things change. we learn.

I love that there is something to be learned from EVERYTHING. (And I love that I have the capacity to think that way.)

I learned how to sleep with the light on, and then learned to sleep with it off again (we kept it on for the past week to keep the bugs away...) I learned how to make management listen to me or to find someone that will make them listen.




I learned that every person in my graduate program is FASCINATING. I wish you could meet each and every one of them. They are like characters out of fabulous novels. These are a few of them.




I learned that I can be comfortable in one place while still dreaming of another... my wanderlust is already creeping in.

I learned that we never know the whole story. My grandfather passed away; who knew that through his obituary I could learn so much. What a generous, thoughtful man he was.

"hold these times and kiss them, for soon it will be very different." -anon

Breakable Girls and Boys

Have you ever thought about what protects our hearts?
Just a cage of rib bones and other various parts.
So its fairly simple to cut right through the mess
and to stop the muscle that makes us confess.

we are so fragile our cracking bones make noise
we are just breakable girls and boys

-Ingrid Michaelson


I can't believe another week of school is starting like this. Still fairly unsettled, considering another move (I'm starting to get a reputation :0) because I cant seem to sleep here (which does not bode well for the whole studying part of my existence.

My roommate Eunice and I have not signed a lease yet and are not intending to sign. We don't want to leave our third roommate, Yoana, who has already signed the lease. Eunice and I have been looking into the legality of breaking the lease for Yoana due to the failure on the part of management to take care of the cockroach problem.

From this point on in my life I will have more respect for the kinds of things people might deal with at home that are unknown to others. Its amazing (and RIDICULOUS) how quickly something like a pest problem can affect someone in all areas of life.

You might be AMAZED (or not) at how many people have no idea what our rights are as tenants. We called townships and state reps and county and district magistrates, all of whom grew silent upon hearing our questions. How are we supposed to act on our rights if no one knows what they are? I'm tempted to just make them up and challenge someone to prove me wrong.
oh life lessons.

Arcadia

"Arcadia was a picturesque region of ancient Greece, a country associated with the birthplace of modern thought and learning where philosophers pursued independent thought and inquiry." -Arcadia University

They put wonderful importance on building peace between communities. The school lowers the flag each time it feels there has been a breach of peace within our own community or the communities surrounding. At orientation we were told that our grad program specifically, while very nontraditional, is the poster child and premier program of Arcadia. This is because it embodies fully the aims of the university- to be peace builders and lose our individual ignorance by being students of the international community.

Great news, huh? I like it.

Susan and Chelsea and my new apartment!

Tuesday morning I picked up Susan and Chelsea and their 400 lbs of belongings (not exaggerating) at the airport. They decided they just had to see me one last time before moving to Uganda. We didn't have a lot of time but I am so happy they came!


This is Love Park in center city. my new favorite.

These guys recreated some historical march from Virginia that took them FOUR months to walk. And they wore THOSE costumes the whole time. that is why we were standing so far away from them. (picture taken just before we plugged our noses.)

For some reason Philly has been experiencing record breaking heat. Hence the fountain wading.

My new apartment building: The Rosemore Gardens. The complex is made up out of about 8 horseshoe shaped buildings. All of the doors from the outside have brand new fob entry systems so it feels really safe.

This has been a super chaotic last few days so the inside of our apartment is just a mess of boxes and suitcases. Hopefully this weekend we will have some time to make it feel more like home. Perhaps I'll even buy a bed.