#9

So, a while ago I crossed off #9 from my Boston Bucket List - I went to a concert in the House of Blues. And not any concert, mind you. I went to the Fun. concert! They just so happen to be one of my favorite bands at the moment (see here). It was hands down the best concert I've ever been to. My friend Jerr had an extra ticket and I was so happy because I had tried to get tickets but they were sold out. Not to mention that we were on the floor about 6 people deep from the stage. That was cool too.

The pictures aren't great quality, but that's what you get when you take them on a phone...

Outside the House of Blues

Jerr and I

The crowd behind us. The House of Blues was literally packed. Nate (the lead singer of Fun.) told us that we were freaking them out with how many people were there.

I loved it, sometimes he would just stand there grinning at us, acting like "Is this real life?"

Of all the concerts I could have gone to to complete my bucket list requirement, I'm not sure I could have picked a better one. Seriously, such a Fun. night :)

Summer

I have some exciting news! For my summer synthesis (my capstone if you will), starting May 14, I'm going to be in the....

NICU at Brigham and Women's Hospital!!!

I am beyond excited about this because being in the NICU was my first choice, and Brigham and Women's is nationally ranked as one of the best hospitals in the nation! Seriously, what an amazing opportunity.

I love this city and all it's amazing hospitals.

Boston Bucket List

Well kids, it's about time this happened. I've always liked making lists, and it's even better when the list is of fun things to do. So here it is, in all its glory: my Boston Bucket List. I'm sure it will morph and change as we go along but here's what I've got so far:

• Celtics game
• Sail on the Charles
• Go to the Cape
• Salem in October
• New England Aquarium
• Ben and Jerry's Factory
• Sharon, Vermont
• Mansions in Rhode Island
• Go to the House of Blues
• Patriots game
• Red Sox game
• Tour the Longwood House
• Louisa May Alcott's house
• Kayak on the Charles to watch fireworks for the 4th of July
• Ice skate on Frog Pond
• Watch a performance at the Boston Opera House
• Museum of Fine Art
• Outside movie, ideally in the Commons
• Picnic on the Commons
• Lexington
• Concord
• Trip to Maine
• Quebec
• Montreal - the ice hotel!
• Martha's Vineyard
• Shakespeare in the Common
• Trip to DC

Wow, that's a lot. Good thing I've still got at least a year to fit it all in!

New England

You should know that people in Boston are CRAZY about their sports. And they're indiscriminate as to the sport as well - hockey, baseball, basketball, football; each elicits sheer madness in the citizens of this state.

I feel as though it's an important part of my initiation to being a resident of Boston that I also take pride in their sports teams. Bearing that in mind, all I have to say is:

GO PATS!!!

When in doubt, wear rain boots.

That's my new mantra for Boston, because every time I think about wearing rain boots and then don't, I regret it. Take last night for example. The second we walked away from our house, it started POURING rain. I was soaked from the knee down. So, lesson learned. Rain boots are your friend.

Last night we had a girls night out while the men were at the Priesthood session of General Conference. We went to this restaurant named John Harvard's in Harvard Square. It was gooooood. There were 22 of us there, and it was so fun! Those girls are so cute. I was glad to continue the tradition of having a girl's night, even though I'm not home to be able to have one with my mom and sisters.

Also, any hints for doing hair in the humidity? They would be much appreciated. Come to find out, my hair hates me. Or at least hates the humidity. Last night I straightened my hair right before I went out, and this is what it looked like when I got home:

Attractive, I know. Note to self, save yourself time and energy and don't bother doing your hair, because you'll end up looking like an idiot no matter what.

P.S. I feel like I look like an elderly person in that photo. Squinting, even with my glasses on. Love. it. :)

I'm a local! ...kinda...

Alright, here it is: my update on life in Boston, finally! It's been a crazy few weeks, and bound to get more so, I'm sure. But don't worry, I've managed to have plenty of fun in the process. Here's a glimpse at life on the east coast:

Mom and Daddy flew out with me to help me move in and get settled. Good thing they did, I'm really not sure how I would have managed without their help.

First getting in to Boston. Daddy didn't know how to focus my camera so the image is super blurry, but you get the general idea.

Why yes, I did check 6 huge suitcases jam packed with my belongings. What you don't see is my backpack and purse that I carried on and Mom's purse and Dad's two carry-ons as well. They were so good to me to let me use all of the checked luggage for my stuff.

We got in Tuesday afternoon and with a few mishaps (aka getting lost multiple times... navigating around here is hard!) we made it to Boston College to check it out.

Bright and early Wednesday morning I had orientation that lasted all day, and while I was at that Mom and Daddy were out running errands for me (aren't they the best?)

In front of the nursing school, my home for the next two years

We spent several days getting everything settled and my room set up (a separate post with pictures to come later). Then finally on Saturday we were able to get out and see Boston. We went on the Freedom Trail and it was really cool!

The cemetery where Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, John Hancock, and Benjamin Franklin's parents are buried

Paul Revere statue with the Old North church in the background.

We made a stop at Mike's Pastries, this famous Italian pastry shop in the North end. It was PACKED with a line going down the street for about a block.

This picture does not do justice to the madness that is Mike's Pastry

We also went on a Duck Tour and got a sweet view of the Boston skyline.

I WILL ride in a sailboat at some time while I live here

We thought the moon looked really cool behind this building, so we had to take a picture

Sadly my parents had to leave on Sunday, but I'm so grateful I was able to have them here as long as I did. Thank you Mom and Daddy!

Randomly on Sunday I ran in to my Jerusalem friend Rebekah at church and come to find out she lives in my house! There are two apartments: mine is the upstairs and hers is the downstairs! It was seriously one of the most random experiences of my life, but I was so happy to have a friend so close! And since Monday was a holiday, I went down to her apartment Monday morning to see if she would want to explore with me and she told me that she was going on the Freedom Trail and would I want to come? Why yes, yes I would. Also, her sister married my other Jerusalem friend B, and they were in town for the weekend so they were coming on the trail too! I was seriously so happy! B is one of my most favorite people, so I was stoked to be able to spend the day with him, even if I was crashing their family time.

This time on the Freedom Trail was a little different because we rented bikes and rode them around town for a lot of it. Seriously, so much fun. When you come to Boston to visit me (hint, hint), we will do this. It's that much fun. Riding bikes along the cobblestones made me feel like I was in a scene from a movie straight out of Europe. Loved it.

Rebekah, B, and Rachel on their bikes

B touring the U.S.S Constitution

The four of us chillin in the garden at Boston Commons

Anyway, that's Boston for ya! Oh yeah, and school stuff too, but those are minor details, right?

In my room

I'm sitting here in my room doing my homework, and I had to break out the space heater. Already.

It's September.

What have I gotten myself into?