the adventure begins...

everything was familiar until the plane touched down in Dulles International Airport. I was blessed with the warmest welcome, with Amanda picking me from the airport and Lauren & Liz running down the hallway squeeling when I arrived at Lauren's apartment. My first night in DC was spent with 4 girls I already new from Rwanda - such a big huge blessing!!

I am staying with a friends in Capitol Hill and Adams Morgan neighbourhoods while I find permanent housing. DC is just gorgeous, leafy streets, not overcrowded like London, cute little bookstores and coffee shops...love it.

I'm now at the end of my first day in DC. It really is the small victories in a new place which give you so much joy. I stepped out of the house this morning thinking someone would notice I wasn't from round here...but I fooled them. I found my way to the metro (not tube or underground) station and cleverly held back to watch other people buy tickets and go through the barriers first, to make sure there was no embarrasing 'scottish woman stuck in barriers' incident.

I found my way to the AT&T store to try and get a phone organised - i was successful and am the proud owner of an iphone! it is really as wonderful as everyone claims. Then i wandered past the White House where a couple of Australians asked for some directions, then realised I wasn't local and asked if I was from Canada. I am fitting in that well already.

The Mall area in Washington is really spectacular and beautiful today in the sunshine. I wore myself out wandering up to the Lincoln Memorial and back (the distances look smaller on the map!).

Nothing profound to say yet but enjoying discovering the new city bit by bit.