Congratulations to everyone accepted into the Fall 2014
Washington Program class! Now start looking for jobs and housing.
I’m only slightly kidding. You all should be very excited
about the amazing program you are going to take part in, but you should also
take the preparation process seriously. Although I started looking for housing
soon after I got accepted, we had some crises in the process and we did not end
up finalizing our housing until the weeks between thanksgiving and finals. I
was extremely busy and it caused me a lot of unnecessary stress during that
time period. Thus, I would advise you to look sooner rather than later. Also,
be wary of Craigslist and always verify postings with the property manager. You
want to limit your anxiety as much as possible during this process, so do not
be afraid to reach out to program alumni and friends in DC for help.
Now that I’ve given you some preparatory advice, I will
return to discussing the experience in DC. Most importantly, I have some more
recipes for you!
As a native Southern Californian, I am a huge fan of Mexican
food. You can put almost anything in a tortilla with cheese and it will be
delicious. (Even the Internet
agrees!) Mexican-inspired dishes are also very easy to prepare on short notice
with the food you have lying around the house. I always keep canned beans,
frozen vegetables, tortillas (or some sort of wrap) and cheese on hand because they
are perfect for a quick meal after work. In general, I suggest you buy canned
and frozen vegetables because they are very inexpensive and will last the
entire semester.
You also never know when you’ll be trapped
inside from weather! We have had numerous snow days this semester and having good
food on hand has been enormously convenient.
Last week I was really busy and was unable to go grocery
shopping, but I had enough supplies that I could throw together a delicious and
healthy meal after class in under 25 minutes.
I am a vegetarian and try to eat gluten-free, so I made this
veggie and egg quesadilla with a teff flour wrap. The wrap can be unwieldy and
fall apart, so it is easier to use if you cut it in half.
When I have more time on the weekends, cooking can be very
relaxing. I’ve started amassing a repertoire of my favorite dishes and this one
is definitely on the top of the list. It is a basil pesto zucchini pasta with
sweet peas on a bed of arugula. The one tool you need for this dish that you
might not have is a box grater – they are cheap and useful so I highly
recommend getting one. The dish is fairly simple and the only labor intensive
parts are finding fresh zucchini during the winter and then actually grating
the vegetables. Otherwise, the ingredients are easy to find and the recipe is
predominantly guided by personal taste.
First, I washed and grated the zucchini then pan-fried it in
a little olive oil. Then I added about a tablespoon of crushed garlic – it is
much easier to buy the jarred garlic and store it in your fridge than manually
doing this.
After letting the zucchini cook until it was dark green and
tender, I added two tablespoons of basil pesto and a tablespoon of Greek
yogurt. You can add whatever dairy product you like or none at all.
Finally, I added half a can of sweet peas. I let them cook
for a couple of minutes with the zucchini before placing the mixture on a bed
of arugula. Topping the dish with
Parmesan cheese is also highly recommended!
Although staying home and cooking with friends can be fun
and relaxing, sometimes it is also nice to get away on the weekends.
Washington, DC is conveniently located on the Eastern seaboard near numerous
vibrant cities. Moreover, it is unbelievably easy and fairly inexpensive to
book a Megabus online, which departs from Union Station. You can take the metro
right into the station to catch your bus. Sarah and I both have family in
Pennsylvania, so last weekend we took a trip to Philadelphia. It was a
four-hour trip on the way there (because we made multiple stops) and only three
hours to return. Not only was it great seeing my family, but Philadelphia also
has so many historic attractions! I love the impressionist movement and the
Philadelphia Museum of Art has an extensive impressionist and
post-impressionist collection. It is also connected to the Rodin Museum (not
the Musée Rodin), where you can use your Philadelphia Museum ticket to see a
moderately sized collection of the artist’s famous works. Of course, you can’t
miss out on Independence Hall and the founding-era sites. It was very touching
to visit the birthplace of our nation now that I’m working at the federal
government. I highly recommend everyone do this at some point during your time
here.
The Rodin Museum
Independence Hall
View from the top of the steps Rocky ran at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
I cannot conclude this post without a culinary suggestion,
so I have to mention Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal & Market. This huge
indoor market occupies what once was the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad’s
Terminal Station. It began operation in 1892 as a colonial-inspired market and
now houses tons of diverse food and grocery stands. The bazaar-like atmosphere
is exciting and the food is delicious. This in itself is worth the bus-ride.
Reading Terminal & Market (pronounced "Redding")
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