tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post2368994866311058763..comments2023-11-02T01:29:11.575-07:00Comments on The MFA Chronicles: Things I like, and some things I don't.JayTeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02923700657540655227noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post-91712155141536172962010-09-21T06:51:10.270-07:002010-09-21T06:51:10.270-07:00I grew up in a small town (~6,000), went to underg...I grew up in a small town (~6,000), went to undergrad in a smallish college town (~23,000), lived in a largish city in the Czech Republic (~500,000) and a small city in Slovakia (~60,000), and now I'm at OSU in the oft-mentioned relatively big city of Columbus (~750,000), and I have to say that, given time, wonderful things revealed themselves about all of them. I tend to find that the relationships you cultivate in a place end up doing a lot to color the way you feel about the place itself. I have a feeling that your warm feelings about your program will slowly start to attach themselves to Somerworth for you. Just a hunch. I am thrilled to read that you are in love with your program. That bodes well for your future happiness there.Nick McRaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960069955860257271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post-41681824522510768882010-09-16T20:30:51.283-07:002010-09-16T20:30:51.283-07:00In case of stapling emergency:
1. Use the corner ...In case of stapling emergency:<br /><br />1. Use the corner of an ID card to loosen a staple from the nearest bulletin board. Pull it out. Try not to mangle it.<br />2. Shove the sharp ends through your stack of paper.<br />3. Carefully fold the sharp ends toward the back page. Use your ID card to press them completely down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post-42075090672563567152010-09-14T13:54:30.509-07:002010-09-14T13:54:30.509-07:00I'd love to live in NH. I admit I'm jealou...I'd love to live in NH. I admit I'm jealous. The lack of funding was the only thing that kept me from applying to the UNH program ... I've been wanting to hit that school since I was a teenage sophomore. But the money ... Crikey! Even as an undergrad ...<br /><br />I fear really missing autumn (as I know it) in Florida. The idea of New England still captivates me in so many ways. No place feels quite like home without crunchy leaves and a good, brisk wind now and then.RebaRussethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11174166444512123068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post-41524309914918061512010-09-12T13:10:17.367-07:002010-09-12T13:10:17.367-07:00Thank you for the wonderful advice, guys! I'm ...Thank you for the wonderful advice, guys! I'm trying to find little things about New Hampshire that I like, and I actually am kind of happy that there are so many distractions for me, because I can confess to getting distracted easily. <br /><br />It's very good to know that there's a stapler in the library!<br /><br />Thanks guys, you've been very helpful.KTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08556606159072414579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post-1801096907110835202010-09-12T09:57:12.713-07:002010-09-12T09:57:12.713-07:00Oh, do I feel for you in your location woes... I ...Oh, do I feel for you in your location woes... I had spent almost seven years living in the very same Columbus that Lindsay described (pop. >750K) before moving to State College, PA which is just a college town in the middle of nowhere. Very homogeneous, very isolated, very conservative, and I kind of *hate* it. <br /><br />I definitely miss the city a LOT, but I think in some ways it's been good for my writing. And certainly less distracting. And it's only two years. And it's made me very cognizant of considering location when applying to PhD programs and jobs. So it's not all bad. <br /><br />I guess my advice, as someone who's in the same spot, is just hang in there. Get out when you have the chance - weekend trips, holiday breaks, etc. Find other people who feel the same; there are quite a few people in the department here who like to vent together about how much we miss cities. And find the good things about it - here it's the biweekly farmer's market and the challenging hilly running trails and the view of small mountains and wild animals. And know it's only for a limited time :)Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02608421232179032744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post-75143765866520176442010-09-11T15:03:44.165-07:002010-09-11T15:03:44.165-07:00Yeah, I think everyone agrees about riding the cul...Yeah, I think everyone agrees about riding the culture shock. I guess also try to make the most out of how beautiful rural living can be. My big city can be a little ugly, even if it's ugly in a really strangely compelling way.<br /><br />And yeah, we're all pretty poor, huh.Joshua Gottlieb-Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16562233353440767788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post-91230491075549895932010-09-11T06:21:14.816-07:002010-09-11T06:21:14.816-07:00I think location is HUGE. It was one of the bigge...I think location is HUGE. It was one of the biggest factors for me when I was deciding where to apply. I wanted to be a in a big city, a small city (>20,000, MINIMUM). I'm at Ohio State, in Columbus, which is huge (~750,000, I think?).<br /><br />I love living here -- the food options, the diversity, the options of things to do, etc. -- but it has definitely taken a little bit of time to adjust. I'm from a small town (4,000 people) and went to college in another small town (8,000) people, and so it's weird to be in a place where I can't walk in certain areas after dark. Or where there's public transportation. I like it, though. I think the culture shock will be good for my writing.Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00374250073077357021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post-9777339956549490062010-09-10T17:39:17.892-07:002010-09-10T17:39:17.892-07:00Katie, I always enjoy reading your blog posts.
...Katie, I always enjoy reading your blog posts. <br /><br />1. there's a free stapler at the front desk in the library :)<br /><br />2. Why do you live in Somersworth? Couldn't you find cheap housing in Durham, Dover or Newmarket, etc? Or is Somersworth really cheap?Ruin Christmashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09585536126939628060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post-53641428269227495952010-09-10T15:23:00.930-07:002010-09-10T15:23:00.930-07:00This made me laugh, but I'm laughing with you ...This made me laugh, but I'm laughing with you thinking back to my undergrad days :) but I love the fact that you didn't go out and charge the stapler you just sucked it up. Start collecting paper clips I say!Jessie Cartyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181286764480973423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post-52422489887592752972010-09-10T06:36:40.893-07:002010-09-10T06:36:40.893-07:00Being poor = uber frustrating. Please know you'...Being poor = uber frustrating. Please know you're not alone. I've learned to stay away from Target until my $$ situation improves. <br /><br />I can't imagine what it's like leaving a city for, well, anywhere in NH haha. Who knows though, maybe the move will actually reinvigorate your writing--there are plenty of comparisons to be made. <br /><br />I grew not too far from Boston and it is a lovely place to visit. It'll satisfy your city fix when need be!Chelseahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11176216044195414050noreply@blogger.com