To Go or Not To Go?

"... Living in a foreign country is one of those things that everyone should try at least once. My understanding was that it completed a person, sanding down the rough provincial edges and transforming you into a citizen of the world. 

What I find appealing in life abroad was the inevitable sense of helplessness it would inspire. Equally exciting would be the work involved in overcoming that helplessness. There would be a goal involved, and I like having goals."

-David Sedaris

ot too far back, my very international second cousin got me thinking: Do I need to move?

My second cousin is half Persian, half Indian, born in Iran, raised in Sweden, moved to England, and then lived in different US cities including Seattle, New York, and DC. He brought attention to the fact that I need to get out of the area, considering I was born in the DC metro area, raised in the DC metro area, went to school in the DC metro area, and now work in the DC metro area. Maybe he has a point? I do see a pattern... Oh, and although I went away to college for a year in Harrisonburg, Virginia, he wouldn't count that since I was mostly surrounded by others from the DC metro area, on top of the fact that I came home every other weekend.

Part of my decision to stay around home during my college years were unfortunate family circumstances, but now that is all resolved, and I have no excuse. I am in a time where I have the flexibility in my life to go anywhere. I am young, no kids, no overbearing responsibilities to tie me down, and no career that forces me to stay in one position/location forever. I am afraid that time is running out for me and soon I won’t be so free or young anymore. My opportunities will be gone and all that is left will be regret. Probably my biggest fear-- being left with too many regrets at the end of my lifetime. I want to prevent as much of that as possible and now might be a big chance.

I have visited some international places, ie. France, Mexico, Colombia, Switzerland, and Italy. From these short trips I have already tasted the personal growth that comes from expanding your horizons and experiencing new places, people, and cultures. But is there a huge difference when you actually uproot your life and LIVE somewhere different? I wouldn't know; I am just a townie. A townie in a relatively diverse and highly populated area, but does that really make it any better?

I have no idea where I would want to go. And now that I start attending a DC law school in the fall, what are my options? Plus, I don't have a great aptitude when it comes to learning new languages, which doesn’t leave many English-speaking international options, when places like England don’t interest me. Maybe a different US city? LA or NYC definitely have a different culture than DC. I just don’t know right now. Do I really need to have lived somewhere else to have a full life? What's wrong with forever just taking lots of vacations and weekend excursions??

Decorating Decisions

he application for the new apartment (just 2 blocks from the metro!) has been approved and I can’t stop myself from planning out every minute decorating detail of every room of the new place. Yes, I'm letting my OCD tendencies (or as Elizabeth would say, "full blown case of OCD") get the best of me...

I will not bore you with EVERY detail I’ve planned out, but a couple won’t hurt. :)

Since most/all of the furniture in the new place will be what’s currently in Arya’s place, we will be sticking with a modern look to match what we have. Because so much is being used from his old place, but we still want a new feel, we will be changing all the details to make it feel fresh.

Overall layout of the cuteness that will be my new home!

FURNISHED! (it's not perfectly to scale and ignore the colors)

Now for the room by room breakdown!

Kitchen:

Nothing really exciting to say about this except that we will have Arya’s amazing spice collection. He is very proud about bringing that to the table, so we must give him some credit, or as he would say… “props.” No food that comes out of this kitchen will ever be bland thanks to my lovely SO.

The best part of the kitchen definitely has to be the big, open breakfast bar. It just opens the whole place up, lots of counter space for everything. It’s probably my favorite part of the whole apartment.

Oh and I will need something to help stop me from loosing my keys... maybe like this?
I'm probably one of the few people who is so awful about losing their keys that even when just looking for them inside my purse it takes me more than 10 mins to eventually find them...

Living/Dining Area:

We just ordered this huge, colorful, and happy painting to hang over the dark gray modern couch and white loveseat. 

Original Acrylic Painting, Size: 48" x 20" x 0.75" Three 16" x 20" canvases

Throw in some coordinating green, red, or yellow throw pillows on the couch and I think it will give the place a fun/cheerful vibe. 

Bedroom:

We already have black and white framed photographs to bring over to put on the walls to complete the overall black and white theme to this room. Then maybe some deep red curtains to add a little spice? That part is still up in the air, but very likely.

The real problem with the bedroom will be figuring out how to store all of our clothes/shoes. You would think that would just be a problem for the girl in the relationship, but sadly I think Arya might have me beat in the shoe department.

Bathroom:

We have the shower curtain pictured below. Maybe we'll add a couple more mustard yellow towels to bring it all together.

Don't worry, I haven't given away everything! There are still plenty of incentives for everyone to visit me and see it for themselves this December. Of course, the number one reason to see where I will be living is to see me too! Don't forget that. ;)

Oh yeah, and between now and the move-in date, I'm sure a lot of these decisions will have changed 400 times, at least. 

Another move towards moving

ot official and booked the movers today... well, more like got my living social email today, saw that movers were the deal of the day, thought it was a good idea to take advantage of 51% off something I'll be buying in a little more than a month anyways. A little more than a month! That's when I'm finally moving out. :) Wow, it's about time.

My final destination for the next year is Arlington. Probably, more specifically, Ballston.

Now please watch following educational raps about Arlington.

Where I will be much more metro mobile. :)

I'll miss you Fairfax area.... but I'm long overdue for a change of scenery.