The day after I posted my last blog about my satisfaction with bicycle riding in the city I read a newspaper article that said, in each of the past three years, Boston has been voted as one of the worst places to ride a bicycle in the US. I am not finding this to be the case, but then again, the article was talking about the improvements that have been made this year--including a bicycle lane, which happens to go the length of Boston University on Commonwealth Ave. I guess I moved here at the correct time.
On another note, here is a typical night from outside my bedroom. Loud Bostonians yelling and playing baseball. They're extra loud tonight.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Travel
I have recently made two observations of differences in "local" travel (travel not happening on freeways...I don't know of another name) around here. The first is a positive one. Cars pay much better attention to bicyclist than they do in Southern California. Or at least they are much more polite. In Fullerton, especially going down Chapman Ave., I always got the feeling that I was an inconvenience if I was riding on the edge of the road, but here there seems to be a much better harmony between all the moving vehicles.
The second observation is that street names aren't consistent...AT ALL! I have experienced this a few times on my bicycle when I haven't been able to find certain places, but I really experienced it yesterday. I rented a zipcar (an hourly car rental) to go pick up my books which I shipped before I left California, and the apartment I was looking for was only 5.5 miles away. Looking at the map, it seemed clear that I was going to be on the same street for most of my journey, but then looking at the step-by-step directions from google maps told me otherwise. The street that I was to stay on for three miles changed names FOUR times in those three miles! In the end, it all worked out fine, I found the apartment, got my books (in the pouring rain), and returned the car without a late fee.
I learned another thing yesterday, I drive rental cars differently than I drive personally owned cars. "Big pot-hole, who cares? This will be fun!"
The second observation is that street names aren't consistent...AT ALL! I have experienced this a few times on my bicycle when I haven't been able to find certain places, but I really experienced it yesterday. I rented a zipcar (an hourly car rental) to go pick up my books which I shipped before I left California, and the apartment I was looking for was only 5.5 miles away. Looking at the map, it seemed clear that I was going to be on the same street for most of my journey, but then looking at the step-by-step directions from google maps told me otherwise. The street that I was to stay on for three miles changed names FOUR times in those three miles! In the end, it all worked out fine, I found the apartment, got my books (in the pouring rain), and returned the car without a late fee.
I learned another thing yesterday, I drive rental cars differently than I drive personally owned cars. "Big pot-hole, who cares? This will be fun!"
Sunday, August 31, 2008
People Yelling
For the past week I've been wondering about yelling. 1. I've been wondering if people really are angry when they yell. 2. I've been wondering if people from Boston even notice when someone is yelling. 3. I've been wondering how personally I should take it, if and when I am yelled at.
A few days ago I was sitting on a bench waiting for the bus to arrive (only about 2 blocks west of where the previous yelling incident happened) when I saw a lady stop her bicycle beside a car. The two men in the car were talking to two men on the sidewalk. They weren't parked, they had just stopped for a moment. Then the lady began to pound really hard on the driver's side window and I could tell she was furious because she was screaming. (I'm really sad I was out of earshot because I think I would have found this entire situation even more entertaining if I could have heard everything exchanged. But then again, maybe it was more entertaining for me to just read the actions and body language and imagine their conversation in my own head.) Apparently, from what I could tell, the car must have cut her off when they pulled in to talk to the men they had seen walking, and she was furious to the point of wanting to make a scene.
After no more than 30 seconds the car continued on its way leaving the woman on her bicycle. Clearly she had not satisfied her wrath by screaming at the rolled up window so she decided to continue conversing with the other men who had continued on down the sidewalk. She rode up behind them, they turned around and I could tell that she was still screaming because of all of her angry, jerky, body motions. They appeared to listen for about 5 seconds before turning again and continuing on their way. But she was not done! She continued yelling, they turned around again after walking 40 feet away, said something back and continued walking. This must have just provoked more anger because she rode up to them on her bicycle again and the same routine ensued. After two more sessions of them walking away, her riding up behind them again, and them appearing to not really care about what she had to say, she gave up, parked her bike, and entered a building.
This story, with another occurrence yesterday of someone bellowing out, "WHAT ARE YOU BLIND?!!" in the middle of a public street, makes me begin to think that making a scene here--by raising your voice to a very angry sounding scream--might actually not be considered making a scene. The yelling that people do definitely seems to have a greater affect on me than other Boston dwellers. I suppose I'll get used to it soon enough. So don't be surprised if the next time I'm in California I'm a little louder than you previously remember me to be.
