Before I left for Pittsburgh, family and friends asked me to update my life in US through facebook, so that they are in touch with what I am up to. Frankly, I have my reservations about facebook and have always thought that these technological social-networking medium, with its purported benefits, are making my life complicated, busy and is an unnecessary source of distraction. Though blogging is of similar nature, but for the first time, I am thinking this is a good idea. I can kill 2 birds with one stone - setting up this blog fulfills the course requirement and I can keep family and friends updated through this! This explains my blog title...
Anyway for a start, I am pasting here an email I wrote to my family back home just a week ago. I thought this is quite relevant as an introduction about me and my first encounter with Pittsburgh. Even though it has no direct link to the educational experience this summer, but it definitely shapes and contextualizes the start of my first semester here in Pitt. Enjoy!
The following was written on 9 May 2010, Sunday...
Finally, I have some peace today to write you a long letter (I expect it to be, as I have lots to report, since this is long overdue.) It’s Sunday – most offices are close and there is nothing much official things I can do, except to do my laundry and lots of things online - thanks to the internet. Or of course school readings!
To be honest, I thought I better write before school gets too busy which I am expecting it to. I just got a shock when I learned that reading list for one of the modules alone has 9 books! I am getting a bit of cold feet here (also literally). I bought some of the books on Friday and was just browsing through one of them and realized these are big concepts I am getting myself into. Anyway, when it’s back to work 1.5 years later, I will have no time to dream about such nice ideas; it will only be in school that you get such “luxuries”. But grad school is a place where one has to balance real life problems with big ideals and concept which is the epitome of learning and application - I better be up to the challenge.
Starting out in a new place is not easy. But as my hubby said endearingly to me before I left: he has total faith in me since I’m “well-trained” having travelled to obscure places with him and seen all spectrum of China – I’ll survive.
Well, I did. But I shouldn’t attribute too much of my smooth transition here to my independence. To be fair, Pittsburgh is a relatively easy city, even though it has its quirky nuances, which I was lost at first. For e.g. it took awhile to figure out the bus system and how it works; even simply getting a trolley at the airport in US is just a little different (you use a credit card). Even the money-eating machines (I mean money deposit machines at POSB/ DBS banks) we have back home is just slightly different here - I learned to feed the ATM machines with money in envelopes.
Overall, Pittsburgh is a metropolitan city, cosmopolitan enough yet has the charm of a town where people are generally very friendly. Well, I supposed it is not called the most livable city in US for nothing. I am glad I chose here. Campus is vibrant and the city has a strong culture for learning. There are at least 3 other universities within the vicinity apart from Pitt, that I know of. Other than that, the economy also revolves around healthcare services… lots of doctors and nurses and patients from all over the world. Apparently UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) is quite renowned. It dominates quite a big part of the city. So property tenancy is a huge spin off as a result of these businesses here since there are lots of movement and demands from students and professionals from all over the world. No sign of financial or property strains at least from the appearance. All the property agents are kept really busy. It is also culturally quite rich, with museums like Andy Warhol, Carnegie Mellon. I haven’t visited the museums though, as I am just done with struggling for my basic survival (!), the arts will have to come later. Ok the truth is, I am waiting to get my Pitt ID for free entrance to the museums!
So what have I been busy with? Well, I started looking for a place amidst all the errands and stuff that I have to settle – opening bank account, registering in school, setting up internet, finding a handphone plan etc. The school admin process alone like what another new student said is overwhelming even more so for international students – web blogs, registering the classes, meet adviser, sign up for orientation, registering to pay fees etc. But luckily most things can be done online but it’s still an art.
The first week was hectic, met many agents, went for viewings, I even encountered a freaky little incident… but I will share only if you remember to ask (and only when I am back home!). Any how, I found my apartment finally after almost 2 weeks of intensive search – I was frantic. Demand was high, but supply was not at its best in summer. I viewed almost 30 apartments! Then the whole of last week, I was doing housewife activities like furnishing the apartment, not to preclude cooking my usual meals – yes all the apartments are empty! So I do have to furnish from scratch from big items like bed to kitchen utensils. But luckily I found Singaporean’s favourite – IKEA! Back home, Ikea is just 2 bus-stops from Normanton Park. Here, it’s 1hr 15 mins by 2 buses excluding waiting time. No time for too much productivity - I can only usually go to 1 place a day. I lugged my goodies home on buses everyday in loads I can manage – so I had to make several trips - I am so proud of myself :P. Of course there is Target which is really a housewife’s haven - I shopped there too. But Walmart is actually the cheaper version apparently. I had to give Walmart a miss since it is more accessible by car. I am not prepared to give myself another chore of renting a car for now.
Amongst my other adventure, I met a superstar (which I wasn’t aware of)...
Pittsburgh is a city that worship football (the Steelers http://www.steelers.com) and ice hockey (Pittsburgh Penguines http://penguins.nhl.com) as much as learning and the arts. I met Sidney Crosby (apparently the David Beckham equivalent?) on my first day out to view apartment. He is one of the hunks of the Winter Olympics! Not bad for a first introduction to the city! I was asking for directions from a young lady and then walking over a short distance with her, there, we saw the superstar. She was very excited. There was a small crowd around him asking for autograph and pictures, I whipped out my camera and started snapping away without knowing who he was then! I only got his name from the lady and googled about him after that. See…I learn new things everyday. I also saw the macho Steeler’s at their training when I was in the car on the way to the property agent’s office one day - Quite cool.
But these are really not representative of my typical day here, which is far from glamorous (Imagine a messy hair aunty struggling with her groceries and the usual sight of me in front of my laptop where else?!).
But overall, I am doing fine :) No worries.
And I must say, Pittsburgh is a beautiful city. I was first taken by a scene in front of me when I crossed one of the many bridges on the way from the airport to my temp apartment in a cab. Humans get immune to new things fast. I hope to capture all these in writing (I didn’t manage a good photo) before I forget how they were novelties to me when I first arrived in this strange but beautiful city.
It has been quite hectic for the past 3 weeks or rather from the time even before I left Singapore. And I don’t think life will ever be slowing down, but I guess I will get use to being a student again.
Click on the link below to my photos, do view the caption which tells a little more of what I have been up to….Enjoy. I think it will have to be awhile before you hear from me again.
http://www.diworkflow.com.sg/
I trust that everyone is doing well :)
With love and missing you all,
Tyan
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