“The aim of life is appreciation; there is no sense in not appreciating things; and there is no sense in having more of them if you have less appreciation of them.” -G.K. Chesterton
Well guys.... I made it (kinda). Today was the first official day of my CLS adventure. I checked into the Renaissance Hotel in DC this afternoon and was met with a flourish of excitement. Over the course of the evening, I was able to meet with and get to know some of the other students who will be traveling to Malang with me, as well as mingle with those headed to China and Japan. While the students came from a variety of cities, educational backgrounds, and experiences, one thing stood out to me--they were all so excited to be in Washington DC! I guess since I grew up in the DC area, the city's novelty has long worn away--and thus I was surprised with my fellow CLSers were so excited to tour the national mall and pose in front of the monuments I had seen countless times.
As a child, I never really liked going to the museums or monuments, but I remember my parents always telling me I would appreciate them when I was older. And perhaps now I am starting to. People come from all across the world to visit Washington, DC--a city I have grown up so close to and have always taken for granted. This is the place of power, politics, change, and inspiration. Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr, Teddy Roosevelt, and so many other famous figures have walked the very streets that I do now. And some of humanity's most pristine and valued collections are housed in the Smithsonian, only a few blocks from where I am sitting now; and yet, so often, I hardly ever give them a second thought. There are so many opportunities here--to grow and learn, and now I am starting to see it. I am partially ashamed that it took me 18 years to realize what was here all along--what I was missing, and what I didn't always take the time to see.Labels: Indonesia: Summer 13, my story, personal