Karolinka,
Itis so hard to get used to differences.  I know when I moved to Ft Worth to teach.  It was a different culture too.  As they say in Texas it is like a whole other country.  At first I thought it was just a big Boise.  But that changed over time.  I said it was not bettter or worse just different.  I said that mostly because I did not want to be judgmental.  What can I say?  I was still young.  I am sure you had experiences similiar to this in DC.  Does exposure to these things and people make us wiser?  Probably.  But don't brag about it.  I have been enjoying your blog.  I first tried it and when the snapshot stuff came up the computer said it had performed an illegal oppration and would shut down.  It did not do this this time.