Quote & Quote: DC's 3 Week Survival Guide

Have you ever tried or imagined living in a completely foreign place without your family or friends to always hang out and spend time with,

Without your favorite hang out place in Taft, in Makati,

or even your favorite cupcake shop or restaurant in the Fort..

Hello Sonja's Cupcaaakes!!!

Does it sound like someone’s missing the Philippines right now? Well let me tell you,

I TERRIBLY DO!

Not mainly because of the places mentioned above, but it's the company, the warmth, and the familiarity of people back there that's really.............

Oh I guess I have no words!

Well that's too much drama for one blog! Now, going back to the question(and I really hope you do remember the question that I posted above, if not, you can always scroll back up! *wink)

If your answer’s YES, then I believe that’s reaaallyyyy good! Cause based from experience, you’ll agree with me how immensely exciting and challenging the whole idea & experience is the same time!

But if you’re answer is NO(as of the moment), please take some time to scan and read this HOW-I-SURVIVED-DC-FOR-THREE-WEEKS blog entry, and maybe, you’ll consider going out of your comfort zone and explore the unfamiliar! Let me share this quote that I got from our Sociology class back then,

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."-T.S. Elliot

So let me begin the story of how I actually ended up in DC.

Do you know how sometimes, you have a clear plan laid out, from the concept itself to the smallest of details - only to find yourself completely deviating from that plan? Well, it might be a slight change of events that made you change your mind, or a complete turn around of events, that inevitably pushed you to move forward.

On a lighter note, as I officially celebrate my third week of stay here in DC yesterday, September 20th, I would like to share the TOP THREE THINGS(credits go to my favorite life quotations) that I've learned so far!(cause I know that I have yet to learn and discover many thiiings and every siingle time it just keeps better & better!)

This can actually be your future survival guide! Just in case you plan to visit the place or any city in the world too!

First on the list!

1."Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." - Mark Twain

Whenever you wander in a new place, what are the first few things that you usually notice?

Ofcourse, you'll be surprised by the unfamiliar faces that you see.

The different environment, the roads, the buildings, and your new home as well,

I know there are a hundred of things that popped into your mind while trying to reminisce your most recent trip, but let me ask you, how did such trip change you? I think the more appropriate question would be,

Did it change you in any way at all?

Three weeks ago, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life, and that is to fly here in DC. I wanted to escape the familiar, it's what I've always wanted to do ever since - to live in a completely different city and just soak myself with the whole experience. I know I've said this in my recent post, but I 'm going to say it again, it is one of the BEST CHOICES I've made in my life so faar!!!

Such experience allowed me to have a broader perspective about the color discrimination that happened here in the US which was brought about by the effects of slave trade way back in those times.(Let's leave it at thaat cause I seriously don't know the exact time frame though!)

Remember all the stereotypes that the society had on them before? Well, even now? I won't play innocent and say that I was not influenced by those. To be frank, on my first week here, I was mildly overwhelmed by their large population here in DC.

But you know what? I learned that I just need to get used to it cause we should NEVER EVER DISCRIMINATE people by race, color, culture, religion or any other background that they have.

We don't have the right to do that. We simply just don't.

You may be a Filipino, an American, an African-American,

you may be Irish, or even someone from the Middle East...

Well, let me tell you THIS!

It doesn't freaking matter.

Cause in the end, despite our innate differences, there's

this one IMPORTANT CONCEPT that one should never

EVER forget - We Are All Humans created equally and

wonderfully by the Lord.

In relation to this, I just wanna share one of the most striking quote that I've read in the famous John Lennon's Wall way back in our trip in Prague, Czech Republic.

"Prejudgment is a cancer that eats a person's ability of perceiving the true essence of life."

Hard as it may seem at first, screw all those stereotypes that the society has embedded on your head! Be more open-minded on things and embrace these two things:

DIVERSITY & CHANGE. :)

2 . Always Smile & be Sociable(especially in times of trouble!) *wink

Whenever you go on a vacation, most especially to a place you're unfamiliar with, ofcourse you do prior research before your trip, create an itinerary, etc. But believe me, the moment you get off that plane and start exploriing, all of your preparation will seem to be useless at some extent

cause planning it through google maps and actually being in that certain spot where you planned to are two completely different thiings!

