Well like any good story, mine starts right at the beginning--arriving at the place that I am blessed to call home for the next few months. Washington has always stood out in mind as the most interesting and historically fascinating place I have visited. Roaming the brick sidewalks and stone hallways once passed by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and other leaders of our nation, casts an indescrible feeling of the power of this city! I am blessed to be a part of it!
My apartment is situated just four blocks east of the Capitol building, and I have about the best view of the amazing landmark right outside my door. At night the bright glow of the spotlights on the white stone of the Capitol's dome illuminates the sky (which is great cause I can never get lost!) It's absoultely breathtaking.
I live in a building on 4th St. in Apartment D, which so far has treated me well. It's a little cold at night, and the temperture control on the shower seems to have a mind of its own, but it's more than I could have asked for. Our living room is a great size and of the 6 apartments in our building, my room mates and I got the best furniture (ours is leather). We also have a dining room table and flat screen TV in our living room, although we hardly ever turn it on. I can't imagine settling for TV when I have the rest of the World right outside. The kitchen has also been good to us. Broken toaster is about the only thing to complain about. New pots and pans and a dishwasher are great luxuaries! One thing I was worried about was having enough storage space for us 3 girls and all that travels with us to fit into our one bedroom apartment. Luckily there is more than enough room, and there are several shelves/cabinets that we aren't using. Our bedroom has 1 set of bunk beds and a single bed. I am on the bottom bunk...it has become my little cocoon and I love it.
The building itself is located in great area. Each time I walk down the streets I try to pick out my favorite town home, but so far I have been unsuccessful in narrowing down the choices. I live in a white brick building with black shutters. There are three floors and my apartment is on the 2nd. Our building is actually owned by a very lovely couple that live just blocks away. Mrs Lewis is a Marquette University and Les Aspin Center (the DC program I am in) alum. She is a republican. He is a democrat. Both are amazingly generous and caring people. My entire group (all 19 of us) were treated to a fantastic dinner on our 3rd night in DC at their house. Their home is beautiful. We are blessed to have their support in the community and with the Les Aspin program. They have gifted the apartments to Marquette in their estate so that students can continue to benefit from the program after they are no longer here to lend their support.
To share everything that I've experienced so far would take hours...so instead I'll briefly list the things I've seen- the National Gallery, Asian Museum, African Art Museum, the Captiol, National Museum of American Art, Anacostia Museum, Kennedy Center Tour and Symphony performance, Library of Congress, Phillips Collection (private museum), The Anderson House/The Society of the Cincinnati, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Roosevelt Memorial.
I have loved it all. Even when my feet hurt....It's hard to complain when everything around you is beautiful. I recommend these sites to everyone!
This past week has been crazy! Washington is always exciting, but there is no hiding the Obama spirit that is in the air. The tourists began arriving earlier this weekend for the inauguration (on Tuesday) and every street corner features Obama merchandise for sale. I have to say that although I did not support Obama during the election, I am very excited to be in DC during this moment in history. I am proud to say I am an American and that our country is continuing to progress in new directions. It always bothers me when people say that one person can't make difference in the world...everything that has ever been accomplished throughout the history of our country began with just a few people that had an idea to make something better for those to come after us. It's not about Democrat or Republican, Black or White, Male or Female...it's about taking an idea, inspiring others, and together fighting to make this World a better place. I hope that we will see that during this new administration. I can't wait to watch it unfold in front of me, and hopefully one day, be a part of something just as great. I will be there Tuesday, not representing any political or other group...I will be there as an American.
I am here in Washington this semester as a sponge. I want to learn EVERYTHING I can, and see EVERYTHING I can. These next few months are going to fly by. I'm just taking my life out here as it comes, but I know that the work I do here in DC will help me reach my goals one day. Life is often a series of obstacles. Sometimes those obstacles are small foothills. Other times they may be mountains. This time, I am literally here to conquer Captiol Hill. What I take with me from this experience will stay with me forever. My path is never ending, but it certainly isn't around "the Hill" or up one side and down the other. I have found my place, and the only way to face "the Hill" is to climb it.
XOXO
Sarah
