Trying to Slow Down the Fastest City in the World
by Brian Cole (Fall 2016)
Washington D.C. might be the fastest city I’ve ever been to. Boston is a bustling city, and New York never sleeps, but to me, neither one has anything on D.C. It’s like being in another world. There are always a million different things to do. Happy hour events, think tank events, speaker series’, concerts, museum openings/events, outdoor markets, sports games, political rallies, embassy events, and protests(the protests are especially cool for me because they’re real…the only time people protest in Boston is when Dunkin is closed or the T is delayed). And it’s not only just the city that’s busy; the people seem to always have somewhere to be. D.C. is the first city that I’ve been to that actually has a specific elevator culture (stand on the right, walk on the left…break the rules at your own peril).
View from the top of the Newseum, on BUDC’s final field trip of the year.
This constant speed is one of the best and worst things about D.C. It is great because there is never an excuse to be bored. There are a million different new events each weekend, and if none of those interest you then I guarantee you that there is a museum or historic site that you haven’t been too yet. The range of events is what makes it so special too. You might get to attend a food tasting at the Peruvian embassy one weekend, and then see a jazz band outdoors while drinking some cheap Sangria the next weekend. Where else in the world do you get to enjoy such different but amazing things all in the span of a few days?
The problem with the speed of the city is that it can be unbelievably distracting. You forget to take in the everyday things around you that are truly breathtaking. Seeing the Empire State Building every day is cool, and taking the T by Fenway never gets old, but both of those pale in comparison to waking up every morning and getting to see the Washington Monument in the distance. I had to cross Pennsylvania Ave every day to get to and from work, and I was treated to a perfect view of the Capitol building. That never got old for me, and the worst part of this semester was crossing that street for the last time, knowing that it’s the last time I’ll have that view for a long time.
D.C. has amazing features, that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. The best advice that I can give is to never take advantage of your time in the city. Whether you’re here for three days, or three months, don’t ever stop taking in your surroundings because at some point your time in this paradise has to end. No matter how many times you look at the things around you, you’ll always find something new and breathtaking.
DOJ Strategic Communication staff bonding at our holiday party.
Also make sure you take advantage of the people that you meet, because they are what truly give D.C. its life. You’ll meet people that you’d never thought possible, and have your mind opened to views that I guarantee you have never previously considered. It’s one of the few places in the world where you can find an independent from Massachusetts, a Democrat from California, and a Republican from Mississippi all enjoying pretzel baguettes while discussing the science behind Christmas tree farming.
There’s no place in the world like D.C., so if you’re lucky enough to spend any time here make sure that you don’t let a second go to waste.
Brian is a junior studying history and interned at the Department of Justice.
