、ラムネ、駄菓子、盆踊り、くじ引きと日本のお祭りを味わえる、アットホームな雰囲気を大勢が楽しんでいました。私たちも、インテレッセのうちわを持って、参加してきました。写真をご覧ください。

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Fall is my favorite time of year in D.C. The weather has finally cooled down enough that you can be outside without the humidity of the summer. The Fall leaves are starting to turn to a wonderful array of colors and walking in Mt Vernon is a favorite past time of Washingtonians, where you can enjoy hiking along the Potomac River.
Not only is the weather perfect here in DC but there is a sudden increase in outside events to participate in because everyone wants to enjoy being outside. Shirlington's Oktoberfest, Gaithersburg's Japanese festival (which will we will be taking part in this year), Halloween in Arlington with the cute little kids running door to door asking for candy, D.C.'s Thanksgiving celebrations and so much more.
This weekend is the Gaithersburg Japanese festival which we will be taking part in with great enthusiasm. DC office will be out in force wearing Kimono's and waving Interesse fans. We just hope the rain holds off on Sunday.

澄み渡った、キリッとした気持ち、緊張感、これが私がワシントンDCを歩くときに感じる気持ちだ。
ワシントンDCは、全米どこにも属さない、たった一つの特別地区、連邦政府の直轄として独立した街だ。誰もが映画やテレビ、新聞で一度は目にしたことのある、いかにも、”政治”の象徴の街である。ホワイトハウス、ワシントンモニュメントを始め、リンカーン、ジェファーソン、ルーズベルト、歴代の有名大統領の銅像が街の中のロケーションの良いところに、バランスをとってたたずんでいるから、貫禄がある。品よく整った街並みを、ビジネスマン・ウーマンがビシッとしたスーツで歩く姿はすがすがしく、気持ちがよい。私の大のお気に入りの街、ワシントンDCのすてきな部分をみんなに知っていただきたい。

すてきな街はまず、ロマンチックでなくてはならない。ワシントンDCの夜はすべてのモニュメントがライトアップされ、なんともロマンチックだ。夜のルーズベルト記念公園はもしそれが東京にあったら、デートのメッカとして、毎月雑誌に取り上げられているに、違いない。

すてきな街は、次に、気候が良くなくてはならない。年間を通して、四季折々で、４月の桜、猛暑の夏、紅葉の秋に、雪の冬。。。と日本の四季に近いものを感じられる。アメリカでも春の桜祭り、花見を楽しめるのは、なかなかいいものである。

すてきな街は、街と自然が両立してなくてはならない。DCには霞ヶ関エリア、小さな新宿エリア、小さな田園調布エリア、銀座エリアとある上に、車で３０分も行けば、山から川、滝、bayと楽しめる。これはとってもrelaxingである。

毎年７月４日の独立記念日には、国会議事堂の後ろから打ち上げられる花火が大きな催し物になっている。大勢が昼間からモールに集まり、花火のための場所取りをする。アメリカの首都で、独立記念日に花火を見ながら、アメリカ国家を聞く瞬間は、アメリカ人でなくとも、アメリカへの愛着がわいて、感動する。

こんなすてきな街、ワシントンDC近郊でのお仕事紹介にインテレッセDCオフィスは全面サポートさせて頂きます。