Nick and Mo: March 2009

We got home today, and we are exhausted, to say the least. I wrote up a huge entry on microsoft word, and for some reason this blog will not let me copy and paste it, so I am forced to give a brief synopsis of our trip.

Here are some of our observations of the city:

1. Boston drivers are crazy! I always thought LA drivers were bad, but after seeing Boston, LA drivers seem tame. The shuttle driver that took us to our hotel was terrifying at first, until we discovered that it is just a very aggressive style of driving there.

2. Pedestrians do NOT wait for the "walk" signal at crosswalks. When Nick and I waited, they looked at us as if we were aliens. They think you are an idiot for waiting. So, after about an hour in the city, Nick and I just followed the locals as they ran across the street.

3. Mass transit is amazing! The "T" is easy to use and is quick. We really loved being able to take it wherever we went, and we had no major issues with it while we were there. Most people there told us that it is very easy to get along in Boston without a car, and now we see how.

4. The people that live in Boston are very direct, and Nick and I really like their style. They are not fake, but instead came across as very genuine. The people at MIT were so welcoming, even to me. Two of the women who work in the mechanical engineering office took the time to talk to me about possibilities for work and school. (One of the women was a nurse for years before she started working at MIT). We were amazed at how willing people were to take the time to answer our questions and show us around. They spent more time with us than anyone at UCLA has ever taken with me-and I am a full-time student there.

5. The food is great! We had amazing Italian food, seafood, and dessert while we were there. Nick is a harsh critic of most Italian food (not surprisingly with the amazing Italian cooks in his family!) and even he loved it. We had dessert at Mike's Pastries in the North End of Boston, and there were lines out the door to get in! After we got some Boston cream pie, we understood why people would wait in line. Sooo good!

6. Boston has incredible architecture! The buildings are so beautiful almost everywhere you go, that Nick and I found ourselves in awe of the beauty of the city. LA does not have this "wow" factor, and seems fairly disappointing as a whole now that we have seen a "real" city that we both love.

7. The weather in Boston is great...when the sun comes out! Once the sun goes away, it feels like the temperature drops 20 degrees and the wind hits you and you want to scream! Winters there seem to be very long, but I think we will get used to them and will learn to dress appropriately to minimize the pain. haha

We came back this afternoon and we cannot stop talking about how much we loved the city. Nick was able to submit his official intent to register at MIT, and I think he feels a lot less nervous now. We are both looking forward to starting the next chapter in our lives there, and we know it will be incredible to live there!