Asian Studies in Washington D.C.

The George Washington University is located in the heart of Washington, D.C., just blocks from the White House and the World Bank. The Sigur Center for Asian Studies is housed in new facilities on E Street, located right near the U.S. Department of State. The National Mall is just a short walk away and houses, among other attractions, the world-renowned Asian collections of the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. The Library of Congress, just a short Metro ride away, has some of the world's richest and most extensive collections of Asian materials. Washington is, of course, also home to myriad research institutions and non-profits, many of which focus on Asian issues. All of these resources are easily accessible to students and Visiting Scholars alike.

Additionally, as is fitting for a global capital, Washington boasts a tremendously diverse populace. The metropolitan area now counts over 300,000 residents of Asian descent. The immigration of Vietnamese, Koreans, and Chinese has been particularly marked, but the area also boasts large numbers of Indians. Many Filipinos are scattered about the region as well, not to mention smaller numbers of other groups (e.g. Thais, Burmese, Nepalese, Japanese, and Pakistanis).

This influx of persons of Asian descent has altered the landscape of Washington, D.C., as well as its suburbs. Numerous Asian churches, Hindu and Buddhist temples, and other social and cultural institutions can be found in the area. Last but not least, Washington is a great place for Asian food. While it is easy to dine in Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese establishments here, the area is also home to Nepalese, Burmese, Pakistani, Afghan, Japanese, Malaysian, and Indonesian restaurants as well.

Clearly, for those with a taste for Asian food, culture, and scholarship, Washington has a great deal to offer.When combined with the academic excellence of the Sigur Center's Asian Studies programs, any Asianist should find the city practically irresistable.