-Lots of streets are named after states. I’m close to Utah right now.
-The suit-wearing population is quite large. Lanyards are also very much in vogue.
-The Smithsonian is not a thing. It’s multiple things. I tried to walk to the “Smithsonian,” only to discover that the Smithsonian is actually 19 museums — including a zoological park!
-Acronyms and initialisms abound. Acronyms are initials that you can pronounce, such as “NASA,” and initialisms are initials you say letter-by-letter, like “FBI.”
-The White House is underwhelming. I saw it through the fence, took a selfie, and went off to find something more interesting to look at.
-Runners are everywhere. Look over your shoulder., there’s a runner. Cross the street, a runner is crossing with you. Time of day doesn’t matter–wherever you are, the runners will always be there.
-The metro at Arlington Cemetery shuts down at 7:00. This is very convenient for a certain taxi driver, who waits there for the uniformed tourist (namely me) to show up looking lost, tired, and confused by the lack of metro. The tourist then gives the aforementioned taxi driver $20 for a lift home.
-The metro stop where Zoe Barnes was pushed to her death in House of Cards DOES NOT EXIST. It was a set. Frank could not have killed Zoe in a real metro station because the platforms are open and not conducive to murder. Totally kills that scene for me now.
-Designer labels on clothes, bags, glasses, shoes, hats, watches, etc., are extremely common.
-People commute an hour and a half to travel 20 miles.
-Monuments and memorials are basically everywhere. The famous ones (e.g., Lincoln) are best seen at night.
My life abroad and elsewhere 