I've had a very busy weekend. Jim and Liz came in Friday night and took me out for dinner, a stroll around Cambridge and great ice cream cones! Bless them especially for coming back on Sat and helping me shop, pick out a printer, set it up and generally get my abode ready for the starting gate. I'm feeling quite settled, thank heaven. Thanks to all of you who helped me pack--everything has arrived safely.
Sat eve I went to a play on the life of Buddha; a one man show. Met several people including two young women, both MDs. One from Brazil and one from Romania. I think Ruxandra and I will get together again, probably to do yoga. Speaking of: I have gone twice, two different studios and liked them both. One is only 1 block away, so will go there more often, I suspect.
Right now I'm cramming for the quantitative methods (math test) we take tomorrow. There is also one on Econ but not sure how to study for that. Hopefully all those years in business will give me an intuitive idea of the answers. My Econ classes are all 30+ years old.
Tonight is dinner with Scott and Katie, both Bush Fellows from MN. It is wonderful to have two familiar faces to look for tomorrow. More when I come up for air. A
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Arriving in Cambridge
I arrived on Tues afternoon and friend, Jim W, picked me up at the airport. I ran into another friend, Lisa who is off on a new life adventure, in the bathroom at Logan--love that small world stuff.
My first adventure was getting up early on Wed am., leaving the house about 7:20, I walked to Harvard Square and to get coffee at Peet's and then down by the Charles to watch the folks out crewing. I was sitting on a bench by about 7:45---it was hard to find one as the litter was every where. Then I noticed a number of people rolled up in blankets sleeping. Soon 3 police cars quietly pulled up on the lawn, and started waking the homeless sleepers. As that scene unfolded, a dump truck and a van from MA Corrections pulled up. Out jump about 6 guys in lime green "Community Crew" t-shirts with Dept of Corrections in smaller print.
It was impossible not to notice the police were white (I noticed one exception), all the vehicle drivers were white and the clean-up crew?? all African American or Latino. I realized that here, in miniature, is why I'm here. After 150 years we are still struggling to develop a society where everyone can thrive. In fact, it is getting worse in so many ways. The big shift in me, however, is that in the past, I would have blamed the Caucasians. Now I see we are all stuck in a system that creates these inequities. No easy answers in how to get out of it but we must move forward NOW. OK, enough soap box for one day.
I'm settling in beautifully. It's only been three days but somehow feels longer in a good way. Perhaps with communication so easy, I don't really have to experience the loneliness when calling long distance was expensive and email didn't exist. I got wired yesterday with phone, computer and cable TV so busy checking in with everyone.
My apartment is a small one bedroom and just the prefect size. I need a bedroom to close the door when the mess gets too much (or if I want to entertain, throw all the mess on the bed and shut the door.) I'm loving getting to know the family who owns it. I had dinner with them Wednesday eve and know I will love being here.
I notice the odd mix of voices internally: the 'starving student, better not spend much money' or the 'Yes, I want to down size BUT not make life hard, so of course you can buy that!' So I have a good bottle of gin (it's hot here!) and a cheap, 4 cup coffee maker. Perfect.
I'm hoping to learn to use my new camera over the weekend and add a few pictures.
My first adventure was getting up early on Wed am., leaving the house about 7:20, I walked to Harvard Square and to get coffee at Peet's and then down by the Charles to watch the folks out crewing. I was sitting on a bench by about 7:45---it was hard to find one as the litter was every where. Then I noticed a number of people rolled up in blankets sleeping. Soon 3 police cars quietly pulled up on the lawn, and started waking the homeless sleepers. As that scene unfolded, a dump truck and a van from MA Corrections pulled up. Out jump about 6 guys in lime green "Community Crew" t-shirts with Dept of Corrections in smaller print.
It was impossible not to notice the police were white (I noticed one exception), all the vehicle drivers were white and the clean-up crew?? all African American or Latino. I realized that here, in miniature, is why I'm here. After 150 years we are still struggling to develop a society where everyone can thrive. In fact, it is getting worse in so many ways. The big shift in me, however, is that in the past, I would have blamed the Caucasians. Now I see we are all stuck in a system that creates these inequities. No easy answers in how to get out of it but we must move forward NOW. OK, enough soap box for one day.
I'm settling in beautifully. It's only been three days but somehow feels longer in a good way. Perhaps with communication so easy, I don't really have to experience the loneliness when calling long distance was expensive and email didn't exist. I got wired yesterday with phone, computer and cable TV so busy checking in with everyone.
My apartment is a small one bedroom and just the prefect size. I need a bedroom to close the door when the mess gets too much (or if I want to entertain, throw all the mess on the bed and shut the door.) I'm loving getting to know the family who owns it. I had dinner with them Wednesday eve and know I will love being here.
