You can take the girl out of the south…

(Originally published Tuesday, March 26, 2013)

So I’m sure many of you may be wondering how I’ve been adjusting to living in DC. Well, being from the south, I wondered the same thing while I drove up here, which was a two day drive, so I had a lot of time to contemplate it. Obviously, my accent was one thing I was really worried about, because for those of y’all that know me, it can be thick at times. In my mind, I felt like people would get really annoyed listening to me talk, however, my fears have been put to rest over these past few weeks, because I am told on a daily basis how adorable my accent is. It’s been a great conversation starter actually, because once I start talking, they want to know where I’m from, why I’m here, etc…and by the time the conversation is over I’ve made a new friend and we’ve exchanged numbers. I personally think people like asking me a lot of questions just so they can hear me talk, and I’m not gonna lie, I dig it. I feel almost like a celebrity. It’s quite an amazing feeling. It’s gotten me free drinks, networking connections, new friends, and out of a traffic ticket. Which brings me to my next topic: Getting around DC successfully. Normally I have a pretty good sense of direction, AKA Google Maps app, but since this a completely different setting from Jackson, I’ve learned the best way to find your way around this big city is by getting lost. Because once you’ve gotten lost several times in the same area, you’re bound to figure out which turn not to take again and how long it takes you to get back. Sometimes the Google Maps app voice guide can be a little bit delayed so I’ve missed a few turns. I’ve also mastered the art of parallel parking. And in my downtime, I love to go explore. I really love walking around the city, especially along the river. I found a place that rents out kayaks and you better believe as soon as it’s warms up, I’m doing it. Needless to say, I’m getting around just fine.

My Dad often asks me if I’m eating ok. I’m eating just fine, Dad. However, that is one thing I miss about Mississippi, the food. Everyone in DC is so health conscience so of course the restaurants accommodate. (Side note: Everyone in DC is a runner. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is, you can be walking down the street and you are bound to see several people running.) Most places are organic, vegan, tofu, and all around lacking of flavor. No butter, no salt, no Wendy’s. The food is sub par in my opinion. I ordered a BBQ chicken pizza one night, and it was no Pizza Shack by any means, so I poured some Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce on it, and it was sufficient.

I was talking to a friend from home the other day and he asked me several questions about living up here and I thought I’d post the those for you. One thing he asked me was what are the people like in terms of hospitality. I would have to say of course they are friendly but it’s a different kind of friendly. If I was lost and needed directions, I can ask for help and some are more than happy to help. However, the other day, my car wouldn’t start and I knew it was the battery, thankfully, I keep a back up starter in my trunk so I was fine. I was on a busy street and there were several people walking by and not one person stopped to ask if I needed help. Now, had I been in MS, you know someone is going to stop and offer to help. Luckily, I can take care of myself.

Another question he asked was are the people up here fun? Glad you asked. In a sense, they are, but it’s a different kind of fun. A clean fun, if you will. A lot of people up here have government jobs, and they a reputation to uphold, as they should. They avoid any kind of “shenanigans” and certainly don’t post crazy pics on FB. Also, I haven’t been up here long enough to really get to know these folks and let loose, so I feel like in a way I can’t really come out of my shell just yet. I’m not wild and crazy or anything, but I do have a sense of humor and I’m unsure how they would respond to that, so for now, I’m just being very generic with some of these people. It’s sad, but I feel like it’s the safest route to making friends at this point. Maybe I’m wrong about this, who knows? One of the girls I met since I’ve been here was telling me that for Halloween she wanted to dress up and go out with her friends. She’s an architect and her friends are government workers, and they told her she was crazy for wanting to get dressed up for Halloween and going out. (SIGH). It’s Halloween people, it’s socially acceptable to wear stupid costumes. I may have to come home when Halloween rolls around.

One thing I miss about home is my guy friends. Y’all know I’m a very social person and I love meeting new people. I thought about how I’m going to establish a group of guy friends. Do I go the bars and say “hey, I’m new, wanna be my friend?” Ugh, no, Sergio said that’s a no go. Bad idea, Anna. Plus, a girl going to bars by herself can give the wrong impression. Sad, but true. So, I’ve done some thinking and I figured the best way for me to meet guys would be for me to join some sports teams around here. I’ve looked into MeetUp.com and there are some sports leagues in my area. Bocce Ball looks promising. I’ve never played a day in my life, but hey, ya gotta start somewhere right? If y’all think of any other ideas, let a sista know. I’d appreciate it. That’s all for today folks.

-A