Commencement. Last Monday to gather as a group.

It's unbelievable how these last few months have come to an end. It's been almost unreal and although I am extremely sad at the thought of leaving the life I have been living these last few months, I can't wait to see my friends and family back home. Commencement wrapped up our time with The Washington Center. We handed in our portfolios and said goodbye to our advisors. You can say it was a celebration of our accomplishments after handing in the final copy of our portfolios.

I got to end off my intership with mCapitol Management at the staff Christmas party. This was the first company Christmas party I ever got to be a part of.

It was a great experience and it was so much fun to interact with everyone on a less formal level. I'm extremely grateful for the interns I worked with this semester. They made work so much more fun than it would have been alone. I'm also thankful for all the help they gave me this semester as a Canadian trying to navigate her way through the US legislative system. I will surely miss everyone.

Last but not least, the highlight of my time in Washington, DC is still the people I  have met at the RAF. We had our last dinner together, at which we exchanged gifts and tried not to think about how sad we were that it was the last. On a side note, one of the best friends I met this semester was offered a position at her internship, through Peace Corps. This will definitely give us a reason to come back to DC. In addition, another one of my closest friends was offered a position at Merill Lynch. That really does say something about the opportunities that can be offered through this experience. Meeting friends from all over the world was a good and a bad thing. On the one hand, we will now have a sure reason for travelling to different parts of the world and know you have a friend waiting for you there, but on the other, it's so far away that you don't know when and how often you will see them again. Everyone I met this semester has somehow made this experience a unique and precious one.

I will miss the RAF greatly. Nothing will ever compare to being able to live with all of your friends in one building. This apartment, although not mine, was where I got to share many great moments together with the closest friends I've met this semester. This was where we shared happiness, sadness, anger, frustration, confusion, joy, excitement, motivation, inspiration. I will never forget the people I met and the things I've learned from them. A special shout out to these three girls who made this experience something so special. Each one of them is unique in her own ways and has made a very special impact on my life. I will miss them dearly :( They have become my very bestest friends and I am sure that we will meet again in China, Belgium, and back in America!

So there it is! My semester in Washington, DC. Happy holidays everyone!!!!

'Tis the Season

This weekend will be my last weekend here in DC. I can't tell if I'm more excited to go home for the holidays and see my friends and family again, or if I'm more sad to leave the friends and life I made here. Either way, it's been an exhilarating experience and I don't know that I will ever experience anything like it again. I've been so busy these last few weeks as work and assignments flood my agenda. Thus, I am a little behind on the weekly updates!

The Season of Stuffing

Stuffing your turkey

A few weeks ago I celebrated my first American Thanksgiving. In Canada, we also celebrate Thanksgiving but the celebration happens in October. My sister came into town that weekend so it was really nice have some family around for the celebration. We had an amazing Thanksgiving dinner together with a friend and her family who live in DC. They actually live in Bethesda, which is just right outside of the DC area in Maryland.

We had three different kinds of stuffing for dinner and it was just fantastic!

Back at the RAF, I know everyone had a celebration of their own. It was so much fun seeing everyone prepare for it that day and the day before. It was also exciting to see all the international students celebrate their first Thanksgiving in America as well.

And of course, we couldn't miss out on our first Black Friday experience in America either! We weren't ambitious enough to be there at midnight or 5am when the stores opened that day, but we did go to Pentagon City mall around noon. I know most people say the sale for the clothing aren't as great as the electronics sale but I thought they were great compared to anything I've seen in Canada!

So, here we are, contributing to the U.S. economy. In Canada, we have something similar called 'Boxing Day' but it happens the day after Christmas on December 26. However, Black Friday is so much better because this way, you can just do all of your Christmas shopping a month before! After Thanksgiving, expect everything to go on sale. So I would really not stress too much if you missed out on it :)

Stuffing your stockings

December would have to be my favorite month of the year! In the office, my colleagues and I lit the first day of the month up by decorating the office! The tree was, as always, my favorite part of it all.

This time around, everyone is scrambling to get their final portfolios together as well as finishing up term projects with the academic courses. All the students also presented their program specific project analyses all week. Every one was extremely busy these last couple weeks and stress levels were at an all time high. On top of the work, you also have to make the most out of your time in DC, spend every minute you have left with the friends you've made. We've been counting down our time together by having dinner with each other everynight.

Counting Down

The last few weeks have gone by so much quicker than I would have liked them to. I've never wanted things to slow down more than I do right now. Looking back, I barely remember what November entailed, and already we are in December. This time around, I've started panicking and thinking about what else needs to be done before I leave this city.