A few days ago I was sitting on a bench waiting for the bus to arrive (only about 2 blocks west of where the previous yelling incident happened) when I saw a lady stop her bicycle beside a car. The two men in the car were talking to two men on the sidewalk. They weren't parked, they had just stopped for a moment. Then the lady began to pound really hard on the driver's side window and I could tell she was furious because she was screaming. (I'm really sad I was out of earshot because I think I would have found this entire situation even more entertaining if I could have heard everything exchanged. But then again, maybe it was more entertaining for me to just read the actions and body language and imagine their conversation in my own head.) Apparently, from what I could tell, the car must have cut her off when they pulled in to talk to the men they had seen walking, and she was furious to the point of wanting to make a scene.
After no more than 30 seconds the car continued on its way leaving the woman on her bicycle. Clearly she had not satisfied her wrath by screaming at the rolled up window so she decided to continue conversing with the other men who had continued on down the sidewalk. She rode up behind them, they turned around and I could tell that she was still screaming because of all of her angry, jerky, body motions. They appeared to listen for about 5 seconds before turning again and continuing on their way. But she was not done! She continued yelling, they turned around again after walking 40 feet away, said something back and continued walking. This must have just provoked more anger because she rode up to them on her bicycle again and the same routine ensued. After two more sessions of them walking away, her riding up behind them again, and them appearing to not really care about what she had to say, she gave up, parked her bike, and entered a building.
This story, with another occurrence yesterday of someone bellowing out, "WHAT ARE YOU BLIND?!!" in the middle of a public street, makes me begin to think that making a scene here--by raising your voice to a very angry sounding scream--might actually not be considered making a scene. The yelling that people do definitely seems to have a greater affect on me than other Boston dwellers. I suppose I'll get used to it soon enough. So don't be surprised if the next time I'm in California I'm a little louder than you previously remember me to be.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
You don't see that everyday...or do you??
I've been in Boston for about four days now. I'm almost completely settled into my room and I'm ready for classes to start. Each day, so far, I've set out on a peregrination about the city. I've checked out South Boston, East Boston, Chinatown and all the area around Brighton (where I'm living). I've been traveling by foot, bus and subway because I am yet to acquire a bicycle. I'll be glad when I actually get the bike, since the closest grocery store I've found is 1.5 miles away (which is an awfully long way to walk if I'm carrying many groceries. I've found three bikes on craigslist that I'm going to look at today, so hopefully I'll return with one of them.
On my first day here I was walking down Commonwealth Ave. (yes, my new school is on the same street that my last school was on) when I saw an interesting incident. Comm ave is three lanes in each direction, for part of the time, and two lanes in other areas. I was approaching an area that merged three lanes into two when I saw two cars that appeared to be stuck. As I got closer I realized that I wasn't a witness to a physical crash, but more of an ego jam.
The man on my right was in a beat up, Oldsmobile, station wagon (probably mid 80s era), and the man on the left was in a very nice, new Mercedes. They had come to a junction in the merger where one of them was going to have to give a little bit, but neither of them had that desire to give. Their cars were inches apart so that neither car could go forward without hitting the other. The only way to resolve the jam was for one of them to put it in reverse. But that wasn't happening anytime soon!
As other cars are beginning to honk and line up for a good distance behind them, the man in the station wagon throws open his door and steps out (mind you, he's in the middle of the street with the now only open lane passing beside him. Now standing in front of his car, he throws his arms open wide open and yells in a very nice Boston accent (which I'm working on), "Move your f***ing car!!"
At this point I'm beginning to laugh a little because of how ridiculous the whole situation seems. The Benz isn't moving so the guys tries to squeeze in a little closer to the driver's side window, but because of the closeness of the cars he can't get right beside it. He screams the same thing again. (And I think I forgot to mention that the man from the station wagon left his door open the entire time).
I titled the post this way because I thought, at the time, that I must be witnessing a rare, extreme battle of the male ego fighting to not back down. But as I looked around and realized that I was basically the only one taking note of this seemingly strange occurrence, I thought, "Huh, maybe this isn't out of the ordinary at all in Boston." If it happens again in the near future, I'll know.
I went on with my business as the fight continued on into the 5th round. I don't know if there was a K.O. or the judges had to decide the winner. I had more important things to do--as I'm sure they did also, along with all the people backed up behind them.
