So here I sit, 8:30pm, at a 2 computer kiosk in a deli about 4 blocks from the Dupont Circle metro stop. I can't quite explain the mixture of feelings I have about the lack of internet access, or computers in general, but it has created quite the scavenger hunt.
Going back a week and a half, day one was filled with kind of a rough orientation. Everyone was awesome, but after the parents left and the alumni came in to chat with us about the 8 months ahead, we were faced with the grim fact that we WILL get sick and several times, and story after story about the people who'd gotten malaria, the homestays from hell, the workload, the vacation time they'd spent simply staring out the window... our general reaction was open mouths and concerned stares. We were hardly heartened by the..."but it was the best thing I've ever done!" Dinner included a serious amount of small talk with the get to know your new family vibe over our strictly vegan catered meal. It was then followed by heaving our seriously overpacked backpacks the ten blocks to our "home" for the next three weeks--the parade of kids with loads of luggage was amusing for most passers-by.
Home is the Adam's Inn in Adam's Morgan. Upon walking into this charming bed & breakfast style townhouse, and finally dropping my seemingly 2000 pound bag, my feeling of inevitable doom subsided. Roz Palmer, my designated roommate, walked into our room behind me, stared at the one twin and the one double bed for about two seconds before she said, "Oh, you can take the double. I pretty much always sleep in the fetal position anyway." For the record: I. love. her.
Adam's Morgan itself is no slouch either. One of the youngest, and probably more diverse areas of the city, it hosts restaurants from the bohemian-style cafes, to the rooftop bar and grill with strings of christmas lights, to Peruvian fast food. It is also amazing for a taste of D.C. nightlife, and provides us, the handful of legal drinkers here, with a plethora of fun activity.
I have to wrap this up, because I'm 4 minutes from being kicked out, but let me leave you with my general feeling that so far, so good.
|
