I'm in Washington. Meetings all day on Captiol Hill and with the Australian Embassy. Meant to have a day off tomorrow before flying off to France in the evening but the government is preparing to shut down. It because they can't agree on passing a budget and the current budget which has been extended several times runs out today. That means all services in Washington will stop. Its big news over here. An interesting time to be here!
I really looked forward to being here and I have not been disappointed. Have been getting really great information for my project. There is a lot of concern over the social contract between farmers and the community being broken. I'm a little disappointed there is no strategy to address this developed and implemented here. They are as perplexed and frustrated by low margins and demands from environment pressures and climate policies and immediate issues like pressures on the subsides being challenged to be thinking too strategically too. However they are concerned about the PETA's and Humane societies very cohesive approach and budget to go with it too.
We visited the Australian Embassy today as well. Off to dinner tonight with our host an Eisenhower Scholarship recipient who has acquainted us with the underground, Capitol hill and arranged last night for a night tour of DC. It's been a fruitful few days. The group are a great bunch to travel with, We all work well together, and watch out for each other. The true nuffield fellowship that we witnessed and were astonished by in Spring when the Alumni gathered to announce our scholarships is truly developing in this group.
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