Our new intern crew has arrived! They’re already pouring sweat and tears into spread sheets, research and office errands, but we interrupted them just long enough to get the basics from each about their time here so far:
about Carolyn:
Favorite food/coffee spot in NYC.
Well, I don’t live in NYC, but it’s safe to say my favorite place is pretty much anywhere with ice cream.
The best summer you’ve ever had included…
16-hour rehearsal days, ice cold locker room showers, long cramped bus rides, tan lines that stayed through winter, sleeping on gym floors without an air mattress and tendonitis in my ankles. No, really. From the time I was 16 until I was 20, I spent summers performing with drum and bugle corps, mostly Jersey Surf. Drum corps is kind of like marching band on steroids, only instead of feeling like a mega-band-dork, you get to feel like a rock star and perform in front of hundreds and thousands of people. It’s AWESOME! Once I was even asked for my autograph.
When you’re not at the charity: water office, we can find you…
I’ll be a Recreation Coordinator for International Students with American Education and Travel Services at Seton Hall University, basically like a camp counselor. I’m also the Youth Ministry Coordinator for Six Mile Run Reformed Church in Franklin Park, NJ, so I’ll be doing some things with them including a trip to Six Flags and producing a kids’ musical in August. Plus, I’m hoping to spend some more time volunteering with the Jersey Surf on support staff… apparently, I’m going to be busy.
You’ve got a free plane ticket to anywhere in the world. Where are you going?
I’m going to hang on to it until September and then go to England to see my friend Jim get married.
The weirdest thing about working at charity: water is…
Only the guys seem to play ping pong… and the Jerry can trash cans are pretty much awesome. I totally want one. The speed at which things are done is often surprising. Sometimes I expect things to take a lot of time but they are pushed through really fast; while other things, that I think should be easy, take a lot of time to get everybody on board.
If you could orchestrate a partnership between charity: water and any other org, which would you choose?
I’m trying to convince the director of Jersey Surf that next year they should do a show about the world water crisis; with a name like Jersey Surf, it just seems too perfect. Plus with performing in front of thousands of people, they could really raise a lot of awareness. Who knows? Maybe I could be the charity: water liaison to the drum corps world… a girl can dream. More on par, I think we could definitely partner with someone like The Girl Effect and really focus in on the effects of water on girls and make a whole separate women and girls campaign and gear it for girl scouts, sororities, and other women’s groups. Women/girls and water is what I want to write my Master’s thesis on at least, so it would be cool to do some hands-on work with a “girls empowerment” organization.
about Ginny:
The best summer you’ve ever had included…
Just relaxing. Summer of 2007, I was with a group of my best friends the whole summer doing random stuff.
When you’re not at the charity: water office, we can find you…
Going to my family’s beach house in Montauk (Long Island) and hanging out with my friends in Weston or NYC.
You’ve got a free plane ticket to anywhere in the world. Where are you going?
DISNEY WORLD! Because it’s awesome and I haven’t been there since I was nine years old.
Has anything surprised you about the charity: water office since you started?
I was surprised that charity: water is so laid back. When I first came into the office, I had no idea what to expect but I imagined that everyone would be in business attire and very intimidating, because it was my first time ever going into an office to work. I was shocked to see all the young and friendly people walking around, very laid back and having beer and pizza meetings every Friday but still staying on top of the mission.
*Ginny’s been with charity: water since fall 2009 — we’re excited she decided to stick with us for the summer!
about Halley:
Favorite food/coffee spot in NYC.
La Esquina! So good.
The best summer you’ve ever had included…
Any summer spent traveling will always be high on the list. A summer I spent working in a village in Thailand definitely stands out. It is a beautiful country with amazing people.
You’ve got a free plane ticket to anywhere in the world. Where are you going?
Russia… I’m so curious.
Where else should charity: water work (where we don’t already)?
A lot of people in Burma don’t have access to clean water. Sudan is also in desperate need.
The weirdest thing about working at charity: water is…
For most people a Jerry can might mean a place to store gasoline or water but at charity: water they are decorations, trash cans and sometimes even used to prop open a door.
What’s surprised you about the charity: water office since you started?
The music! Not only was I surprised that music is always playing in the office but also by the diverse selection.
about Heather:
Favorite food/coffee spot in NYC.
I love a good Balthazar brunch!
The best summer you’ve ever had included…
All my summers are amazing! I’ve traveled to almost 50 countries and they’re all incredible in their own way, I can’t pick just one!
At charity: water, you…
I help Sarah with events, advertising and media. The way charity: water brands itself is one of the main reasons I got involved in the first place. I’m happy to be working in a creative field.
And when you’re not at the charity: water office, we can find you…
Working on setting up my business back home in OZ… yoga, beach, eating, drinking and enjoying the weather!
You’ve got a free plane ticket to anywhere in the world. Where are you going?
Right now? The South of France!
The weirdest thing about working at charity: water is…
I’ve never worked in an office before so its interesting getting to know the dynamics of it!
Want to intern at charity: water this fall? Stay tuned — we start accepting applications soon. In the mean time, you can volunteer at our NYC offices.
Sign up for our volunteer list here and join our Facebook Volunteer Group here.
