Adventures in DC Between Tours

Originally Published May 23, 2023

This is what our diplomatic life has been like during training in DC before we ship out for our second tour.

Remember: All views and opinions expressed here are my own personal views and do not express the official views or opinions of the U.S. government. This is not an official resource. This is just a personal perspective and not everyone may agree.

It’s our first time in DC!

Let me start by saying we have never spent any time in DC. Most FSOs onboard in DC where the State Department HQ is located. When Will onboarded in 2020, the pandemic forced him to do A-100 virtually. We wouldn’t trade that time for the world. We both quit our corporate law jobs in Charlotte, North Carolina and bought a house we LOVED in South Carolina. So we are now exploring DC for the first time! First impressions: There is SO much to do. We can get oreos delivered at night, but if we want to go hiking nearby, we have to do it with several hundred people at the same time.

What is our Housing Like?

THANKFULLY, our gov-provided housing is really nice. It seems like EVERYONE has a different experience so it can run the gamut. I was worried what the apartment would look like. While our apt. in Arlington is small at ~800 sft, it is gorgeous, modern, brand new, and half the place is storage! Will and I used to say the secret to our marriage was two bathrooms – happy to report we can (temporarily) make do with just one :)

We’ve loved living in Arlington because our suburb is quaint and walking distance from shops, restaurants, and Havana’s daycare. However, if we are posted to DC again, instead of living in apartments that are managed by government contractors, I think we would rent a house out in Alexandria because it reminds us of Charleston.

Is DC Expensive?

The usual complaint about DC is that it is expensive and has a high cost of living. We found that this is generally true but can be avoided in some cases. First, we are lucky to be here on orders for training for a temporary period (~1 yr) which is different from being posted to DC (2+ yrs), so there is more financial support involved. It would be very difficult to make it work without that support.

We've also found ways to make DC less expensive on our own. Since Will was Army, we do our grocery shopping at the Fort Myer Commissary (a large grocery store). For an example of how much we save, avocados are 70 cents but $2/each at other stores. Chicken is $2.30 and $7+ at other stores. We love it there and highly recommend if you are a veteran and anywhere in the area :D

What adventures have we been having?

We’ve tried to stay busy and remember that people travel to DC as a destination. We’ve of course spent time at the monuments (our apt. is walking distance to many) and some of the museums downtown. The Nationally Gallery of Art – with art by Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Monet, etc. - has been our favorite so far. We also loved watching the iconic cherry blossoms bloom in the thousands.

We brought our new puppy home in December after coming back from Nigeria so outdoor activities have been key to get her energy out. We try to take her everywhere. There are so many restaurants and cafes in Arlington with patios to dine with the pup and she loves it! We’ve also done road trips to Virginia wineries, Maryland beaches for shark teeth, and the Annapolis Sailboat Show.

For more information on our lifestyle, follow us on Instagram @diplomaticdestinations