life, travel, stories – Join the journey, Love Raven
Dear Reader, Do you enjoy visiting the mall? Earlier this week, I was scheduled to attend an event in Boston. Although I tried to plan my commute downtown carefully, I ended up arriving several minutes early. Because it was a brisk February morning, I decided to pass my free time wandering around the Prudential Center... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Physical closeness is a surefire way to bring people together. A few days ago, I attended a prospective student event for graduate school admissions. A small group of us with diverse backgrounds and interests met for a few days to visit the university. One component of our visit included one-on-one meetings with faculty... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Have you ever attended a dinner where no one knew each other? I had a similar experience recently when I went to an informal dinner with prospective applicants to a graduate program. There were 8 prospective students in attendance and 3 current students acting as university ambassadors. We ended up going to a... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, A group of nature enthusiasts walk into a crowded bar. The bartender says, “We’re at capacity. We don’t have anymore seating here inside.” The nature enthusiasts say, “that’s okay, we prefer the outdoors.” Did you guys think that was funny? I wrote it myself. Okay, I’m not a comedienne, but I recently had... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, There is something sacred about cemeteries. When visiting a cemetery, guests must show respect by walking—not running—and generally keeping to themselves. In a cemetery, you won’t find buskers, chatty Cathies, or other dawdlers who can so often be found in public spaces. I recently visited the Mount Auburn cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts and... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Happy first day of February! We are now 1/12th of the way into the new year. I took this as an opportunity to check in on my progress this new year. This past month, I attempted to give up both alcohol and caffeine. I was somewhat successful with both. With the alcohol, I... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Just a few miles southwest of downtown Boston lies a large patch of grass, trees, and woods. This is not just a city park, rather this gated collection of nature is the Arnold Arboretum. The 281-acre “jewel of the Emerald Necklace” is owned by Harvard University and is home to an abundant collection... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Have you ever combed through your belongings in search of something only to have another find it in under 30 seconds? Searching for lost items can be a very frustrating process. This winter, I unfortunately lost a mitten that I had bought just a few months earlier in Iceland. The Icelanders understand cold... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Do you ever give money to homeless people? I have on occasion, but I am not really into the habit of it. I have a vague childhood memory in which I asked my mom why she did not give money to a homeless man we passed on the streets of NYC. She said... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Sometimes you just can’t skip the small talk. Yesterday, my office hosted a winter cookie party (more on that here). People from all corners of the office convened in a small lounge elbow-to-elbow to enjoy the scrumptious spread of sugary selections. While many of us do not enjoy small talk, it is customary... Continue Reading →
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