Notes from Abroad the USA

I finally read the famous Paulo Coehlo's _The Alchemist_ on the two airplanes to Portland. The message of the novel probably could not have come at a better time, that is basically- saying yes! to happiness and discovering it in your very own way. Overall though, I must say that the book is basically a fable (easily read in 6 hours)and really not worth $14 (so I'm glad I merely checked it out.)

Eugene Oregon is the city of my desire. Peaceful, simple, terribly green, full of friendly gentle hippies. I love it I do. I love the bus; I love U of O; I love the houses; I love the bakery; I love love the library that has bilingual signs and children's events and a reference desk in fiction called "Reader's Advisory"; I love the green parks and the nearby mountains; I love the rows and rows and rows of bicycles on campus; I love the noon hour of quiet observed by meditators beneath a woven canopy next to the campus bookstore; I love the organic grocery store where dreadlocked cashiers applaud when you bring your own canvas bag. (Actually I don't love that part but I think it's amusing).

Portland is a retro 80's rock song. I get this impression from PSU's older, plainer, white tiled campus, and the "thrift" shop Buffalo Exchange, and the yummy international eatery strip. But I was absoultely dumbfounded by Powell's independent new and used bookstore. Ten minutes after we got there the ache in my arms from holding so many books told me it was time to leave. I found every single Kingsolver book ever written for under 9.00. I also found a first edition Bean Trees that I longed for with all my heart (since we're freaking going to meet her in two months and I could very well get it signed). But I was responsible and decided that having a hotel in Portland that night was important too and Barbara money was spent on a night's sleep and a shower.

I did love the Alphabet district neighborhood. It reminded me a bit of Brookline (MA) and San Francisco. I also am incredibly impressed by the huge forest and park reserves INSIDE Portland. That would be one big point for this green retro city that lies in the shadow of Seattle.

Today we are in Pullman/Moscow and enjoying an empty campus as it is spring break for U of Idaho and WSU. We ate at the best breakfast restaurant and last night we enjoyed wine, tea, and paninis at a perfect collegiate/grad studentesque coffee bar. I have really loved the feel of these two small cities, though I doubt that I will be accepted to WSU as they provide too much financial aid to accept many, especially a treasonous English major who wants to study enthnic literature under the guise of American Studies.

Tonight we will travel further down Zach's memory lane to his gorgeous hometown Coeur d'Alene.

Cities of Desire

Last night Zach, no doubt tired of my ranting uncertainties, wrote down a list of the potential cities of dwelling beginning next year. Then we each individually ranked them according to desirability of living apart from schools. Here's what we have.

Zach: Sarah
1. Portland 1. Tempe
2. Boston 2. Portland
3. Denver 3. Denver
4. Seattle 4. Seatle
5. Tempe 5. Tucson
6. Tucson 6. Eugene
7. Eugene 7. Boston
8. Pullman 8. Pullman

Mutually, our future looks like this:
1. Portland
2. Denver
3. Seattle
4. Tempe
5. Boston
6. Tucson
7. Eugene
8. Pullman

This only matters if neither of us are in school because Pullman is a likely place of study for me. In a week and a half we will visit Eugene, Portland, and Pullman and then perhaps we'll have a clearer picture!

I have decided.

Today in the staff lunch room at the Newton Free Library I decided upon a way of choosing my future profession. I will base my decision on an examination of 55 year old women who have chosen each profession using three main categories in order of increasing importance:
1. Hairsyle: whether or not there is a style and whether or not it has changed in the past 20 years.
2. Degree of retained awareness of contemporary clothing styles.
3. Desirability of the packed lunch!

In truth I have seriously been considering library school. Yesterday, after working at Baker library, I had decided against it for the time being. I knew that I needed to work with people rather than research materials or special collections a.k.a. very old, fragile paper products. But this morning, after working with my ESL student for our first serious lesson together, I was convinced that being a community or branch librarian who works with either ESL or bilingual collection development and bilingual public services was exactly what I wanted. I told my boss Gila about my "decision" and she first, was very encouraging, and second, asked me if that meant I wanted to get more experience by working Saturday. (: Right now, I am hesitant to make any sort of decision, especially one that would require another rushed application process. If I were to go to library school in the near future, however, it would not be in Boston.

I am very relieved that I seem to be getting over my monstrous cold. But, of course, now that I am getting well, Zach is coming down with a soar throat/head ache/congestion. It's oddly endearing to think of him sick in bed just like I was on Saturday... because now we really share everything!

