• I moved to Washington, DC, after living in rural Pennsylvania for 23 years.
• Learning how to commute was difficult at first, but it opened up so many options for me.
• The work culture was a bit intense, but I loved how much there was to do after work and on weekends.

I grew up in rural Pennsylvania, tucked away in a stretch of the Appalachian Mountains known as the Endless Mountains. It was beautiful and quiet there, and I spent many of my days reading in sunny patches of grass.

But right after college, I moved to the Columbia Heights neighborhood in Washington, DC, for work and traded mountains for monuments.

Transitioning from Amish country to hill-staffer-tech-bro culture led to immense culture shock. But in DC, I learned how to navigate city life and experienced a lot of firsts.

Here are the three biggest surprises I encountered when I moved.

Learning how to commute was difficult at first

The fast-paced nature of the city surprised me. I grew up in a one-stoplight town, and the transition to DC traffic was jarring.

In the part of Pennsylvania where I grew up, driving was my only mode of transportation. In fact, I could anticipate a nearly hourlong drive to access the nearest chain stores.

However, learning about the different ways to use public transportation in the city was exciting. On my first day of work, I figured out how to ride the bus and use the metro system. I also started riding a bike consistently for the first time since I was 12 and walked more than I ever had before.

I also discovered new challenges, like surrendering to the mercy of public transit delays and struggling to carry my groceries home. However, I gained something I didn’t previously have access to — options.

The work culture in DC was intense

My first full-time job was in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, so right out of college, I felt like I was thrown into the most competitive work culture. For better or worse, every moment felt like a networking event.

One of the most “DC experiences” I had was joining a community pickleball group and discovering that the group was made up of people who worked for ESPN, the ACLU, and the Peace Corps.

Although I loved discovering what people do for a living, work culture is often prioritized over everything else. This was a part of life in DC that I had a hard time reckoning with.

I’m still trying to ditch the habit of asking, “So what do you do?” when I meet a stranger.

I had so many more opportunities for after-work activities

After work, I rode my bike to the library and picked out brightly colored books. At night, I danced to live music at the 9:30 Club.

On Saturday mornings, I wove my way through places like the Hirshhorn Museum and Renwick Gallery, then wandered around to find a new coffee shop. Food was everywhere, and it was delicious. I indulged in tahini lattes, ube waffles, and bowls of spicy ramen.

Being in a big city also meant I could discover more of my interests, which had been patiently waiting to be found.

Although my time living in DC has concluded, I’m grateful for the many ways it has shaped me and directed my next steps.