Tuesday, August 19, 2014

So I've actually been out here for two weeks already...

Out here as in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And it's been really, really nice. It's kind of funny how I'm currently a tourist in America here, too. Here's a quick overview of week one:

My mom drove me down on August 3rd. The ride was long and pretty uneventful. Long flat swathes of farmland alternated with rolling hills. There were some cool tunnels:

It looks okay now, but it was pouring on the other side!

But that was about it.

We arrived around 4pm and were able to check in at Shadyside Inn, which is where I will be staying until I depart for France in September! As someone accustomed to cramped college dorms, this place is awesome. My room has a queen sized bed (what do I do with all this space??). The kitchen has a full size fridge, coffee maker, oven and stove along with all sorts of kitchen utensils. There's even a dining table and living room with a TV and cable (!). So I'm feeling spoiled.

I was lucky enough to be shown around Shadyside and Oakland by my friend Nicole, who is a student here at Pitt. About a mile from my hotel lies the University of Pittsburgh's campus. I had never even looked at pictures of this University online, so I was awed when we finally arrived at the Cathedral of Learning.

a.k.a "Cathy"

If you ever wanted to go to Hogwarts, this is about as close as you can get without actually going to the UK. Pitt students seem to agree; we searched around the bathrooms for the "Harry Potter stall", but unfortunately it had been painted over.

The only vestiges left from the Harry Potter stall.
This is a really photogenic building if you can't tell:

#nofilter

This photo was taken from Schenley plaza, where we spent some time lounging and drinking bubble tea that same evening. This is a beautiful grassy space with outdoor seating, a restaurant and some food kiosks like Conflict Kitchen (which I hope to eat at in the near future). On Wednesdays, there's a farmer's market across the street from here!

Another view of the Plaza
Visit to the farmer's market with Carolyn!

And because you're probably bored right now here's a few other non-academic things I've done these past couple of weeks:


  • Befriended Strawberry, the Shadyside rabbit

  • Casually made toast on the floor because I have no counter space
It went okay
  • Climbed up "The Hill" to the Falk Library at the medical school
It's steeper than it looks
  • Watched lighting hit the top of the Cathedral from inside the Hillman Library.


And I also had three hours of class each day. More on that later though, I've got a lot of catching up to do.

再见

Rachel














No comments:

Post a Comment