Old country, New City

One month ago I officially moved to Washington DC, becoming a resident of the United States again, following a six and a half year hiatus. So many people ask me how I ended up back in the US and how long I intend to stay. I can answer the former but the latter is much more complicated.

The last six and half years of my life have been an amazing adventure filled with laughter, cultural exchange, bikram yoga in many languages and most importantly, extensive exploration of the globe. I have enjoyed all of the food, wine and new friends. I have truly built lifelong friendships with people from all over the world and will continue to do so. Being away from home these last few years, I have missed weddings, the birth of my three nephews, countless birthdays, engagements, graduations, funerals, and moments where my shoulder was needed to cry on. While I enjoy my life away I felt I was missing out on the lives of those who I have known since birth, my family, and those who have watched me grow up, friends. So coming back to the US was something that I chose to do at this moment because I wanted to celebrate the 30th birthdays of my friends, I wanted to attend weddings and funerals alike. I wanted to be there for my friends during difficult times and I want to laugh with my friends in person rather than just over the phone. I want to play with my nephews and niece while they are young and watch their personalities change. I want to meet the people my friends are dating before they become spouses. I want to call my friends immediately when I have something to tell them without [much] consideration for the time zones. This why I am back in the US.

my neighbors gave us homemade cookies

Washington DC has been a great reintroduction to the US for me. Aside from the sticker shock of the cost of produce I love this town. I live in the Capitol Hill neighborhood very close the Eastern Market. I enjoy all of the restaurants, bars, bike trails and most importantly the close friends that this city has on offer. I probably went out way too much during these first 30 days, but I had to take it all in, which meant gorging on well priced happy hours and decades old friendships.

If you have suggestions of what I should do in the city or will be in town and want to hang, please leave it all in the comments!!

A few of my favorite DC things:

Happy Hour at Ambar in Eastern Market
Sundays at Marvin’s
Brunch, every weekend….though I will be only allowing two per month going forward
After work sunset bike rides past all of the national monuments
Drinking red wine with friends I’ve known for over 10 years
Reading on the metro on my way to and from work
MY APARTMENT and awesome roommate!
Biking to Bikram yoga