sterling

i'm here.  and can't quite describe "here" in any detail that would do this place justice.  i'm in the country.  i'm closer to the canadian border than to nyc.  the nearest pay phone (pay phone!) and general store (goodbye bodegas) is exactly one mile away.  my ankles are itching like mad because i've been eaten by mosquitoes and city slicker that i am forgot bug spray.  there are also fishercats, but that's a whole other story.  the air stepping out of the car smelled so good and clean it almost knocked me over.  the college is situated around the "commons" and everything in town is painted white with green trim -- including the two churches, post office and library.  it's like a set for anne of green gables and yet the scene behind my dorm, houston house, reminds me of a view in tuscany.  it's magical. 

there are 9 of us in the program and we each have our own room and bathroom -- each suite has a busier and louder floral wallpaper than the next (you can imagine my joy in living in a laura ashley house).  the funny, standard college issued furniture does not blend in and the whole place smells kind of moldy but it does fit the summer camp theme!  classes begin tomorrow when we dive into lacto-fermentation.  i don't think any of us really know what to expect from the next 5 weeks  -- everything here is mellow and, get this, UNLOCKED!  even the library is unlocked 24 hours a day, which makes me think that this key they gave me for my room is probably not going to see much use.  i do hope to make good use of the lovely area behind the house.  i spent an hour reading and watching the clouds this afternoon under an old gnarly apple tree and taking deep breaths of the lovely air.  it was awesome.  and what i craved when i was in the city -- a place with space to think.  i want to dive into the next few weeks and not only learn new skills but put some of the knowledge i already have to work in a different environment.  and i'm excited to see what comes out of it all.  who i am again.