I Made It

After what seems like months of waiting I finally arrived! It may have taken a little ordeal at O'Hare. How could both my bags be over by 5 pounds? A quick, but frustrating reshuffle of my suitcases and I was able to get them to 50 and 49.5 pounds each. Yes! Now I just have to wait for a few pair of shoes and a winter coat to make there way via Fed Ex.

DC has been good to me from the start, I met Hilary who is also attending the Center while I was waiting for my luggage. I was really lucky that she friended me on Facebook before we left because her aunt and uncle picked us up from the airport and drove us to the apartment. That's $40 for cab fare that I was able to pocket right off the bat! And then it was gone. I have been preparing myself for the sticker shock that I was warned about, but stuff is expensive here.

The Center has kept us very busy starting Sunday night with an introduction and class, all this week I am taking Arts in a Democratic Society. I thought I was going to have it easier than everyone at Marquette. Boo. We have been going to museums and having discussions from 9 until 8 every day. Yes, it is interesting (I can thank my internship at the Milwaukee Art Museum for giving me a background so I at least sound like I know the difference between a Cezanne and a Degas) but it is exhausting walking and writing papers. The teacher is Dr. Carter, an ethics teacher at Marquette. For all you Marquette people, he is the one who founded the Haggerty Art Museum. This little old man knows quite a bit about art. He is the president of the National Aesthetics Council, vice president of the International Aesthetics Council, curator at a Chinese Art Museum, and sits on a smattering of museum boards. Who knew this guy is at Marquette? He has been able to give us a adept view and back stage passes to a few Smithsonians. And he is super cool because he is cutting class short on Sunday so we can attend, and I quote, "A highly cultural event." What he really means is he is allowing us to cut class to go to the inauguration concert, including (the short list): Beyonce, John Legend, Shakira, Miley Cyrus, Bono, Stevie Wonder, and headliner Bruce Springsteen.

The city is abuzz with the inauguration, but everyone in the building is not really sure our set plans. Tickets are hard to come by but I am still trying. I will make sure to post on my plans next. I miss everyone, but thank the Lord have been too busy to feel any homesickness yet. I look forward to hearing from all of you. Keep watching I promise to post a few times a week.