Overheard in D.C.: Be Like a Local
People always complain about tourists in D.C., wearing dumb clothes, standing on the left, clogging up the Hard Rock Cafe (actually, we're fine with that). But it's difficult to be in a new place and abide by the local customs.
Back in the olden days, we heard that burping is polite in Korea, which sounds pretty awesome if you are an elementary schooler eating as much pizza and Coke as you can at Chuck E. Cheese. And in some countries, pointing with the pointer finger is offensive. Maybe back in Wherevertouristscomefromville it's polite to stand and read a map in front of train doors, so maybe we're too harsh. So just go with it, enjoy local culture, and duck when culturally appropriate.
Quote of the Week
Sunday night
A young-ish woman is telling a new date or coworker of her trip to Morocco: "And then, my friend Michelle thinks this is hilarious although at the time I didn't think so… I was walking down the street and a guy threw a cat at my face. AT. MY. FACE!"
After the jump, bank stumpers, pointy menus, and ways to make your college look good.
Don't stop sending us your overheards! Keep your ears open and clean them as necessary. overheardindc (at) gmail (dot) com.
Photo by Flickr user The Skipping Hippy.
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Topeka Board of Education Retirement Home coming soon to a neighborhood near you.
Foggy Bottom
Elderly woman: "What?"
Fundraiser: "I said, would you like to donate to the ACLU?"
Elderly woman: "Hm. Aren't they the ones who oppose segregation in schools?"
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And when he yelled "Adrian!" he was referring to Fenty.
On the Lincoln Memorial steps:
Group of three 18-21 year old guys, running into each other and as they head up
the steps. "Hey, isn't this where Rocky ran up?" as one shadowboxed
his way up the first few steps.
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This kind of made sense at first, but no.
On train from NYC to DC:
Businessman: "New Carrollton and Union Station are on the same Metro line. It doesn't make any sense for Amtrak to stop at both."
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I didn't come here to read, I came here to eat.
Outside Filomena Ristorante in Georgetown:
20-something couple is contemplating the menu. After about a minute, woman to man: "I don't like restaurants that don't have pictures of the food on the menu."
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Customer Service - FedEx - Daniel Snyder? We see a connection.
Waiting for an elevator
A FedEx delivery guy to himself after getting a text on his package-tracking PDA to come pick up a client's package: "What the fuck... Why can't this dude walk his ass to the mailbox 'round the fucking corner..."
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It's a shoe company, now go stuff your money under your mattress.
BB&T bank in Sterling:
Customer: "Current Balance? What's that mean?"
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I wouldn't consider "Sex and the City" art, but life imitates it
Red line from Tenleytown to Metro Center, early Friday afternoon:
Group of early 20 something women.
Woman 1 (to woman 2): "Did you sleep with him last night?"
Woman 2: "Who, [name removed]?"
Woman 1: "Yes, of course [same name]."
Woman 2: "Well, it's complicated. There's this other special person with privileges coming this weekend."
Woman 3 (to woman 2): "I just love the glow of someone in a new relationship. I want to just feed off of you!"
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Prince S.S. has a mighty kingdom
On Metro a few weeks ago, Sat. Night @ 1:30 a.m.
Group of two college aged girls.
Girl 1: "She was going to have 'princess' tattooed above her ass."
Girl 2: "Really, who would have that tattooed on their ass?"
Girl 1: "Well especially when she would gain 40lbs and it wouldn't look like 'princess' anymore..."
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Not exactly Vatican II
By Farragut North Metro on Saturday night:
Guy on cell phone: "I think I'll go to church first, if I'm not too hung over or there's a girl in my bed."