Getting here: Part 1

(This would've been posted last night, but the internet "broke"--for lack of a better word--at the apartment, and now I am posting this from school. I hope to attempt resolving the issue when we get back.)

So I left on Tuesday, June 18th. I flew from Austin with 4 other people in the program to Washington D.C. The plane was sketchy and I sat almost in the very back (one seat in front of it), with the woman behind me talking continuously. Her voice sounded like too many squawking birds crammed into a small chamber, and she was constantly asking questions of, what I assume are, her step-children (based on how little knowledge she had of them), but she never really listened to any of the answers before plowing on. Then her and her entire family, (which surrounded me, btw) ate really smelly burritos after the plane took flight. Thanks. The smell of eggs and potatoes is exactly the thing I need for turbulent air-travel.

Anyway, after arriving in D.C. and collecting our bags, our group of five took a large taxi to the hotel, the Embassy Suites, and met up with the rest of our group. The hotel would've been lovely, save for the high-schooler infestation, which was loud and likely disease ridden.

Hotel Pre-Infestation

While we had the first night off, and I did little to explore the wonders of this nation's capital, the next day we had an orientation solely intended to scare us about our upcoming trip. Basic summary: you will die and/or be recruited by a foreign government, unless you follow these three easy steps! Don't eat the food unless it's been cooked (and even then, beware, and eat at your own risk), don't venture into unpopulated areas, and don't accept money from strange government-esque officials who are trying to be your friend.

"And that is why you always wear a helmet."

Afterwards, we went to a fancy restaurant, and not just any fancy restaurant, but a Middle Eastern fancy restaurant, because the exact food that I want before going to the Middle East and having nothing but Middle Eastern food for two months, is Middle Eastern food.

We continued with more orientation the next day, to wrap up the fright-fest, and afterwards I ventured with a couple of people around the Washington streets, which, by the way, are not arranged in reasonable, logical squares. Instead they are arranged in a confusing pattern of hateful triangles and circles.  

"Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor."

But it was pretty.

Then, at 5, we all met up and went to the airport once we were able to free ourselves from the traffic besieging the city.

At least people had nice enough cars for us to stare at while we waited.

The flight out of Washington was 8 hours of darkness, turbulence, sitting, and suspicious foods. However, the guy sitting next to me was super nice and highly talkative. His name is Cyrus, and he's a professor here in the states, originally from Iran. His native language was Farsi, but we had a lovely conversation for 1.5 hours or so (in English), in which he was very encouraging of my language pursuits.

So it wasn't all bad.

(...to be continued when I have more time...)