The self-guided trip to Washington D.C. was a transformative experience.
Learning about American history and the U.S. government, along with seeing many of the iconic places of the country (including the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, Kennedy Center, and the Capitol Visitor Center) gave me a compelling opportunity to deepen and expand my knowledge of the diverse
histories of American people.
Creating memories and sharing beautiful moments with other international students made the trip much more special to me. Together, we explored multiple captivating historical landmarks and experienced some of the best local food we have ever had. Not only is traveling in a pack safer, it’s also much more fun to experience new places, cultures and cuisines with other people who see the world differently.
Public transportation is accessible everywhere with the metro and buses taking you everywhere you need to go. No trip to Washington D.C. is complete without some retail therapy; some of us decided to bike around Georgetown to check out some of the local boutiques and upscale second-hand stores in the neighborhood. Although Georgetown is most known for its shopping area, we also explored much of the 18th and 19th-
century architecture and Georgetown University.
My favorite part was volunteering at the marathon event on Thanksgiving Day. The volunteer perspective and the feeling of everyone working together for the benefit of the runners was rewarding. Despite the cold, foggy morning, being part of the experience was inspiring.