It has been said that Washington is a transient city, one whose residents change every two to four years due to the political whims of the rest of the nation. This popular view is reflected in jokes that it takes little more than a couple of years residency to be a Washington native. However, a deeper look into the history and culture of the city reveals more than just "official" Washington. Beyond the monuments to which millions pilgrimage each year exists a little recognized residential city currently undergoing a process of tremendous change and redefinition due to the impact of the migration of populations from all over the world.