My first visit to Hillwood Estates was nothing short of magical. Right as I got there, I knew I had to share it with the people I loved. When my mom came to visit Georgetown, she absolutely fell in love with the place! That day, we sat in the cafe and ate croissants; we talked and learned new things about each other; and we shared an unforgettable day. Below is an excerpt of the ethnography I wrote for my Writing & the Museum course, which is what introduced me to Hillwood Estates:
Imagine a sprawling 25-acre land, ripe for exploration. On this surreal landscape sits a cluster of fantastical buildings, ranging from a glass greenhouse to a towering log cabin. An eight-columned mansion sits at the head, housing ornate rooms fitted with meticulous details of art and history. If you have had the pleasure of visiting, you may now consider yourself among the ranks of Alice in Wonderland and Dorothy in Oz. Am I describing some sort of reverie, or a CGI-constructed movie set? On the contrary, this was a very real and tangible experience. It was, in fact, my first visit to the Hillwood Estates, Museum, and Garden. A typical first impression of Hillwood Estates is that of a playground wrapped in an enigma, buried deep within a winding DC suburb and hidden behind a series of low brick walls. For a first-time visitor and her lost Uber driver, a journey to Hillwood is nothing short of an adventure.
To this day, it remains one of my favorite pieces of writing. It also represents my tumultuous journey with the Writing & the Museum class. Coincidentally, I had actually struggled to write this assignment because I was still trying to manage mental health issues. Fortunately, my professor kept faith in me and even ended up writing my recommendation letter for transferring! I’m unbelievably lucky that so many people believed in me, even when I didn’t deserve it. I will always be grateful to her, the class, and Georgetown for encouraging me to go beyond my comfort zone and find my redemption.
