10 DC Experiences You Can’t Miss!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

This is a featured post from Sheena Yoon. She is in love with good design and addicted to the Instagram App. And when she says she likes bacon, she is talking about Francis, by the way. You can read her personal blog at aspirantbeaute.

Having the incredible privilege of living in such a vibrant city as D.C., has given me the opportunity to eat some of the greatest foods and experience neat social events! Many of my favorite experiences range from rubbing Paula Deen’s belly to meeting Chef Spike from “A Good Stuff Eatery”. Whether you are a freshman or just looking for a new adventure, let me be your tour guide!

1. H Street

Fantastic location to experience local & indie music at the Rock & Roll Hotel after you grab some “Dangerously Delicious Pies” and sushi at “Sticky Rice”. I recommend their tots and Godziirraa roll. I bet Mike Godzwa would like that. I also find it to be the perfect location to run into dirty hipsters, punk rockers, and D.C. natives.

2. Maine Avenue Fish Market

Where else in D.C. can you get your crustaceans cooked on the spot and deliciously seasoned with Cajun spices? Great place for fresh seafood or made-to-order; as well as some fantastic people watching! It’s a lively atmosphere with plenty of things to see. You could do some monument-ing at the mall and take a walk here for lunch!

3. Taste of D.C. / Restaurant Week

Attention all foodies and future restaurant entrepreneurs, these events will tantalize our taste buds and atmospheric senses. What a way to dine at an upscale restaurant for half the cost or taste amazing food from all your favorite D.C. restaurants. These events are coming up soon, so mark it on your calendars!

4. Mt. Vernon Estate & Gardens

Beautiful historic location outside of D.C.! It’s completely worth the long commute to Virginia estate & garden with crisp air and great photo-opps.

5. Columbia Heights

No, not because of Target. Head on over to El Rinconcito and other local businesses for authentic El Salvadorian food (pupusas!). Sticky Fingers Bakery is also a sweet location (*pun intended) for you hip vegans.

6. D.C. Festivals

Can’t even count on my fingers how many festivals happen in the fall, there are just too many! Many of which include: Adams Morgan Festival, H Street Festival, Turkish Festival, Brazilian Festival, Green Festival and probably every other culture festival. What a place for food and fun! My favorites are H street and Green Festival.

7. Embassy Events

Sign up on the listserv for the embassies that you are most interested in, they are bound to have some interesting cultural events. Most embassies do, but most likely not the Russian and Chinese embassies. I’ve heard great things about the Swedish, Singaporean, and Korean embassy. Personally, I have been able to attend a formal celebration of Chinese New Year at the Singaporean embassy. Cool networking and delicious food!

8. Fotoweek DC

Last year, I enjoyed their finale event with beautiful photography and live DJ-ing by Thievery Corporation! It’s coming up this November.

9. Art all Night DC

This event just passed, but be on the lookout next year. Enjoy art around town by walking through areas in D.C., you’ll run into graffiti artists doing live work and spontaneous dance performances on the street. Maybe a flash mob next year?

10. MuralsDC

Isn’t that just amazing?

Things I Wish I’d Known Earlier About College

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

This is a featured post from Katherine Packard. She has been a lifeguard, swim coach & swim instructor so you can call her Nemo. She is from Colorado (which is cool) but sadly, that means she is a Denver Broncos fan. You can read her personal blog at growingrainbows.blogspot.com.

