Some observations and lessons from a town of beans

(Please note: Cynicism is perhaps an overpowering element in this entry, but please do see that in the end, I am really aiming for humor. Additionally, the word “you” should always be taken vaguely.)

Observations:
1. In Boston, women dress like women. Men however, are a different story. They usually fall into one of two categories: slobs and snobs. I think the slob is pretty self-explanatory. Snob on the other hand, is more complicated. Things like designer jeans (pre-faded and if really cool, pre-ripped) sport tucked in button downs, and when it is below 60 degrees (like today) happy cardigans sport shoulder laptop bags. Sharp hair cuts (not shaggy) frame faces (if at Harvard - or rather, Haahhvaahd - often with acne, not that there's anything wrong with it) which sport dark-rimmed glasses. This is especially true around the universities (oh wait, that’s pretty much all of Boston).
2. I never would have really guessed it, but in Boston there are in fact...yes...hippies. Dread locks and all.
3. Sweater vests are excellent for cusp-of-autumn, slightly crisp days. Absolutely perfect. (How did I know this? I didn’t. My astute instincts just led me right.)
4. Traffic lights are a mere suggestion for both pedestrians and vehicles.
5. Don't ever expect to find paahking for free.


Lessons:
1. Just because there are coffee shops on every corner of every single block, that doesn’t mean you need to get a cup of coffee every time you go inside one to hang up a poster for your job, because a) decaf is a lie…you’ll be bouncing off the walls no matter what, and b) being caffeinated makes you less cautions when reaching into your bag, thus leading to paper cuts and cursing.
2. Cursing is okay (even the cops do it just standing out on the street, but they're really nice when you ask for directions), but whatever you do, please don’t cry. It is unbecoming in an east coast manner. Suck it up and be a man (and so what if you’re not really a man...am I being sexist? Perhaps. Is this acceptable? Irrelevant.).
3. Back to coffee. Don’t buy a cup of coffee before you get on a train or bus. Trying to get wallet out of your bag and paying WHILE holding cup of coffee is bad idea. The driver will NOT wait for you to get your act together before slamming down on the accelerator. The coffee WILL inevitably spill on your skin and clothing and that WILL hurt.
4. When using public transportation, there is no shame in asking for help when trying to buy a ticket. People who know what they’re doing have just been there longer. Better not to waste your time or others’ time trying to figure out which way to put your card in and unzipping your wallet to take out the old one when you can just wave the entire wallet in front of the censor (duh). After all that, you will get your bag stuck in the kiosks (also leading to cursing)...and for what? Pride. At least people speak English here, so for goodness sake, take advantage of it!
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, but at the risk of once again being slightly offensive, don't necessarily ask help from the homeless. There is no shame in just turning around and saying "leave me alone!" when they won't shut up in complimenting your choice in earrings, even if they really are supersweet earrings.
6. Just because you are a struggling musician with the type of instrument that is among the most competitive and in an economy that is getting steadily worse doesn’t mean you should be discouraged. Did you expect the challenge of being in this environment? Yes. Were you really truly prepared for it mentally and emotionally? Perhaps not, but acknowledge every success rather than treating them as mere appetizers to a main meal that in actuality, might not be what you expect.
7. In all seriousness, do be grateful for landlords that come out at 11:00 at night to scratch their chins beside you as you both stand outside of the door you’ve been locked out of because you had been given a wrong set of keys. Think it fun when you have climb out a window over the ledge of a balcony. Adventure, after all, is included in the rent.