Life in Cambridge: Part 3

I am a summer survivor. Still with no computer of my own, I've learned how to survive in Cambridge even though I'm under age 21. Granted, this includes a lot of reading, even more napping, and quite a bit of wandering around Harvard Square, but I've learned some important lessons.

1. Heat waves suck. One-hundred degree weather with 50+% humidity rather feels like you're living in the Everglades/drowning in your own sweat. Solutions:

1. Talcom powder. Lots of it. I know I'm not 6 months old, but I am suffering. Don't judge me.
2. Soak a shirt, lay it on bare skin, and point a fan directly at it. Homemade air conditioner! Granted, you might end up with a shredded immune system, but it's totally worth it.
3. Borrow a movie and watch it in Lamont. Libraries are air conditioned and contain feature films that you do not have to pay for. I'm watching Mean Girls as I type. I am so fetch.

2. I'm way too attached to the internet. And with my laptop in the technological ICU, I've been suffering. I don't even have a phone with internet. Or a radio. So many grievances upon my tattered soul. Solutions:

1. Libraries - air conditioned and free computers.
2. Science Center - air conditioned, free computers, and fewer high schoolers freaking about their summer school classes.
3. Read a book/take a walk. Not at the same time. 

3. People in Cambridge skeeve me out. Like the homeless guy who told me my dress was "adorable" the other day, or the grunge kid who keeps three city rats as pets in a hamster cage.

Or this guy. You work out. Congrats. Is that even a shirt?

Solutions:

1. No walking alone after dark. There are real city rats on the street after dark.
2. Look no one in the eye. You never know who'll try to put a hex on you.
3. Walk with a purpose. If you don't, you might get roped into taking some old man's Bible quiz.

Summer in Cambridge: Part 2

Strange things happen in Cambridge Commons. I'll be honest, I never paid much attention to it until this summer, when I learned that it's a shortcut between the quad where I'm living and my Annenberg meal plan. It's also the preferred sleeping place of over 20 homeless people, which has lead to some of my morning walks getting a little hairy (I don't actually care until they call out to me). However, that's not say that it's just a sketchy plot of grass; it's actually pretty nice during the day. It's also home to quite a few...strange incidents, but I'm willing to bet that it has something to do with the fact that it's located in Harvard Square. Here's a short list of weird shit in the Commons:

• Every day after work, I see a massive kickball tournament with 2 games going on at any given time. There must be more than 10 teams and this has been going on for three weeks now.
• While walking past said kickball tourney, I was asked by a foreign (possible eastern European, based on the accent) couple to explain what was going on, as they were "seeing this game for the first time."
• There's a homeless man who rakes up the leaves and grass clippings in his space. He has the tidiest plot of grass out of all the camps. It's unclear how/from where he attained a rake.
• An elderly man got sick of waiting in traffic and decided that the walking paths in the park were just wide enough to...drive through. This is a public park where children should be able to frolic at will; it's not a shortcut, no matter how old and senile you are.
• A guy on a bike pedaled across the street, through the entrance of the park, and straight into a bush. He looked rather surprised to see it in front of him.
• A man and woman stood between 2 bushes holding a basketball and looking around nervously. She dived into one of the bushes, dropped her pants and squatted. I quickened my pace.
• A well dressed man sat on a bench, napping with his chin on his chest. Next to him sat an open, industrial sized bag of Reeses Pieces.
• I came here with an archaeology class (and professor) to learn to launch wooden spears with a atlatl. The police said we were spear-throwing too close to playground filled with kiddies. We got kicked out.

I don't understand this place. I just don't.

I'm Short...All the Time

I embrace my short stature, but recognize that it puts me in awkward situations every once in a while. Like today, when I gave a campus tour to a group of local fourth graders. Several of them were the same height as (if not taller than) I am. A few of them pointed this out to me. Yeah, kids. I'm  aware that I look like I may or may not be your classmate .

But that sort of thing happens at least once a week. Conversations like the one below only happen once in a while. I bring my food up to a cashier at ABP, not really looking for a conversation. Apparently, I was destined to get one anyway. I hand him my student ID so that I can pay with Crimson Cash and the guy kind of laughs at me:

Cashier: "You're a student in college?"

Me: *smiling* "Yeah, I am."

"But you look so young"

"I know. It's because I'm really short. I'm tiny."

"Yeah. But you also look really young."

Awesome. Even the guy who rings up my food every day thinks that I'm some strange 12 year old college student.  

I am 4 feet and 11 inches tall. I am 19 years old. I know that I am short. I can't open or close my skylight without standing on my desk chair and I can't reach the top shelf at CVS if an item is pushed back from the edge.

Such is life.

Summer in Cambridge: Part 1

Being in Cambridge during the school term rather blunts the awesomeness of Harvard Square. You know, the whole "I'm in school" thing. In the week that I've been here, I've started to see how vibrant it is. Granted, I'm living in the quad (read: the suburbs) this summer, but Cambridge is still the largest "city" that I've ever lived in. As much as I enjoy acting the hermit, I'm making a conscious effort to chill in the Square for a while after work every day before returning to Cabot because really, the internet can only stay interesting for so long each night. So far, I've discovered:

1. A tree in Harvard Yard that fits my back perfectly and receives sunlight at an optimal angle for sitting/reading/basking.
2. The guy that sings pop song covers in front of ABP is amazing. If I'm not reading under my tree, I'm probably sitting in front of ABP listening to him basically cover my entire Pandora playlist while I read.
3. If you walk far enough down Mass. Ave, there's a Payless! Unexpected BoGo sale = win.
4. My skylight provides me with a perfect view of sunsets.

Now isn't that precious?

The daily trips between the quad and the yard have essentially ripped my feet to shreds, and I've acquired 11 blisters thus far. However, I will persevere in the name of my sandals that need to be broken in for the summer (with the exception of that one pair of peep-toes that destroyed me; they're done). That which does not kill me will make me stronger. Or it might just make my feet kind of leathery, but I can deal. I've used enough bandaids to cover the wounds of a thousand men and three pairs of shoes now have my blood on their heels (literally), but one cannot tame the spirit of a determined wanderer. I will stroll until I can no more.

Walk with me.