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fun italian street signs in the north end on my way to work

that's where i work! a nice reminder each day that i live on the ocean.

small streets and churches of boston's north end

small plaza near my office that i am sure i will enjoy in the spring

new england's young bularzik club! cousins cousins and baby cousins!

the pretty lake view from the end of my street in woburn

Through the generosity of friends and the luck of sunny weather, I’ve made it through my first month in Boston! I thought I would share a few of the daily images I have right now. My life is pretty much just work, since I am living in a town north of Boston with my cousin until the end of the year and my commute is pretty brutal. But I am enjoying living with my cousin, getting a lot of reading done on the bus, and learning about a new part of the Boston area. On January 1, I will be the proud new tenant of a giant studio in a bustling area of Boston! The 25 minute commute won’t hurt, either.

I’m living in Woburn, which is not pronounced the way you think it is. Our street is right off the pretty lake you see above. I try to get out there and walk around the lake and the trails on the weekends, when I am actually home during daylight. Otherwise, my daylight life is in Boston’s North End, which is the Italian district.

The North End has really been a joyful place to work. The ten minute walk from the train station to my office takes me through shops, cafes, churches and homes all bursting with Italian things. Sometimes when it’s really nice out or I have gotten to work really early, I will take a wrong turn down a winding street just to see what else the North End has been hiding. Sometimes I hear people speaking Italian. Sometimes it is clear that I’ve run into a pack of tourists. But it is always interesting, which is more than I can say about any of my previous commutes in the good ol’ USA. Maybe that’s because I really feel like I work in a little slice of Italy.

My office itself is on the water, across the bay from Logan Airport. We have a balcony, and lots of rich people live around us. Sometimes I hear seagulls. We have a swimming pool available to us in the summer that we share with the other tenants. Lots of people have dogs, and I have started to recognize a lot of the dog walkers that show up midday. It’s a peaceful, beautiful place to work. I think we’re moving into a bigger space next year, but I’m hoping not before I get a chance to use that pool!

Other than work, I have gotten to spend a good amount of time with family. I am one of SIX cousins on my dad’s side that live in the Boston area! Since I did not grow up out here, I am really thrilled about the chance to get to know my New England family better. Cousins were probably my favorite thing in the world when I was little (because I have about a million of them), but they are a whole new kind of special now that we’re older.

So here’s to my second month in Boston! The month where I will move to my permanent home, where I will be joined by my Jon and my Marshall, and where I will finally get into my winter Bostonian groove.

I like it here

Three weeks ago today, I got on a plane to Boston. Three days after that, I started A JOB. And not just any job! The kind of job that I had been working toward for three years. When I quit my job in DC, when I spent all that money on international travel, when I went to grad school and did all those internships, it was all so I could work in the field of study abroad. It’s a very satisfying feeling to know that all of that work and all of those choices led me to where I wanted to be.

But if you would have told me a few months ago that “where” also meant Boston, I would have disagreed with you. I had been applying to dozens of jobs in San Francisco, Chicago, and New York. I only applied to one job in Boston, but apparently it was the right one. I’m a great fit for this job for many reasons, and they are a great fit for me. And Boston, it turns out, is looking to be my new favorite city.

When I first arrived in Boston, I stayed with family in the South End. Then a friend in the South End. Then another. Then family in Braintree. Now family in Woburn. The point of that story is to show you how much moving I did in two short weeks and to demonstrate how lucky I am to have so many great people around me in New England. I got to spend Thanksgiving on a farm in Vermont. I will soon be visiting with cousins in Connecticut and New Hampshire. It turns out Boston was the perfect place for me to end up.

family at the Ben and Jerry's factory in Waterbury, Vermont

My life right now is still pretty transient and strange. Every day I learn new skills at work, and then on my long commute home I learn how to pronounce words like a Bostonian. I am learning how to negotiate the Boston rental market as well as the bus and train system. I’m learning the reasons why Bostonians are so proud of their city; I’m also learning that their reputation for being “cold” and “rude” is just wrong. Their friendliness is their best kept secret.

