I hope everyone has had a great summer!
First, a little about me: I grew up in Yorktown, VA and I’m starting my senior year as a social work major at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. After months of planning, stressing, interviewing and Googling, I've started an internship with Arlington Refugee Services where I’m helping out with a program called Breaking the Barriers, which provides pre-employment training and other services to refugees trying to make it in northern Virginia. I couldn’t be more excited!
I can't believe it's already been a week since the big move! Last week was spent trying to get everything set up in my new apartment in Arlington, getting to know my three incredible roommates, and doing the tourist thing. A lot of information was thrown at us at the orientation, but it was a great way to meet people. Admittedly, though, I was pretty happy to see the weekend.
View from my apartment balcony
While I was eating breakfast on the balcony Saturday morning (the weather has been gorgeous), I noticed a Farmer's Market set up on the street below. After checking that out, my roommates and I headed to Chinatown to eat at a great hole-in-the-wall Chinese place and grab some bubble tea. Since Monday was a holiday, I spent the day trying to unravel the mystery of public transportation and finish up some reading assignments for my classes in Nashville.
Today was the first official day of work and class, and it's been a whirlwind. The folks at Arlington Refugee Services have let me get my hands dirty pretty quickly, though, and after a quick orientation I'm already helping process some new clients!
All in all, I won't lie- the transition hasn't been easy, but it's already been incredibly rewarding. For starters, I missed my bus today by only a few seconds and had to hail a cab for the first time in my life! As a side note, people move quickly here, and I've definitely been run over on the Metro escalators more times than I'd like to admit (these people are very serious about the "stand to the right, walk to the left" thing). My internet also isn't quite up and running in my room yet, and walking to the grocery store is going to take some getting used to. I've decided that this experience isn't for the faint of heart, but being in this city is absolutely incredible. I've even found a cozy coffeehouse where I can hide out if I start stressing.
Lost Roommates
Right now, I can hear a serviceman playing "Taps" in the Arlington Cemetery just a few blocks behind my building. This means that it's time to go inside, get some sleep, and get ready for another exciting day tomorrow. This time, I'll try not miss the bus!
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