All Moved In

I am so pleasantly surprised!
My housing is so much better than I imagined. After all the talk of Columbia grad housing and New York housing in general I was prepared to cheer if I didn't have roaches everywhere. Instead I find that I got my top choice in rooms. I have a one bedroom apartment all to my little old self! This includes two beds (guests welcome, apply wel in advance), a clean bathroom, tons of storage space, and a kitchen/dining area. It's a bit lonely to not be living with anyone. All during college I had a roommate, and then also in Israel I shared a room until I lived with Josh and then we shared an apartment. Now it's just me, and a long hall way.
The dorm I live in prides itself on being international and it lives up to it. I've met people from any number of countries. There's a little pub in the building, and a decent cafeteria, and every night of the week there's something offered like Salsa Lessons or Ballroom Dancing which I've decided, rhythm or no, I will try it all out. Already I've learned to turn on a salsa step, had a political discussion about Israel with a Swiss woman and a Brazilian man, and met two nice women in my program.
My orientation doesn't start until the 1st, so until then I'm a bit awkwardly on my own. I would go exploring, but it's raining like crazy. I actually waited hours today to go grocery shopping thinking the rain would have to dissipate at some point, I was mistaken. So now I just have a few basics. I'm hoping to find some cheaper stores with a few specialties, like Israeli and Indian markets.
I think the key for me is to view this as a study abroad experience, and not worry about ever fitting in. I'll look at the subways as the London underground, the bus transport as Israeli, and so on... No hope of becomming a "New Yorker," I'll proudly wear my tourist smile and hold out my Lonely Planet guidebook and maps.

A Little Background

Two springs ago (2005) I found out that I could graduate a year early from the Ohio State University. I didn't really enjoy my college experience, and so I studied abroad as much as possible (one short program in England, another short one in Egypt, a summer in Israel, and a semester in London) and found that my strategy not only allowed me to travel and be out of Columbus, but gave me credits faster than actually attending regular class. I decided to get out, but I had nowhere to go. So I followed a good friend to Israel on an Israel program for 7 months, and stayed on for another 3 (You can read all about it at http://midwestmideast.blogspot.com/). The day before I left for Israel, I sent off my graduate applications to a number of programs that focused on conflict resolution and peace education. While in Israel I decided to attend Columbia University's Teachers College.

Now I've been home, in Highland Park, Illinois, for 9 days. I'm heading out in two more for New York.

At this point everything is so ambiguous that even though I feel anxious, I am secure in the knowledge that there's nothing I can do about it. I won't know what kind of housing arrangement I will have until I actually arrive. So what can I do but pack up my clothes and assume the rest will be wroked out by a trip to the local target? I have no idea really what classes to take, but I can only do the basic research on TC's website and hope that my meeting with an advisor and registration will set me on the right path.