More random observations

Posted by Sari

1. I made a record of squirrel sightings this morning: twenty-one from the way from Hibben to Firestone. And American squirrels still look evil to me, it's the little tufts of fur missing from their ears that does it.

2. For some reason Princeton undergrads get hugely expensive-looking mountain bikes to ride on campus and then adjust the saddle so low it is painful to watch them struggling up the hill.

3. I am still in awe of Whig hall, a building with neo-classical greek facade and a functionalist side wall. There is a reason, of course, the original built in the turn of century caught fire in 1969 and one of the walls had to be rebuilt and designed. But it still looks just plain bizarre when you look at it.

4. There are not that many campuses in the world were you can think to yourself: I see they've moved the Picasso, I wonder if that Henry Moore is still where it was...

5. The not so wonderful experiences in America: a trip by bus on a hot day to a chock-full mall where the only restaurants are McDonalds in WalMart and a Subway.

6. Hibben-Magie is a perfect example of how a house is the basic living unit in America. It is like a huge number of nice two-storey semi-detached (or rivitalo is closer maybe) apartments piled on top of each other. Stairwells lead to balconies running the whole length of the building where the doors to apartments are. Even when you are living in a flat you have to pretend it is a house.

7. It is very bewildering to read news from Hesari online: floods, earthquakes, raids in night-clubs, escaped convicts with hostages... Are you sure you are in the Norden and I am in the States?

Comments

[Tarja]

Heh, yes we are. Life goes on pretty much as ever, and I didn't even notice the earthquake. Check my blog for more information on the R&A films. The Kal Ho Naa Ho showing was great, with an intermission during which they offered free food contributed by Namaskaar restaurant. But, as I suspected, they didn't have subtitles in the songs :P.

[jukkahoo]

They moved the Picasso? What is the world coming to?

[Hil]

Happy and safe travels, Sari. What are you doing over there?

[Sari]

Getting the final source materials I need and to consult with the professor.

Travelling is fun but I am trying to fit so much work in to one month that I am feeling like I knew more what was happening in US when I was in Finland and had more time to watch the news...

[peterelk]

Well, just stay tuned to your local FOX affiliate and you'll know all about the guy next door who ate his babies and shot three police officers afterwards:-)

Seriously speaking, news from Finland seem a lot more violent. At least we don't have spare heads popping out of our garbage cans over here.

Shoot off an email if you're coming to New York at some point.