After living in D.C. for only six weeks, I know there is no other city I’d rather be in during my four years of college. Despite the pestering humidity and frequent rain, the city proves to be nothing less than perfect for activities and never-ending novelty.
However, one of the best parts about D.C. is how easily you can leave it, without even needing to pack a suitcase or fight for a visa.
The French Embassy held its 2011 Euronight Celebration Sept. 23, a night of European cuisine and discovery on what is technically French soil. European embassies throughout the D.C. area provided food, drinks and entertainment to a sold-out crowd of college students, D.C. natives and ex-pats who seek the international culture our nation’s capital has to offer.
I’ll admit that I love walking through Georgetown, sipping coffee in Dupont and shopping at the Forever 21 at the Metro Center, but now I know not to take the embassies, and everything they offer to D.C. residents, for granted.
The wonderful thing about AU’s location is its proximity - and I mean literally walking distance - to Embassy Row, and with it a gateway to culture that is inaccessible anywhere else.
How many people can say they went trick-or-treating at the Spanish Embassy or attended the German Embassy Open House and ate bratwurst?
The wonderful thing about these events is that they are not closed to diplomats or political personnel but are open to the public. The International Club of D.C. offers not only events throughout the city, but also provides volunteer and committee work for any of its events.
The city also provides its residents with its annual event, Passport D.C., a monthlong exploration of Washington’s international culture featuring festivals, open houses, embassy events and performances.
Events include the Around The World Embassy Tour, where various embassies open their doors to the public to showcase their cuisine and cultural heritage; French jazz performances; Latin dance workshops; and various movie screenings for kids offered by the Australian and Brazilian Embassies.
During Welcome Week, we were warned to not try and discover all of D.C. in one month, but instead to pace ourselves throughout our four years in the city. I’ll offer a different piece of advice: get to know the embassies, subscribe to emails and newsletters and join international clubs. Take advantage of the unique opportunity we AU students were given and travel the world in four years.
And lastly, start thinking about your Halloween costume and go trick-or-treating on Embassy Row.
For more information on cultural events, visitinternationalclubdc.com.