The List…

• You don’t have to find your best friends immediately – or even your first year. Cultivating relationships and building new ones is a good thing. You’re allowed to feel a little lost. Just don’t let it paralyze you.
• Procrastination is NEVER a good thing. [And yet so tempting…]
• However, procrastination is never an excuse for not doing your homework.
• Oreos and Ice Cream (together or separately) make the best late night desserts (or sorbet, if you happen to be vegan…)
• Learning how to laugh with your roommate, at your roommate, and allowing your roommate to laugh at you will make life infinitely more fun and easy.
• Sometimes implementing a bedtime, even in college, is a good thing.
• Grades are not as important as your parents told you they were.
• Journal. It’s good for the soul.
• You should never buy your textbooks from the bookstore.
• You’re allowed to jump on your bed now, whenever you want – if you want. And you should want, because it’s great fun!
• Spend time with little kids. They’re one of the best, most sanctifying and most encouraging gifts God has given us, even if they aren’t biologically yours.
• Make yourself a little bit vulnerable.
• Making friends with people who own cars is a good thing. Just remember to give them gas money.
• If you have a car, be nice to people who don’t. They’ll be eternally grateful, and you might make some new friends in the process.
• Sometimes people are just grumpy. Some people are always grumpy. It doesn’t mean you have to be.
• You do not have to know what you are doing with your life.
• You do not have to know what you are doing with your life.
• One more time: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH YOUR LIFE! God’s plans are very often not our plans. Tear up your 10-year plan. It’s worthless.
• Learn to love the chaos.
• Cultivating your silly is important.
• You will be poor. It’s ok – it will make you creatively resourceful.
• Couscous is the BEST college dorm meal – boil water, pour in couscous, let sit. Enjoy. Easiest. Thing. Ever.
• You don’t NEED a printer. But they’re nice to have…
• Flip flops, tie-dye t-shirts, jeans that you have worn every day this week, sweats, pj’s, oversize hoodies, and mismatched outfits are all acceptable to wear to class.
• You can fit 2 loads of laundry into 1 dryer.
• Stop complaining.
• Engage – with everything.
• Don’t burn things. Setting off the fire alarm in your building makes EVERYONE mad.
• Send letters. Find a friend and be pen pals. Getting mail is fun, sending mail is even funner.
• You’re allowed to make up words like “funner”, as long as you do it with authority.
• You’re allowed to have hard days. Some of them will be so challenging and difficult, you’ll want to cry. Some days you will cry.
• You’re not allowed to have bad days. Every day is a gift from the Lord, so treat it as such
• You are allowed to cry
• You are allowed to miss home
• Call your parents every now and again, just to say hi

Most importantly…

Learn, love, and grow. Do everything to the glory of the Lord – all else will fall into place.

Rain: A Poem

Saturday, October 1, 2011

This is a featured post from Jared Hutchins. He is currently studying abroad and has been known to spoof Jersey Shore and cuddle dinosaurs in the middle of the desert. You can read his personal blog @ When I Look At The World.

I saw those clouds start to creep
Behind the cordillera on a cold windy street
Their fumes bask the city in dusky gray
And the buildings shiver with the threat of rain
the Mapocho was swelling, steady and slow
While I stand small and humble below

In my room I have all to which my life has lead
My Bible, Steinbeck, a desk and bed.
On a borrowed guitar, melodies float and fade
In the hushing dance of the midnight rain
And the family I live with is joining the tune
Their chores throwing light on the window of my room

Read More…

What Chi Alpha Meant To Me

Friday, September 30, 2011

This is a featured post from Matt Menche. He was a part of AU Chi Alpha during his co-op in DC and is currently a student at the University of Cincinnati. He is the nicest guy in the world and has a heart of gold. You can connect with him via Facebook.

I love Chi Alpha because it brought me closer to the One I love even more.

In the beginning, I thought it was going to be hard for me to fit in with the Chi Alpha students since I wasn’t an AU student. But little did I know that I would soon be considering them as some of my closest friends. I know all too well that time can be scarce during the semester, but as the weeks went on, I couldn’t help but notice how happy and friendly everyone was at TNW.

It was awesome to see how everyone could come together and lift prayers and thanks to Christ through worship and a message even when the stresses of classes were in full swing. I loved how small groups were much more personal than someone just teaching about the Bible while everyone else took notes. It was a time when I could ask questions about certain passages and get answers from anyone in the group who wanted to share their perspective, so that I could understand the passage better than if I were on my own.

And on top of this, many of the Chi Alpha students desired to get to know me even better whether it was going to get food with a group of friends or just hanging out discussing our lives. It was awesome to see how Christ was working through people in Chi Alpha to open my eyes to things I couldn’t experience in Ohio. Traveling or studying abroad was not something I ever saw myself doing. But as time went on and they spoke about the different cultures and lifestyles they’ve experienced or grew up in, their interest for life outside the U.S. began to wear off on me. And after prayer and discussion, I’ve found myself excited to go on a mission trip this winter to Bolivia.

Needless to say, it is evident that God had many more blessings for me than what was supposed to be my primary reason for living in D.C. And looking back on it now, I consider my job as a second thought to my spiritual growth and friends in fellowship I met through Chi Alpha.

Breaking Free

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

This is a featured post from Mercy Collison. She is a transfer student to AU that is care-free, easy-going and fun to be around.You can connect with her via Facebook.

When you are physically hurt, you take a pill.
When you are spiritually burdened, you read the Word.
When you are emotionally destroyed, you forgive.

It doesn’t make much sense. Then again, nothing God does ever makes “sense” by man’s standards.

