Hey,
Sorry it has been so long since an update, but my life has been crazy busy. As my advisor says, you cannot trust anything a grad student says in October, because that is when her ghost comes out. Haha- totally true! I hope that making it to November will be the equivalent of an exorcism, because the stress I am under right now is a little suffocating. So let’s catch up-
Two weeks ago I survived midterms, and to reward myself I took last weekend off (as did all of my graduate school friends). I took advantage of the great fall weather and walked to Penn’s Landing. Penn’s Landing is on the Delaware River and just so happens to be the most eastern part of Philadelphia. When you look across the river you can see New Jersey. I visited the Seaport Museum and then walked around The USS Becuna and Olympia (a submarine and ship). It was a little educational for my “no thinking” weekend, but I had a great time. My favorite part was just sitting on a park bench, looking at the river, and feeling the fall breeze. Fall is definitely my favorite season. I took my guide book with me and scouted out a great little shop called Franklin Fountain.
Franklin Fountain, is a great old-time ice cream parlor, and honestly (other than Reading Terminal Market) is my new favorite place in Philly. The ice cream was AMAZING, and when you get ice cream to-go they put it in tiny little Chinese boxes. It is a shame the shop is on something like 1st street, when I live on 21st street, but whenever I venture east…. I will stop there (especially when I have visitors).
After that, I walked down to Pine St, which has great antique stores and little odds and ends shops. I found some great little things, that if I was still working and not broke as a joke, I would have bought. It was fun to look. I ended the day with a pizza (much deserved after walking a whopping 6.4 miles)!
Overall it was a great weekend, I paid for it later. Imagine a credit card with a 25% interest rate, yeah, that is what I charged last weekend on -getting nothing done last weekend set me up for some disaster. This past week was the toughest yet, which is odd, because it was the first week since mid September that we did not have one test. I was so stressed on Thursday, that I actually yelled and then cried to a customer service person over the phone! I don’t know what possessed me to do that, but these days….. if you mess with my time or my money, the wrath will be brought on you….. right mister man from customer service, yeah. I did recover just in time for Friday, which was my first walk to campus is sub-40 degree weather. I am proud to say it was not too bad. I did wear a hat and gloves (very Southern girl moves North of me, but 36 is still a little cold for this Dixie chick).
So, last week was rough, and my spirits were low, until today…..when on October 29th….. it snowed! I am aware that it also snowed in North Carolina (dang you), but it was great to experience my first Northeastern snow. I am sure by the end of my time here, I will loathe the snow, but for now, I am still the excited little girl from NC who loves to see snowflakes! I watched it snow all day long from my apartment windows.
{side note: it is currently 34 degrees outside and my apartment windows are wide open, and I have my fan on! It is safe to say, that my heat is on…. and since it is central heat, I have no control over the hot/miserable climate of my apartment. It is very strange. So, if anyone wants a tropical vacation, come visit.}
So, that pretty much sums up the last two weeks of my life. Nothing too remarkable, but every week is one less I have to do over (that is where my frame of mind is right now). Now, don’t get too worried about me, I have had some great occurrences during these last two weeks:
- ~ Meredith took me to the grocery store (for just my second trip since living here) and I got some amazing food! I am so excited each meal time now.
- ~Susie made Halloween bags for us, including my favorite candies and individualized Halloween jokes: mine was- Where do most goblins live? North and South Scarolina! Haha
- ~ I got a surprise package last week containing Duke’s Mayonnaise (which they do not have up here), leading to many enjoyable turkey sandwiches.
- ~I was able to pack away my summer shirts, and now I have room for my clothes in my drawers! (Even when all of my clothes are clean….and that is a big step)
- ~I finally found out how to get my shower from leaking…. break the handle off to the right!
Haha, yeah that’s all I’ve got. I do really love it here, and there are moments every day that I thank God for allowing me the opportunity to live out this dream. Even though I complain (mostly in humor), I am so grateful for having this amazing apartment, in the best neighborhood of Philly (yes, I am partial), and for having the best friends a girl could ask for! I am not kidding- Meredith, Susie, Lauren, and Katie have been incredible these past weeks. (Don’t worry, no one compares to you my love.) God is definitely looking out for me, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude.
That is enough for now. I love and miss you!
Courtney
Ps- I got a letter from Hannah and Roy this week (with $3) and I got The Upper Room from Mildred. I love our St. Matthew’s family.
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