Happy Birthday on the Cape

Today is my birthday! It's weird spending it here in Boston away from Pittsburgh. I guess when I was planning my Magellan I never really thought about what I was going to do on my birthday...ok so maybe I did a little...but I never expected spending it on Cape Cod!

My original plan for my birthday was to celebrate it with some friends who were going to come to Boston for a few days...unfortunately that didn't occur so I figured I was going to spend my birthday in the Boston Public Library with a stack of books and a raincloud above my head...get the metaphor? Thankfully that didn't happen and instead out of the blue a friend from W&J who is from the New England area asked if I wanted to get out of the city and see the Cape (yes, I am going to refer to Cape Cod as "The Cape" since apparently that's what Bostonians and Caponians (don't think this is a word, but oh well) do.   

This was my face when I found out I would be going to the Cape!

First and foremost, don't judge me for my excitement! Think about it for a minute...how many times a year do you hear references to the Cape...ok so I don't know the number but to someone from western Pennsylvania, Cape Cod is almost folklore. It's something you hear about, but never really get to see. Have you ever been to Cape Cod? If you answered yes, well good for you, but I am assuming most people are thinking to themselves..."Well...no..." so there...now you understand my extreme excitement. 

So after being invited to the Cape I needed to figure out a way to get there. First I thought about maybe taking a ferry from Boston, but there isn't service to Hyannis (the place I was going to). So next I thought well maybe I can take the red line (subway) down as far as I can go, but of course construction halted service this weekend. My friend suggested the CapeFlyer, which ended up working perfectly.

The CapeFlyer is a passenger rail service that goes between Boston and Hyannis, Cape Cod. Here's a look at its route:

Awesome, I have a direct route there and I don't have to worry about changing trains or having to take a bus, the trip seemed perfect......key word is seemed....until I looked at the schedule. The Flyer was departing from Boston South Station at 8AM...which means I would need to be at the station by at least 7:30AM...and because I could only buy my ticket at the station I should be there by at least 7AM so that I can get a ticket incase there is a line, or they sell out. 

So at 6:00AM this morning my alarm buzzed and I woke up...really easily. It's weird that sometimes you can wake up and be instantly ready for the day, and other times I feel like I have to coach myself out of bed. Perhaps it was my birthday, or maybe just the excitement of getting out of the city that made me wake up so easily.

An empty subway car early in the morning- why can't it be like this all day?!

Boston South Station

Getting to the South Station was an adventure itself. I knew the area that it was in, but I wasn't really sure where it was. Good thing I left early because as usual I got lost...again. I guess I haven't figured out how to use Google Maps yet. But needless to say after wandering in the wrong direction for about 5 minutes, my supposed 10 minute walk from Government Center to the South Station turned into a 20 minute walk. No big deal, I arrived at the station just in time to buy my ticket and get ready for the train.

The station was really crowded and for whatever reason they waited until about 5 minutes before departure to announce what track the train would be on. Once the board flashed with the track number people went crazy. All of a sudden people from all over the station started running to the train. Immediately I am thinking, I need to rush too. I've never been on a train before so I had no idea why these people were basically running. Was it because they wanted the good seats? Would there be a long line? Was there a security check-point? You honestly would have thought a race was occurring.

I walked down the track to the train and there's nothing. No lines, no security, just open doors to the train. I walked in and looked around. Why in the hell were people running? This train was certainly nothing to write home about. It looked like a slightly, and I use the word "slightly" very loosely, upgraded version of the subway. Perhaps I was in the wrong car I thought...maybe these are the cheap ticket seats and there are better ones somewhere else. So I asked this lady in the seat in front of me, "Excuse me, do I have to sit somewhere specific, or show someone my ticket?" She just stared blankly at me, like I asked her why do we need oxygen to live, and responds, "Umm honey...ya I don't think there are assigned seats..."

A view from my seat

Well...ok thanks. Nonetheless I moved away from her and took a single seat in the back of the car. The train had wifi, so I figured I would do a little work on the 3 hour ride. Of course it was my birthday but work is work. So I took out my laptop and connected...to...the...wifi....which.....was.....so....slow....I ended...up....just....turning....off....my.....laptop.

