As week two begins, it’s crazy to think what I’ve been able to accomplish in such a short time. I’ve gotten familiar with the Metro, explored Washington, started a potential career, and began to understand what acronyms mean -- like the NOMA (North of Massachusetts Avenue) Metro stop. I’m still having fun, regardless of how busy I am.

After working out all of the minor ‘move-in’ kinks, I realized I needed a few more casual clothes. I have a friend from back home who has lived down here for about two months prior to my arrival, and we decided to meet up because we were both in dire need of shirts. We ventured out on the Metro near his house and went to Columbia Heights where there is a nice mall. They had some great clothing stores and coffee shops. I grabbed some standard t-shirts and he picked up a steamer for dress shirts.

We headed back and watched the rest of the football games. The Patriots had already played, so being from New England we could relax a little and just keep an eye on our fantasy teams.

The next day I went to Union Station to grab some more things. I touched on Union Station last week when I spoke about the Sushi Restaurant with the conveyer belt, but it is a really convenient and fun place to get things essential to my survival in Washington, much like a $30 DVD player…  I’ve never seen a mall and train station combination, so to me, it’s really unique.  On the top floor you’ll find nice clothing stores; handmade belts and Italian ties, etc. On the first floor is the train station which is always busy. In the basement there is a food court; this is great for a quick meal.

Food Trucks

So apparently, there is a monthly food truck festival that occurs outside of the National’s Stadium. One of my high school friends was working there, so I went to see him with a friend. He was working in the lobster truck, and of course, recommended the lobster rolls. Whether to choose a Maine or Connecticut style Lobster Roll was a tough decision, but being a true Bostonian, I had to go with what I know and love: a Maine-style roll. It was the right choice. Luckily, the person I was with seems to like seafood just as much as I do, so I ordered two and they couldn’t have tasted better. I was surprised at the line for the “Asian Tacos.” I didn’t get to try one but seeing what a big hit they are I may have to next time. The festival is loads of fun and as someone who likes to eat, I see myself being a regular.

I’ve officially started work this week as well. I’ve been really busy. Basically, I’m working for a company that works with financial institutions, and the section I work with designs IT security policy among other things. My job involves a lot of reading and research, and a good amount of meetings. A lot of what we’re doing is confidential so I can’t share too much, but if you get the opportunity to work at Financial Services Roundtable, or specifically BITS, the technology branch, I strongly suggest you accept. I’ve had a blast working here and I’ve met some very important and impressive people. Just the other day I attended meetings at the FDIC headquarters where I sat two rows back from the table where Martin J. Gruenberg (the acting chairman of the FDIC) was facilitating the meeting. Halfway though we broke for lunch, so I went to grab a bite to eat at this delicious sandwich place just down the street. Still having time to kill, I decided to explore the area around me, so I began walking down a street.  After about three minutes of walking I found myself directly in front of a big white house. It turns out it was the big White House. I couldn’t believe how small the city actually is, that it was possible to accidently stumble upon The White House. It may seem large and can be confusing at times, but once you begin to understand how the streets work, you find it is very condensed and easy to navigate.

Classes have officially started, and I had my first Global Markets & International Business Strategies course on Monday night. The beginning of every first class is always a bit slow, but after the introductions it picked right up. We discussed which countries are economically growing exponentially because of labor and sturdy government. The professor seems very intelligent and has very strong credentials in both academia and industry. I’m really looking forward to working with him this semester.

All in, all my time in Washington D.C. has been spectacular, and I still have a long way to go. It’s nice being super close to the NOMA Metro station and having the ability to take the red line into town. Wow, I almost sound like a seasoned D.C. transit veteran.