Washington DC – The Lord’s Gift for My 24th Birthday – Part II
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My adventure to Washington DC in 2013 thanks to God continues – great time with Nikolay, museums, and monuments in Washington. Meeting the graphic designer I admire the most for his work and meeting with interesting people from the computer world.
Walks in Washington
Nikolay and I start our adventure with a night walk around Washington, D.C. My first impression is not great. The city feels dark, and I see homeless people trying to sleep outside, which makes me feel uneasy. But with Nikolay by my side, I manage to stay calm.
We stop at a local pub for a drink, and I quickly notice the beer tastes different from the beer in Bulgaria.
Drinking Beer with Nikolay at a Local Pub in Washington DC (I don’t Drink Beer Anymore Following My Vegetarian Diet).
Afterward, we make our way back to our hotel. The streets in Washington are organized with names based on letters and numbers, so Nikolay has no trouble finding the way. I, on the other hand, struggle to sleep, as my initial impression of the city lingers.
However, the next day brings a change. It’s a bright and sunny October day. Nikolay and I visit the White House, the National Treasury, and the Washington Monument. We rent bikes and ride to the Capitol Building, the Museum of Natural History, the Air and Space Museum, and the Supreme Court.
With My Friend Nikolay at the White House.
With a Bike in front of the Washington Monument, which is currently under repair.
A Dinosaur Skeleton at the Museum of Natural History.
Aircrafts hanging from the ceiling at the Air and Space Museum.
After exploring for a while, Nikolay has to head back home, and we say our goodbyes. I’m grateful to God for letting me meet such a good friend, but sadly, it’s the last time I’ll see him, as I later lose his contact information.
Once back at the hotel, I sleep better now that I’ve seen a friendlier side of Washington. The city feels much more welcoming during the day.
Visiting the Lincoln Memorial
In the coming days, I visit the Lincoln Memorial. President Abraham Lincoln is someone I deeply admire for his faith and role in the abolition of slavery. I believe that God raised him to lead at a critical time in history.
At the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.
Next, I go to the hotel hosting the Topcoder competitions, which are divided into four categories: algorithm, design, data, and programming. I watch the top designers work and am fortunate enough to get a photo with one of the best graphic designers in the world. His work inspires me, and I learn a lot from his experience.
A Photo With One of the Best Graphic Designers in the World – Teeraporn Tong Sriponpak aka iamtong.
In my free time, I decide to explore Washington further. One thing I notice is the food. I visit McDonald’s and immediately realize that the fries and hamburgers taste different from those in Bulgaria. I actually prefer the Bulgarian version. Also, at McDonald’s in the U.S., you pay for a Coke or Fanta and can drink as much as you want, unlike in Bulgaria, where you’re limited to one refill.
As for the food at the hotel, I’m disappointed. The salad tastes like plastic, the soups are bland, and the omelet is only decent. The spaghetti I try at a restaurant is four times more expensive than in Bulgaria and worse. The only things I enjoy are the orange juice and the steak. I miss the food back home in Bulgaria.
Exploring the Streets of Washington
Despite the food disappointments, I notice how clean and organized the streets are. Every sidewalk has a bike lane, unlike in Bulgaria, where sidewalks are often in poor condition and there’s more trash. The grass areas in Washington are also well-kept. It’s a big difference from what I’m used to back home.
One morning, while walking past the Martin Luther King Memorial, I overhear a teacher asking her class, “Has anyone of you ever been bullied?” I appreciate how free speech and community are valued in the U.S. People here stand up against injustice, which is something I wish were more common in Bulgaria.
A Teacher Having a Lesson About Bullies at the Martin Luther King Memorial.
I also visit the Vietnam War Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and the Capitol Building. The Capitol is heavily guarded, with two security officers at the entrance, one holding binoculars and the other an MK 47 machine gun. It’s intimidating, and I’m reminded of the security at the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where guards check you with a similar intensity.
The museums in Washington, D.C., are fantastic, and most of them are free to visit. There’s so much to see, from displays of animals to old aircraft and even robots that have walked on the moon.
God Protects Me Through Frightening Unexpected Encounters
At some point during my stay, I forget my key card for the hotel door in my room. I tell the receptionist, and they send a security guard to let me into my room and check my identity.
As I am about to pull my passport out of my bag, the security guard reaches for his gun. I panic and very slowly take my passport out of my bag. The guard checks it, and thank God, everything is okay.
I am deeply stressed by how easy it is in the USA to have an encounter with armed people.
Another day, I’m withdrawing some money when I remember my PIN just the third time before it could be blocked. I feel grateful that God helped me once again.
Meeting with Ivo at the Bulgarian Embassy
I also visit the Bulgarian Embassy, where I meet my Christian friend Ivo, who works as a trade assistant there. Ivo shows me around, and we have fun pretending I’m a minister. Outside the embassy is a monument to Vasil Levski, a national hero who fought for liberty and justice during Ottoman rule in Bulgaria.
With Ivo at the Bulgarian Embassy in Washington DC.
Meeting with coworkers
While in Washington, I meet several inspiring people from Topcoder. One of them is Mr. Tong, a graphic designer whose work I greatly admire. He’s humble and kind.
I also meet a man from Myanmar, where only 1% of the population had internet access at that time. He’s the son of a minister or something like that, and his story is fascinating.
Another person I meet is from Russia, and he speaks to me in Russian. He tells me about a game website he created. I understand most of what he says because Russian is similar to Bulgarian.
I also attend a presentation by a young man who has developed a method for detecting certain types of cancer at an early stage, and he’s only about 15 years old.
In addition to these individuals, I meet several other graphic designers I’ve only spoken to online. It’s incredible to connect with them in person and learn from their experiences.
End of Part II