My First Time Back East

There are two things that stand out in my mind about the last time I was in Washington, D.C. (which was also my first time on the East Coast): The first was taking a rubbing of my uncle's name at the Vietnam War Memorial, and the second was riding in a taxi cab for the first time.  To be fair, my mom and I also saw the Smithsonian, the Holocaust Museum, and walked past most of the big monuments, but in my memory as a 12-year-old visitor, my day trip to DC was less about the incredible culture and more about a mother-daughter adventure in a big city.

This time around, with five weeks to spend in a new place chock-full of big names and big attractions, I've been polling friends and family to see where I should spend my time.  Here's the short list:

1. The new MLK, Jr. monument

2. Explore Georgetown

3. See a Washington Nationals game

4. Visit Alexandria

5. American Art Museum

6. Try all of the great food

7. Independence Day celebrations

Introductions

Welcome!  Thanks for taking a look at the blog where I'll document my adventures in the "other" Washington over the course of the next five weeks!  I just finished my first year of dental school at the University of Washington School of Dentistry in Seattle and will be interning in DC during July and August.  Each year, the Washington State Dental Association sends a dental student to DC to become immersed in politics... to discover how healthcare policy is shaped, to cultivate an understanding of the legislative process, and to experience life in our nation's fast-paced capitol.  As this summer's student intern, I will be serving in Congressman Rick Larsen's office (from my own District 2) and living at George Washington University.  In this virtual diary I'll share my experiences in hot and humid DC...  touring museums, tasting new cuisines, and taking time to study for my national board exam!  Thanks for reading!