the district.

A little less than a year ago, as I was getting ready to make a move across the country, I started having crazy dreams.

I had a dream about hitch hiking my way through D.C., but I encountered all sorts of wild animals on the way, which made making it to the heart of the city almost impossible.

I had another dream about the organization I ended up interning for. And I swear to this day that the colors of the walls in my dream matched the purple walls of our office. It was meant to be!

More dreams about getting lost/stuck in an apartment building in NYC, another one about having to figure out how to get back to my apartment in D.C. (this one after I arrived), etc.

I also started to feel a little nervous. I was embarking on this big huge adventure, and I had no idea what it would be like. My mom asked me who I’d like to pick me up from the airport and gave me a couple of options. I ended up paying for a shuttle, because I was way too shy to impose upon somebody that I didn’t even know.

It turns out that I left my heart in the city, LOVED my internship, LOVED the people who I was too afraid to impose upon, and had to go to the zoo to see any wild animal besides a squirrel.

 I felt like a big girl, and let’s just say that the wanderlust festered in me until I finally signed up for this trip to Africa.

….But now, those doubts are creeping up once again. Luckily this time, I knew it was coming, so I’m a bit more prepared. But international travel has been a little different. There’s coordinating with the embassy to obtain a visa, trying to juggle all of the medications I’m going to need to fight off those blasted mosquitoes, and figuring out every last detail related to my research.

People keep on preparing me for the culture shock I’ll feel, and the safety concerns I might encounter, and the food that I may or may not like. It’s a bit unsettling to say the least.

But I’m trying to keep my eyes on the prize. 

My dad has recited the following quote to me ever since I was a little kid:

“Our doubts are traitors, and cause us to lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.”           –William  Shakespeare.

 

It’s true, I have no idea what to expect. And quite frankly, I am not sure that I want to hear any more horror stories about international travel (they’re getting to be a little bit much). But I know that this experience will change me, it will challenge me, and I’m convinced that so much good will come from it.

I wouldn't trade my experiences in D.C. for anything. I made friends that I will keep in contact with for the rest of my life. I also learned things about the world (and myself) that changed the course of my schooling, solidified my career choice, and put me through experiences that I needed so badly at that time. In short, it was no mistake that I was in D.C. when I was. So in the words of my good friend: "Brave got us into this, brave will get us through." Because if I'm not brave, I'm going to miss out on something that could change me again, and that's something that I'm not willing to pass up.