Wow, how is it possible it’s August already? This summer is flying quickly, but so far it’s been a great one. I have, however, fallen down a bit (well, totally) on my plans to do monthly recaps of my travels and experiences in D.C. So I’ve decided to combine the months of June and July into a single post, because a) I’m lazy like that and b) July was a pretty quiet month without much travel, so it makes more sense to do a two-month recap anyway.
Here, then, are the highlights of my June and July 2018:
June/July 2018 Monthly Recap
View of a mist-covered mountain outside Nairobi
Where I Traveled: Kenya, Florida, Washington, DC.
A majestic giraffe in Kenya.
My one big trip of this two-month period was to Kenya for a work conference. I’d been before, but this time I was lucky to have a full day at the end to explore Nairobi and its surroundings. I visited the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where I got a quick but wonderful glimpse of baby elephants at play; the Giraffe Centre, where I got to watch these enormous, majestic creatures eat, play, and strut around in nature; and a local bead factory, where we got to see how beads and ceramics are made. It was a wonderful day, and I hope to explore more of Kenya in the future—I know I’ll be back in East Africa at some point next year!
Best Meal/Best Drink: My friends and I visited Agua 301, a Mexican restaurant and bar in DC’s Southwest waterfront area. I’d been impressed with the upscale Mexican cuisine before, and it didn’t disappoint this time: my chicken empanadas and guacamole were both great. The frozen peach sangria is pretty amazing as well, so I’m awarding it this month’s Best Drink title!
Best Cultural Experience: This is an easy one: in July, I was fortunate enough to see Hamilton at the Kennedy Center! I didn’t know too much about the show going in (I deliberately didn’t listen to the songs beforehand, so I could be blown away on performance day), and I really loved the music, the actors, and the story itself. Learning more about Alexander Hamilton’s life, as well as that pivotal era in the formation of the United States, was fascinating to a history nerd like myself–and also, in these turbulent times, a powerful reminder of all our country has been through and survived. Not to mention that Hamilton’s frenzied efforts to write, create, and live his best life in the time he had on earth are incredibly inspiring; I am already working to incorporate these lessons into my own life, up my productivity, and to try and to learn new things as often as I can.
Best Read: I read a few new books these past two months. I enjoyed Dear Madam President, by Jennifer Palmieri, a former staffer on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Part memoir of the campaign and her own life, and part suggestions/recommendations for the first female president once she’s in office, it was a quick read with some valuable insights, and made me long, more than ever, for the day when the dream of a female American president becomes a reality.
I also have been doing a lot of re-reading of favorite novels this summer, and it’s been incredibly rewarding (I love a good re-read; so many books are actually more rewarding the second—or third, or fifth—time). Two books that I devoured once again, and highly recommend to everyone, are Atonement by Ian McEwan and The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood—both are brilliantly written works of historical fiction focusing on the 1930s and 1940s with fascinating female lead characters. They’re also quite heartbreaking tales, but don’t let that deter you: they’re well worth reading if you haven’t already.
Best of DC: I’d have to say Hamilton wins this category as well; I always love a visit to the Kennedy Center, and this one was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
What’s Next: August is off to a fantastic start already, and it should only get better: I’ve got a friend in town next weekend (excuse to go to all the nice DC restaurants and hang out in Georgetown!), then I’m flying to Florida to celebrate my parents’ 50th (!) anniversary! And then in late August, my big adventure of the summer: a trip to Finland, Estonia, and St. Petersburg! I can’t wait to share more of my adventures when I return in September!
How has your summer been so far? Any exciting plans for August?