One blessing after another

I was able to go to the zoo on Thursday afternoon with the girl from Texas I met. We had to take the metro there. Neither of us have ever been on an underground subway before. (texan's dont even have basements!) We took a lot of pictures and asked a lot of questions. Everyone around us probably thought we were crazy. I decided i would much rather take the above ground light rail like we have in Minneapolis. I have really grown to love Minneapolis after coming here. This city seems to dirty and the people are not as friendly. I was talking with Scott from GoAbroad.com (the company that sponsored me to come here) and he said he talked with some girls from Turkey yesterday morning and they could not believe how nice the people are in DC and they were SO helpful. It is funny how different our experiences were in the same city, same time, just because of where we came from. (remind me not to go to Turkey).

Troy (the owner of GoAbroad.com) told me to cancel my stay at the hostel and to move into one of their hotel rooms. They aren't leaving until monday. It was such a blessing. So I was able to cancel my hostel (even though that would have been an interesting experience) and I am now staying in the Renaissance. Supposedly it is more ritzy than the Hampton but they don't include breakfast here. They ordered room service for us for each meal anyway. :) They are taking really good care of me.

Last night i went and sat on the steps of the Lincoln memorial and watched people with the GoAbroad.com team. It was so amazing. It is beautiful at night... not scary at all when you are with a group of people.

This morning I woke up and walked close to 3 miles to Gallaudet University (the only Deaf college in the World). I wasn't able to get a tour but I was allowed to walk around by myself as long as i didn't go in any of the buildings. It was amazing to know that everyone I met would know sign. It was a beautiful place. I can't even imagine how amazing that place must be for a Deaf person. They know they can go anywhere on campus and use their own language! I met one girl who is very hard of hearing and works security. She can't attend the college because she doesn't have a high enough GPA. I told her all about North Central and the programs they have for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She was Super excited. I told her why I came to DC and how I am working with the Deaf in the Philippines. I gave her my business card and she said she wants more information on NCU as well as on the trip to the Philippines that I am trying to put together. She wants to work with Deaf from all different cultures. It was NO coincidence that I met her!

I wanted to take a taxi back but none would take me cause it wasn't their territory on the way back. As soon as I entered my hotel it started to downpour outside. Right now it is thundering Super loud. I love it. I love it more cuase i am not out in the rain! It is as dark as night outside and beautiful from the view of my hotel room.

Yesterday night I was giving my taxi driver directions to my hotel and I realized that my "trip" turned into.. Toni you have been here too long if you can tell the Taxi driver where to go when he doesn't know. So I have two options... Become a taxi driver myself, or come home now. I think I am ready to come home now. I fly out tomorrow morning. But I am having supper tonight with an amazing girl I was put in contact with. I have never met her. I will write about it tomorrow or later tonight.

Ready to go home..

Toni