As I continue to learn about my new city and my new life, I will try to update the blog as much as I can. I’ll probably have more free time in December than after, since I am currently without a Jon and a Marshall!

Marshall wearing his seatbelt in the back

We did end up driving west; just not as far west as we had planned! We left Pittsburgh after Labor Day weekend and drove to Chicago. We ended up leaving a lot of stuff behind in Pittsburgh that we had been hoping would fit in the car. The car was a LOT smaller than we had anticipated…

We spent four days in Chicago catching up with friends and family. Marshall met his cousin Marley the cockapoo for the first time and went to the beach on Lake Michigan. Jon and I ate deep dish, explored Evanston, and hung out with high school and college friends. After spending time  in the city with friends, Chicago is looking more attractive than ever, and I’ve actually found a lot of jobs to apply to there in the past two weeks!

Then we drove to St. Louis, where we’ve decided to stay until one of us gets an actual job offer. We decided that driving all the way out to California and spending all of our money on a sublet was dumb; instead, we’re staying with my parents and saving our money for a real move. We’re continuing to apply to jobs all over the place, including Toronto!

We don’t know how long we’ll be here, but we’re happy to be in St. Louis. Every day we’re applying to jobs, networking, and keeping each other motivated. I realized that this is the first time in my life that I have been unemployed. Even as a student, I’ve worked since I was 15. I’m really eager to get back to work, especially for some of the awesome international education jobs I’ve found.

On the agenda for the next week: Blues preseason game in St. Louis, City Museum downtown, Tower Grove farmer’s market, visiting Natalie in Lawrence KS, Penguins preseason game in Kansas City, and continuing our trek to every single independent coffee shop in the St. Louis area!

The second plan is to move where we think we will have the best chances at finding jobs in our fields (me: international education; Jon: public policy). Take a risk and just jump in. That place is San Francisco and its surrounding cities. The past two months have been dedicated to applying to jobs in the bay area, looking at neighborhoods we’d like to live in, and planning the two-week cross-country road trip. Our plan is to leave Pittsburgh next week, drive to lots of fun places in the Midwest and beyond, and arrive in the bay area at the end of the month. Find a sublet for October, find jobs by November, and voila! Life!

But now there’s a third plan. This past week, we made the wonderful mistake of going to Toronto, Canada. We learned that the economy there is actually pretty good, and family members can help sponsor you as a temporary resident of Canada. So we’re going to look into this. We’re going to apply to jobs in Toronto, figure out what it really takes to get temporary residency and a work visa, and use this as the “back-up dream plan.”

So the ultimate plan is a hybrid plan. We’re still leaving Pittsburgh next week. We’re still driving west with our doggie and camping supplies. We’re still looking for sublets and jobs in San Francisco. We still plan to GET to San Francisco. But if Toronto can happen, we will stop everything and go there instead. Because really, who can say no to Canada?

If you have any advice about any of these plans, please share! Maybe we’re crazy, but it sure beats sitting around waiting.

will we be canadians?

or californians?

Chinese: China Star (Squirrel Hill)

After living in China and cooking with Chinese friends, I have annoyingly high standards when it comes to genuine Chinese food. I can barely bring myself to eat the American style Chinese food anymore. I preferred to cook it myself…until I went to China Star and tried their “alternative” menu. If you don’t look Chinese, the waiter will first hand you the Americanized menu. Ask for the Chinese menu. If you don’t know what any of the stuff is, ask for recommendations. It’s hard to go wrong. Squirrel Hill is overall the best neighborhood to find legit Chinese food, tea and desserts. Just follow the exchange students.