After giving it some thought, I still can't believe how fortunate I am to have been on this journey. I'm in a whole new city living in a beautiful apartment, having made amazing friendships and experiencing something that most people will never be able to as a young student in their academic careers. I've really got to start thinking about how I can make these last weeks matter more than the last 3 months already have. Washington, DC is a city that I would definitely want to come back to in the future.  

How To Battle The Storm

A couple weeks ago, we had an extremely rainy and gloomy week. What I love about DC weather (at least so far) is that the sun always shines after the storm. This past weekend was sunny and beautiful out, which was perfect for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The best thing to do on an ugly day out is to be inside! And the best place to be is in another fabulous Smithsonian. Another museum worth visiting is the Natural Museum of Natural History! If you go through this massive museum extensively, it will take about 3-4 hours to do so.

How about starting off with what is arguably the world's largy ruby, the Carmen Lucia, generously donated by a philanthropist, Peter Buck, in memory of his wife (Carmen)? That must be the most romantic thing ever... This picture doesn't quite do the thing justice but you get the point.

(

In Ghana, there is a belief that these highly crafted caskets will take the newly deceased on to a journey to the afterlife. Coffins crafted as hammers, planes, boats, foods, and animals among others bury loved ones in something that reflects their trade. What would you want to be buried in?

Apparently, not much has evolved in how people get buried after death. Burials and rituals existed back then as much as they do today.

Just an elephant? Hehe actually, I'm sure there is a much more fascnating story behind this handsome creature.

Hmm... interesting....

Can't leave the mummies out of a history museum!

Hopefully that wasn't too boring of a preview and inspring enough that you will want to add it to your list of museums to visit in DC!

Another fun thing to do on a rainy and cold day is to have a cozy home-made dinner with your friends, whether it be Korean food...

...or a Vietnamese salad roll party...

This is definitely going to be what I'll miss the most.. just eatng and hanging out with friends who live an elevator-ride away!

There is exactly one month left until this journey officially ends. This week was extremely stressful for me, causing it to pass by so quickly I barely remember the start of it. There was so much work to be done, both at work and for the program. Things are starting to wrap up in every direction. Term assignments for my academic course, and other projects and assignments for the program have been piling up.

I guess the highlight of my week would have to be attending a reception for Senator Burr at my VP's lovely townhouse in the Capitol, where I had the opportunity to meet the Speaker of the House John Boehner. It was a rather short acquaintance but still an exciting experience. I guess next on my list of 'hand-shaking' would have to be President Obama!

Public Policy Meeting on Capitol Hil

The last couple of weeks have been the start of the public policy meetings for all the students. During these meetings, the American students would meet with their Senator or Representative from their state or congressional district to discuss a public policy issue of their interest.

Since international students aren't constituents, we don't have a representative in Congress or a state we belong to. However, for all students from Canada, TWC organized a panel meeting with foreign service officers from the Canadian Embassy that we were able to participate in to fulfill the public policy meeting component of our portfolios. We had a very interesting and informative meeting at the Canadian Embassy. It was especially insightful for students who want to take that career path. All the other international groups had similar meetings.

The purpose of the public policy meetings is to give students a better understanding of 'citizen advocacy and representative democracy'. This becomes part of our portfolio via a thank you letter we are required to write afterwards. So that was one part of my week. The letter I've still been procrastinating on but will come along shortly.

Aside from the work events I attended this week and the public policy meeting, I also had to finish off the civic engagement project by lobbying on the Hill with a couple others. This I will explain in more detail next time as I finish up the last bits of everything.

Back to the National Mall

There was never a good time when I was at the National Mall where I was able to go to all the memorials in one visit. One of my favorite memorials thus far is the Korean War Memorial. There is reason behind the design of the memorial. The structures and positioning of all the figures have a purpose and is an interesting read (thus I left a link).

To be honest, one of the only reasons that motivated me to come back to the National Mall for the fourth time is because my boyfriend came to visit me from Calgary :) It's typically one of the first places you take friends and family to when they come here.

