The Quest for the Perfect Fourth

By Denise Altounian

From the time I received the e-mail of my acceptance to the Leo Sarkisian Internship Program, I had one date circled in my calendar: July 4. As a lifelong resident of Southern California, the fourth of July usually means the same thing ever year, a family barbecue at the beach. In need of some change, I was looking forward to celebrating the fourth in Washington, D.C. As for the rest of our internship group, which consists of three other lifelong Southern Californians, two Canadians, and a Minnesotan, we all agreed we were ready to have the experience of a lifetime. Our group was about to spend the most important American holiday right in the nation’s capital. What could possibly go wrong?

The 2015 ANCA Leo Sarkisian interns celebrating a very patriotic fourth of July. (L-R, back) Shaunt Tchakmak, Patrick Babajanian, Erik Khzmalyan, and Dickran Khodanian. (L-R, front) Arevig Afarian, Ripsime Biyazyan, and Denise Altounian

At last, the day arrived. To our surprise, the morning brought rain and thunder storms, but we weren’t about to let a little rain and humidity stand in our way. We were ready to go, all seven of us complete with our coordinated red, white, and blue attire. Around mid-afternoon we set out to start the festivities. But where exactly were we headed?

When you live in a house with seven other people, inevitably you assume someone else knows the plan. In this case, we all assumed someone else had an idea of what to do until the fireworks show later that evening. We found ourselves in the National Mall, under the powerful afternoon sun, walking aimlessly through the dense humidity and crowds of people. What now? Food, of course. I had my sights set on the traditional American BBQ—hamburgers, hot dogs, and the like. I glanced around at the many food trucks nearby and realized my options: kebob, shawarmah, falafel. Not exactly what I had in mind. In the end, the group settled on hot dogs and Philly cheese-steaks, an acceptable fourth of July lunch.

We now found ourselves fed, upbeat, and ready to continue on. One of the important lessons we were told to take away from the Leo Sarkisian Program is the importance of networking. As good interns, we called our new friends from the Armenian Assembly and spent the rest of the day celebrating in Georgetown. Eventually our group split into two, and my group got caught in a torrential downpour, ultimately taking refuge in the Smithsonian Castle. With little patience, phone service, or energy, we trekked to the Lincoln Memorial to meet back up with the rest of the group. As we approached the memorial and the sea of eager families waiting to watch the show, I realized we had the best spot in all of Washington, D.C. As soon as the fireworks show began, the day’s misadventures suddenly seemed oh so worth it. Watching the most beautiful fireworks show with the Lincoln Memorial behind us under the backdrop of the Washington monument was breathtaking. It is truly a sight that will never leave my memory. The mix-ups, bad food, and humid weather no longer mattered. We had finally found each other and took in an amazing show.

I may have been 3,000 miles away from my own family, but watching the fireworks surrounded by my new family was just as special. And I use the word family with complete sincerity. Although we have only known one another for three weeks, we genuinely enjoy each other’s company. We are thought to be the first intern class to have daily lunchtime picnics and nightly family dinners. We religiously watch “Jeopardy” every night and often follow it with coffee and a spirited discussion on the happenings of the world. You can always find laughter and music flowing through the house from the moment we wake up to the time we go to bed.

Here in Washington, every day together is cause for celebration. (L-R) Ripsime Biyazyan, Arevig Afarian, Denise Altounian, Dickran Khodanian, Patrick Babajanian, Erik Khzmalyan, and Shaunt Tchakmak.

The initial apprehension of living with six strangers for eight weeks quickly dissipated once I realized I was going to be spending my summer with a group of motivated, intelligent, passionate activists. In the end, the fourth of July taught me that it’s not the journey you take that’s important, but the company you keep. I wouldn’t have wanted to spend my fourth any other way.

Denise Altounian was in the Class of 2014 at California State University-Fresno. She is a 2015 ANCA Leo Sarkisian intern.