a new city.


after spending a weekend celebrating the wedding of one of my closest girl friends, i have relocated to the district of columbia. as i have contemplated this move with friends and professors, they all asked the same questions: "do you like cities?"

so, do i like cities?

a few years ago i am sure i would have answered "nope. too busy. too crowded. give me space and green, mountains and clean, open air."
however, this spring, as i contemplated city life, i thought back to my summer in Winnipeg with Aunt Chris. i thought about the freedom and joy of public transportation. i though about long walks with friends where your feet can bring you the world. I loved seeing the diversity, interacting with communities, and watching life take place.
I love my space, green, mountains, and fresh air at EMU. I love the view from atop the hill, the way the sunset looks over the valley, the fact that i can go barefoot. all that is true. but honestly, i was looking forward to the city. and here i am.

a few things i have learned as i interact with life in DC:
easier to walk than drive. always. and it is so much faster and simpler to navigate the one-way streets by foot. i am sure biking would be almost as simple, especially because there are less hills.
numeric streets go north to south, alphabetic go east to west. the state named streets run diagonally across these. knowing this should keep me from getting lost.
there is going to be a community grocery store. you just have to keep your eyes out for it. mine is wonderful, organic, local, everything i could have dreamed of. and just a few blocks over.
diversity. jamila is in my mind every time i step out the door. i know she would love it here. there are people of every race and color, especially in my neighborhood which is primarily african american. i am realizing how white EMU and North Kildonan are. i am learning Korean.
no one wears chacos. i had long walking days yesterday and today. i wore my best walking shoes - my chacos. for some reason i stood out. i'm not sure i want to change myself for the city. i like my chacos.

what i have done so far in this city:
i led a seminar on international organizations with 11 5th graders visiting from Korea. That was almost a disaster, but it was fun. I can now say a few things in Korean. I got diarrhea from the Korean food - no fun. I set up my room. it is nice, beautiful. i am living on site at the organization with which i am interning (APPA - Action for Peace through Prayer and Aid) with a Korean master's student at Georgetown University.   Yesterday, Paster Choi (my boss) and I led the 5th graders on a tour of the mayors/council members offices and the capital building. the capital building stole my water bottle. today i got the morning off and decided to see how far i could walk. it took me around half an hour to walk to the mall.  later i hope to walk to howard university. i also plan to bake swebach and platz. we have some donated plums (though they aren't ripe enough yet). last night i almost finished the apron i started sewing for myself at school this spring. i have so many books i want to read - my room serves as a library for the organization. and as for work, i'm not sure yet what it will mean, but i am sure it will require a lot of flexibility and improvisation. and mostly, i'm excited.

and that's were i am at the moment. enjoying life. enjoying dc.enjoying the possibility of the summer to come.

Comments

  1. CJMay 8, 2012 at 10:13 PM

    I feel so honoured to be mentioned in your blog. Your adventure in the city sounds so cool. Drink in all you can through this adventure, and keep those memories for your rainy days.
    Love you,
    Aunt Chris

    ReplyDelete
  2. JamilaMay 9, 2012 at 1:34 PM

    Thank you for helping me to be excited about what's ahead! :) And i'm so jealous that you're learning Korean!!1
    also- never stop wearing chacos. :) Don't follow my example by always trying to fit in. it doesn't usually work anyway. :)

    ReplyDelete

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