The Blog

Here I am. In a new city, a new campus, a new apartment. Pittsburgh.

Today I was washing my hands using the ever refreshing Dial soap and I rejoiced as I watched the water escape quickly down the drain. The last (I hope) of many quirks to be fixed in my apartment. Before today I could not wash my hands without having the sink completely fill with water-nothing is more unamusing than having to stare down at the dirty soapy water with with you just cleaned your hands...I won't even go into what brushing my teeth was like. The good thing is now I no longer have to pace myself on washing my hands ("no, no jess you washed your hands an hour ago-the sink will still be full"), I can wash them whenever I want.

Classes. I have not even had a complete week of them yet. I feel as though I have already attended at least three weeks of classes. It is strange to me to sit in a class where more than one person raises their hand only five minutes into the class. This reminds me of kindergarten when you raise your hand and bounce up and down because maybe if your hand is a little higher than the next kid's the teacher will surely notice you first and you will get to answer. This is good for me because the anxiety that I will be called on ceases to exist when there are twelve students with their hands up WILLING to present their insight. Ah, I love big schools. Perhaps I may be in over my head, but the fact of the matter you aren't learning if you know everything you are being taught already.

Big schools mean lots of students and lots of students means lots of people watching. I love to sit on my balcony which is shaded by these large pine trees and just watch the people go by. I am amused by their styles, their conversations, their strides, their habits, their pace. I wish sitting on my balcony was worth three credits. I still need some good tea though to complete the practice. I bought some chai tea and it is horrible.

Last night a friend took me up to Mount Washington for the panoramic view of the city. I think in that instance I decided I really do like Pittsburgh. Perhaps this makes me shallow for basing my like of a city on it's amazing night-time skyline. Maybe it is like basing your opinion of a person on their looks. Either way I am embracing this new habitat with open arms.


Perhaps this country girl has a little bit of city in her after all.