Shelter in place

The World Bank is a very exciting institution to work for. It deals with many interesting projects that will have a huge impact in the community it is addressing. That is what we learnt on the first day of work.

On the second day of work we learnt there are other forms of excitement in the Bank sometimes. We were eating at the canteen when an announcement was made through the speakers: “For security reasons, we are imposing a Shelter-in-Place. No one is allowed to enter or leave the building until this condition is lifted”.

Shelter in place occurs whenever there is a potential threat to the World Bank’s personnel. Despite being locked inside, it seems like no one really cares that much. The World Bank building is so big that it seems like a city by its own right. Apparently, some individual left a suspicious package near the World Bank and the police was investigating. Turns out it was nothing.

I just hope if this happens again, it doesn’t happen by the end of the day. It’s my first time in Washington and I still have lots of sightseeing to do, so I need to get out early from work!