Ah-ha, I'm back. If this entry had to have a title, it would be, "Kat's First Ever Vacation."

Yes, last Thursday and Friday I traveled to Boston all by myself, to look at grad schools and to get away. I mean, this was a chance for me to run far away from all the work I've done and still have to do for a 48 hour span. I had no computer access, and I couldn't bring my work with me due to limited luggage space. So the trip served that duel function. I was wicked nervous before I left--yes, I've been to Boston before, and largely did that trip by myself (due to my falling out with the IC Model United Nations team), but still--could I get through this major city all by myself? And I was frightened that my inital love of it back in 2001 was a fluke and that I'd get there and absolutely hate it and have to start all over again in my search for graduate programs.

How was it?

It was only the best time I've ever had.

If this city is this much fun alone, then I can't even imagine what it must be like with a group of people.

I fell in love with Boston University. I love that school. Words can not express how much I am in love with that school. The admissions department in the School of Education are some of the nicest and welcoming people I have ever met during the whole college search process (and I'm on the third college search process of my life). I would be honoured to attend that program. For you Binghamtonites out there, there is a bubble tea place right across the street from the College of Arts and Sciences building. The bookstore, like Binghamton's, is a Barnes and Noble, but it's a real Barnes and Noble. We're talking with the cafe and interior and everything. The residence halls are absolutely amazing--all quaint and historic and an art history minor's dream. I hope they are reading this. PLEASE ACCEPT ME TO YOUR SCHOOL!

I also love Harvard, although I didn't get to meet with anyone there. The Graduate School of Education is on one little side street across from...where is that, perpendicular to where HMV used to be in Cambridge. Oh, that street where Fire and Ice is. (Okay, like no one knows what I'm talking about. Fire and Ice is this wayyyy overpriced but way cool restaurant that I went to with the Model UN team back in 2001, and in order to make my way around Cambridge the day after we ate there, I had to relate everything to that restaurant and the bead store across the street.) So that's where Harvard GSE is. And it looks very nice, and the students around the buildings looked and seemed very nice and dedicated. While I love BU, my dream since I knew what college was and knew that I wanted to go to college has been to be accepted to Harvard. So I'm going to try. And the area is fantastic (even though I still don't understand why there are like three Au Bon Pains in the immediate Harvard Square area. I think that one big one is enough...but I like that place, so I won't complain.)

Northeastern was the site of my favourite food expierence of my trip. Nice school, great buildings, mad busy for the beginning of August (but they are on quarters not semesters, so I think that's why--but they're going to semesters soon)...and then I went to lunch at Gregory's, which is this little deli across the street and down some. The guys that run the place were entirely way too nice for their own good. I was overly tired right then, and hadn't eaten in hours (I had been up since 9am Wed, and this was at 12:30 on Thursday...I had caught about 3 hours of sleep on the red eye bus I had taken, but they weren't the best hours of sleep), but they had me laughing, and by the end of lunch, I knew I'd be able to make it till I got back to my hotel that evening. I intend on trying to go back there everytime I go to Boston, and eventually when I live there, I will try to get there as much as I can. They had loyal customers stopping in who seemed to absolutely love them, and I know why.

Suffolk Universtiy was cool in that it is right near the State House, meaning that it is amazingly political around there. I had this feeling I was passing important people as I made my way up the hill to find graduate admissions. There are a lot of cute eateries around there (what can I say, I enjoy restaurants too much), and Filenes' Basement is within walking distance. I didn't get there this time (that's the one place I'm dying to get to and haven't yet), but that it is within walking distance (along with H&M) of Suffolk earns the university bonus points. It also seems like they are completely redoing some of the residential areas around there in an a revitalization effort, which can be good. And Boston Common is right there.

I also got to see Fenway Park (I didn't get to go to a game, but I got to walk by it after Friday's first game, and got to get hit on by a drunken Red Sox fan). I also got to go to FAO Schwartz, the store I want my children to be exposed to early and often, and the rest of Bolyston and Newbury Street (the coolest place to shop ever created--well, if you have money. If you don't, it's fun to walk around and gawk-without-gawking.) I also went to the Prudential Center (a nice mall), and walked past the Park Plaza (the way expensive and fancy hotel I stayed in my first time in Boston). I also found places I need to visit the next time I'm there (MIT--I had to switch trains once and found myself there with no time to walk around and look--but the area looked great). And then, of course, no trip is complete without...finding a supermarket and seeing if it lives up to Wegmans. I did find one, Shaw's, that did live up to Wegmans. I was impressed--the one I went to had its own wine section, something I don't even think the Pittsford Wegmans has. It was very nice.

So, all in all, I fell more in love with Boston that I thought I ever could. I hate to admit this, but I teared up when I got to South Station to leave on Friday night. I want to live in Boston. When I was 10, my aunt (who was from the Cape) told me, "Katie, I want to take you up to Boston because you'd love it. You're a Boston girl, I just know it." And she was right. That's where I want to be, and the possibility of moving there in a year is an amazing feeling. A lot of my friends have fallen in love with New York City, and can't picture not living there, and I could never understand their feelings until last week. I now have those same feelings about Boston.

So if anyone ever wants to take a jaunt up to Boston, you have a travel partner. (Oh, and if anyone is thinking of going to grad school up there in Fall 2004, let me know.)