I can never count how many times I got lost in the metro and on the busy streets of DC! I swear! Even though I usually prepare the night before for my trip, I always find myself figuring out how the diagonal, alphabetical and numericaaal streets of DC work! And I bet you know how I managed to survive!

With a little help from random people, a little smiiile and a little taaalk from here and there, I manage to reach my daily adventuuure goals & come back home safe! hahahaha!

That's whyy wherever you goo, you always have to be personable, and smile especially whenever someone smiles at youu, make sure YOU SMIIILE BACK!

It spreaads that positive vibe that makes your day really wonderfuuul! And hey, don't be afraiiid to socialize with people! :)

Just to share, I met Ilya, a Russian guy from Moscow while I was experimenting Couchsurfing! He was staying in DC for 3 days and was looking for people to hang out with! I told myself, WHY NOT? As far as I can remember, I haven't met a Russian guy before so I took the risk, met up with him in Dupont Circle and it turned out to be a reaallyyy tiriiiing but super fuund daay exploring the Capitoool! :DDDD

Ilya's a reallyy niice guuuy and I really learned a lot from him about Russia!

One good thing and also the reason why both jived with each other is that we both share a passion, and that is,

TO SEE THE WORLD! :)

So the next time you travel, go out and meet new people! It's not as frightening as you thought it would be! :DDD

3. "Getting lost is the best way to explore a city!" -Anonymous

If you may allow me to add a few words to this quote,

...but always remember to find your way back.

In a very literal sense, hahaha! It's nice to get lost in the city, especially here in DC cause of two reasons: You'll never know where you'll end up to and You'll always find things that may or may not surprise you! :) But the most important thing is even though you got lost the entire day, you find your way back home.

In general, DC is a safe place to live but you always have to keep your guard on just in case! :DDD

But what I actually want to share regarding this is that, yes, you may go places,

explore the Antarctic,

go backpackiiing in Euuurope(which is veryyy exciiitiiing!!!),

visit the safaris in Africaaaa,

ride the elephants in Asiaaaa,

*they all souund very exciiitiing, riiight? :)

..................................

But you should always remember to look back from where you came from. You should never forget your roots

your homeland,

your culture.

NEVER FORGET.

ALWAYS REMEMBER.

You have to constantly remind yourself that wherever you go, you should be a walking representation of your home country, speak of its honor & beauty despite its flaws,

cause who else is going to stand up, if not you?

I know, I know, I've got some serious discussion going on over there! hahaha! But now, it's time for some fuuuun, piictuures & by far my most unforgettable stories in DC! :))))

One of the many things that I looooooove (and actually convinced me to stay here in DC) is the fact that even though you don't have a car(probably one of the reason is stated below) :

a) YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE YET

b) YOU DO KNOW HOW TO DRIVE BUT DOESN'T HAVE A CAR YET

c) YOU DO KNOW HOW TO DRIVE, HAS A CAR BUT DOESN'T HAVE A LICENSE YET

d) YOU'RE JUST TOO LAZY TO DRIVE! hahaha!

you can still have that freedom to go and do whatever you want! :) Thanks to the super efficient Metro rail & bus system! Just one swipe of your Smartrip card, you're ready to go literallyyy anywheere! :D

To start of, here's a glimpse of the DC Metro Railway Station! :))))

I knooow, I knooow, it may look scaary and confusiing at first glance but I can assure you, once you get the hang of it, you'll definitely don't wanna stop going places! :)

And hey, it's not as hard to navigaate such as the New York's subwaay!

LOL! I remember those times with my super girlfriiends in New York for a conference last year! We badly wanted to see the super featured Grand Central Station in Gossip Girl, too bad we didn't know that it was just a few more levels up from where we were! HAHAHAHA! I miss youuu guuurls!!!

