Well, here I am, in the NoMa district of Washington, DC! I aologize for being so late but I've got to tell you now, there is just no time to be wasted here in DC. Before I go on about this wonderful place and how I got here, let me give you a quick introduction of myself. My name is Jessica. I am a Canadian student from the University of Calgary. My enrollment here as a Business and Global Trade student is a reflection of my major in Economics and International Relations.

You are probably wondering, what is my purpose here in DC? Well, initially, it was simply to prop up my resume, learn a bit about the real world, get some real life experiences and learn how to do more than answering phone calls and making photocopies. It turns out, TWC has a little more in mind. It's going to be a busy semester!

I can tell you from the start, one of the best things about this program is all of the wonderful friends that I have made. I think most people here can agree with me on that. To be honest, before arriving, I was expecting only to focus on my internship and all the work I would be doing there. However, upon arriving to the Residential and Academic Facility (RAF), things were quick to change. It's great that TWC built the RAF for many of their students. There's a huge advantage for most of us to be living in the same building. It's also given us the opportunity to meet friends from all over the world. We're expanding our network globally!

I was a bit disappointed to find out that I would reside on the first floor of the building. However, it turned out to be great and a huge convenience not having to wait for the elevators, and being about 20 seconds away from my classroom. Yes, I counted. But that's only because I am fortunate enough to have my weekly academic course in the RAF. Some of my friends weren't so lucky and have to commute to the NW quadrant of the city for theirs. As for the apartments themselves, they more than met my expectations! They are gorgeous, and mine in particular, is very spacious. It took me no less than a day to settle in and feel like I was at home. It did take a little while, however, for me to become acclimated to the humidity, especially since I came from Calgary, Alberta--one of the driest cities in Canada.

One thing I can tell you, living here means you have to be prepared to cook, clean, do your own laundry, and getting up on time for work every morning. Basically, come as an adult! It's really a lot of fun. Grocery shopping is one of my favorite things to do here--minus all the walking and heavy grocery bags. Harris Teeter (about 3 blocks away), Safeway, Whole Foods, and Farmer's Markets--although some are a bit far away--are few examples of where you can get everything you need. As for the metro, it may seem unnecessarily complicated at first, but I promise that, aside from how expensive it is...you will get used to it. Fortunately, I do not have to incur these costs thanks to my generous boss :)

New York Ave is the closer of the two stations that are walking distance to the RAF.

This is kind of a funny story, but one of the reasons why I had the chance to sit down and write this blog is because we happen to be here during 9/11's 10th year anniversary. There happened to be credible threats in DC and New York which has caused quite a bit of a ruckus in the city. People are a bit edgy with increased security on the streets and the metro system, resulting in a very big inconvenience for those who commute via the metro. So, here I am, on a Sunday afternoon with some of my friends staying in for the day to work on our bi-weekly reflections...Such keeners we are!

Don't be fooled by this picture though. We took several breaks and spent most of the afternoon eating and chatting as opposed to actually doing any reflecting...

Well, there it is. A little bit about my new home, for those of you who were wondering :)