I’m back in Pakistan and needless to say I miss DC

Submitted by JadeSinnParach t3_yhzdoz in washingtondc

I had the BEST two weeks in America. I visited New York over the weekend and now I’m back in Pakistan. But I ABSOLUTELY LOVED EVERYTHING. The weather was great, the people are SUPERBLY lovely and super helpful and I fell in love with the Metro system in DC. It felt so liberating. I absolutely loved the museums and the trees and the long walks. Hopefully I’ll visit again soon. Thank you to everyone who gave me suggestions when I needed them and thank you for welcoming me into the city and country.

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appleofrage t1_iugw6ev wrote

Positive post?!

Happy you had a good time! Totally relate to the metro love, it gets a lot of hate, but really it’s one of the best planned out, most expansive and well run metro systems in the US (and has superior seating). Hope you get to come back and see more!

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turquoisebruh t1_iuhocbm wrote

I also love the fact that the Metro is really clean, at least compared to other US subway systems lol

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ever-right t1_iuinf6l wrote

I've used the metro system in a few American cities and several different countries. Of the ones I've used only Korea was better overall. Some seemed to run more on time but we're incredibly dirty and vandalized. Also for the most part the DC does run in time. It's just that I use it more so the times it doesn't add up in my head. If I'm just in town for a weekend or something I might never have an issue.

I've got a bunch of issues with DC public transit but it's mostly about safety. I've seen some rowdy behavior on buses and trains.

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MalHierba t1_iuhptyc wrote

Keyword in the US. This country is a joke when it comes to public transport. The DC metro is ok. Still 100 times worse than European public transpo. You can go to random small cities in Bulgaria and Hungary and the metros in 100k people cities will put american metros to shame. Actually big cities like Vienna and Madrid have metros that look like something out of the future compared to our own.

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9throwaway2 t1_iuhqsrb wrote

The DC metro of 2008 puts the DC metro of 2022 to shame. We had 3-4 min headways, automatic train control, and ridership was growing.

Then the disaster on the redline and bad management. Peak ridership day was in 2009. It has been downhill.

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MalHierba t1_iuhr5t9 wrote

I literally just moved here a month ago but I have visited a few time in the past 5 years and used it on those trips too. I lived in Brooklyn for a year and a half around 2018. In between then, I lived in Madrid, couple Italian cities, Athens, and Lisbon. And I visited the vast majority of European countries. DC metro as it is today is likely not a top 100 metro in the world.

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9throwaway2 t1_iuhrht3 wrote

I’m not disagreeing. I’m saying you don’t need to go far to see how it has declined.

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Quiet-Pirate-4586 t1_iuht2x6 wrote

You won't get stabbed in European subway systems. Not being underground already when I'm dead is a priority for me...

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pengo242 t1_iuhet8d wrote

One way ticket next time

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brock_h t1_iuie671 wrote

What a weird thing to say to someone visiting on vacation lol.

"Thanks everyone really enjoyed being on the beach here in Mexico."

"Yeah, next time don't leave. Don't ever go back to the US or your family or your job or you community. Don't tell your family or your friends. You should be here with us now. You're never leaving again."

Happy Halloween 🎃

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skurvy123 t1_iuhrz6y wrote

I think you meant this figuratively bc the USA doesn't let people in w just a one way ticket if you're not a citizen

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iwasbornin2021 t1_iuhszzm wrote

Almost no country does

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skurvy123 t1_iuhtnn1 wrote

Yup. The vast majority of Americans don't know this tho bc they haven't even been out of their own state 😭

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ForThe99andthe2000s_ t1_iuip3f8 wrote

Traveling is a privilege, I didn’t learn that until college, when I had friend who couldn’t afford to fly back home for breaks, let alone vacation for spring break and summer

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skurvy123 t1_iuipdfg wrote

Not really. Your money is spent where you prioritize it. If you're flying using daddy's money, sure.

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ForThe99andthe2000s_ t1_iuj52u0 wrote

You do realize some people don’t have money to prioritize, it’s food, shelter, gas and nothing left over

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skurvy123 t1_iuj5iuq wrote

The American dream 😂

Spend less money on shelter. Get a bicycle or smaller car. Food you eat anywhere.

If you want it, you can make it happen.

