Cherry Blossoms and New Beginnings: A Spring Adventure in Scorching D.C.

As spring is approaching and waiting outside everyone’s doorstep to be let in, it also brings in spring break, an exciting and prolonged break expected by many students not only at MHS but also throughout the country. It gives students the opportunity to step out of their homes and explore the cities impacted by the spring season. Notably, this spring, I visited the capital of this country and the hub of government, history, culture, and most importantly, cherry blossoms: Washington DC. I went on a quick vacation, well I can’t say a vacation, but a trip to D.C. to see the recently bloomed cherry blossoms surrounding a beautiful lake called Tidal Basin and of course, the Washington Monument. 

As the warm breeze swirls throughout the crowded and traffic-filled streets, a cool breeze provides a refreshing contrast to the heat. It is a preferable and welcoming change to New Jersey’s typical dull yet inconsistent weather. This trip was made on the weekend, which made me both happy and sad, thinking of how it is just two days, so I won’t be able to cover all of what I want in D.C. But, summer break is approaching faster than we think. Waking up at 6 am on a Saturday is a rarity, but the fact that I’ve been waking up at 6 am every day for school is unfair and exhausting. But what came after was worth every energy used to get me up from the bed. The birds chime as I step out fresh and ready for the day. As my family friends greet me, I feel a rush of happiness and warmth, like I’m rejoining everyone after a year of non-stop work. As everyone got inside the car, I couldn’t control my joy regardless of the duration and stay of this trip. The amount of overwhelming traffic in Philadelphia cities, with cars switching lanes without indicators, made this trip like walking through a maze of frustration and unpredictability. But with the help of my headphones and phone, the songs of Tame Impala, Daft Punk, and Mac DeMarco made this traffic experience a lifesaver, with songs playing on a loop based on different themes like loneliness or revival. The car comes to a halt after reaching the hot and crowded city of D.C., completing the 2-hour drive from NJ. The constant light snacking and hunger made my appetite go crazy for the food trucks that stopped on the corner of the streets. As my family and friends decide, we go to separate places and plan to meet up once finished. I ended up with my parents and annoying brother. We walked around the Washington Monument and enjoyed the cherry blossoms growing in white and pink colors. I learned something interesting while exploring it: Japan gave mature, grown blossom trees to America in hopes of planting them and treating them nicely as a sign of friendship between the two countries. The sun sets beautifully behind the Washington Monument, and people start to depart from the surrounding areas to have dinner or explore nearby areas. I sit on a bench, eating my ice cream and thinking about next week’s objectives. I then realized I was doing a very wrong thing: not enjoying the moment. I stopped thinking about next week and spent more time with my family, thanking them for everything. We started to walk around the city, getting the chance to taste delicious appetizers that made everyone drool. As I gulped down the food, I forgot everything around me and devoured the dish in my hands. I ended my day with a walk toward the historic White House and took some pictures. To end the day, I rode to the hotel where I was staying, devoured some late-night Indian food, and slept like a newborn after a whole day of whimpering and crying. 

Sunday is a day when people get ready for the week ahead. But for me, it was quite the opposite. I spent my whole day outside, visiting museums, devouring new food, driving, and walking through the crowded streets of D.C. Denny’s never fails to make my breakfast scrumptious. Pancakes, shredded hash browns, and English muffins gave my day a head start. My first stop: Smithsonian Natural History Museum. A museum filled with ancient artifacts and histories about how we became us. Animals, mammals, sea creatures, and ancient humans make me think more about our history and pique my curiosity. After the curiosity-tingling experience, ice cream to chill my brain down gave me a rush of chillness down my spine and cooled down my body. Since my time was short, my next stop was the Capitol. The blossoms surround the historic buildings, making this trip more beautiful. Every picture I’ve taken during this trip includes at least one cherry blossom tree. It’s almost like cherry blossoms have taken over D.C. and now, New Jersey too. The car’s air conditioner couldn’t stop my sweating as I sat down. My legs started to get tired, making me sleep again. Around 4 pm, my stomach started to growl like a beast, making the car stop at an Indian restaurant. The food I devoured there made the servant go crazy. I have high doubt he thought I was a human. My trip back to New Jersey consisted of loud music, sadness, and exhaustion. The highway consisted of many lanes stretched across the landscape, flanked by trees and fields. It was a bustling thoroughfare, with cars and trucks zipping by like the school weeks I’d faced. The change of weather from D.C. to NJ was significant, from hot and humid to cold and foggy, almost rainy. The car finally comes to a halt in front of the garage door. Things started to cool down and quiet down, even the rustling of the leaves. The familiar scent of home made me sleepy and tired from the long days of walking and exploring. That night, I jumped on the bed and turned off the lights. My mind was filled with the indelible memories of the time spent with my friends and families during the trip, and of course, the tastes of the different food eaten. But I also forgot about something important: school tomorrow. 

Even though spring gives us a break from the headaches caused during the weeks because of work, it also gives us a chance to regrow from the soil, or in simple terms, rejuvenate and embrace new beginnings. It gives us a chance to forget about the past and helps us become a new, different person. It also helps us to get rid of the burden caused during winter. As flowers bloom and trees regain their vibrant green color, we too feel a stirring within ourselves- a renewed sense of hope and possibility. As the longer days and warmer sun coax our school days and personal lives, it encourages us to explore new paths and revisit dreams long tucked away. Overall, spring invites us to reconnect with nature, reminding us of life’s cycles and the beauty of change. Embracing new beginnings allows us to shed our old selves and step boldly into a future of limitless possibilities.