......officially repatriated
DC
,
life changes
,
repatriation
,
Washington
After a sad last post on my Brussels Blog, it is time to be open to new things in life. After three years of chronicling my Euro adventures in Brussels, I now start to chronicle my new adventure: my new found life in Washington, DC. Many moons ago (seven years to be exact) I lived on the beltway. So many things have changed since I left to Seoul in 2006 followed by my six years in Brussels and Stuttgart. My departure of Brussels was a tough decision, as I loved my life in Europe. In many ways, I feel I have also become European as I assimilated to my life there so well. However, there is a time we all must come home.
I arrived on a Sunday afternoon and was working the following morning. My place of employment does not have the best parking, but it has the most convenient perk: its own metro stop. Hans, my 3 series is somewhere in the Atlantic, making its way home and it's comforting to know DC has a great metro system. That is one good thing over Brussels already! I am glad I don't have to stand in those unpleasant traffic jams on General Jacques and can catch up with my reading on the train. The walk to the metro is pleasant in the Bloomingdale neighborhood, with people actually saying hello to me as the walk by. The first few days I found it weird (as those who have lived in Brussels can relate) but now I'm with the program.
Assimilating to my new job was not that difficult. I will definitely miss the booze at the NATO parties though and my multinational colleagues. My place of employment is huge, but I am happy to say I made it to the gym without getting lost, which was progress from the last time I was there, where it took me an hour to return to my office! I'm glad to reunite with old friends for dinner and drinks and get more acquainted with the city. I went to El Centro for happy hour and was delighted to have mango margaritas for $6 with a friendly bartender and $6 tacos. It was no Place Chatelain, but it was a nice atmosphere to reunite with my blogger buddy Carlis from SpicyCandyDC and Kim, friends from my days working at Kenneth Cole in 2002. Moving can be emotionally challenging, but I'm grateful to have friends in DC giving me shelter, love, and emotional support.
Now this is my life in the Nation's Capital. I'm looking forward to discovering my new city, decorating my new home, making new friends, getting to know my country better (next stop:Austin), among other things. I hope you follow me along in this ride!
I arrived on a Sunday afternoon and was working the following morning. My place of employment does not have the best parking, but it has the most convenient perk: its own metro stop. Hans, my 3 series is somewhere in the Atlantic, making its way home and it's comforting to know DC has a great metro system. That is one good thing over Brussels already! I am glad I don't have to stand in those unpleasant traffic jams on General Jacques and can catch up with my reading on the train. The walk to the metro is pleasant in the Bloomingdale neighborhood, with people actually saying hello to me as the walk by. The first few days I found it weird (as those who have lived in Brussels can relate) but now I'm with the program.
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| Snapshot of my New Neighborhood.... |
Now this is my life in the Nation's Capital. I'm looking forward to discovering my new city, decorating my new home, making new friends, getting to know my country better (next stop:Austin), among other things. I hope you follow me along in this ride!
CONVERSATION