Today marks a month since I moved to D.C. and needless to say I’m having a great time. In just four weeks I’ve gotten to know the area, started my classes and internship, visited museums, gone out with friends, and become adjusted to living alone. So far, moving to the capital city has been a great experience, but needless to say it is certainly a change of scenery from Orlando. The city is alive with people at all hours of the day and night and there is essentially always something to do downtown or in the cities nearby in Maryland and Virginia. While most of the transition has been positive, some things have taken a little longer to get used to. One thing that I’ve come to realize, which might be an effect of the hustle and bustle, is the difference in culture between D.C. and Orlando. As fast as the city moves, the people here tend to buzz right by and worry only about themselves, forgetting to stop and say hello or even acknowledge other people. Growing up in the South, I am used to strangers on the street saying hello or holding doors open. I suppose the culture here is just the big city way of life, but it certainly leaves the soul longing for some southern hospitality.
On a more positive note, there is a surprising amount of diversity here with many cultural enclaves such as Chinatown. There is also a great deal of diversity at American University where I’m studying and even more so in my political science program. I’ve had the opportunity to meet people from around the country and around the world who’ve had vastly different life experiences. Best of all, despite our different backgrounds it has been a blast becoming friends with my classmates from the program as everyone has something special to bring to the group. All in all, it has been a productive, insightful, and enlightening few weeks up here in Washington, D.C. and I am looking forward to what’s still to come. I’ll be back soon with more updates, stay tuned!
Photo: Great Falls – Potomac River, Virginia, USA