Eva's Blog

As of yesterday, I have officially been living in D.C. for three weeks. This is the longest I have ever spent in this part of the United States, and it has definitely been a learning experience. In fact, I’ve learned so much that I’ve decided to put together an ultra-condensed list of things I’ve picked up on. Some significant, some not so significant. Either way, I thought each of them was interesting enough to deserve a spot in my blog.

1. Bagels and cream cheese seem to be the breakfast food of choice. They’re probably the equivalent of what breakfast “taquitos” are in South Texas.
2. The underground Metro and bus systems are relatively inexpensive and can take you almost anywhere you need to go, so having a car isn’t necessarily essential here.
3. D.C. is one of the top 5 most expensive cities in the US. Always be prepared to pay at least $2-4 dollars more on something basic than you would in Texas.
4. Mp3 players and running shorts can be a woman’s worst enemy while jogging after dark. Muggings, anyone?
5. It’s always good to overdress. You’ll never know who you’re going to bump into or where the day will take you.
6. Cafés are ubiquitous. If you walk around downtown D.C. long enough, you’ll start seeing as many as five on the same block.
7. Some of the more popular eateries: Au Bon Pain, Corner Bakery, Baha Fresh, and Cosi. They are about as common as the Pita Pit, Zen, and Chipotle restaurants you see in Austin (even though D.C. has Chipotles too).
8. Chinatown is a fabulous place to find cheap lunch and unique souvenirs.
9. This is a great date city because there are tons of free things to do and see. Opera in the Outfield and live jazz at the Sculpture Garden just outside the National Gallery of Art are just a couple examples.
10. If you say “ya’ll” in a public setting, people might give you a funny look.
11. Always carry a camera. Always.
12. Time management is extremely important if you’re living in this city temporarily. When I’m not working or in class, I usually have a day or two to myself. So far I tried to use this time wisely by sightseeing because I feel that if I don’t, I will leave D.C. in mid-December without ever truly experencing the city.
13. Being under 21 is rough in this city, especially when a vast majority of your classmates/peers are 21+.
14. Apparently it’s not about money. It’s about power.
15. It is relatively inexpensive to travel from D.C. to Philly or NYC via train.
16. Believe it or not, but there is a pretty strong UT/Texas presence here. The other day I was touring the East Wing of the White House, and an agent told me, “Hook ‘em Horns!” as I walked away!
17. It’s good practice to always say “nice to see you” rather than “nice to meet you,” unless you’re absolutely, positively sure you’ve never met this person in your entire life.
18. The Capitol really does serve as the “heart” of D.C. It separates the city into its four quadrants: NW, NE, SW, SE.
19. Getting affordable groceries is a little difficult if you’re living on the Hill. So far my housemates have been relying mainly on grocery delivery through either Safeway or Peapod.
20. Never underestimate the power of keeping up with the news… and I’m not just saying that because I’m a journalism major!