I guess that was a Happy Birthday to myself? No work! Yay... But it actually worked out really well because it gave me plenty of time to look at the scenery. I was on the lower level of the car, it was like a double decker, so I didn't get to see a whole lot but I did see a bunch of fields, which at first I wasn't sure what they were. And then it suddenly it dawned on me that they were cranberry bogs... Who would of thought that cranberries grew in Massachusetts?! Not me. And of course all the houses had that "New England" look to them. They were small and one story with the wood squares on the outside (see my pictures below for a better explanation).

Here are some pictures from the train:

Checking tickets

The 3 hour ride actually didn't seem to take that long because before I knew it the train was arriving in Hyannis.

The train

As part of my tour we went to this place in Sandwich (yes the town's name is Sandwich...hmm) where water comes from an underground spring and it is supposed to be magical? Fountain of youth in Massachusetts!? Apparently people filled up large containers of the water, and sure enough when we got there, this woman have a big class jar and was filling it up with water.

Of course I had to try it so we got out and filled up some water bottles. No joke, this water was really good and cold! Maybe it contained some magical writing powers? Probably not, but a kid can wish. Here's a few pictures of the fountain:

The town and surrounding area was really nice. It was small and had that little town feel to it...and it was QUIET! Finally some peace! I love the city, it's incredible, but it is never quiet. Even when you are in buildings it is loud. But on the Cape, it was quiet and cool. There was even a breeze!

For lunch we went to a little market/sandwich shop. I got the "Big Plymouth" since after riding through all those cranberry bogs, all I could think about was Thanksgiving. It was delicious! It contained turkey,  stuffing, cranberries, and I think some mayo? Whatever it was I was in heaven, and I definitely know what I am going to do with Thanksgiving leftovers!

After picking up the sandwiches we went back to their house for awhile and ate lunch. Then we went to the beach- which I was really looking forward to. Since being in Boston I haven't had the opportunity to see the water, with the exception of the harbor and Charles River...but that wasn't really the shoreline...it was more off a dock or from far away. Well this time I was actually going to a beach!

This beach was definitely different from the ones I was used to (Outerbanks, etc). It was a lot more rocky, and the waves were calm...but let me tell you...it was relaxing. An hour sitting on the beach with your feet in the sand/stones...catching a nice breeze off the water....who knew I was only 3 hours away from the chaotic city of Boston?! I loved it! Which is surprising since I'm not really the beach kind of person.

The train ride back seemed to take much longer than my trip to the Cape. Maybe it was because I was returning to the city, or because it started to get dark so I ran out of things to look at out the window. Whatever it was, the feeling returning home was bittersweet. What a great way to spend a birthday...on the Cape with a great group of people.

With that being said, a huge shout-out to my friend and her family for their wonder hospitality and for making me feel so welcomed. Having the opportunity to explore another part of New England, especially Cape Cod was something I have always wanted to do and I am very thankful that they allowed me the opportunity to do so.

Lesson of the day: When an opportunity presents itself- take it! You might not get the chance again!

I live in the library

How I imagine I look when I am researching.....

...Ok so I'm just kidding but for the past few days it definitely feels like it. I have been focusing a lot on my research, hence the lack of "tourist-like" activities. Granted in the past few weeks I have done a really good job of balancing the two, but since my time in Boston is waning I really needed to make the best of this library and its large amount of resources.

My research is really coming together now. I have been focusing mainly on primary documents, which includes the actual texts that Wheatley and Occom wrote. Next I will move onto secondary sources, which are books and monographs written by scholars about Wheatley and Occom's works.

It's interesting to see how through researching your thoughts on your research change. For instance, I thought, prior to really researching Wheatley and Occom that they assimilated into the "white" culture, but through my research I know believe the complete opposite. Both clearly identified with their race/ethnicity, so African and Indian, but were forced to, a times, take on "white" characteristics because of Euro-American colonization but both still saw themselves as an African and Indian.

I must share with you some thoughts I've had about the library. As a disclaimer before I proceed, by no means do I share these stories without feeling. Homelessness is a serious epidemic in this country and a very sad situation. I really hope that we can live in a society where this does not happen. But with that being said, onto the story.