The White House

Actually, one of the first places you will want to visit, or take your loved ones to, is the White House. Unfortunately, visiting the interior of the White House is not so simple. It takes months in advance to book a tour. And I advise those eager ones who are able to: remember to leave your purse/bags at home! I've heard many stories of friends having to throw out their bags upon entering :( I took my boyfriend here on his visit but to be honest, although my office is two blocks away, I've only ever been to it once or twice. I guess there are just much greater things in DC to see. I realize that the White House should have been one of the first things I shared on my blogs but it never struck me as so important that I had made it my first priority to do so. Most people when thinking about Washington DC will typically think 'The White House'. It's everyone's first impression of the place but just so you know, expect greater things here! While we are on the topic, last week, there was an 'attempted assasination' of the President through a shooting at the White House. This was pretty shocking but at least it wasn't related to terrorism (I hope). I believe they are still investigating the situation and the individual. I've always wondered if Presidents truly lived inside there with their families. It seems odd to me to have the entire world know exactly where you live, as President of a country, and even have people constantly surrounding your home.

 Another Week in DC.

There's nothing more pleasant than a walk to Capitol Hill on an early autumn morning.

Already more than two weeks into November! I think many of us are trying to avoid that reality. This semester has really gone by way too quickly. I have to say that I am most impressed with this weather. Seeing as it's snowing back in my hometown but still in the high 10s and low 20s (degree Celsius) here in DC makes me dread the nearing end to this journey even more. Work is starting to pile up in every aspect of life in DC. Perhaps this is the reason why each week seems to be coming to an end so quickly. This week is going to be so hectic. I'll be lobbying on the hill for my civic engagement project as well as preparing for the Public Policy Dialogue which I will share more about when I've completed them.

 This was the perfect weekend for us to visit the Arlington National Cemetary which coincided with Veteran's Day weekend. There's something so beautiful and serene about the place that takes away the somber feeling that you would normally feel in a cemetary so big. The military cemetary, established during the American Civil War, is over 600 acres and is the burial site of over 300,000 veterans ranging from the civil war to the modern wars of Iraq and Afghanistan.

This was a beautiful view of DC from the top of the hill at the cemetary. Some of the notable burials in the Arlington National Cemetary include J.F Kennedy's along with his wife and kids and the Tomb of the Unknowns. If you come at the right time  you can catch the changing of the guards, which is always something really nice to see if you have never seen one. We spent quite a chunk of our morning here because it was so big and such a nice walk.

I hope that the weather will continue to be this nice. It really motivates us to walk around the city and explore much more than we normally would if it were too cold. My favorite part of autumn would have to be the colors. And something I've noticed in DC is that there are plenty of trees every where you go. The air is really so much fresher than most other capitals which are clouded with polluted air. Besides the traffic on the road, which I won't argue is one of the worst, I have never found it to be too crowded walking around the city no matter the time of day.

We also had the chance to visit the National Gallery of Art this weekend. We decided to walk to the gallery instead of taking the Metro and it was so worth it. You'll really start to realize how close everything really is in DC.

We only had time to traverse through the East Building. The building was extremely spacious. It will definitely take a couple hours at least to go through one building. And there is a great cafeteria and the food was wonderful as well.

One of my favorite rooms was the one featuring Andy Worhol. You can find some funky stuff and inspiring work from the king of Pop Art in here. You can trace out his life through most of his work. And most of the gift shops in the building features him. So if you have any friends who are Andy Warhol fans, it would be a great place to get gifts.  

You can find inspiring art in almost any gallery.

Pictures are obviously not permitted in the galleries. I really recommend people to check out these museums. They are all free! Take advantage of this! The gift shops were great as well. Perfect for souvenirs. At this time of year, it's perfect to begin holiday season shopping!

And don't forget to visit the Sculpture Gardens!

Alexandria

I've always liked to settle in to a new city by making the city as cosy and as close to the feeling of being at home as I possibly could. In this sense, I always seem to travel back to the same places in the city every week and neglect to really explore the touristy parts. This is probably a reflection of why most of my blogs haven't featured many particular parts of town. This isn't to say that there aren't great areas worth going to. One of my favorite parts of any city are the older more historical/colonial areas which give you a 'European' feeling.  Basically, streets filled with restaurants, little shops, local boutiques, and occasional outdoor terraces all fit into the description. When you walk into these parts of town,  it's the architecture that really stands out. 

