Monday morning was very successful. I had my meeting at 11, but since it was a beautiful clear day I wanted to go up the Sears tower before going to the meeting. I had figured that 45 minutes would be enough time. I apparently forgot that I haven't been a tourist in America in a long time, and was out of practice with the system. I arrived exactly at 10, was whisked through a couple elevators and lines, then security, then a photograph (at this point I began to laugh ceaselessly). I bought my ticket, walked ten steps to the left to hand my ticket to someone else, then proceeded through a maze of historical pictures only to end up in another waiting room. There was a 10 minute film and a wait for the 60 second elevator ride to the 103rd floor which was accompanied with a short movie of two talking pigeons. So needless to say I made it to the top by 1035, walked around for 10 minutes, which was sufficient, and then went back down. I was showed the photo from earlier but would've had to pay 21 dollars for it. Then I grabbed a cab to Columbia because I wouldn't of been able to walk there in 15 minutes. The cabby was really nice, and we had a short interesting conversation.
The meeting at Columbia went great. The woman I met with was really cool and we talked for about an hour. The program is very different than all the other schools I've looked at so far, and there is way less funding, so I might not even apply, which is a shame since I really LOVE Chicago. I walked around some more, took more pictures, and ate lunch before going back to Oak Park to leave a thank you note and head off to Madison.
The drive was easy enough, and I got there by 545, so I wandered around for an hour until Ginger was out of class. She showed me her apartment and the really awesome lake she has right behind the building where you can go swimming when it's warm, unfortunately I didn't feel like it the next day, but oh well. I met her roommate, an avid Prisonbreak fan who I feel I would've gotten along well with if I had spent more time there. We went out for Wisconsin food for dinner, brats and beer, which was delicious. We caught up and chatted and had a generally great time. I wish I'd had a bit more confidence to speak more ASL since she's a CODA and is fluent. Tuesday was beautiful. I walked around, went to the capitol building, then read by the other lake on this terrace where a large crowd of people was doing tai chi (spelling?) with a guy on a platform stage. I finally started Kerouac, and am feeling quite inspired and in touch with his writing since I'm experiencing a bit of what he did. Did some shopping before and after meeting Ginger when she was done with class. Got a Mars Volta cd to add to my collection of interesting-new-keep-me-awake music. I also made my own pin and bought a post card in this cute store where there was a cute little baby babbling and crawling around.
We had Mexican food for dinner at a place called Frida's along with margaritas, yum. Chilled some more, read during Ginger's ski team meeting, and then we went out with one of her friends for a few 1 dollar beers and bacon at this bar that does this every Tuesday. It was great to see Ginger and catch up. I like having small ISV reuinions, and maybe somehow I'll see every one of those amazing people again.
Madison is a really chill place. I definitely liked it and would go back.
This morning I left at 10, and the drive was kind of brutal. Long, and boring, and construction filled, and at the end my GPS got very confused but I have made it into Omaha Nebraska where I'm staying the night with the sister of one of my Aunt's students. They're all nursing students and out pretty late, but I won't be up for too long. I want to get started early tomorrow, so I have time to stop a few times in tiny little Nebraskan towns, and still get to Boulder/Lafayette by like 3 or 4.
I'm starting the snail mail now too. So hopefully I'll mail that all out tomorrow.
Missing people even more now that I don't get to see any friends of family for about a week.
I'll try to make the next few posts shorter. But even though I'm alone and the road is sometimes vastly empty, I still seem to have too much to say.
Much love to all, especially if you've read this to the end.
" Don't push with your shoulder
Until you are older."
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2 comments:
Wow. What a journey, Jess. I'm envious of your adventures (though not of your gas station bills).
FYI, even thought Cecilia's brother Antonio is young enough to be one of my students, he's actually one of my colleagues. He's in his fourth year as an assistant professor of photography and video in my department
i misssss you. give me a call tomorrow post work time if you have some free time. or saturday or sunday too. i'm already considering the best way and time to come visit you. :)
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