Category: Washington, DC
Alyssa Lodge
Music to My Ears
By Alyssa Lodge
Spring 2015
I love music—it is so special because it has the ability to evoke an indescribable feeling of inspiration, emotion, and hope that you can’t find in anything else. Recently, one of my hobbies has been finding singer/songwriter artists that have a lot of talent and not much recognition—I have found that some of the best artists are not those whose name appears in lights outside of a stadium.
Lucky for me, I have spent the semester in DC where one of its “claims to fame” is the music scene and I have been fortunate enough to stumble upon several wonderful artists while I have been here. The music and the atmosphere of the venues that I have come across compliment one another and make for quite the experience.
Hibba Meraay
The Cool Realities of Living in the Nation’s Capital
By Hibba Meraay
Spring 2015
Although I’ve made a few trips down to DC over the years, this semester was my first true DC emersion experience. As any diligent list maker would do, I set out to make a DC bucket list early in January. I included all the trademark tourist sites and activities like the monuments, Smithsonian museums, and Cherry Blossom festival, but as I checked more and more items off my list I realized that there are some intangible DC experiences that can’t be captured in a list. Here are two things about living in DC that you might not anticipate but I believe are an integral part of the DC experience.
Jamie Engel
History Buffs in Washington, DC
By Jamie Engel
Spring 2015
As a lover of all things history, specifically American political history, spending a semester “away” in Washington, DC was a dream come true. There is an abundance of exciting, history-related activities to take advantage of while you are exploring the District, and I have compiled a list of things you must see before you head back to the Commonwealth.
1. Martins Tavern, Georgetown
For those of you who have never met me, you should be aware that I am an American history enthusiast and that I have a soft spot for President John F. Kennedy. That being said, it only makes sense that I would suggest taking a stroll through Georgetown and stopping in for a quick bite to eat at Martins Tavern. At this iconic watering hole, you have the opportunity to sit in booths named after the famous politicians that frequently visited the restaurant. You can sit in Harry Truman’s booth (booth 6), George W. Bush’s table (table 12), or enjoy your brunch in the one-person booth that John F. Kennedy used to frequent as a young Congressman. Martin’s Tavern is also where JFK proposed to Jackie—so naturally this landmark is quite significant for fellow JFK enthusiasts.
Devon King
DC Do's and Don'ts
By Devon King
Spring 2015
DC has a lot of rules, so which ones should you follow? Here’s a list of 19 do’s and don’ts to make your time in DC more enjoyable and make it seem like you’re a local.
- Don’t: stand on the left of the escalator. Seriously. People will shove you or talk badly about you.
Do: walk on the left, stand on the right. - Don’t: eat on the Metro. It’s actually against the law, and you can be fined. You really can wait 20 minutes to eat your bag of chips.
Do: buy your snacks and drinks once you get to your destination. More
Alyssa Lodge
Get in on LinkedIn
By Alyssa Lodge
Spring 2015
The greatest lesson taught in DC is the power of professionalism. From building a network to perfecting a handshake, learning the steps towards a professional career is essential and valuable. DC is the ideal city in which to master these skills based on its production of highly successful politicians, business people, and scholars.
The BUDC program in particular has focused on networking, acquiring the motivation to pursue a career path, getting involved in the DC community, and being conscious of a professional online presence. The latter is the point I’m going to address. On the topic of professionalism, there is no better online social media to talk about than LinkedIn—it can be a powerful tool if you know how to make the most of it.
Meghan Durfee
Hot Spot Study Spaces
By Meghan Durfee
Spring 2015
Something that you might pick up on shortly after starting classes is that it can be difficult to get even the simplest tasks done at the Debonair. For me, there is always the temptation of a Netflix marathon or baking some sort of treat. Consequently, I quickly learned that there are great spots throughout the city to spend a morning or an afternoon crossing off some things on your never-ending to do lists!
- Tryst is an awesome specialty coffeehouse located in Adams Morgan, just a quick 15-minute walk away from the Debonair. It has a very relaxed vibe, quite similar to a boutique version of Pavement Coffehouse. There are communal tables, comfy couches, and secluded window seats to kick start some homework for the week. I would recommend visiting on a Friday morning; it’s not overly crowded and the WiFi is free. They also have an awesome brunch menu if you work up an appetite studying.
Tryst’s ambiance is extremely conducive for some studying! Photo Credit: www.trystdc.com
Becca Saran
How to Survive DC as a Second Semester Senior
By Becca Saran
Spring 2015
With graduation quickly approaching, the real world can seem daunting and scary. Here is some advice I would give to any second semester seniors on the BUDC program as they transition to life after graduation as a young professional:
Alec Lynde
How You Can Dress For Success In Washington, DC
By Alec Lynde
Spring 2015
Note: advice is for men’s clothing only
Whenever I move to a new place I am inevitably dragging at least four suitcases full of clothes behind me…and maybe one smaller suitcase just for my shoes. This posed a problem for me when I made plans to fly to Washington, DC for the spring semester. Obviously, I would not be able to bring four suitcases on the airplane.
I was mostly concerned about having clothes to wear to work. If you’ve ever walked into a clothing store, then you know how quickly you can break the bank trying to buy a pair of jeans, never mind a whole wardrobe for work. So how did I do it? How did I manage to pack a DC-appropriate wardrobe into two suitcases without spending a fortune? Let’s take this step-by-step.
Camila Rivera-Garcia
The Start-up World
By Camila Rivera-Garcia
Spring 2015
I am currently working in Grid Waste, a start-up company that helps waste generators find the best prices for all types of waste disposal. It was established in 2014 and has between 1-10 employees. In my position in Grid Waste Content Marketing and Social Media Intern, I have six deliverables every week, whether newsletters, infographics, articles, blog, or social media content. When finding internships, I applied to many non-profits and only one start-up. When the time came for me to choose between a well-known think tank and a start-up company, I decided that the start-up was the right fit for me.
My Office. Photo taken by Chelsea St. Onge-May
Alejandro Herreria
Culture: D.C. from the Eyes of a BU Student
By Alejandro Herreria
Spring 2015
When I first came to Washington, D.C. as part of the Boston University Study Abroad program, I was unsure what to expect as far as the culture. I really enjoyed the city the last time I visited but was unsure of how it would be living in a city known primarily for politics. Would I be the only one who didn’t know a lot about politics? Would the city’s charm wear off as I started to grow tired of political talk? These were honest questions that I had asked myself on the eight hour drive down from Massachusetts, which were all the more terrifying since I didn’t really know the answers.