I notice the odd mix of voices internally: the 'starving student, better not spend much money' or the 'Yes, I want to down size BUT not make life hard, so of course you can buy that!' So I have a good bottle of gin (it's hot here!) and a cheap, 4 cup coffee maker. Perfect.
I'm hoping to learn to use my new camera over the weekend and add a few pictures.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
The Elders are launched in South Africa
There is a wonderful story of hope coming from an international group of elders, Mandela, Tutu, Carter, Mary Robinson and others. They are forming a 'global village' of elders to help work on world problems. A model we might all aspire to emulate even in small ways. Highly recommended reading and the photo gallery is touching. The world's true statesman/stateswomen.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070718.welders0718/BNStory/International/home
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070718.welders0718/BNStory/International/home
Monday, July 16, 2007
Letting Go
I'm down to seven days and a wake up as they say in the military. (My former husband was in the Navy during the Viet Nam era, so we kept track of how many more days we owed Uncle Sam that way.)
My friend Linda came today and we cleared out all the clothes left in my closets and drawers. Two medium size boxes of clothes are on their way to Cambridge, one computer, the flat screen monitor and all the other doodads that make it work have also shipped out! I'm sure over half of my wardrobe was donated to Value Village today! One goal is to really experience slimming down my life so today was a good test. The books and music are a bit harder though I've taken at least 15 boxes of books to the used booksellers.
There have been a few parties to say goodbye. What a wonderful, supportive, brilliant and loving tribe I have! I'm so ready to do this, but when I look around and see all these people who are so much a part of my life, I know there will be some lonely moments. I'm a true extrovert so I also know I'll make new friends quickly but you don't replace those who go back a decade or two or three, very quickly.
Some days I wonder why I didn't do this years ago. I feel like I've been heading in this direction all my life. Other days, I know it just wasn't time till now. I trust that this IS the time, that what I need to learn/do could only be done now. I did some reading last night about this kind of big change. Learning to balance activity and quietude are key to staying grounded. That is my goal this week---some time to myself to journal, soak up how much I love my house, my neighborhood, time with friends and family, and lots of energy to finish packing up the house.
More in a few days.
My friend Linda came today and we cleared out all the clothes left in my closets and drawers. Two medium size boxes of clothes are on their way to Cambridge, one computer, the flat screen monitor and all the other doodads that make it work have also shipped out! I'm sure over half of my wardrobe was donated to Value Village today! One goal is to really experience slimming down my life so today was a good test. The books and music are a bit harder though I've taken at least 15 boxes of books to the used booksellers.
There have been a few parties to say goodbye. What a wonderful, supportive, brilliant and loving tribe I have! I'm so ready to do this, but when I look around and see all these people who are so much a part of my life, I know there will be some lonely moments. I'm a true extrovert so I also know I'll make new friends quickly but you don't replace those who go back a decade or two or three, very quickly.
Some days I wonder why I didn't do this years ago. I feel like I've been heading in this direction all my life. Other days, I know it just wasn't time till now. I trust that this IS the time, that what I need to learn/do could only be done now. I did some reading last night about this kind of big change. Learning to balance activity and quietude are key to staying grounded. That is my goal this week---some time to myself to journal, soak up how much I love my house, my neighborhood, time with friends and family, and lots of energy to finish packing up the house.
More in a few days.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Packing UP
It's 12:14 am, July 12. I fly to Cambridge on Tuesday July 24 so time in Minneapolis is getting short. My nephew, Bryant, emailed about half and hour ago and told me how to set up this blog. So instead of getting my solid 8 hours of sleep necessary for a healthy brain (Something I'll NEED SOON for grad school) I'm learning how to blog.
I start school on Aug 1 and based on the schedule it will be a very intense month. KSG (Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University) calls is summer school. The students call it 'boot camp.' We will have quantitative methods and Econ every day and a variety of other classes in th afternoons. I am supposed to know Excel by Aug 1 and should bone up on my math if I want to get into a little higher Quant Methods class. In the mean time, I need to pack up the apartment, sell my car, see all the friends I can, change address for everything, finalize the rental of my apartment, yada, yada, yada.......
I have found a fabulous, fully furnished apartment near the school. More on that after I move in on the 24th.
Time for a little shut eye. Ann
I start school on Aug 1 and based on the schedule it will be a very intense month. KSG (Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University) calls is summer school. The students call it 'boot camp.' We will have quantitative methods and Econ every day and a variety of other classes in th afternoons. I am supposed to know Excel by Aug 1 and should bone up on my math if I want to get into a little higher Quant Methods class. In the mean time, I need to pack up the apartment, sell my car, see all the friends I can, change address for everything, finalize the rental of my apartment, yada, yada, yada.......
I have found a fabulous, fully furnished apartment near the school. More on that after I move in on the 24th.
Time for a little shut eye. Ann
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