After successfully completing my first week at Merrill Lynch, I exited the office around 3 p.m. (An early departure on Friday, was a much appreciated gift, I’d say.) Instead of walking about a block over to the Metro station, I decided to roam the Northwest quadrant in search of a restaurant so I could take home some food for later in the evening. I walked into a small Indian restaurant and completed that task.

On my way back to the Metro, I stopped at a map to see what else was in the area. I suddenly saw that the White House was located a couple streets down from where I intern. After about a minute of walking, I saw the White House. I’m still not sure how I didn’t realize that the White House was so close, and didn’t happen to look to other way when I exited the Metro every morning.  I walked over to the White House and saw that a protest was going on. There were people holding up signs and chanting slogans to get leader Mubarak out of Egypt. Egyptian flags held by protesters flew in front of the high-standing American flag that decorated the White House lawn. After experiencing the protest for a while, I started on my way home.

I began to think about why exactly this city felt so alive to me (I’m from around Chicago, so my comparison comes from there). There are no impressive skyscrapers, awe-inspiring bright lights, and overall there really isn’t too much city-esque bustle. The energy in D.C. doesn’t come aesthetically but rather from a deeper source. This city cares.

On my way to dinner last Sunday, I walked passed an organization that handles massive quantities of tobacco that are seized. Tuesday, I plowed through a mob of pro-life high school students on my way to work. On my way to work out on Wednesday, I walked passed TVs of CNN playing major headlines. Simply being around such charged people and institutions is beyond energizing.

For those who’ve solely visited the District of Columbia: the monuments, Smithsonians, and other sites of visit don’t begin to stand as a testament to the vibrancy of this city. With this understanding, I’m looking forward to really delving into this city rather than standing on the outside looking in. Until then, I’ll begin another week at Merrill Lynch with a nice strong cup of black coffee.