Hi there, I live in Pittsburgh now

So the background here is, I like to travel, and I like to do medical and public health research in other countries.  When I do, I have started keeping a blog.  The first objective of the blog is to keep family and friends updated about what I'm doing instead of sending 6-10 different emails.  The second, possibly more important objective is to help keep me engaged in my surroundings and enjoy the adventure, rather than dwelling on the solitude and isolation that often comes with international work.

Well I just moved to Pittsburgh, as I'm sure you gathered if you didn't already know.  I know absolutely no one except my boyfriend's Cousin Phil (theoretically), and for reasons I might get into some other time, am temporarily unemployed.  And so I started to think...could a blog help me process and relish the adventure of moving to a new city alone?  And I decided, yes.  Yes, I could make Pittsburgh my new domestic "international" adventure.

Although Pittsburgh has an image as being some outdated industrial wasteland, I have been convinced by Pittburgh lovers (who are abundant) that it is undergoing a major cultural renaissance and is actually one of the best cities in the US.  One of my goals of my unemployed time is to try to decide if I believe those things to be true and to present to you evidence to make your own judgement.  But let's be honest friends and family- I can call you or email you at any time to tell you about these things, so DISCLAIMER: I recognize that this purpose of this blog is likely greater than 90% selfish, but I hope to entertain you as well.

Today I walked about 2 miles from my apartment in Shadyside to the 450 acre Schenley Park, then through the park to the far side, to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.  As seems to be the history of many establishments around here, the Conservatory was founded by a steel magnate, Henry Phipps in 1893.  Admission was $15, and highlights for me included the butterfly garden (indoor), the desert room, and the living roof.

Desert Room with Chihuly sculpture

Ecosystem within a flower

I love nature patterns!

 The glass artist Dale Chihuly helped decorate parts of the museum, and I was especially taken with his sculpture in the desert room.There was a Congolese Festival supposedly going on in the tropical forest conservatory, which seemed to consist of some college volunteers doing some small  demos here and there- underwhelming. Yearly membership for one adult is $55 and two is $75 (which would mean free entrance with me to any visitors), towards which I could apply my $15 admission.  I tossed the idea around; although I don't know how often I would come alone, I would definitely take family and friends there if they come visit!  I took a different route back home, through the Carnegie Mellon campus, which looked like... college.

I'm toying with the idea of a little section of each post called "Accompaniment," in order to further my mother's idea that I am at best a lush and at worst a highly functioning alcoholic, which may feature mostly beverages but also possibly food or music in which I have been partaking.  Let me know what you think.

Love,
J

Accompaniment: Penn Pilsner from
Pennsylvania Brewing Co.  Decent,
refreshing pilsner good for a sunny
day at the park.