One thing I have learned is that if you want to see a broad spectrum of people that live in the city, go to the library. While there I see scholars, students, middle-aged people, young people, children, homeless people, rich people...it's extremely diverse. The library has been more diverse and exposed me to more people than just walking around the city or even riding the subway (which I think is surprising).

With that being said, researching in the library has been difficult. Not from an academic standpoint, but more of a social standpoint. You see, I'm from rural Pennsylvania. I go to a "bubble" college. Essentially we, the college community, live in a bubble. Walk two blocks off campus and you're in a whole new world. I wouldn't call myself naive, or ignorant because I am aware of what is going on in the world, but I'd accept the term "inexperienced." My first exposure to people in rough economic times was probably when I went to the city for the first time with my grandmother when I was young. Sure I have passed them while walking but I've never sat at the same table with them.

The other day I was in the library looking for a table to sit at when I passed a few people that I would say were having some economic challenges. They are very nice, and never cause any problems but I must admit sometimes I get a little uncomfortable. One man had brought his cardboard sign with him that read, "Water and change please." There was another man that was just sleeping at a table. I like to work by himself anyways so I went to an empty table and sat down and started to do my work.

After a few minutes out of nowhere something caught my attention. Usually when I am in the library I have my headphones in so I don't hear people approach. I looked up and this guy sits down right in front of me. Now these tables are probably 8 to 10 feet long, with four chairs on both sides. The table was empty...and he sat down in front of me. It wasn't that big of a deal, but I'll be honest it made me feel a little uncomfortable. He was carrying what looked like several bags of things and a backpack. I briefly made eye contact and went back to reading. I couldn't help but keep checking on what he was doing. It was just weird...there was a whole table...why sit directly in front of me?!

How I imagine I looked when said story was occurring....(minus the uni-brow)

So after rebuking myself for being so judgmental I went back to reading. I told myself that I was being dramatic and that it wasn't that big of a deal, I was there to research. And then...I got a whiff of this smell, which caused me to look up. There on the table was a brown paper bag and a can of sardines... I have no idea what was going on... Was he making a lunch? Was he actually going to eat them? Would he offer one to me? Would he freak out and throw them?

With this running through my mind, he started to mumble and write things down. I couldn't really tell what he was writing, it looked like a bunch of numbers. And then that's when I had to relocate. I tried to sit it out as long as I could...but I just couldn't. The smell of sardines, and the bags, then the mumbling and numbers...I just couldn't. Needless to say I know read and write in Bates Hall (pictured below).

Every time I am in the library I seem to find new things to take pictures of, so without further ado, the pictures...

These are photos of the Map Room Café in the library:

The sandwiches and soups are amazing- and cheap!!

A few pictures of the court-yard:

*The reason why I was out in the court-yard was not to take pictures but because on this day the café was very crowded and I saw this older woman come in and she bought a lunch but she couldn't find anywhere to sit. I saw her go outside but it was rainy and cold, so she must have came back in, and then she walked around the café and then back out. I have been so moved lately by the chivalry that I have seen especially on the subway by younger people allowing older people to take their seat, that I felt compelled to do the same...so I chased her down and said that I was just leaving but wanted her to have my table. She was such a sweet heart and was so thankful. Now...who said that chivalry is dead?!

Here is a wall mural in the library staircase, it is of the nine muses (interestingly enough, Phillis Wheatley often referred to them in her poetry...is this a sign?!!?):

These are photos from the upper-levels of the library. The first few are of wall murals and decor, then there is one of a gallery, and the last few are of some of the other rooms. The ones right under this, actually the first four, are unbelievable! The pictures do not do them justice. 

And last but not least, it is Phillis Wheatley! Yes indeed, Wheatley is honored in a picture of Boston women in the entrance of the newer section of the library:

She is second from the left

Lesson of the day: Even if you have been somewhere a hundred times look for something new, you might just be surprised!

Not my luck

After being at the BPL (Boston Public Library) for hours reading over materials on Phillis Wheatley I decided I should probably get going since there was a chance for rain this evening. Some may scoff at this decision because it's just rain... just rain?! Yes, it would be just rain if I had a car or an umbrella or maybe even a tunnel that took me from BPL to Emmanuel College (it doesn't exist) but for someone who was going to have to walk without any protection to the station, then from the station to his dorm, this kid was clearly going to depart before any rain came my way- or so I thought.