We decided to venture out a little further this weekend and travelled to Alexandria in Virginia. Alexandria is an independent city just on the outside perimeter of DC easily accesible by the Metro via the blue or yellow line. It's particularly beautiful this time of year with great weather and really a very romantic stroll :) . The historical setting and colorful trees this time of year really sets a nice mood if you want to spend a nice day with someone exploring the city. Fortunately, I was able to explore this little part of town with my friends Sharon, Nicole, and Kaylen which was quite romantic enough for me :)

There are plenty of shops, but don't expect to find large commercial chain shopping like H&M, etc. The local clothing boutiques are typically a bit pricier, but still worth visiting. There are tons of unique and chic boutiques, specialty stores, gift shops, and great shops with delicious treats. It's a great place to go to begin shopping for the holidays! Christmas shopping from Old Town Alexandria soon :)

My favorite part would have to be the small cafes and little restaurants with the small terraces along the sidewalk. We chose to brunch at a cute and cozy little cafe called Bread & Chocolate. It was great and decently priced. If you're a mac & cheese lover, I highly suggest trying out theirs. It's gluton free and probably the best mac & cheese I've ever had!

A very unique venue worth visiting if you are an art lover is the Torpedo Factory. Apparently it's available for wedding receptions too!

Pentagon City Shopping!

And on your way back into DC, of course don't miss out on the chance to stop at Pentagon City for a real transition from the little boutiques to a 4-story shopping mall. About 3 or so stops away, we stopped at this mall for some autumn clothing. It has a huge Nordstrom and Macy's along with the rest of the stores, and it was impossible for us to traverse through the whole mall. We'll probably be back here for the highly anticipated 'Black Friday' shopping at the end of November.

When I first applied to The Washington Center, my only conception of the program was that I would be doing an internship and taking an academic seminar that would generate enough credits to cover a semester for me—the best part of it all is being situated in Washington, DC.  Halfway through the semester, it’s finally registering to me that this is an opportunity much greater than I have given it credit for. With no professional work experience behind me prior to this, this opportunity has created a wealth of valuable skills that I don’t feel like I have taken enough advantage of. One of the skills that I have acquired over the last couple months of being in DC is networking. Every aspect of this program revolves around this concept of networking, and you will see this in no time after your first couple of days in the program.

Events-->Networking

One of the things I really recommend doing in DC is attending discussions, forums and events, etc. at institutions such as the Woodrow Wilson Center, the Brookings Institute, the Center for American Progress, and the Cato Institute. Not only will you learn and get a great deal of insight from these think tanks but you will have the opportunity to meet all kinds of people afterwards and have the chance to get a cup of coffee with them. The Washington Center as well as my internship supervisor is always encouraging us to attend these events. I've usually never been denied some time off to go to these events. You can browse their websites or sign up to get weekly updates of coming events. One great website you can sign up for is DC Linktank. You'll get a weekly update of many interesting forums and discussions at various institutions on many of the public issues in the U.S.

Building Relationships:

For many of the international students such as myself, there are reasons to think that the relationships we build here are futile. However, what most students forget is that we are in DC. This is the one city in the world that most countries around the world channel across. Similar to other capital cities around the world like Ottowa (in Canada), Washington, DC is not likely the first choice for international students to study abroad. However, this doesn't mean that the city lacks the cultural diversity and international flair that is present in most global cities.

Organizations such as the North American Free Trade Assosiation (NAFTA), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Trade Organization (WTO), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and countless international advocacy groups are all centered and have a huge presence in the area. All it takes is a little bit of work and some minor networking skills and you can find contacts in all, or most, of these organizations just to get your name out there or take something useful out of it. One of the things that I have learned about networking is that most times you will meet with  an individual in a field that you have no affinity to. And at first, this was a bit depressing. However, if you are willing to explore it anyways, you'll find that these individuals are connected to a wider range of people than you would expect.

Don't forget to utilize your internship. Most likely, everyone you are surrounded by in DC will have some kind of connection to the people you want to get in contact with for the future. For instance, I got to engage in a conversation with one of my senior VPs last week where I got to learn a little about his background and credentials and he learned a little of mine. He was able to get me in contact with an old friend, a corporate lawyer currently employed with Chevron Corporation. In fact, I was able to reach out to him instantly, and that same evening,  we met a few blocks away where I was able to conduct a 'quasi'-informational interview with him and was able to acquire much useful information. I was also able to get an informational interview with a diplomat from the State Department. These are the kinds of experiences I have never even thought about but now feel confident enough that similar ones could be made back in Canada.

Also, don't forget about the friends you've made who are also interning through TWC. Some of the internships here are incredible ie. NAFTA, State Department, U.S. Marshals, Small Business Administration, Politico, financial institutions such as Merill Lynch,the  Federal Exchange Commission, USAID, embassies, large and small PR firms, Peace Corps, and it goes on. It wouldn't hurt to try and get an informational interview with the supervisors at one of these sites.  