Listening to Tyler and Rebecca Shults talk about the unimaginable sexual oppression of girls and women in India was a bittersweet experience (If you didn’t get a chance to hear them live, you should check out their talk via our podcast).

it was so surreal…

And I felt ashamed for giving little thought to the issue before, but I was very excited to learn about Project Rescue, their determination and mission to not only rescuing girls, but showing them the awesome love of Jesus Christ in the process.

One thing I found so astonishing, especially because we battle so severely with it is the powerful connection between healing and forgiveness and the transformation that begins to take place in our lives, when we let go of offense. God places such an emphasis on forgiveness in the Bible. Not only does He inform us of our redemption through the Blood of Jesus but He also requires us to forgive one another.

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins – Mark 11:25

God is saying that it’s in our best interest to forgive. We are the ones who God is trying to protect. We are the ones who receive the most benefit from forgiveness, not the other person.

a spirit of unforgiveness

A spirit of unforgiveness complicates and compromises our daily walk with God. Forgiving others releases us from anger and allows us to receive the healing we need. Forgiving others does not carry with it a single decision that we need to ponder. God has not qualified one sin as being more grievous to Him than another and He has not qualified one sin committed against us as warranting forgiveness and another not. He is saying to forgive everyone, always, and do it immediately. I can’t begin to imagine how hard it must be for the girls who have been freed to forgive, but God is so merciful and understanding, He knows our flesh is not strong enough so he encourages us to lean on Him. He reminds that in our weakness is His strength is made perfect (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Unforgiveness is a burden. It kills the spirit, it hinders our prayers, and it keeps us under the control of the one who offended us. Someone once told me that harboring unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. If God can forgive us for all the things we say, do and think on a daily basis, then we should be able to forgive as well-after all we are all created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:26-27).

5 Reasons I Love Chi Alpha

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

This is a featured post from Shanna Florence. She is the first freshman to contribute for the Chi Alpha blog and she may be the only person in the universe that likes both Taylor Swift and Blink-182. You can connect with her via Facebook.

For me, coming to college was a scary thing. I live 3,000 miles away and the only person I know on the East Coast is 300 miles away from DC. The week before move-in, I feared that the family-like relationship I shared with my home town could never be found in this entirely new setting. That’s when I found Chi Alpha. Or rather…Chi Alpha found me.

Chi Alpha has made my first month of classes amazing! This community instantly became my home away from home and I could not be more glad. Here are just a few reasons why I love it so much:

1. Small groups:

This is how I first got involved with XA. It was literally the answer to my prayers. Being around people who have common interests and are near in age to you makes it easy to feel comfortable and discuss important issues. You grow not only in your faith, but in your friendships. Small groups are the perfect way to meet people and feel this sense of closeness that you couldn’t get anywhere else.

2. The emphasis on community, in general:

Whether it be hanging out in the tavern after TNW, open mic night at the perch or just going to church together on Sunday, Chi Alpha promotes coming together in fellowship. Each time I leave a Chi Alpha event, I’ve met a new person or become better friends with someone I already know.

3.Mentor-ship

Being in a small group with mostly juniors and seniors has helped me tremendously amidst all the confusion, the epitome of being a freshman. Whenever I need advice, whether it be about classes, friends, what groups to join, etc. the older people in Chi Alpha can help me through it because they’ve been there. Some of the older girls in my small group have become like mentors to me. It’s nice to have someone always ready to listen.

4. Chi Alpha gives you a new perspective

Whether you’ve grown up in a Christian home or are just new to the whole idea of a relationship with God, there is something new to learn at Chi Alpha. Every message given at TNW gives me a new perspective on my relationship with God and inspires me to live in God’s word. Chi Alpha is a great place to meet people, but more importantly, it’s an inspiring place to be.

5. Things like this happen:

t i m e. do i have enough?

Saturday, September 24, 2011

This is a featured post from Symphony Chau. She recently has turned into a social media machine & is one of the most authentic people you could meet. You can read her personal blog @ in all sense of ordinary.

after hearing a sermon recently on “busyness” & reading this article by Relevant Magazine, i thought it would be pretty appropriate to blog about it. in letter form. here it goes:

dear busyness,

hello. i’m disheartened to say that i know you pretty well. in the ‘bad-friend’ sort of way. one of my favorite complaints (among my many) is that there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything I want to accomplish. pastor nathan just debunked that statement yesterday. we don’t need more hours of the day. God gave us the time we need, but we’re the ones overcommitting & overburdening ourselves. there goes my complaints that we’re hanging out too often. busyness, you’re in my life WAYY too much. or am I in your life too much? i’m not sure. but i do know that i use you as an excuse when i should be saying no to you and yes to sleep and priorities.

i know you aren’t a bad friend. (Galatians 1:1-10) says:

Read More…

what jesus, his disciples, and rob bell have taught me about my former major-public relations.

