philblog

I have no prior engagements

Hello friends and family. I'm currently sitting in my apartment looking out the window at Union Station in Washington, D.C. In case you're wondering what I'm doing in here, I'm participating in Calvin's Spring Semester in Washington, which is an opportunity to take some classes and work as an intern in our Nation's capital.

But I guess, first and foremost, I should inform my loyal readers that Laura Klamer and I got engaged just last week. Yep, that's right. I was not a little sad to leave for Washington after that happened. So, anyways, we're thinking that we probably won't be getting married until sometime in May, 2006, what with us both being college students and needing money and all. In fact, if you'd like to donate to our 'Help Phil and Laura get married sooner cause', send checks or money orders payable to Phil Boonstra or Laura Klamer, at Calvin College....

So yeah, our Calvin group is currently just visiting organizations (ie interest groups, etc) that are based in Washington to get a feel for the city. Today, we talked with employees of the Family Research Council. Tomorrow, we're going on a tour of the Capitol building, where, hopefully, we'll get to stick around the Rotunda a bit longer than my parents did and not have to tell half-truths to the security guard to get one last glimpse of the artwork on the walls...but I'm not talking about anyone in specific.

Some fun things I've learned about Washington and myself since I've been here: 1)I'm willing to walk many a mile to save the $1.35 (or $1.75 during rush hour) metro fare. 2)There are a lot of ambulances and police cars here. 3)I think that I stick out pretty badly among native Washingtonians. Pulling out my Frommer's Map of the city in the middle of Constitution Ave. probably doesn't help. I guess that's all for now.