Soon to come is another ego throw-down, so stay tuned.
On my first day here I was walking down Commonwealth Ave. (yes, my new school is on the same street that my last school was on) when I saw an interesting incident. Comm ave is three lanes in each direction, for part of the time, and two lanes in other areas. I was approaching an area that merged three lanes into two when I saw two cars that appeared to be stuck. As I got closer I realized that I wasn't a witness to a physical crash, but more of an ego jam.
The man on my right was in a beat up, Oldsmobile, station wagon (probably mid 80s era), and the man on the left was in a very nice, new Mercedes. They had come to a junction in the merger where one of them was going to have to give a little bit, but neither of them had that desire to give. Their cars were inches apart so that neither car could go forward without hitting the other. The only way to resolve the jam was for one of them to put it in reverse. But that wasn't happening anytime soon!
As other cars are beginning to honk and line up for a good distance behind them, the man in the station wagon throws open his door and steps out (mind you, he's in the middle of the street with the now only open lane passing beside him. Now standing in front of his car, he throws his arms open wide open and yells in a very nice Boston accent (which I'm working on), "Move your f***ing car!!"
At this point I'm beginning to laugh a little because of how ridiculous the whole situation seems. The Benz isn't moving so the guys tries to squeeze in a little closer to the driver's side window, but because of the closeness of the cars he can't get right beside it. He screams the same thing again. (And I think I forgot to mention that the man from the station wagon left his door open the entire time).
I titled the post this way because I thought, at the time, that I must be witnessing a rare, extreme battle of the male ego fighting to not back down. But as I looked around and realized that I was basically the only one taking note of this seemingly strange occurrence, I thought, "Huh, maybe this isn't out of the ordinary at all in Boston." If it happens again in the near future, I'll know.
I went on with my business as the fight continued on into the 5th round. I don't know if there was a K.O. or the judges had to decide the winner. I had more important things to do--as I'm sure they did also, along with all the people backed up behind them.
Soon to come is another ego throw-down, so stay tuned.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Moving
The day to move is almost here. I'm flying out of Denver tomorrow night (late night!) and will arrive on Friday, really early in the morning. The good news: I actually have a place to go when I arrive.
I'll be living in Brighton, MA, which is 3.2 miles west of the university. I already bought my subway/bus pass, and I'll be getting a bicycle when I get there. According to one of the guys I'll be living with (who is also attending BU) it takes about 20 minutes by bicycle, 25 by bus, and 30 by train to commute to the school. He claims that he is able to ride his bicycle even in the winter. I don't know about that, that sounds a little cold for me.
I've checked out the neighborhood I'll be moving to (via google maps) and there is a Starbucks within 0.1 mile from my house--therefore I have nothing to worry about.
I'll be living in Brighton, MA, which is 3.2 miles west of the university. I already bought my subway/bus pass, and I'll be getting a bicycle when I get there. According to one of the guys I'll be living with (who is also attending BU) it takes about 20 minutes by bicycle, 25 by bus, and 30 by train to commute to the school. He claims that he is able to ride his bicycle even in the winter. I don't know about that, that sounds a little cold for me.
I've checked out the neighborhood I'll be moving to (via google maps) and there is a Starbucks within 0.1 mile from my house--therefore I have nothing to worry about.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Beginning to Move
I have completed the preliminary steps to making my move to Boston. I have shipped my books there. Although I haven't yet located an apartment, or other such living arrangement, luckily I got an address from a friend of Tina's friend. So Linh, although I haven't met you yet, thank you for housing my books for a little while before I arrive. As much as I may hate the increasing rates of mailing items, I still love the media rate mail--seven medium-sized boxes of books for $100.
I peruse craigslist each day for some new, good deals to live in, but so far I've had no luck. The cheap ones go so fast. Securing housing will be on my top priority list when I am in KS for a couple weeks--it has to be, there is no other option. I think I'll just sit in front of the computer all day hitting refresh and waiting for the one I want, then I'll call immediately.
I peruse craigslist each day for some new, good deals to live in, but so far I've had no luck. The cheap ones go so fast. Securing housing will be on my top priority list when I am in KS for a couple weeks--it has to be, there is no other option. I think I'll just sit in front of the computer all day hitting refresh and waiting for the one I want, then I'll call immediately.
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