I'm Finally Here!

After months of anticipation of my semester in Washington DC, the day finally came for me to board the plane. My classmate Elizabeth Van Oort is also participating in the American Studies Program and it was helpful to have her as travelling partner. We left Orange City around 5 am Thursday morning, and except for a delay on our first flight, travel went well. My cousin Kara has been staying in DC for a few weeks and was able to pick us up from the airport and get us to our "campus," show us some sights, and take us to supper. It was very helpful.

We opted to come a day earlier than everyone else because of plane tickets for inauguration weekend. Because of that we had about 24 hours before anything really started. I have been struggling with some homesickness and having a lot of extra time all alone did not help. I had a rough first 24 hours, but once orientation events started and I was able to meet more people I began to feel a little better.

To our surprise, Eli and I were put in the same apartment. We have four other roommates from various states/schools: Shanley (NY/CA), Christine (CA), Mandi (St. Paul), Andrea (OH/PA). We are getting along well so far. Our apartment is set up like a townhouse, the main level has a a closed off kitchen and a large living room with couches and desks. The upstairs has bedrooms, a bathroom, and a washer and dryer. We have lots of large window and have a great view that most apartments don't have. We face the street and can see the top of the Capitol building-it is very pretty.

I was able to walk down to the Capitol with some people Saturday evening. It was very beautiful, but there are so many placed fenced off and roads blocked because of inauguration. Being here in the nation's capital is surreal-I stood near the steps of the Capitol and thought about how in some ways this is the center of the world. What happens hear is on the news every night and affects people around the world. At the same time all these buildings are just buildings. One of the staff members encouraged us to think about all the stories happening in the whole city-not just on the Hill. While we put so much focus on the center of the city, there are hundreds of other organizations trying to make a difference too.

Though I've still been having some homesickness, I really appreciated how every one of my family members contacted me in some way or another-either through a phone call or an email. No wonder I miss home so much-I have a a dynamite family!