As I left the library I noticed some dark clouds and a few drops of rain...but my handy iPhone weather forecaster said the showers wouldn't arrive until 6pm so I had a little time to skedaddle. Of course the station was packed and train D to Riverside was packed, so packed that I couldn't get on the first one but I had to wait until a another one came because there wasn't any room.

Two interesting things happened though while I was waiting. First it gave me a chance to observe the station... I had some time on my hands (it always seems like it takes forever for train D). But as I was standing there watching the people I saw a guy dressed in red-sox gear with a badge around his neck. At first I thought it was just a flamboyant piece of jewelry, but then he seemed to be interrogating these two girls. I glanced around again and saw another guy, dressed like a fan as well writing what appeared to be a ticket to some guy. I looked at his badge a little harder, and sort of listened to what he was saying and realized that he was either from Boston PD or MBTA personnel (I think it was PD). Anyways these two officers were patrolling the gates and citing people who were not paying the fares. It was kind of cool to watch because I always wondered how they stopped people from just walking through.

The second isn't so much interesting as it is frustrating. During times of heavy traffic the station or even the actual train are not handicap friendly. The platform at this time in the day is full of people and the trains are even more packed. A woman in an electric wheelchair was waiting for a train, constantly going up and down the platform, which caused problems because people were standing there...like me. Now I  am not someone who is inconsiderate of other people people, when the train comes I always try to let someone who may be older in front of me because standing sucks, or giving up your seat for someone else. I'm a good guy...well I'm also the guy who got mowed over by the woman in the chair. As I was waiting to board the first train (which I was unsuccessful in doing) this woman side-swipped me and this other lady. Luckily she was wearing pants, but I wasn't which caused her wheelchair to cut into my leg........

The woman next to be was pissed and sure I guess she has every right to be, but I'm the one that almost lost a leg (not really). The woman in the chair paid no attention and just kept moving along, up and down... until she finally boarded a train. Of course being the paranoid person I am I immediately washed the cut and applied an alcohol wipe to it to hope that I don't get an infection from the nasty bacteria that lives in the station and on the trains... Ok... ok... so it wasn't that bad...but in the moment just image being stuck on a crowded platform, missing a train, having to wait, being packed like a sardine, and then have someone scrape your leg with metal...it sucks.

Here is a picture of the storm clouds that were rolling in:  

Lesson of the day: Beware of your surroundings, and people on motorized machines. 

China Town/Research

Today I took a trip to China Town to just walk around and maybe get some lunch. I had only seen pictures and heard stories about "China Towns" in other cities like NYC or LA, but since Pittsburgh doesn't really have one, unless I just don't know about it I was ready for anything and didn't really know what to expect. Now technically I was already in China Town a few days earlier when I got lost but I don't really count that as visiting since I was picnicking and really lost. Today was more focused, walk slower, take in the sites, watch the people, and go into places. I got off the subway at Boylston Street Station which is close to the area. It is also right next to the Boston Common Park so I had to walk around there. It was really cool and the parks are so large with plenty of commemorative statues...though I have to question the intent or reasoning behind a few. But perhaps that can be another blog post.

Here are some pictures from the park:

On this day it was packed with different events. There were a lot of children and just people walking around. There were a few tents, one I think was the Friends of Israel. I tried to stay away from places like that because there were a lot of people handing out literature which is fine its just I didn't want any. There were also a ton of pigeons, which was fine. I though they looked rather majestic and their behavior at times was funny, along with the squirrels. Speaking of squirrels I actually watched a man pet one. It came up to him and he just reached down and it sniffed his finger and then he patted it on the head.... Now I definitely wasn't going to pet one, they can carry the plague...no joke google it, there are cases and I know what the black plague was all about (a nod at you Dr. List). I tried to get a picture of one but as I was getting close to taking it, it started to come up to me so I aborted the mission.

