Pennsylvania

There is torrential downpour going on here in the state of Pennsylvania. I can't even begin to describe the differences between here and home, but I can try.

1. The Weather - So far this has been the biggest. The weather here is wet. Always kind of wet, whether it be humidity or the rain (it's already rained more here than an entire season in Bakersfield). It's mild though, it's 70 degrees currently and won't get much hotter, only much much colder through fall and winter. I'm looking forward to the snow, but not to being cold. In a way I'm already looking forward to going home for Christmas and getting out of the cold. And, you know, seeing my family and friends.
2. The People - The demographics are completely different here on the opposite side of the country. The biggest contrast to me is the complete lack of Hispanic people. There is maybe one Mexican food restaurant in all of Pittsburgh, which is weird to me coming from a city where there was practically one on every street corner. The niceness here is kind of contagious, too, but it's not as extreme as I thought it was in July. Yes, the people in the city are generally nicer than what I'm used to at home, but it is taken to the extreme at Chatham. My RA explained it to me, saying the just average niceness here isn't nice enough, so everyone is super-duper-nice to prove that they really are nice. It's just the general attitude.
3. The Food - Have I mentioned how much I miss good Mexican food?
4. The Trees! - Oh my goodness there are so many trees. Everywhere! Driving through main parts of the city, buildings on one side of the bus, a freaking forest on the other side. It's crazy. Like, I can look at my window right now and see trees, trees, trees, and over there is the city. Interspersed between all of those trees. It's just so green!

Those are the main differences. Other things include political persuasions (this is a really liberal school in a pretty moderate city in a swing state, as compared to a conservative school in a conservative city in a blue state), all of the brick buildings, basements, and the general lack of males. Also, not having a car is something I'm starting to get used to. It's not easy though.

Most of all. I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss Target (weird, right?), I even miss the oilfields. But I still have 13 weeks to go before I go home, so I'm going to stick it out!

All my love,
Allyson