It's Chili, for breakfast!

Today was the second day in a row I beat the sun. I woke up at 5:30, and you want to know why? To walk tens minutes to Union Station, take the Red line towards Chinatown then transfer to the Green line towards Greenbelt to get off at U st./Cardozo to eat at Ben's Chili. Bill Cosby ring a bell? Yes, the Famous Ben's Chili where just eleven days ago our President as of yesterday had visited. For the WJC program we have to go do this scavenger hunt and it involves going around the city taking photos (we ALL have to be in the photo) and one task was to eat at Ben's. We tried going on Sunday, but the line was a block long, at least over a two hour wait for a bowl of 5 dollar chili--we weren't willing to comp the time. Time spent on one task, meant less time towards the other five or so that require us to frantically run about the city to distinguishable and significant landmarks.



Outside a large ice sculpture of Obama's name is red, white and blue stood outside on a table in a tray of ice. It greeted us as it gleamed in the twilight and orange glow of city lights. Inside, about four cooks were bustling behind the counter, frying eggs, taking orders and pouring coffee while hungry, bundled early birds were waiting for their worm. Pictures of

Natalie and I split eggs, potatoes, and toast (she had grits instead of potatoes-she is from the south now). The five of us enjoyed out dawn patrol meal in the corner of the restaurant, sleepy eyed and numb. At first it felt good to eat warm food, but as soon as it settled down and we began to make our journey back to the apartment, I definitely felt like sinking into the concrete or curling up in a ball under a bench...my stomach isn't use to such heavy meals early in the morning.

I do plan on going back some time to get chili (even though I'm not a huge fan of it, especially eating it at 6:30 in the morning) but I will forever remember getting up at the crack of dawn to go there....forever. It was probably the most ridiculous thing I've done here...so far, all for a scavenger hunt. A scavenger hunt that I have to pay for mind you.

Well, as everyone else in the entire apartment complex wakes up now that we have returned, it is now onto class, then a meeting for a job, no lunch, then class again, then off to check off another tedious task then dinner then probably study.

I can't wait for the weekend to finally enjoy a day of not frantically running around.