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I moved from CA to DC for college, and spent my those years on campus or around student hangouts. DC was considered dangerous then, so we played it safe. When I decided to stay in the area after graduation, I realized that I would have to broaden my horizons, so to speak, and that's when I started learning the city.
Some things that made me feel I belonged were unconsciously saying y'all, driving the whole Capital Beltway, no longer noticing tourists, having a conversation that did not involve politics or the latest news on Capitol Hill, eating food from different cultures in restaurants and little cafes, stopping and talking to people sitting on their porches, and walking through Rock Creek Park.
I think the defining moment for my family was when I said "I have to get back home" while on a holiday visit to California.
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it's gritty
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