Although I've only been here for a little over two weeks, it feels as if I've been here for months. When the metro crosses the Potomac river in the evening, with D.C. and its Washington Monument right in front of me, and the high-rise blocks of Rosslyn (Arlington, VA) on my left, an immense feeling of 'home' surprises me. With a touch of my fingers on my iPod, music starts to play and I become the happiest man on earth. I transfer from the yellow to the red line in Gallery Place (Chinatown) and with the biggest smile on my face I hop off at NoMa and I am home. "Home is where the heart is," or in my case, right here.

Getting Around
It's been a little over two weeks since I rode the D.C. Metro for the first time, and I'm already riding it like a pro. Jumping in between closing doors, balancing my body while browsing my phone during the ride, swiping my SmartTrip card as if I've been doing it for years. Moreover, I walk through Harris Teeter as if I'm a soccer mom. Knowing the way to the aisles of Ben & Jerry's, Coca-Cola, bagels (or anything that is remotely unhealthy) almost blindfolded.

Also, D.C. is becoming less and less the big city that it once was. Chinatown, downtown, H&M, National Mall, Target, the Smithsonians… they can't hide anymore. Got it. And I finally understand the street system ("You didn't understand how the streets are built?", no I didn't! In Belgium, every street has its own name, no NE-quadrants, or NW-quadrants… Seriously, who invents this stuff?). Now, it's basically self-explanatory.

Jarco becomes more familar with the metro every day!

Hit the road Jack
6:45 a.m., my alarm clock goes *beep* *beep* *beep*. I'll smack the snooze-button for the next 30 minutes. Zombie-like I stroll, or better drag, myself to the bathroom where "ohhhh too cold" is being alternated with "ahhh too hot." Slightly more awake I drag myself to the kitchen where a bowl of Cocoa Krispies awaits me. My phone tells me I should start hurrying. I jump in my business-casual attire, brush my teeth and slam the door a little too hard. I meet my friends downstairs and we're off. At King Street, Alexandria, I hop off and after a 5-minute walk I arrive at work. I do some projects, help here and there, and around 4 or 5 p.m. I hit the road. About an hour later, I'll be back home.

In the evening I'll go for my daily Harris Teeter visit, eat a bagel with cream cheese, or have a meal with a group of friends. To finish off my day, I meet up with some friends to have a chat, eat ice-cream, perhaps write some papers and go to bed between 12 and 2 a.m.

Super Bowl
One-Mississippi, Two-Mississippi, Three-Mississippi… football. American football. If there's one game I know nothing about, it's American football (in Belgium it's all about soccer). Five seasons of Friday Night Lights, and a favorite movie that is about American football, and I still don't know the rules to the game. But hey, it's the freaking Super Bowl. The American media and sports event of the year. I was so excited to finally watch my first Super Bowl ... ever. Perhaps, as an Communications/Advertising major, I was a little more excited for the commercials.

The RAF (Residential and Academic Facility at NoMa) arranged a SuperBowl party in the Blinken Auditorium, where we got to watch the Super Bowl on the big screen. Free pizza, snacks and drinks were provided. Isn't that cool? However, I was a little bit disappointed. I expected all Americans to be clothed in their sports shirts; I expected them to have paint all over; I expected them to have foam fingers (I had been nagging my friends for a foam finger all day, so perhaps it was for the better that I couldn't find one). No, no and no. I apologize for my very stereotypical view on Americans. Sorry, I just don't know any better.

Yet, we had an amazing time. Who would win, the Baltimore Ravens? The San Francisco 49ers? I started off as a supporter for the 49ers, but along the game I changed my opinion (I know, LAME). And then, bam, the Superdome goes dark. What? Astonishment and murmuring all over. Was this an advantage to the 49ers? In the end the Baltimore Ravens still won, and with a little more knowledge of the game I switched the TV off.

The RAF @ NOMA Superbowl Party

Monument Tour
One of those cool things of TWC is that they organize 'field' trips. A Capitol Hill tour, a Monument tour. Think of anything, and there's probably a tour for that.

The U.S. Capitol on a crisp winter day.

We hopped on the metro at the Smithsonian stop and there we were on the National Mall (I used to think it was an actual mall). It was so lovely outside, and it was THE perfect weather to take pictures. Capitol Hill *flash* - Washington Monument *flash, flash* - World War II memorial *flash* - Lincoln Memorial *flash, flash* - Vietnam Memorial *flash*. It was gorgeous. Perfect. Completely relaxed, except for the fact I still had a paper to write, I was ready for a new week of hard work and FUN!

The Washington Monument with the Reflecting Pool in the foreground.

The Lincoln Memorial set behind the reflecting pool.

The statue of Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. President.

While I am writing this I am planning my next adventures. Smithsonian museums, New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia… I hope I'll be able to fit them all in my tight schedule and to blog about the adventures of the Belgians in D.C.

Feel free to follow me on twitter for daily updates: @JarcoWaelput