The one thing I needed to make sure of, was following up with the people that I've met. These relationships are meaningless otherwise. It's sometimes hard to do, and I find the only way for me to really live up to what I'm saying here is by setting aside time at the end of the week to sit down and fire off thank you emails, or 'hi, it was nice to meet you!' emails. And don't forget to take up the chance to give out your TWC business cards :D 

What's happening in D.C.?

What makes DC an interesting place to live?  As the capital of the nation, the government has a big impact on the region. Also, scandals, politcal demonstrations, and daily proceedings on Capitol Hill are few of the happenings that make headlines in DC everyday. In almost every part of the world, eyes are watching the constantly changing political climate in the nation. Unless you are a hermit, or just have no interest in the world, you may have come across some drama regarding Occupy  Wall Street Protests or Obama's Jobs Act on the news recently. Or maybe it's just American drama.. What's even happening in Canada right now?! There's just something about American politics that sucks you in, and not necessarily by choice, either. It's like when your friends are discussing the latest episode of some American fad in television, say Desperate Housewives or Jersey Shore? And although you don't watch the show, you happen to know the names of all the characters and exactly what they look like... you sometimes find yourself contributing to the gossip. In all fairness, you can't avoid being thrust into politics in DC, and especially not if you work at a lobbying firm and have a roommate who interns at Politico.

Political demonstrations are prevalent in DC, and working in the center of the city I've witnessed a few first hand. Standing next to them, the intensity from the protestors is palpable. So what are the protestors at McPherson Square's ultimate goals and what do these individuals hope to gain from this? This is a commonly asked question, and you can get a variety of answers. The movement has spread to over 80 countries, Canada included. Read this for some interesing insight though: Here's What The Wall Street Protesters Are So Angry About...

And of course, in a demonstration of this nature, America's very own Ralph Nader swung by to check it out.

Half Way Home

We have already passed the half-way mark on this journey, but it feels as though there are a million things that still need to be done before this program is over. To be honest, I've barely touched on the goals in my individual development plan (IDP) set not too long ago, but the weekends seem to get shorter and shorter. And of course, you start to reflect on all the things you have already achieved, and how to speed up the rest. So how do you manage to juggle a full-time job, a course, civic engagement, eating, sleeping in on the weekends, keeping up with your goals, seeing all of the capital, and making sure you hit up all the bars on K Street in less than 4 months? Well, the easiest thing you can do is procrastinate on the least fun of them, and go with the flow on the rest. But that's not very good advice is it?

Time management is an important skill you will gain here and undoubtedly one that most people will identify as a goal on their IDP.  Some of the things you should start thinking about before arriving in DC in order to prepare for your IDP, as well as your purpose here in general, is what you want to develop in terms of your personal, professional and academic goals. I certainly feel that it would be really helpful to have an idea before you get here. You're probably wondering what I'm talking about when I say IDP... sorry if I've confused you. Essentially, you'll be required to submit a portfolio to your advisors at TWC, which will be sent to your liaison from home. Your IDP will be a written assignment outlining all of the goals I mentioned above as well as how you plan on achieving them. You'll also be reflecting upon them throughout the semester through your weekly written reflections that you also need to submit.

Besides the serious stuff, the city needs to be explored. If you've read my last couple of blogs, you'll know that I'm a fan of bubble tea and I'm sure that many of you are too! Especially,  the international students from Asia!  And if you aren't... then I suggest exposing yourself to it! Sharon, Di and I had a long journey on Saturday to Eden Center where we spent all morning eating... and buying groceries. It's a bit far but a fun place if you love Asian goodies, like food and snacks. Eden Center is located about ten blocks off the East Falls Church stop on the orange line. Once you get off the Metro, cabs will be lined on the street. It's only ten blocks if you want to walk but otherwise it's about a $7 cab ride.

After several failed attempts, we finally found a place with decent bubble tea.

And other goodies...

By the time I remembered to take a picture of the food, we'd already eaten everything...

Ever experienced culture shock? Well, you're about to with grand magnitude! Most of you have probably been abroad either for work, school, or just a getaway. But how about being immersed in the plethora of about 15 countries at one time?

Food Contest

Let's begin with the winner of this semester's Food Contest. Let me warn you, attend this festival with an empty stomach! If you are a lover of food (as I am) and have an appreciation for ethnic foods, you will be ecstatic. Hopefully this will also serve to inspire prospective students to contribute to the food contest with as much enthusiasm as some of the students from this semester did.

