There is something mysterious about D.C. I don’t mean that in a negative way but rather in an exciting and an intriguing way. Every time I step foot back in the city or, as I like to call it, the District, It feels like stepping into a world full of history, drama, activism, knowledge but also mysteriousness. Washington is very exciting. It has the nation’s major institutions, it is super rich with culture, it is considered to be wide learning lab and it is also a global village. The city is definitely unique and it has all sorts of stories to tell. Therefore, to me, Washington, DC is as boasting as any other metropolitan attraction whether it was New York City, Chicago or even Los Angeles.
The District is always fun to be in, there are a lot of cool museums, restaurants and corners. I mean, even the streets, simply, are just so breathtaking to be in. Not to mention the cherry blossom days which I am really excited about. But not just a few weeks ago, surprisingly, I wasn’t excited to be here at all. I just arrived to the States few weeks ago from Egypt to study at American University. Since I have been in the district before at least a couple of times. It didn’t feel like I am embarking on a new journey. However, I totally forgot that this time I will be actually living and staying here for quite a time. All my previous visits were very short and I was merely a tourist and not even a traveler or a resident. I planned to write, play some sports, hop on to coffee shops and re-cap the museums while I am here.
However, soon, I was to realize that I misjudged the city. I thought that there wouldn’t be much to do in the district and that I would most probably hit nearby cities every other weekend. Well, I was mistaken, big time. I think that I owe the district an apology. I realized how big the city was and how diverse it was. Previously, I only got to explore some attractions mainly around downtown but now, I realize that there is a lot more to this city. I guess I developed an adventurous spirit by being in a different college community and not only because I am staying here for quite some time. American University is really proud of the district and the students, many of which come from across the nation, feel like its home for them. The district truly releases the best of you and gets you really hyped about being a university student in such a community.
But what really inspired me to write this brief piece of experience. Last week, I went for a walk at night around downtown. This is one of my completely random walks which I do for no reason but to immerse myself in new adventures. It was around 8 PM so the city was almost about to sleep. As I got out of union station and stated walking towards the North Capital Street, I noticed the dome of the Capitol building. For a sudden moment, I recalled one of my favorite scenes from House of Cards. With Trump, being the president, I was like oh sh*t, DC is never going to be the same again. As I was crossing the street and staring at the building. I thought of how good and bad time it is to be on the district. What if it gets worse? What if I have to, as non-American Middle Easterner, leave the country forever and never come back again? What is the future of this place? It seems that we are going back on the old days where human rights were not commonly discussed and where only certain segments of the society were respected.
As I continued walking I noticed a fence and over the fence I saw and old building that looked like a federal building. This was on H Street and later it turned out that the building was school. Here two things came to my mind. First, the fence, and I don’t know why, brought the idea of urban division in my mind. I remembered how Trump is planning to build a wall and how Berlin suffered for many years from division. The street was quite busy but the other side was so quite. The second thought was a sensation of Déjà vu. I have no idea how my mind reached that in a simple look over a fence. Usually, my Déjà vu’s are more complex and involve more than one scene. Yet, this one was so rapid and so strong. I knew and I was sure that I saw that building somewhere else before. With the earlier thought, this confirmed some negative expectations in my mind about the future. Déjà vu are supposed to be nice, lovely yet confusing relapses of experienced history. This one was so complex that it hit me hard in my mind and I knew it would stick forever. Maybe I should write more about it or give it more thought. Maybe it is a sign for something. Maybe it is just a minor experience that was meant to remind me of the district when I leave it. I know for sure, it means something and it hold something. This very fact makes me proud, happy and excited to be in the district.