From the park I walked to China Town which was its own adventure. For being such an advanced society with great technology, like iPhones with GoogleMaps, I was certain that I would never get lost on this trip...and to some extent that is true. When I was lost I used GoogleMaps to find my way back, but it seems when the opposite is happening, when I am not lost but trying to find somewhere I don't know the maps do not help me. I walked, and walked, and walked, trying to find China Town. How could this be you ask?! Can't one tell when they are in China Town? Yes... but for some reason I was walking in the wrong direction, following the wrong highlighted route. Maybe it's not the maps, maybe I can't read them...but for the sake of argument lets just go with the saying about gambling, the house always wins- therefor it was the maps that were wrong...not me.

But enough about that because I finally did end up in China Town. One I started seeing a lot of people with grocery bags with writing that I couldn't understand I knew I was in the right place. One I was there I walked around for awhile and decided to look for some bubble tea (also known as boba tea). This is a Taiwanese tea-based drink that has tapioca pearls in it...large pearls as you will be able to tell from my picture. Like everything nothing is made equally, so like the Lobster Roll here I was again walking and googling trying to find the crème de la crème of bubble tea. The list seemed endless...some places used real fruit, some places powder, some places sucked, some places were cheap, some were expensive...blah blah blah. So I finally just decided pick a place close to you and call it a day. I ended up at the New Dong Khanh Restaurant. When I walked in there were a few people in front of me, which gave me some time to glance at the menu. What flavor would I choose? What size? Tapioca pearls? Or maybe this other weird looking jelly things in a jar? (no I declined that, I preferred to keep it traditional). Well it was finally my turn and I nervously spat out, "Large mango boba tea...please?" The young kid working behind the counter was very polite and wrote it down and handed to an older woman next to him who I guess was the master of the Bobas. She was quick...very quick. In no time my order was called up and I grabbed my prize.

Now before I go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and and on about how unbelievable delicious this tea was, let me give you some insight into my experience with boba tea back home. Prior to today I have had it at two places. The first was horrible, tasted kind of like soap (which apparently in some cases it is supposed to?!) and at the second place it was good, but for some reason it must not have been that good because it barely sticks in my memory. But today's boba...errmeerrgerd! It was amazing and by far the best beverage I have ever had. Some people are completely turned off by them because of the pearls, but I think they add a completely different element to the drink that gives it more dimension and complexity. (Maybe a food critic or something should be a part of my Plan B to life careers...)

Here's a picture of this amazing drink:

With drink in hand I walked around China Town and took some pictures. One of the coolest things I ran into was a McDonalds that had oriental look to it. The roof or overhang was styled in an oriental fashion and some of the advertisements were in Mandarin, maybe? So here are some pictures of the rest of China Town:

So by this point in my blog many of you are probably wondering, maybe, but Dave what is going on with your research? Are you just sight-seeing?

Rest assured good reader that I wish that this was just a sight-seeing tour, but it isn't and to a large extent I am grateful it isn't. I conduct research so read critical scholarly articles, or books, or works by my selected authors either everyday or every other. It usually depends on what area of research I am working on at the time. For instance maybe I will read an article or two at night after I get back from a trip to the city, or perhaps I will be in the Boston Public Library all day just reading books. Sometimes in the morning I will do work, then go out, and come back in the evening and finish it. But even when I am out and about my research isn't completely stopped. Boston is a city with an immense amount of history. Much of the time I am looking for places that connect to Wheatley or Occom, such as statues or churches or meeting houses. Even just the nature of the city connects to them, especially Wheatley. How does being an outsider feel? What is city life like? How did the city influence her? Who did she meet while she was here? How did she write with so much going on? Did she ever just look out over the harbor? All of these questions or ideas are things that can be asked when in the city or even when I am reading some of her work.

So as I said, rest assured good reader research is taking place and going very well. I have been able to do a lot of in these first few weeks so soon I will be able to start to go full swing into writing or at least drafting selections of the paper. At the end of the day, it may sound humorous depending on your appreciation of literature but, when you find yourself in the library laughing at a non-fiction book because you are having trouble understanding how the author is making his or her analysis (which I have seem some "stretches" as a few of my professors would call them) you know you're in the right place.

Lesson of the day: You don't have to go to different countries to experience their cultures, keep your eyes open for a peak into another world.