I like living in cities because I can look out at other people looking at me. I can snoop on conversations, hear babies crying in foreign languages and in the morning, the streets are littered with last night's crimes.

Here in D.C., everyone is talking about sub-prime mortgages and Obama and the impending heat of summer. Everyone, cab-drivers, bus-riders, Reebok-hoofed men-in-suits.

I am re-named Laura in Spanish: Laooorrrra.

Now I wear my hair down and have two gold chains around my neck because I am classy like that. I am scared because people think I know what I am talking about and they seem to trust me too. But then I worry that maybe they DON'T trust me and my job is just some fake redundant position they needed to fill so I am there and it doesn't really matter if I mess up cause millions of dollars will not be lost and it is all a big joke.

My mom told me: welcome to the real world.