I’ve enjoyed blogging the past few years.  I’ve received a number of nice comments and suggestions from friends, co-workers and students.  I’ve not been very consistent in posting the blogs so I’m going to try something new this month.  I’m going to try to blog each day in June about one topic …Washington, DC.  In particular I’m going to blog about “what I like about Washington, DC.”   I’ll know later this month if I run out of topics but for now I’m going to give it a shot.

I was born in the greater Washington, DC area (at DeWitt Army Hospital in Ft Belvoir, VA) but moved to Japan when I was only six weeks old.  My father was a US Army officer and my mother is from Tokyo.  So, it actually turned out great to live 13 of my first 16 years in Japan.  I consider myself from both Washington, DC and Tokyo but since I moved back here to DC when I was 16, that’s what I’ll focus on for this month.

I’m going to try to not to plan what to write about … instead I’ll write about whatever comes to top of mind.  First and foremost, when I think about what I like about Washington, DC, I think immediately of the people that live here.  I feel blessed that we have such a rich diversity of people … from many various ethnic backgrounds, different levels of educations, a wide variety of jobs, etc.  But, the one constant is that I like the soul and quality of the people here in DC.

While delivering the eulogy at my father’s funeral in May ’08, I spoke about how I feel like the richest person in DC in regard to friendships.  I never take for granted the many, many friendships I have … from WT Woodson HS, American University, Q107, WMAL, Charles Brotman and Associates, W-Lite, Home Team Sports, AOL, Georgetown University, from the many non-profits I’ve worked with, the many clients from my DJing days, from playing softball and baseball, and so much more.

Although I travel frequently … and love to travel and experience different cities … but I always, always like coming back to DC. It feels go to come “home.”  I love running into friends and acquaintances whether it’s walking to work in Georgetown, taking the Metro, going to a Nats, Wizards, Caps or Hoyas game, eating, socializing, etc.

Yes, there are some negatives about living in the DC area.  But it doesn’t matter where one lives, there’s always  going to be positives and negatives … whether you’re in Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, NY, LA, Miami, Rio de Janeiro, Beijing, Montreal, etc.  But, I try to focus on the positive.

So, in writing this first blog about “what I like about Washington, DC,” the people that live here are near the top of the list.  I’m proud to be a Washingtonian.