Word: summering
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Dates: during 2000-2000
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WASHINGTON--I'm interning in the White House this summer. So far, it's been a phenomenal experience to rub shoulders with John Podesta, the current chief of staff--especially for someone who dreams of someday holding that post...
...there's one thing that has taught me far more about the most important things in life this summer than any errand I run for Mr. Podesta--my summer address...
...having dinner a month ago with a friend and her parents in suburban Maryland. They were mortified that I was going to be living in Southeast. They forbade my friend from coming down to visit my place because they feared crime. When I lived in Georgetown last summer, she was welcome to visit as much as she wanted. That a knife attack occurred on my old Georgetown block the week before I dined with them was meaningless. Further, there had been no reported crimes in my Southeast neighborhood, Eastern Market. Since then, there have been two high-profile murders...
...fear expressed by my friend's parents is inexplicable. Such a fear of Southeast is common, even among city-dwellers. I'm sure it is part of the reason why only two Harvard students are living in my neighborhood this summer, even though the rent is much lower than in Northwest. Even the Let's Go travel guides warn visitors to stay away from 8th Street (my street) at night...
Prejudices like this are a fact of life. The trick is overcoming them and not avoiding a gem of a neighborhood like Eastern Market because you fear what you do not know. Living in Southeast for a summer has shown me the benefits to be gained from living in a new and different community. I hope others can find ways to overcome their fears...