People, Places: Raison d’être

Washington DC Circles

I have family and friends in DC, so I visit quite often.  Over the years, I’ve learned to maneuver many circles in DC including Dupont and Logan, but I’m still learning about its social circles.  I find people in the District to be very friendly and skilled at the art of conversation. No surprise due to the transient nature of the District and the highly educated pool of workers it attracts.

Locals have mastered the art of sizing people up with a few brief questions.  They quickly determine where you stand socially & politically.  If you work on the Hill and have access to appropriations or anyone deemed to be influential, you are in good standing. As a Bostonian who works in the technology industry, I suspect I am placed into a neutral category or in the same as the mutual friend making the introduction since we are also often judged by the company we keep.

Regardless of location, I suspect that  many conversations at cocktail parties or networking events begin with the same questions:

“What do you do?/Where do you work?”

“How did you meet/how do you know so-and-so?”

“Where are you from?” How long have you lived in X ?”

I suppose we do this to establish common ground. While the questions may be the same, the value of the answers differ regionally.   Do you agree?

April 22, 2009 - Posted by aburnis | Domestic, Travel | social circles, Washington DC