After attending our orientation and visiting the National Building Museum, we (Linsey S. and Kelly S.) decided to visit the nearby Chinatown. We had been discussing the history of Washington D.C. that day, and thought it appropriate to begin to explore the city. In Chinatown, we saw the Friendship Arch, a beautiful Chinese style arch towering over H Street. We also got a chance to explore some of the local shops such as one which sold a Asian imports, including unique food items like dried fish and Chinese ceramics. There were restaurants offering many types of Asian cuisine, including Thai, Mongolian, Chinese, Japanese, and Indian.
We can see the diversity of this city every time we step foot outside of our town house. From people we pass on the street to those who assist us at Target. While we walked around Chinatown we noticed how even this small area of the city, which was supposed to be specifically for a certain group of people, is also diverse. We saw Indian and Italian restaurants, and a Hooters, showing that even ethnically specific areas are as diverse as the dominant areas.
It was interesting to see a bit of the city in its contemporary form, after learning the history of its origins and evolution. Luckily for us, the area was easy to navigate, thanks to L’Enfant’s city planning.
-KS & LS
Thanks for posting! Chinatown has become more upscale since the Verizon Center opened. A number of cheap Chinese restaurants have been driven out. But yes, it's still a fun place.
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