Day 4 in Boston

It's my 4th day in Boston, Massachusetts, and I'm wondering if I'll ever get out of this liminal space Alex talks about - that plane ride between countries that separates who you are from a person you won't recognize in a few years.

I feel like I’ve stepped into a new world. For context, I've spent the last 9 years in Bangalore - it is home, in every sense of the word. The reason I know it's home is because of the overwhelming sense of relief that I feel in my bones when I step into the city. There are people that I love beyond measure, and more importantly, a familiarity that can only be romanticised. I know so much - when I should step out to avoid the rush, the auto-fare that's acceptable when I'm drunk and impatient, the pharmacy that's likely to stock my prescription medicine, the friend who's going to be at home on Mondays and Fridays to work with me, and the right instructions to make a good glass of filter coffee.

I know so little here. People, places, and norms are alien. I'm in Cambridge for 10 days before my classmates start arriving, and I have a hundred different thoughts, with little to no structure. So, I'll rely on a list, that is in a particular order – the order in my mind at this second.

• Cambridge/Boston is so walkable. Truly a joy to just go "It's only a 30-minute walk" and mean it. Pedestrian walkways everywhere, cars that wait for you (most times), and a culture of walking that's both respected and encouraged. You can also walk 40 minutes, and kayak — Boston's summer is incredible! PS: Do not get into the Charles with your passport - you will be anxious the whole time.

• When you move countries, you're essentially re-learning how to do basic life activities. How do you turn on the stove? How do I pay for the bus ride? When do I cross the street? Where does the toilet paper go? Why, God, Why do I have to use toilet paper? Nobody wants to be that flatmate who is annoying and incapable of figuring out basic activities on their own. Well, I guess I'm just going to have to get used to being annoying.
• The 13-hour flight is a lot longer than I thought it would be. No amount of entertainment can prepare you for how stuck you will feel. I ate and slept according to EST, and voila, no jet lag. But, at what cost? I also drank two glasses of water every hour, and the poor man next to me got no sleep. But, that's his story to tell.
• On that note, I'm such a sucker for Airport goodbyes, and I can't believe I had to go through one. My colleagues/friends for life surprised me a couple of hours before I left the city, and together we cheered for Vinesh and the Indian hockey team. #blessed. I told them to not show up, and they did anyway. I've never been happier to be proven wrong.

• Cambridge is a short shorts city in the summer. Everyone's in athleisure with their water bottles at all points in time. They're ready to start running/biking at a moment's notice. Why are people so fit? It's intimidating - the city department should do something about this. It can't possibly encourage tourism.
• I miss having people I can call at a minute's notice. On Day 1, I realised that I couldn't just Uber to a friend's house when I was feeling low.
• I am trying to change this. I've done it once before. On day 2, I made a list of 20 people that I knew of, who had lived in Boston at least at some point in their lives. I reached out to every single one of them, asking if they wanted to get a coffee. I tweeted out my arrival. An Instagram post will follow soon (with a link to this piece). A friend took me kayaking, another took me shopping, and one bought me my first American dish - avo toast (it was glorious). People are kind. I didn't need to find soulmates immediately - I needed some laughter, moments of connection, and a sense of togetherness. For now, this will suffice. If not, tickets to Bangalore are INR 1,00,000. Please contribute.
• The food here has been underwhelming. It hasn't been a week, so I'll reserve more concrete judgment for later, but so far, only avocados and a cheesecake have impressed me. Pepper jack cheese is pretty incredible too.
• Cambridge is a surprisingly homogenous city. I can go walking for 20 minutes without seeing another person of colour. I'm constantly looking around for people who may be as lost as I am.
• I've been getting out every single day. When you're feeling lost, I think it's important to do it some more. How many bus rides can you take? How long can you walk when you take the wrong turn? How late does the train go? Making it back home, safe and tired, you feel less lost. I did.

• I spoke to a few friends and family on the phone. I felt like I was repeating myself. I very much enjoyed repeating myself. I don't want to carry this burden alone. I miss my people with all my heart - a best friend's birthday in a park, my grandmother's thousand requests, conversations with my family about pointless internet drama, and just so many unnamed, unarchived moments. I have made it a point to tell them this. At least 4 video calls already, messages every single day, vlogs (maybe), and proclamations of love. It's not weak/desperate/ungrateful to tell people that you're sad, even when they cannot do anything about it. And, in many cases, they can. Have you tried Focusmate? No jk, this is not an ad. But, I highly recommend co-working online, putting your phone on camera while you're cooking, and documenting every small part of your day for an end-of-the-day update. It may sound a little narcissistic and I am. But, why else would I write this 10-part series unless I was full of myself?

• On that note - talk to you soon. If you know people in Boston, be sure to introduce me to them. For each friend you refer, your points go up. Collect enough points, and you'll receive a call when I'm trying to figure out how toilet paper works.