Materials

I have an embarrassing confession. The models that pop up on yahoo.com finally got to me and I went to the Victoria's Secret website. They look so good with their sprayed on golden skin that I actually planned to a trip to Copley Square mall to splurge on some fancy sleepwear. I tell you though, the models look way more promising that the flimsy brightly colored stuff I found. I thought, there's no way I can fill this stuff or, in some cases, fit into this stuff. Afterwards, I happily/reluctantly dismissed the guilt-inducing store and went curtain shopping. Oh my... I bought curtains instead of underwear.

My new "painting"

I am very content tonight, churning with possibilities and creative inspiration (which will probably sizzle down to nothing by Wednesday). With all of my free time and the services of Netflix and the NFL, I have been watching a number of excellent movies. In the past month I have added to my favorites:
1. Sylvia (Gwyneth Paltrow at her best I think)
2. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
3. Frida (Salma plays the role perfectly. I fell in love with Frida and Salma.)
4. Kramer vs. Kramer
5. Dead Again (A contemporary film noir directed by Kenneth, thrilling, fascinating, and brilliantly displaying those pre-divorce sparks with Emma. They're my favorite acting pair by far.)
6. Emma (I may like the film better than the book, as scandalous as that sounds. Again, Gwyneth Paltrow makes this one come to life.)
7. Born into Brothels
My creative inspiration comes from today's trip to the Isabella Steward Gardner Museum. I really think it's my favorite museum in the world. It's small, accessible, and largely unknown, but it has an amazing eclectic collection of artifacts and art pieces that include: 16th century french wooden cabinets, 13th century Italian Madonna paintings, 6th century Chinese astrological figurines, remnants of Julian-age statues, original paintings of Queen Mary I and Philip IV, paintings by Rembrant, ancient Japanese wallpaper, 17th century Mexican cathedral tiles, 18th century Persian tapestries, and a 6th century Roman sarcophagus. Most of the items are unlabeled, which, I think, makes them more mysterious and fascinating. The whole place is absolutely amazing considering that it was apparently all collected by Isabella herself. AND, there is a freaking indoor courtyard in the center of the house complete with a glass ceiling, a living garden, and Roman statues. She must have been one hell of a rich and traveled woman. The house has remained largely unchanged for the past 80 years with the furniture and art pieces arranged as she had them. I wish so much that my sister Laura could've seen it. It was so fantastic that I bought a painting/poster copy of one of her paintings and it is the source of my inspiration.Tomorrow I plan on going curtain fabric shopping and frame hunting with my Zach. My hope is that this large replica is going to enliven the wintery apartment and add a touch of Isabella-style intrigue.

Coconut Fudge

I only have a short time in which to write about this horribly disgusting makes-you-want-to-take-the-first-train-to-Tempe day. The began with a not so bad couple of inches of snow but quickly turned (twice) to rain and then snow again, to the detriment of myself and my fellow pedestrians (not to mention my long second toe). I also began my second job today and really there's not much to say. In fact, it was so tedious that I sort of wonder if the day actually happened at all. But I was very excited to meet a librarian wearing an apron! So Julie, if you want to wear an apron and be a librarian you could look into the book binding and repair business in the line of special collections. I'm sure you could dress it up with a colorful apron and that snazzy hair.
I wish I were in Arizona and I wish I were in school.

Today I was offered a job at the Harvard Baker library today working in Historical Collections as a Public Assistant, in other- smaller- words, a page, student worker, or a temp. I accepted and will start next week. I must say goodbye to bi-monthly four day weekends and the everyother day work week. I'm a real grown up now. My NFL boss, Gila says that it will be quite an opportunity to see another more prestigous side of library science. I am often attracted to academia, and the view from under the high brow... but I am also dedicated to public service, socialized government institutions, and public education. Maybe a mixture of Newton Public and Harvard Business libraries will challenge both self-perceptions. This morning, before I heard from the library, I sent in a letter to the YMCA inquiring after a swimming instructor position. I think I would have loved teaching people and little people to learn to swim. Maybe summer would have felt closer too. I am a bit worried about spending all my days in libraries but hopefully Harvard's ridiculously beautiful windows will compensate for a lack of open air.
On another encouraging and scary note, the literacy coordinator of NFL matched me up with an Iranian woman who speaks English competently but needs help writing. Like I said, scary and intimidating, but maybe this is a start towards something meaningful.