UGA DC Semester Program

Before being chosen to intern in DC for the summer, I had never actually spent an extended period of time in our nation’s capital. So I still had a ton of questions about the two months I would be in DC. What would I eat for two months? How do I get to Capitol Hill from where I would be living? What would I do when I’m not working? My questions were quickly answered when I arrived. Luckily, as fast-paced of a city DC is, it was easy to fall into the lifestyle of a young professional in a bustling metropolis.

Prior to arriving in DC, I arranged to live in a George Washington University dorm room for my stay in the city. My room actually resembled a suite and was much larger than we know here at UGA. My room had its own kitchen, but since I didn’t pack pots in my suitcases, I resigned to the fact that I would be eating out a lot. My dorm was a 5 minute walk from Georgetown where there were many restaurants and shops, and a 5 minute walk from Safeway Grocery Store. This concept of walking everywhere took a little getting used to. In Savannah, we hop in our SUVs and drive everywhere.

For my internship, I was placed in the office of Congressman John Barrow. My dorm was a fairly long way away from Barrow’s Capitol Hill office. I learned it would be about a 30-45 minute metro ride, depending on how busy the trains were.

This was all that I knew on my first day in DC. The following list is of essential things I learned over the course of two months. My gift to you:

1. If you fly to DC and take a cab from the airport, don’t let the cab driver trick you into paying more money by taking the longest route because he claims the bridge from Arlington county to Washington, DC is “closed.” Apparently, that hardly ever happens.

2. Spend a lot of time in the Georgetown area.

3. Eat at Mie N Yu on M Street at least once.

4. Spend one Friday night in Mr. Smith’s Piano Bar. Its more fun than it sounds.

5. Buy a SmarTrip Card for the Metro, if only for the reason of not looking like a complete tourist.

6. If you end up working for a Representative, make as many trips to the House Supply Store as possible. They play the best music. Dancing is optional.

7. Take a weekend to do some sightseeing: monuments, memorials, museums, The White House, etc.

8. Go to as many receptions as possible. Trust me. Towards my last month in DC, I was averaging about 3 receptions a week.

9. Take advantage of the Happy Hour deals after work for cheap food. (i.e. 10 cents wings, 50 cents tacos.)

10. Make the most of the time when you’re not working, as tired as you may be. DC is an amazing place.

-Jamarri Ivy