It's been a while since I last posted in this blog, since last time I was literally across the pond! I absolutely look back on my incredible journey abroad and think of all the wonderful times I had - AND how I would love to experience it again. I think everyone should try to get some time in a foreign country during his/her college experience. It not only gives one a wider perspective, but also makes the whole college thing A LOT more interesting ;-)
SO in the past couple...years (wow I'll pretend I didn't take THAT long to catch up to my post) I have successfully graduated from Wesleyan, writing a thesis and getting into grad school for journalism in Georgetown. After interning in New York for the summer I immediately moved to Washington D.C. to begin the next chapter of "the real world" a.k.a the I-pay-my-bills-now lifestyle. Luckily, I think choosing grad school has been a much easier transition than my peers as I kind of get extra time to hone in on my desired skills so I can be exceptionally prepared for my professional career.
Washington, D.C...the U.S capital. Definitely a prominent, powerful city with a bunch of incredible sites and people. I think I subconsciously chose D.C because I wanted a kind of "study abroad" experience again before I settled into a city that I know pretty well (cough..cough NYC). I wanted a challenge, to put myself in a situation where I didn't know anyone and could pretty much create a new experience. And I got it. At first it was quite intimidating - having a month to find: 1. A job, 2. Roommates, 3. A place to live. With focus and determination I double checked off every aspect of that list and had a wonderful first semester getting settled into the area.
Now after a few months I have gone out in D.C to the normal hot spots - DuPont Circle, Adams Morgan and U-Street...BUT I have not successfully been a tourist. I've been outside the White House and in the Capitol for work. I even attended the State of the Union. All amazing experiences...YET I think its time that I take that cheesy picture in front of the Lincoln Memorial, walk around the fancy Botanical Gardens and check out at least one of D.C's famous museums. It's absolutely crazy how once you live in a place you automatically lose your tourist hat.
SO in the next few months I plan to be a tourist as much as possible (when I have time off from work and school). Here's a list of the places I plan to visit while in this prominent city. After all, my program at Georgetown is only 2 years long and I'm already almost halfway through! I'm not sure if I'll stay in D.C. or move earlier than I think...so I mine as well get my American tourist groove on now ;-)
THE WASHINGTON TOURIST
(Things to do while in the Nation’s Capital.)
1. MONUMENTS
1. Lincoln Memorial
2. Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial
3. Washington Monument
4. Jefferson Memorial
5. Korean War Veterans Memorial
6. Arlington National Cemetery
2. TOURS
1. The U.S. Capitol Building
2. U.S. Botanic Garden
3. Tours of the White House
MUSEUMS - CULTURE:
1. African American Civil War Memorial and Museum
2. U. S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
3. Smithsonian Natural History Museum
4. National Gallery of Art
OH...AND FOR FUN ;-)
