“What it takes to be American” – Day 1

Flight departed at 7PM. Sharp. And at 8:15PM, I am in DC!

Probably one of the shortest plane rides I ever took, however, the plane was PACKED. I have to put my carry-on checked at the boarding gate because they ran out of space on the plane.

I’m guessing many people going home or visiting friends and family over the spring break.

The next day, I woke up around 9AM and went for a quick jog around the block to get some breakfast.

Sun was shinning bright and it was 9 degrees outside, light spring breeze touched my face while I walked down The Wharf at Maine Ave SW.

I ate breakfast.

This is my first proper visit to Washington DC since when I am a toddler. I do not remember anything from back then.

First impression of the city: corporate, political and tech, maybe it is because of the museums and government headquarters here, even the advertisement of Boeing at a bus stop uses a military plane.

Today I put on my tourist hat.

There were many tour bus and school field trips in popular sites. I visited the Smithsonian National Museum of Nature History, it was also filled with people. Many families and little toddlers who likes dinosaurs.

Architecture of Smithsonian National Museum of Nature History. Taken on 11th March 2022.

In front of the Smithsonian Museum is the National Mall and Memorial Parks which leads to Union Square. President Biden was inaugurated here at 12:00PM on 20th January 2021.

Union Square filled with food trucks and people eating ice cream on the ground. Taken on 11th March 2022.

As I sit that to write my reflection at my hotel, I received a text from my friend from Afghanistan.

Because of Afghanistan’s identity security issue, I am using the name Afsana when referring to her.

Text from Afsana, received at 6pm 11th March 2022.

This research trip is dedicated to her, and many other’s trying to survive under the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.

My focus of this research is to give back to my dear friend, and also to bring awareness towards the injustice and dictatorship under the Taliban’s rule.