Miss Libertyyy!!!!

Okay!

That's too muuch reminisciing those greaat and not-oh-so-old days!

Let the DC Metro Adventures(of being lost), begin!

Welcome to Brookland CUA!

From this Metro, I just have to take one bus ride to reach the place where I currently liiive! :) It's a very nice place, given it's accessibility to public transportation, security of the place too and the people around are very helpful and nice! Also in here is the largest basilica in the United States, just across the Catholic University of America!

So you get to see a lot of university students living here which makes me wonder how does it feel to live inside a university campus! I'm definitely intrigued that I actually consider taking up a master's degree in the futuuuuure!!! :)))

On my second day here in DC, this was the first place that I visited mainly because all of the embassies are located there!

On my way up to the metroooo!!!

Welcome to Dupont Circle!

If you're up for good eats,

Grilled Chicken Kabob & their famous Boba Milk Tea!(TEAISM)

great book bargains,

These are just a few of interesting bookstores that I've seen! Kramer, Millions Bookstore, Second hand Story books, etc!! made me miss being a CDA student though!!!

or even shopping!!!

Secondiii!!! :)))

Dupont Circle's definitely the place for you!!!!

Shops shops shops! Our next stop is one of the famous tourist attractions here in DC not only because of the famous Georgetown cupcaaakes but also because of a wide variety of shopping boutiques & restaurants around this European inspired town! :))))

Welcome to Georgetown!

If you wanna know more about Georgetown cupcakes and all the other cupcake shops here in DC, please cliiick heeere! <3

As usual, there were so many tourists when I went there! Shopping here in not really recommended cause the prices are a bit high! That's why our next stop is for the frugal and thrift people like meeee!!! :DDDD

Welcome to Columbia Heights!

This place has everythiiiing!!!!!!!!!!! From streeet markets which they call there as Farmer's Markeet!

Farmer's Markeeet!

They even have department stores like Marshalls, Target, etc and grocery stores like CVS Pharmacy & Giant Supermaket! :))) I call this as MY CONVENIENT PLACE cause I just have to take one bus from Brookland and have my immediate grocery & wardrobe needs met! :) Super love this plaace! A lot of yuppies also live here which makes it more vibrant & diverse! :DDD

Our next stop would beeeee....

Welcome to Metro Center Statiooon!

Your trip to DC wouldn't be complete without visiting the several monuments and important landmarks of the US Capital! Look at these people below! What a fun & eco frieendlyy waaay to touuur the cityyyyy!!!!

I'll definitely tryyyy theese neext tiime!!! :))

Say HOLA! to the Whiiite Houuse! :) I remember the super tight security in the areaa! And you actually have to schedule a White House tour online before you can go inside the grounds available for the public! I wish I researched before I went here! Well, at least now we both know! So the next time you visit this and would want to take a tour, go reserve your spot first! :)

THE CONS OF HAVING NO TRAVEL BUDDYY! HAHAH!

But thick faced as I am,

I asked one random girl to take a shot of me! hahahahah

TAAAAADAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

:))))))) The next time I ask someone again to take a picture, I'll make sure he/she's a PRO! lol! But reallyy, to whoever you aare, THAANK YOUUUU!! :)))

Around the area, there are a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot of museums ranging from Civil war, to Art Museums and to theeese!!!

These are just a few of the touristy spots near the White House cause I wasn't able to reallyyy go to all of the places! Which means that I should go back there one time! :)

WHEEEEEW!!! I need some breaak! hahaha! have to take some rest fiiiirst cause loook of the places I've beeen so faar!

Foggy Bottom

Metro Center

Archives

got lost in Silver Spring-Takoma

Woodley Park

Van Ness

Rhode Island Avenue

Bethesda, Maryland

Guess I'll be haviing a PART TWO of thiiis!

Keeep posted for more adventuuures! <3

With so much love, happiness & cupcakes,

Your aspiring world traveler

Princess Loirenne Adao

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