Day 19

Because of the Senate and the call for the House to convene, I am stuck in DC a bit longer than expected.  This wouldn’t be a problem if I packed accordingly for extra days and I wasn’t sick and tired of living in a hotel.  After the first 4 days, hotels just lose their charm.  Anyways, there are a few things I have learned since I’ve been here:

1) Things are far more expensive than things in Texas.  Even though I already knew this, I didn’t quite know the extent.  You know?

2) Most people just don’t say Please, Thank You, or Your Welcome.  I like to think of myself as a pretty nice person.  I will always say Please, Thank You, or Your Welcome so I always get taken back when people don’t do the same.

3) Chivalry is not to be expected from the male gender.  They will not open doors for you or hold the elevator.

4) Just because it’s not Texas, doesn’t mean you won’t get Texas sized heat.  My first weekend here it was 103 degrees, without the heat index, and with a higher humidity than San Antonio.   I took four showers in one day because that’s how gross it was.

5) Expect to walk, A LOT, so try to wear comfy shoes.  Even the days where I thought I would just be in the office, at my desk, all day didn’t work out that way.

6) You will miss college prices on alcohol.  I remember got to Northgate and spending, max, about $15.  Not so much here anymore…

I’m sure I will learn more things as I start living here and exploring the city more, thus my list will grow.  But for now this is a good start.

Start of Something New

As of this very moment, I am on a flight from DFW to DCA. DCA is Washington DC-Reagan airport. I’m on my way for 18 days to find an apartment, find out what my job is really going to be, and find out a little more about myself.

Last time I was in DC was spring of ’08 for my internship. It was with fellow Aggies that held my hand through the whole experience. This time I’m on my own. I have mixed feelings about all this, this growing up part of life that seems to finally be starting for me even though I’ve tried to postpone it as much as I could.

“On your own” can be such daunting words sometimes, especially if you don’t know what that means exactly. Yes I’ve been “on my own” before. I left home at 17 to go to college. I left my homey college at 20 to do an internship half way across the country. But both those time, I was taken care of. I had been prepped for college and living on DC with other interns. Now, I will be “on my own”. I’m moving to a city, away from my mom who has been with me, through it all, these last few months. Away from Bailey. Away from my friends. Away from my family. Away from everything I know.

Embarking on such a new life is scary, with such drastic changes. But even though I am terrified of it all, I can’t help but feel okay. It’s something different and different is good. I know I can do this, whatever “this” really is.

Needless to say, I think I am ready, for whatever is put in front of me. I don’t have a choice but to take it all in stride. It’s part of life…