Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Alive After Five


Every third thursdays from April to October, Roswell residents participate in an event called Alive After Five. The city literally comes to life after five o'clock with people on Canton Street on these days. They come and line down the whole street and promote and advertise their businesses. I was anticipating the day and excited to walk with Mayor Wood. He told me I could learn a lot about politicking.


It was still raining on the way to the law office that day and it was already 4 o'clock so i was beginning to doubt it was going to happen. When I got there my doubt had cleared away. I saw a band getting ready for the event and Mayor Wood was busy setting up the table. I helped him move the cage for the chickens.


We couldn't have been more luckier because the weather was clearing as it was nearing 5 o'clock. I began to see some people walking down the street. Volunteers showed up to help with the campaigning. Around 6 when the street was bustling with more people, Mayor Wood, and Lalit, and I started walking the street. The sun came out and the people filled both sides of the street everywhere. Mayor Wood was busy talking and interacting with them. Lalit handed out the stickers and the literature and I took pictures. Many noticed and recognized the mayor. Everybody seemed to like him and I told him I wasn't worried much of him winning the office again. But he told me I should never let my guards down because that's when things can go wrong. We walked all the way down to the end of the street and it took us almost two hours.


Anyhow by the time we all came back to the law office, it started pouring rain again. I was busy taking pictures this time, but I really got to see a lot. I've never seen so many people on one street in Georgia and half of them were wearing our stickers on their shirts. I got a glimpse of what politicking is about and also learned the importance of public appearance in a campaign. Although I was dead tired and soaking wet, I felt accomplished.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

MY FIRST DAY WITH MAYOR WOOD


Tuesday, September 08, 2009


Monday of August 31st, 2009 when I woke up that morning, I would’ve never guessed the people I would be meeting with that day. The day proceeded ordinarily and I was anxious for 3rd period to be over. When it finally did at 11:40pm I met with Lalit Janak, the other intern that I would be working with, with Mayor Wood. Lalit’s told me some of the stuff that he’s in charge of at the worksite and how much he enjoys it on the way to the interview. When we got to the Roswell city hall, we were let through the door that requires some sort of special authorization and I was already beginning to get excited. I was then introduced to Brandon, Ms. Robyn Kenner, the chief assistant, and the mayor himself! (At this point, I gotta say, I’ve never known any mayors or even the names of them before and it was the coolest thing meeting with Mayor Wood!)
After Brandon and I were admitted and briefed on the information, as if meeting a mayor wasn’t enough for one day, we were already given a task of following Mayor Jere Wood to the reception for the GOP victory dinner at Westin hotel in Buckhead! The mayor personally took us to the place in his car, and during that 30minute drive we talked about random things and it made me feel intimate to the mayor already. At that time I had no idea what the reception would be like.
As soon as we got there, Mayor Wood started introducing everybody to us and never having been around so many influential people, I was dumbstruck. As we walked around and took time to be acquainted many, we were nervous to meet with Tom Price, and there he was, and soon I found myself shaking hands and taking pictures with him. However, due to the mayor’s scheduled council meeting back at the city hall, we had to miss out on the dinner.
Mayor Wood made us say few words at the meeting and we watched it till it was adjourned. I’ve lived in the U.S. for close to 7 years now, and this day might have been the most memorable day. I so excited and can’t wait till the next day of internship!


Mike Kim, Alpharetta High School