DC'in It
I have made it all the way to the nation's capital. It's been about 6 weeks since my arrival.
I am working at a Congressman's office where I basically take phone calls and organize constituent letters. That part has it's perks. Probably the most thrilling thing is actually coming to the Capitol Building for work. It is something else. I see Congressman and Senators made famous by CNN all the time in person. But who wants to be bored with my work?
Yesterday I played basketball with some folks at a park behind my place. Turns out I am usually the only white person out of about 30 who does that. The thing is, here, it is so diverse that people genuinly look through the color barrier for the most part because they are so used to it. And I have to add that my team didn't lose once even though we were playing against guys 6'6 and 6'7 who should have easily cleaned us up. Buuuut, they didn't. Solid teamwork and hustle, that's what it's all about.
Enough bragging. Something that completely caught me off-guard the other day is definitly worth noting here. I was on my way to CVS during the day through a part of town that could be better kept. And as in any large city, there are a good amount of homeless people. Well, on the corner of a main street there was this little area on the ground shining from the Sun in different places. I looked down and saw about 10 wrapped candies, an apple, and some other goodies. Just sitting there, untouched, intentially put there. I could only guess that this was an anonymous gift (no one else was around) from someone very thoughtful to those less fortunate. It was seriously like a banquet on the street. No doubt, if I were homeless I would have been all over it. Thankfully I'm not, since 2 of my pledge brothers, Mark and Joel, (also my boss) let me take over their living room at night as my bedroom. A pair of lads worthy of the highest regard.
The National Zoo is a 10 minute walk and I run through there on my days off. It's free and incredibly nice. My gorilla family is cool. The orangutans swing overhead from building to building above walkways. It is fascinating. All free. All because you paid for it. Thanks.
I have noticed that since most people walk from place to place here - as opposed to Indy where everyone drives - I run into all types of characters that I would miss if I were in a car. Living in the city makes (pretty much) everyday something new: The guys at the bball court all have their own personalities, along with the Asian lady at the Cleaners who is extra nice. Or the palm reader's protege asking if I want my fortune told to me (Even if she could, the answer is NO). Or the 22 people playing soccer on a dirt field, with 21 of them speaking Spanish as their first language; me being the Americano trying to figure out if they're saying I'm good enough or just making fun of me. The 10 year olds cussing more words then I've heard in a long time, and me trying to divert that by teaching them how to properly play basketball - which worked for a short time. Or talking to the 13 year old black kid who doesn't know what the Capitol Building or the whitehouse (not capitalizing until someone is out of office) is, but only lives 2 miles from it. Staring a buck in the eye for a few seconds over a steep hill, and almost getting charged by the deer (about 20 feet away) while hiking around Rock Creek Park (Luckily I bolted from the scene before I made him too mad). These types of run-ins I would miss cruising around in my Bronco.
Last week I got a wave from Al Gore as he boarded an elevator - surounded by security - across the hall from where he testified for 3 hours in front of Congress about Global Warming. I was lucky to find him, very sneaky man. After a minute I looked around and noticed only 1 or 2 other folks were around me. I gave him a thumbs up while the man next to me yelled "Run for President!"
What a rush.
Sometimes I feel like I'm in a movie. Then I realize I need to get a new job that pays a lot more. Slowly this will happen. And if it doesn't there are other things elsewhere.
Right now I am loving DC. The area I live in is a perfect mix of folks. The Metro is clean. The people I work with are great. No complaints so far.
I am working at a Congressman's office where I basically take phone calls and organize constituent letters. That part has it's perks. Probably the most thrilling thing is actually coming to the Capitol Building for work. It is something else. I see Congressman and Senators made famous by CNN all the time in person. But who wants to be bored with my work?
Yesterday I played basketball with some folks at a park behind my place. Turns out I am usually the only white person out of about 30 who does that. The thing is, here, it is so diverse that people genuinly look through the color barrier for the most part because they are so used to it. And I have to add that my team didn't lose once even though we were playing against guys 6'6 and 6'7 who should have easily cleaned us up. Buuuut, they didn't. Solid teamwork and hustle, that's what it's all about.
Enough bragging. Something that completely caught me off-guard the other day is definitly worth noting here. I was on my way to CVS during the day through a part of town that could be better kept. And as in any large city, there are a good amount of homeless people. Well, on the corner of a main street there was this little area on the ground shining from the Sun in different places. I looked down and saw about 10 wrapped candies, an apple, and some other goodies. Just sitting there, untouched, intentially put there. I could only guess that this was an anonymous gift (no one else was around) from someone very thoughtful to those less fortunate. It was seriously like a banquet on the street. No doubt, if I were homeless I would have been all over it. Thankfully I'm not, since 2 of my pledge brothers, Mark and Joel, (also my boss) let me take over their living room at night as my bedroom. A pair of lads worthy of the highest regard.
The National Zoo is a 10 minute walk and I run through there on my days off. It's free and incredibly nice. My gorilla family is cool. The orangutans swing overhead from building to building above walkways. It is fascinating. All free. All because you paid for it. Thanks.
I have noticed that since most people walk from place to place here - as opposed to Indy where everyone drives - I run into all types of characters that I would miss if I were in a car. Living in the city makes (pretty much) everyday something new: The guys at the bball court all have their own personalities, along with the Asian lady at the Cleaners who is extra nice. Or the palm reader's protege asking if I want my fortune told to me (Even if she could, the answer is NO). Or the 22 people playing soccer on a dirt field, with 21 of them speaking Spanish as their first language; me being the Americano trying to figure out if they're saying I'm good enough or just making fun of me. The 10 year olds cussing more words then I've heard in a long time, and me trying to divert that by teaching them how to properly play basketball - which worked for a short time. Or talking to the 13 year old black kid who doesn't know what the Capitol Building or the whitehouse (not capitalizing until someone is out of office) is, but only lives 2 miles from it. Staring a buck in the eye for a few seconds over a steep hill, and almost getting charged by the deer (about 20 feet away) while hiking around Rock Creek Park (Luckily I bolted from the scene before I made him too mad). These types of run-ins I would miss cruising around in my Bronco.
Last week I got a wave from Al Gore as he boarded an elevator - surounded by security - across the hall from where he testified for 3 hours in front of Congress about Global Warming. I was lucky to find him, very sneaky man. After a minute I looked around and noticed only 1 or 2 other folks were around me. I gave him a thumbs up while the man next to me yelled "Run for President!"
What a rush.
Sometimes I feel like I'm in a movie. Then I realize I need to get a new job that pays a lot more. Slowly this will happen. And if it doesn't there are other things elsewhere.
Right now I am loving DC. The area I live in is a perfect mix of folks. The Metro is clean. The people I work with are great. No complaints so far.
posted by Patrick F at 3:12 PM
0 comments
