Still trying to figure out this tumblr thing! My post got deleted so here I go again. -___-
Well, Boston sure has given me an interesting welcome! I can say with absolute certainty that I’ve already gained some life lessons.
I arrived at the Boston Logan Airport already incredibly exhausted, my 12AM red-eye flight having been delayed to 2AM. I didn’t say much in my last post, because quite honestly, I was incredibly nervous about what was to come. I received a call from my roommates the previous evening telling me how awful our apartment was. As I drove up to the apartment, my heart pounded- how bad could it be?
Pretty bad. The area seemed neglected and run down. The front door to our building didn’t lock, and we found out later from a cop stationed on our street that the area was a hotspot for crime and drug activity. Just the previous night, the person in charge of maintenance advised my roommates not to go out after 5pm. Needless to say, we wanted to be in a place where we felt safe and could have peace of mind walking home at night.
I went to registration day for City Year the next day seriously unsure of whether I would be able to continue with the program. What would I do if I couldn’t find a place in the next week? I was completely conflicted as the day progressed. I met some amazing people and was absolutely blown away by the energy and culture that City Year brought to the day. The entire time, I tried to push back the thought that I might have to go back home if things didn’t pan out.
The next few days were some of the most stressful I’ve ever experienced. Which is saying something, as anyone who knows me can vouch for the fact that I am a complete stress case. We looked at dozens of apartments, talked to more realtors then I ever want to again in my life, but at the end of it all, we found a place! I couldn’t be happier with the location. It’s in Brighton, which is where a lot of young college-age students live. It’s close to restaurants, grocery stores, and most importantly, the T! The commute will be about an hour to my school site, but its definitely worth it. Besides, some time in the morning and evening to read or reflect will be a nice change.
The huge takeaway: Don’t sign a lease without seeing the place first! Seriously. A skype tour doesn’t cut it either. Pictures can be edited. Realtors are just out to make money. You need to get a feel for the area around your apartment. The list goes on. With the money we lost terminating our original lease, it would have been more than worth it to make a trip over to Boston and find a place we were comfortable with in the first place. Or at the very least, we should have gotten someone we knew to see this particular place. I know I will never make the same mistake again, although I hate to say I learned it the hard way.
In all the stress of the week, I didn’t take a single picture to share here. But I did get a nifty new backpack! The nerd in me got excited :)
I could not be more grateful for this amazing opportunity. Day 1 is in two days, and I’m excited for what’s to come!
dailybridgerton
origamiaround
pixelskylines
vaporwave
kianamaiart
yousharknotpass
discoholicmusic
izzy806