Puerto Rico! A northestern Carribbean unincorporated territory of the United States with  vibrant culture and culinary influenced by Carribbean, Spanish, African and American nuances.

Second place: South Korea

Bulgogi and Korean-style vegetable pancakes! Bulgogi is a Korean style steak that is very famous and highly recommended if you have never tried it! Korean culinary is mostly popular for their side dishes (banchan). If you haven't already, find a local Korean BBQ and indulge yourself! You won't regret it I promise!

Third place: Kazakhstan, Kyrgzstan, and Russia. An odd trio of countries to come together but surprisingly similar in culture. I had very little knowledge of Kazakhstan and Kyrgzstan and was very intrigued by their display of food and culture at the festival.

If there were a fourth prize, I'm sure Mexico would have held it.

Menu: enchiladas and enmoladas topped with pico de gallo, guacamole, salsa, agua fresca (flavour water) hibiscus and tamarind, for dessert cookies with dulce de leche and sweet rice.

Belgium had Belgian dessert: jules de stroper cookies, speculaas, speculaaspaste on little toasts, the famous cote d or chocolate and chococlate fondu!

Australia-the lone ranger :)

Ethiopia made Fir Fir (a combination of injera and beef stew)

Finally, the Canadian team!

All the goodies we managed to garner for our booth: tourtiere (a french-canadian meat pie), bannok (a native bread), coffee crisp and crispy crunch chocolate bars, tim hortons coffee, maple syrup and maple candies!

Unfortunately, I don't have any graphical representation of the other countries who participated in this event, but to name a few others: Spain, Brazil, and China

While the festival was a great opportunity to douse your tongue with all the different spices and flavours from around the world, it was also a great chance to learn about and meet the diverse people from TWC that you haven't yet had the chance to. You can sense how zealous every group was in representing their country with the food and displays, the talent show, fashion show, and the speeches. Hopefully this will give prospective TWC students an idea of all the necessary goodies you will want to garner for your participation in the festivities.

Some would argue that the festival imbues a sense of patriotism that defeats the purpose of bringing together an international group so diverse. I would say that its a great way to gain an appreciation for the diversity and vibrant cultures at the root of every person here.

Song of the week by a Somali Canadian :)

Georgetown. One of the first places that people will go to once in DC. I, however, was a little behind. I finally decided that there was an urgent need to visit Georgetown a little after a month now, at least before the weather turned ugly. Sorry to digress, but speaking of the weather, I am extremely impressed! Back in Calgary, the weather seems reluctant to move much higher than 10 °C, which translated to ‘American’ is about 54°F. Seems it won’t be too long from now until snow will start to fall. How I would love to share the beautiful weather in DC with you, Calgary!

Back to DC events: if you are the type that takes interest in fashion, entertainment, and/or culinary arts, Georgetown would be your haven!

Dean & Deluca, an upscale, almost too extravagant grocery store at the heart of Georgetown. I think it’s every girl's dream to go grocery shopping in here… well, at least it’s mine! If you knew how much I enjoyed grocery shopping, you would understand :D

There’s Friendship Heights, home to designer clothing (I’ll give you an update on what’s fun in Friendship Heights next time!); then we have Georgetown, home to designer cupcakes! Unfortunately, with the sun melting down on us, we didn’t feel up for the task of lining up behind this ridiculous line, which kept getting longer and longer as we were contemplating.


Georgetown Cupcakes is apparently famous worldwide. I don’t think Calgary has heard of them yet, so I think I’ll have to come back and see if it’s worth spreading the rumor.

We didn’t get cupcakes, but we got the next best thing, crepes! Word of advice: if you like bananas, nutella, and coconut, I’ll tell you that these three ingredients have never tasted better together than in a crepe! I would say that the crepes here were mediocre. It was satisfying enough that I can't really complain.

Off the main streets, we found a cute little cafe, and I mean literally, it was 'the cutest cafe in Georgetown.' For those of you who are die hard bubble tea fans, well, here is a place you can go to get some!

They also sell crepes, and delicious looking paninis!

Finally, fashion. For the ladies.. and ocassional gentlemen, who love clothing..

Generally, Georgetown is a bit more expensive but you'll find most of your favorite brand names here.

The Metro doesn’t take you to Georgetown so you would have to take the metro and a bus to get there, which is just unnecessarily expensive. From the RAF, the best way to get to Georgetown is to take a circulator from Union Station. Circulators cost one dollar and generally they go to quite a few different districts in DC.