Vietnamese: Tram’s Kitchen (Bloomfield/Garfield)

While there are many deserving Vietnamese places up and down Penn Avenue, my favorite is Tram’s. It’s got a simple selection of soups and noodles, it’s fresh, it’s fast, and it’s in a tiny storefront. If you’re lucky, you’ll even be seated at a tiny table with tiny chairs. Not as tiny as the chairs in Vietnam, but still. Pretty cool. And of course, the pho is fantastic.

Thai: Thai Cuisine (Bloomfield)

This was a hard choice, because I love the shop down the street, Thai Gourmet, nearly as much. But in reality, I find myself going to Thai Cuisine more and craving their noodles, soups and curries more. But in the end, if you live near Bloomfield, you’re a lucky dog. It’s the best Thai food I’ve had outside of Thailand. It’s reliable, it’s affordable, it’s a happy place.

Korean: Tokyo Steakhouse (Bloomfield)

Yes, it’s called Tokyo, and yes, they have sushi, but I’ve never had the sushi. So I’m just going to talk about the Korean food. This is where we go to indulge. We stuff ourselves with grilled beef and chicken. We go crazy over the little side dishes. It’s rarely busy, but it makes me happy that way. I get really tired of the jazzed-up, Americanized Asian grills. You know the ones I’m talking about. This one is different. You cook your meat. There is a little bridge and a pond in the middle of the restaurant. The people who work there are actually Japanese and Korean. There are Japanese businessmen drinking beers in the corner. And the beef. Oh, the beef…

Asian Market: Lotus Food (Strip District)

Pittsburgh really does have a lot of Asian markets all around, from Oakland to the ‘burbs. But Lotus is the king. Sitting on a corner near the end of the Strip District, Lotus is a great source of cheap rice, noodles, and even vegetables. The cilantro at Lotus just tastes better. The bok choy come in all different sizes. The tofu is freshly cooked. The candy and cookie selection is overwhelming. I still haven’t been able to try all the varieties of dumplings and steamed buns that they offer. And the best part: the Chinese employees actually speak Chinese with me! I can only hope that I find a store as great as Lotus in my next city.

Coming next: Pittsburgh Parks

Every time I go to the grocery store, I want to stock up on different flavors of granola bars, energy bars, breakfast bars…and then I remind myself that I can just make them myself. These bars are so good, you won’t believe they came out of your kitchen. They’re most like Clif bars, but immensely more tasty.

Plus, you can experiment and mix and match with the flavors and ingredients. You can try different fruits, spices, nuts, or probably different types of wheat. Once I made these with orange juice instead of milk. Another time I threw in a smashed banana just for fun. I’m pretty sure these are hard to destroy.

This recipe is my version of something originally found on about.com that tasted much more boring. You’ll probably have to buy some ingredients that you’ve never bought before, but I’m convinced it’s more economical in the long run to make your own bars instead of the pre-packaged ones!

1) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13×9 inch pan. (or just line the pan with baking parchment so it won’t get stuck)

2) In a medium bowl, combine and blend well the following. Let set 5 minutes.

1 cup bran flakes cereal

1/4 cup wheat bran

1/4 cup wheat germ

1 1/2 tsp finely grated orange peel

1 cup of chopped, mixed dried fruit (I like to use cranberries, apples, blueberries)

1/2 cup chopped nuts

2 tbsp flax seeds

1 egg

1/4 cup canola oil

1/4 cup milk (I use soy)

2/3 cup applesauce 

1/2 cup honey (or more if you want them sweeter)

1 tsp vanilla

3) In large bowl, stir together:

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup all-purpose white flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp salt

4) Stir in the wet mixture into the dry and mix until all ingredients are combined. Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake 15 to 17 minutes or until golden. Cool and slice into 20 bars. Keep in an airtight container.

*Wrap them individually and bag for freezing, because they will get dry tasting after a day or so. Thaw on the counter overnight or 15-20 seconds in a microwave.*

Let me know what you think!

