Time to set the record straight!

Probably one of the most common things that I get asked by friends and family is “how do you like D.C.?” Admittedly, I usually give some non-descript ambiguous answer to the effect of “uh its great! I am having a lot of fun!” I don’t do this on purpose but mostly because I just haven’t given it much thought yet… I mean how often to do we really stop for a second and remove ourselves from the craziness around us to figure out how we really feel about a place? My personal answer is “not enough” but I guess that is why I am writing this. So let’s try this again…

Hey Darren, tell me about your life in D.C. Do you like it? Are you having fun?

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again… D.C. is a crazy place, no doubt about it. There is more to it than that. This is a city in a small geographic area filled with people from all walks of life. The district is cohabitated by politicians and war profiteers as well as families that are just trying to get by in some of the most poor and dangerous neighborhoods in the country. There is a veritable army of lawyers and lobbyists to represent anyone with a bankroll as well as tons of non-profits and NGOs to represent the rest. For such a small city, this place really does encompass the entire spectrum of human experience for this part of the country.

This disparity of wealth in such a small area creates an exciting dynamic to be a part of. Most of the fun and interesting areas to go out in are not really in the best parts of town. Dupont and Georgetown are definitely nice areas with plenty of nightlife but my friends and I tend to avoid these areas mostly because of the high prices but also because of the homogenous nature of the crowd. Adams Morgan, U street and H street NE are all bordered on at least one side by neighborhoods in which walking alone at night can be (but often isn’t) a risky prospect but more about that later. Whether you want to experience a frat party all over again in Georgetown or more of an alternative scene in H street NE, this city despite its size, really has something for everyone in terms of night life.

Somewhere in the middle of these extremes lies the transient (but vibrant) twenty-something crowd of which I am a part of. Most of us live in the nicer or “up and coming” parts of D.C. These are neighborhoods where one could practically sit on a bench and watch gentrification happen right before their very eyes. Places like U street, Chinatown, Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights to name a few. This phenomenon was something I really wasn’t aware of before moving here but you really can’t help but notice once you are a resident. This city seems to be moving in the same direction as Manhattan did many years ago. Chinatown, being the prime example, is an area where a great number of the original Chinese inhabitants have been priced out of the neighborhood. Most moved to north Virginia to escape the exorbitant rent and real estate prices. Like them many others, including myself, take shelter from the excessive rents (which my demographic is partially responsible for) out in the suburbs. Where ever you live, though, all parts of the city are within a pretty close reach making this city is a great place to live.

This is a city where seeing a monument or some other object of national significance is so common that they quickly lose their appeal. I did most of the touristy stuff when I got here. I have lived here long enough that for the most part the wow! factor has worn off and accidentally ending up on the street with a great view of the Whitehouse means nothing more than losing 15 minutes because of the traffic and perpetual construction. I along with many of my fellow residents are annoyed at times by the monument’s presence because, although the 8th grade D.C. trip season has just about wrapped up, the summer tourist season is about to get in full swing. That said, I still do appreciate the presence of these landmarks. Driving/walking passed the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Whitehouse, Capital, etc… can be mundane or exciting depending on my mindset. It’s just like anywhere else… one has to constantly remind them self to look past the familiarity and appreciate the qualities of their home. The real story however, is not the familiar façade of these buildings but what they stand for and the business which takes place inside them.

After living here for awhile now, one thing has become abundantly clear. Disillusionment is a rite of passage in Washington, D.C. For some this comes gradually over the course of months while for others there is a single moment when it hits them. I never really gave this much thought until recently but then it had occurred to me that many people told me all about how they came out here to live to learn how they system really works. I don’t want to send the impression that this a bad thing either, I mean its sad that we seem to have some sort of idyllic conception about how this country is actually run but in my opinion, to become disillusioned is to become empowered. One must understand the system before they can effectively support (or undermine) it. I haven’t figured out my place in all this but I’m hoping it will eventually come clear.

D.C. is a place where you have to take the good with the bad. I really am enjoying myself here but there is the occasional frustration. It’s great to able to experience the typical east coast absurdity while still being able to drive only 30 minutes to some pretty good whitewater. Knowing that all the important national news in this country is coming from somewhere within a couple miles of me is exciting while at the same time depressing (depending on the news). I may not have painted a romantic picture of this city but I thought it would make more sense to describe this place as I perceive it. There is so much more that I could talk about both good and bad but I think that is better left for another time. Thanks for reading!