July 4 Celebrations: DC trip

Yesterday, I went to DC to watch the fireworks for July 4 celebrations. I go to DC very frequently, but yesterday I had very unique experiences. First, while I was going to DC, a girl walked up to me at the metro station and said that she really liked my top I  was wearing. We started talking and it turned out that our destination was similar. She is born and raised here but her parents are from Pakistan. We exchanged numbers and decided to meet again.

My second stop was to go with a friend to another friends place and watch the fireworks from his balcony. It was an eclectic gathering. I met a lot of people young and old, of different nationalities and faith. It was quite interesting to talk to people there. Almost everyone had a story to tell. One lady told me an interesting story about an Indian girl who came to America to do her bachelors and then stayed here. She talked about her emotional struggle to settle down here. Another man asked me about my dissertation project and wanted to know about the findings. He was from USAID, he wanted to know how mobile phones can improve the life of young people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Then there was an artist, who complimented me on my outfit. She really liked the way I had put the whole ensemble together – my earrings and the top. At the party there were at least 3 – 4 people who made the same comment.

Then I was walking down the road and a couple getting into a car, made the same comment about my outfit. It was really strange and exciting to hear so many compliments in one night about what I was wearing. A little bit of fashionable clothing is indeed a great way to start a conversation or to get people’s attention. It is a way to connect with people. Yet I think today fashion has lost that attribute of connection, a sense of community and belonging. It’s become more of a commercial medium.

And then the most amazing coincidence happened. I was waiting for the metro. It was past midnight. I was sleepy and tired. I was in transit, changing from one metro to another. The metro came and went by, it didn’t stop. Almost everyone who ran to catch, sighed and stared at one another in helplessness. Another was after almost 20 min. I still needed to travel at least an hour before I could reach home. I asked the young American girl standing in front of me where she was going. Lo and behold, she was actually going to the same apartment building as mine. In the next 20 min, we introduced ourselves and exchanged our frustrations about the metro. I even managed a short interview of 5 min. of her social/ mobile medis usage. She then offered to give me a ride home since she was driving from the metro station. On our way home, we just couldn’t keep our eyes open. We slept the whole way, she gave me a ride home. Towards the end, I asked her if she liked Indian food. If so, I would love to have her come over. She was excited about it.

Today, we went out to Indian restaurant for dosas and fixed a date for another dinner. What an interesting day!!!