"Washington's a loser! A perfect loser!"
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Everywhere we go gets compared to the places we know. Washington, we've decided, is a bit strange. No one looks happy, Francisco observes, and he's right. Everyone looks hurried, but it's a different kind of hurried than New York hurriedness. Here, people seem to hunch their shoulders up, tuck their heads down, and scurry. There aren't a lot of kids here. Mostly recent graduates and middle aged people. Everyone wears a suit, their pants hit the tops of their ankles, and the colors of their clothes are blue, gray, and black. The taxis are not uniform. Even going to Whole Foods is not a happy experience. We've been three times now and every time we've had a bizarre encounter with, by turns, a hostile, apathetic, and pouty cashier. "I'm doing very bad," said one in response to Francisco's "How are you?" So it wasn't a surprise when we got into a cab yesterday and had to kick the driver's detritus--an empty cup, a partially smoked cigarette, and a sandwich wrapper--out of the way and that he then engaged in a verbal sparring match when I gave him our address and he wanted to verify that I'd looked it up first. "Why is Washington so weird?" Francisco asked the driver, whose attitude changed completely; it's obviously a topic he likes. "Washington is a loser! A perfect loser!" he said enthusiastically. He explained that there's little incentive to create community here because people view themselves as four or eight year residents who will move on when political fortunes change. "Even immigrants," he said, "make money, have an American child, and then go home." "Will you go home?" I asked him. "Never! No, no, no! I must stay and try to help my Washington. It needs my help." He's got his work cut out for him. |
I've gotten that same vibe while visiting, and hear all the time from others that D.C. is lacking in community. I'd love to hear from some long time D.C.ers who might prove us wrong with their experiences!
I liken DC to LA in the sense that both cities are highly superficial - whereas LA is all about the physical, DC is all about ambition, education, and who you know.
No shortage of diplomats and politicians here.
Regardless, it really is a fun city with excellent restaurants representing every ethnicity, and tons of happenings on the weekend.
East coast baby! :)
Don't get me wrong... I did ultimately decide that DC has many redeeming merits. For one thing, its metro system makes total intuitive sense-- and those little flashing lights on the platform and the signs telling passengers how long they have to wait for the next train are wonderful. (They'd be out of place in NY, though; I like to see people there strain to look deep into the tunnel for the next train).
The abundance of free museums is also good.
I just still can't figure out why I never saw anyone smile there! (except you!) ;)
Me too! D.C.-- come on and represent!
As an aside, I once lived in a building where the majority of the residents were United Nations employees. For the longest time, I was puzzled by why our building and the immediate neighborhood (including my business) failed to thrive. A diplomat who lived next door explained the reason to me in the same way the DC cab driver did-- "We just don't want to invest any energy," he said, "because we know we'll move on." It struck me as a sad statement and a sad way of life. I never really know how long I'm going to live anywhere, but I really do want to dig in deep wherever I am and try to become part of the community and make it better and participate in its life.
Well said. Even if I'm just on a weekend trip somewhere, I like to try to get a sense of the community. Watch for my upcoming post about a (small) Web site I'm creating to address just this...contributing to communities while traveling/touristing. It sounds like you could help me out a lot with ideas!
I've never been to DC but this made me smile!
Also, Julie, your productivity astounds me. :)
Eva-
It's all about the coffee (the productivity). ;)
D.C. is definitely land of the transient :)
Lola-
You definitely decoded some of the DC vibe for me!