Boston... where no one knows my name

I have had many requests to keep my blog updated as I venture out on this latest adventure of mine so here I go! I will do my best to keep it as entertaining as possible! My life in Boston….

I departed St. Louis a week ago with just my car, minimal belongings, and my trusty GPS (which turned out to be not so trusty), bound for life-after-college in Boston. I drove a

total of 25 hours over Sunday and Monday, stopping only once each day for gas, and to sleep Sunday night in Zanesville, Ohio. It was a ton of driving but it wasn’t as bad as you would expect. I enjoyed belting out endless hours of BSB and Taylor Swift and watching the landscape transform as I inched from the Midwest to the East Coast. I drove through IL, IN, KY (not really on the way, I blame my not-so-trusty GPS), OH, WV, PA, NJ, NY, CT, and MA – most of the drive was quite picturesque and I found it interesting to see how the people, houses, terrain, etc changed as I drove. Had I not been so anxious to make it to Boston, it would have been fun to stop more places along the way. Besides the Kentucky detour, the only other major directions error I made was in NYC; which honestly it was fairly impressive that I only made that one. I got off on a wrong exit in what I believe to be Harlem, though I’m not quite sure. It really did not look like America to me so I knew it was best to get back on the highway as quickly as possible. From there I made my way to Oakham, MA (about an hour outside Boston) where I stayed the night with my South Africa roommate, Miss Alyssa Quartulli! It was so great (and strangely quite normal) to see her – I am so excited to have her nearby!

Tuesday morning I woke up and drove straight to my aunts (who lives in Boston). She took me to see the apartment, and has been helping me fix the place up, clean, get furniture, and move my stuff in ever since. I stayed at her house this whole week – it has made the adjustment a bit more relaxed, plus I have loved spending time with my 4 year old cousin, Kaisla. She is such a character! She is currently in the process of making me one of a kind artwork for my walls haha.

So everyone is curious about the apartment – it’s really not that bad! Definitely not what I expected to pay $1,300/month for someday but this is Boston! My aunt actually thinks I got a great deal haha. I was a bit bummed at first because it could use a lot of work but after some intense cleaning and a few trips to IKEA, it is starting to feel pretty homey. I made sure to get a large bed even though it takes up most of the space so as to entice people to come visit me! COME SEE ME! As long as I don’t have any insect or rodent friends move in, I should be fine. I have a decent bathroom, a fairly large closet, a living area, and a kitchen (worst part of the apartment by far, but still not awful). And I have a lovely view of bricks from the building next door! The best part of the apartment is the location though - I am super close to everything and in a fairly safe area. I am a block away from the T, a couple of blocks from a grocery store, and within walking distance of lots of unique boutiques and eating places. AND guess what?? A Panera just opened up two blocks from me - I swear I didn't even plan that one!

Overall, I think I am going to like it here. I am loving the city of Boston, the ability to walk everywhere, and the hustle and bustle of life here. I am hoping to find a job soon even just as a way to meet people. The first person I met was a 70-something year old man with missing teeth (just the sort of male I was hoping to meet haha) that lives in my apartment building – he ranted for a good 15 minutes about our awful landlord (great!). Anyway, hopefully I will have more friends my age to speak of soon! Until then, I am enjoying watching all 4 seasons of the O.C. in my new bed (the unemployed cannot afford cable!)