A Reflection on The Pre-Iowa Experience: Washington, D.C. #1

I hope you're ready for a fundamentally biased and completely partial post about the city that I just love so much, as illustrated by the photo to the left taken at the Gallery Plaza / Chinatown DC Metro station on the 5th of July, 2008. If anything, and after our very brief - but definitely worthwhile - stay in DC, I know that I am 100% a "DC boy!"

As a result I would be hard pressed to single out a particular experience in the nation's capital that impressed upon me more than any other.

I'll try to limit post at least a few posts about my experiences in the Capital; partially due to the above-mentioned reason, but also because of the fact that I have so many images of DC that it would be impossible (or impractical) to include them all in one blog post.

Day one in DC involved us being shuttled from Dulles Airport to the Hostelling International in Washington, DC (HIDC). The trip from the airport to downtown DC involved many comparisons between South Africa and the United States - particularly the fact that Americans drive on the "wrong" side of the road! This probably occupied most of our time! Especially as it takes some time getting used to the fact that drivers sit on the other side and that you should look left, then right, when crossing the road! Or something like that...

We had Indian / Pakistani food at the restaurant pictured below, where I discovered that Breyani is actually spelled Biryani in the United States. I enjoyed the food though, and we used the opportunity to discuss braai vs BBQ with Del and explain some of the social and cultural nuances and "rituals" that accompany South African socialising and interaction. I was also very surprised to learn that there are very few restaurants in the US that would serve Halaal food.

A very bad photograph of the Indian / Pakistani
Restaurant.

I guess the walk down 11th street after the meal was also my first real introduction to the incredible sense of personal safety one has in the US, as compared to South Africa. I have heard about people not locking their doors in more "rural" areas, but I didn't imagine that a downtown could be so safe and friendly to walk in at about 23:00 / 11 PM! We spoke to Del about the situation in South Africa surrounding crime, and he told us about life in Iowa in that regard. I am actually to this day still very unaccustomed and completely surprised / amazed by the way of life here in that sense.

The beautiful church on the opposite corner of 11th and K, next to the Mayar Kabab House.

I must admit that I was a bit sceptical about living in such close proximity to other people - in the hostel room shared by six people - as I have been brought up and have primarily always been a very private person, valuing my personal space. But, I think with a mental shift - adopting the right attitude - I learned how to live so close to others and yet, through mutual respect, managed to maintain a sense of personal space. I thought that it would be the most difficult thing for me to do, but the people really made it much easier. I ended up getting to know a very interesting Frenchman - Thomas Beaumanoir - and we've agreed to stay in touch, hopefully visiting one another in Paris and South Africa respectively. So, all things considered - and if I may jump the gun a bit - one of my most memorable experiences of DC was the hostelling experience which facilitated - as their motto says - learning through experience. I ended up enjoying it so much and learned a lot about myself and manifested my ability to adapt and mould myself to a situation and to get along with people from different cultures and places in the world.

Del and Kauthar at the Kabab House

Carpe Diem! Seize the day! And I have seen that - as I've always said - through making a decision and by commiting one-self to that decision very little is impossible.