People just wanna bury their xenophobic heads up their own ass

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ForThe99andthe2000s_ t1_iuj6uip wrote

What? If you live in the middle of no where, i went to school in rural VA hours from an airport, how tf is a bike going to help?? The working poor exist, and there sometimes aren’t bootstraps long enough to pull yourself up

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skurvy123 t1_iuj7cbt wrote

You aren't biking to the airport 😂 you bike around town to reduce the gas costs that you said took up all your income.

It's a digital world. You aren't confined anymore.

My point is there is a way to increase your income and decrease your costs.

You don't need more than $2k to travel around Europe for a month.

Save a dollar a day and boom you can go to Europe pretty soon.

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Dr_Prof_Pat t1_iuk1e7p wrote

Wtf are you smoking?

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skurvy123 t1_iuk1opb wrote

What you mean? I've literally been to Europe for a month and spent under $2k. It's not hard.

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caphilldcne t1_iugo73h wrote

Glad you made it home! I’m not sure if I commented on your earlier post but I’m really glad you enjoyed DC. I love it here and appreciate that others might find some joy and fun while visiting! I certainly hope you get to come back again! Cheers!

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app_priori t1_iugsah3 wrote

Glad you enjoyed yourself! See you soon.

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DC-DE t1_iuhouon wrote

Refreshing post. Most of us complain about being here/in the US in general.

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RickBangkok t1_iuhwf45 wrote

Come back we need you! Of course I am rooting for a better Pakistan for my friends there.

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JadeSinnParach OP t1_iuhwmk5 wrote

I’m rooting for a better Pakistan too but man I gotta be honest, I LOVED EVERY MOMENT IN DC. Absolutely beautiful experience and I hope I get to do it again.

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greengirl213 t1_iujogyg wrote

I'm so glad you had a wonderful time. There is so much to do here that if you can come back, you will enjoy it even more the second time around.

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joebobjoebobjoebob12 t1_iuhxkpy wrote

In the immortal words of Dolly Parton, "y'all come back now, ya hear!"

(This is a very obscure way of saying "we're glad you enjoyed your visit).

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sn315on t1_iuhlk1i wrote

I'm glad you had a good trip! Visit again soon!

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AgentOrangina t1_iuiy87x wrote

Did you end up trying any of the American chain restaurants like Taco Bell that you mentioned in your original post? Would love to hear your thoughts.

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JadeSinnParach OP t1_iuk6dai wrote

I actually didn’t end up trying Taco Bell. But I did try chick fil a and chipotle and the cheesecake factory. And I genuinely enjoyed it!

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thedivinemonkey298 t1_iujjvhv wrote

So happy to know everyone treated you well, and that you had a great time. But in 2 weeks, you couldn’t even scratch the surface of what is around to see. I hope you are able to make it back one day.

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techtual t1_iujl0a4 wrote

Fellow Pakistani here, living in DC. Feel free to hit me up next time you're visiting, happy to show you around or grab a bite/drink.

I visited Pakistan for the first time in 20 years back in 2020, and unfortunately I did not have a great time (this was before Covid got underway). But then again, I was there for a wedding and so I didn't have much time to do anything, so I want to give it another try.

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JadeSinnParach OP t1_iuk6601 wrote

Oh man any time you’re in Pakistan, hit me up, I can show YOU around. Thank you so much for your sweet offer. Next time I’m there I might just take you up on that offer. I’m sorry your visit to Pakistan wasn’t more pleasant though. Hopefully the next one is better.

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PettyCrocker t1_iui4spd wrote

So glad you had a great time and hope you can come visit again soon!

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CanaKitty t1_iuixhnx wrote

I am glad you had fun and enjoyed everything. (If you had come in hot summer months, you might have a slightly different opinion about the weather… 🤪🤪)

I have never been to your country, but I have seen pictures of the mountains there, and they are beautiful!

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JadeSinnParach OP t1_iuk6h1w wrote

Hahahah so I’ve been told. Oh you should visit in the spring, it’s beautiful!

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thriftshopmusketeer t1_iuizly6 wrote

Fall and spring are the best times in DC. In my opinion, spring as #1--the number of flowering trees is crazy. Glad you enjoyed your visit!

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rcinmd t1_iujdf4d wrote

I love these types of posts because it really does show that DC is a great tourist area and the Metro is very well suited to that as well.

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