7 Days, 7 Lessons Already Learned

Moving to Washington DC has been a long time coming.  Since my freshman year at Ball State, I’ve always known that I wanted to go somewhere on the east coast, it was just figuring out where that was going to be that was the big question.  

After interviewing at a hospital in Baltimore and then another in DC and getting offers from each, I was left with a big choice: A job in a city that’s within a half-hour train ride to the nation’s capital or a job in the heart of the capital itself.

It was never really a question.  

With all of the buildup and stress that’s led to the move, I’ve got to admit it was a little exhausting.

Between getting all of my ducks in a row with bills, utilities, packing, and saying goodbye to what felt like a million people, it’s nice to finally be in the city and starting to explore.  Between the hundreds of different restaurants, countless museums, and breathtaking monuments, I’ve got a busy couple of weeks ahead of me before I start working.

That being said, life in the District has already taught me some important lessons. There’s only bound to be a million more that I learn in the months ahead.

1. Listen to the locals.

I’m sure this is something that most people would say is an obvious thing to do when living in a new city, but I’ve found it especially true as it comes to LIVING in a new city.  For instance, who has a good reputation as an optometrist in town?  Best place to catch breakfast?  Where’s a nice park to throw out a blanket out and read a book?  

Or the more important life questions like which liquor stores carry Bud Light (it’s hard to believe, but not all of them do).  Locals will be able to give you an answer to most of your questions, plus more.

2. Don’t spend too much time on your hair...

While I cut most of mine off a few weeks ago, I know as soon as it grows back I’ll have one helluva time trying to style it each day.

The culprit?  Humidity.  

Most days throughout the summer the humidity is over 50%, the equivalent of walking around in a swimming pool for hours at a time...

3. RUN.

Some of the first times I road the Metro (the subway system beneath the city) I’d get off the train only to be shoved aside by what felt like hundreds of people behind me.  It was only later that I realized these people were running to catch their connecting train on the levels above or below us.  You can tell if your train is there by listening to the intercom system throughout the subway terminal or by listening to the levels around you to hear if there’s a train there or not.  If there is, it’s probably your train.  

So if you’ve got a connecting train to catch and everyone around you is running to the level you need to be at, you better make them your running buddies up the escalator, otherwise you may be waiting another fifteen minutes for your next train.

4. Get yourself a good pair of walking shoes.

I’m not kidding when I say that I walk an average of eight miles or more most days.  Oftentimes when I get back to my apartment I’m more exhausted from all the walking I’ve done rather than all of the sights I had seen that day.  

Now we know why DC is ranked as one of the healthier cities in America…

5. Jaywalking happens just about everywhere.

While I did it most years at Ball State, jaywalking is the norm around here - although you do it at your own risk.

Just the other day I saw someone get clipped by a car as they walked across the road.  And while no one was injured, take it as a lesson that you need to keep your eyes peeled for those crazy DC drivers.  You don’t want to get yourself into a Frogger-esque situation.

6. You’ll see big-name politicians walking around like it’s no big deal.

The other evening as I was on a run, I came across a rally for gun law reform in front of the Capitol.  I stopped and watched a while and saw several high-ranking members of the Democratic caucus step up to the microphone, including Nancy Pelosi.  And whether or not you like those politicians or not, it’s still cool to see them in person rather than through a tv screen - the way you’ve probably seen them most of your life.  

If I could catch a glimpse of BO before he leaves, that’d be pretty sweet too.

7. Soak it all in.

I’ve only been in this city for a week now and have somehow already fallen in love with it.  Between the continuous hustle and bustle, the hundreds of neat little shops there are to stop in and look at, and the overall beauty of the District, there’s always something to do, something to see, and something to give you a memory to last a lifetime.  

If you ever get the chance to visit, it won’t be an experience you’ll ever forget.

And if you ever find yourself in this neck of the woods, don’t hesitate to stop in and say hi.

Did I mention you can see the Capitol building from my apartment?