I’ll start with my three favorite neighborhoods.

row house style in Bloomfield

Bloomfield: This obviously comes first because this is where I live and spend most of my time. This is where Jon grew up, where most of our friends live, and where I walk my dog. It’s an old German and Italian neighborhood, and it’s nicknamed “Pittsburgh’s Little Italy.” In the fall there are lots of things going on like Little Italy Days and the Halloween parade. Liberty Avenue has lots of bars, restaurants, and shops, and it’s only getting better. It’s also a very convenient area for those without cars; I can grab lots of buses that take me to Oakland, Downtown, or other East End locations. I’ve felt very safe living here, and it’s also one of the more affordable areas for students to live. We get a lot more space and amenities with our one-bedroom apartment in Bloomfield than we would in areas like Shadyside and Oakland. It’s quieter (and cleaner!) here, too!

Friendship-style big ol' houses

Friendship: Well, I kind of live here, too. Our street looks like Friendship, but the street sign actually says Bloomfield on it. As you can see, the houses in Friendship are big brick beauties that are sometimes homes, but sometimes converted apartments. All of our friends around here live in converted apartments, which is a great alternative to giant apartment buildings run by giant companies. Friendship is bordered by Bloomfield, East Liberty, and Shadyside, making it a cozy community with great access to the shops and restaurants on streets like Highland, Liberty, Walnut and Penn. One of my favorite little places in Friendship is Baum Grove, a little park with chess tables where Marshall loves to sniff around.

Squirrel Hill: If it were easier to walk from Squirrel Hill to Pitt’s campus, maybe I would have lived here. It’s like a village, and everyone I know who has lived here has loved it. There are tons of great restaurants and cafes, a movie theater, library, and grocery store. But the best thing about Squirrel Hill may be that it’s tucked in between the two best parks in Pittsburgh: Schenley and Frick. Most residents of Squirrel Hill are within walking distance to the amazing hills and trails of these parks. So if being near Pitt doesn’t matter to you, Squirrel Hill may be paradise.

Coming next: Pittsburgh Asian Restaurants

I love Asian food, and the best way for me to eat good Asian food is to cook it myself. This recipe from Cooking Light Magazine has turned out to be one of my favorites. It’s so much more complex and delicious than anything you can find at a restaurant here! It’s crazy good. It takes a little while to marinate the tofu, so it’s not a quick dish, but it’s worth making a huge batch. I actually enjoyed it as a cold leftover even more than the hot, freshly cooked version.

1) Prepare a pack of tofu (about 3/4 pound) by cutting it into slices and squeezing out liquid. Place tofu between paper towels and put a heavy object on top for a half hour until paper towels are totally soaked. Throw out the paper towels and cut up the tofu into cubes, about 3/4 inch in size.

2) Combine ingredients to make marinade. Add tofu and marinade into a sealed bag or container. Marinate at room temperature for 2 hours, turning occasionally:

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon soy sauce

up to 1 tablespoon of chili garlic sauce (I used just 1/4 tbsp of Sriracha chili sauce and it was plenty hot for my weak American tastebuds)

1 teaspoon sugar

2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (or less for less spice)

2 minced garlic cloves

3) While tofu marinates, prepare 3/4 pound uncooked rice vermicelli noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water and set noodles aside.

4) Prepare dressing in a small bowl:

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

3 tablespoons chili garlic sauce (only if you love spicy! otherwise just do about a half tablespoon)

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons peanut oil

1 tablespoon fish sauce

2 teaspoons sugar

2 teaspoons fresh peeled grated ginger

1/4 teaspoon salt (I left this out)

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

5) Heat a skillet and add 1 tablespoon of peanut oil. Add tofu without marinade. Discard marinade. Saute tofu for 5 minutes until browned. Remove from heat.

6) In a large bowl, combine vermicelli, 2 cups thinly sliced lettuce or cabbage or slaw, 1 cup shredded carrots, 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, and dressing together. Toss well. Top with tofu.

Makes about 6 servings. Enjoy!