Friday, September 23, 2011

This is a featured post from Meredith Daniel. She just switched her major, is preparing to lead an alt break trip to South Africa & wears cool sandals. You can read her personal blog @ cheeriosrockmyworld.blogspot.com.

I started reading Movement 7 of Rob Bell’s Velvet Elvis tonight.It’s the last movement of his book, and so far it’s talked about how God’s going to restore our world. How He made it good (not perfect, mind you) and how one day He will bring heaven down to earth and THEN it will be perfect.

He talks about how Caesar Augustus, in Jesus’s day, claimed to be a god. Advent was the period of 12 days leading up to Caesar’s birth!! AHAHA. The guy even had people bring him offerings of frankincense and myrrh to get rid of their guilt.
And, he coined the slogan “Caesar is Lord.”

Tonight I realized that Jesus and his disciples are the best Public Relation specialists in history, even before the practice of real PR began.

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IR - Intentional Relations (Luke 5:17-26)

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

This is a featured post from Natacha Barghout. She is a film major who lovs Jesus and Amsterdam Falafel (in that order, mind you!). You can read her personal blog @ thetravelingvans.blogspot.com.

Mike finished the series, “Finding Your Place” last week and taught from Luke 5:17-26. You can listen to the podcast in case you missed it! To me, the most striking part of this story is the determination of the paralyzed man’s friends:

“Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to push through the crowd to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him. So they went up to the roof, took off some tiles, and lowered the sick man down into the crowd, still on his mat, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”
Luke 5:18-20

The friends have decided to commit themselves to this man. They don’t just carry him to where Jesus is, they don’t just try to get through by pushing around on the outskirts of the crowd – they go in through the roof to get this man to Jesus. I’m sure we have friends who only bring us to the right town, who will bail out when they decide there’s no way to get through the crowd. I know I’ve been that friend before. But this story paints a picture of what true friendship looks like. True friends aren’t reasonable. True friends will lower you through that roof. True friends push through.

In coming to college, I learned first-hand about the importance of intentionality in relationships. It’s easy to stay on the surface – sticking to “safe subjects” like movies and classes – instead of deciding to discover who a person really is. But the example of friendship we find in Luke urges us to do more as a friend.

God has chosen to introduce himself through us. We hear time and time again of people seeing the love of Jesus in a community. I myself came to Christ through my community. We are called to live – and love – intentionally. Jesus didn’t just happen to make friends with the needy, the sick, and the poor. He knew full well what he was doing. Sometimes, the best of friendships are found in “random circumstances” – you happen to sit next to each other and get to talking, etc. etc., we know how it goes – but more often than not we make conscious decisions to befriend people. And this is what I want to point out. The friends of the paralyzed man made the conscious decision to see this journey with him through to the end. I’m sure they got tired – I mean, they were literally carrying the guy! – and I’m sure they probably second-guessed why they were even bothering but the point is that they persevered. If we were to ask them now, I’m sure they wouldn’t have regrets for toughing it out.

So what kind of friend will we choose to be? I’m not saying we’ll get it perfect – we’re still human – but that doesn’t mean we can go without trying.

“Don’t be misled. Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters.”
Galatians 6:7-10

Ninapenda furaha. Ninapenda Kibera.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

This is a featured post from Natalie Hill. She is currently studying abroad this semester and sharing her adventures along the way @ nkhill.wordpress.com.

It’s days like these when I wonder why I have such a hard time finding joy sometimes.

I went back to Kibera today, one of the biggest slums in Africa. But this time, it wasn’t for a tour. We weren’t getting a first glimpse at extreme poverty or trying to get a taste of what Nairboi’s really like. Nope. I spent my Saturday in Kibera to watch a football match.

We were invited by a guy we met when we toured the area. He coaches quite a few teams and asked us to come watch. He took us around the slum as the children, yet again, chanted “How ahh you?!” as we walked by. We spent a few minutes in his house, which is just a small square room, and we met some of his friends along the way. We spent time with the great guys we met last time, this time, genuinely hanging out and joking around with each other. And by the time we got to the field, we had a line of kids playing follow the leader behind us.

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