It's hard to believe...only one more week and I will be at SIT for my orientation and to start my graduate school program. I am nervous and excited about it!

Anyway, other things/thoughts that have appeared in my mind for the past few days:
-I have never fully realized how materialistic, rich, and lucky Americans are, until talking to my friends from Poland. Walking around a mall, looking at individuals leaving with bags filled with $100-200 clothes, now makes me sick inside. However, not as much as my friends from Poland, who know that they would never be able to afford these things, as much as they love their country and home. I feel bad showing them around, clearly outlining the social/economic differences between ourselves. Unfortunately, this is the reality of America: there are people who are able to afford these possessions, while there are others who barely survive. I have been trying to show them these differences (i.e. Cleveland vs. Beachwood and other rich suburbs) but it's hard to deny and forget the opulent homes, cars, and clothes that we pass by.
-Went to Niagara Falls on Saturday. Woke up extremely early, but had lots of fun getting wet on the "Maid on the Mist" boat tour. I love the fact that you can walk around Niagara Falls and see/hear languages and people from around the world. What I hate: the casinos. I remember what it was like many years ago without the casinos. Now, I think Niagara Falls is starting to lose its charm.
-Today: Off to the Rock n' Roll hall of fame and I have to start packing!

Yesterday, woke up at 5:30in the morning to go with my friends to Dearborn, Michigan to visit the Ford Rouge plant and the Henry Ford museum. It's been nearly 12 years since I visited that part of Michigan. I could barely recognize the place when we arrived there. So many new exhbits and other touristy things....

It was cool to walk around and see the cars and other artifacts that Henry Ford collected throughout his life. Also got a chance to see the Kennedy assassination car and the Reagan car (rather creepy to look at those cars to know that someone died (or nearly died) in them--the same as looking at the chair that Abraham Lincoln got assassinated in). Walked around and looked at cars, replicas of motels/RVs from 1950's, the time period where American taste was extremely tacky.

I was really impressed with one of the new exhibits at the Henry Ford museum. It was devoted to liberty, justice, and the struggles that people endured in order to fight for social justice (i.e. Civil Rights and women's rights). I had the chance to walk through the bus where Rosa Parks sat and didn't move. It was so awesome. Alas, it made me realize how much still needs to be accomplished until true equality will flourish in America.

We also visited the Ford Rouge plant as well. Annoying music was played throughout the tour. Made Henry Ford appear to be so much like a hero... (I admit that he was ingenious in creating ways to massively produce items, but not many people know about his eugenics/racist ideas. Again, the dominant ideology still persists. )More special effects (making a mudane job look more interesting than it is. I swear that if there are no special effects in museums, Americans will stay away and never learn anything. I hate those IMAX/OMNIMAX type of museums. As educators, we don't have access to special effects; no wonder children are bored in schools).

It was interesting to observe the workers at their various stations. I was struck with how many women were working at a typically, male-dominated field. I cannot imagine working down there. I would probably be fired within the first few hours. Imagine, your job is only to fasten a seatbelt into the truck, and that's what you do for 8-12 hour days. I also feel sad for them as well, especially with the projected cuts that Ford will be instituting within the next several weeks/months. What a hard life.

Obviously, I am still suffering from Putney withdrawal. Not only do I still get hungry around 10am for milk lunch, but I feel the compulsion to go hiking in the middle of a torrential rainstorm. Which is exactly what I did on Saturday with some friends.

We went hiking on Little Mountain, a "mountain" located not too far from where I live. The forecasters have been predicting rain for the past several days, which came true. It was raining like cats and dogs by the time we arrived there. A local guide came and showed us around. However, we were concerned because he said that he gets lost in Little Mountain quite frequently. In many ways, I can understand. In Little Mountain, we were surrounded by trees and plants. Everywhere you turned everything looked the same.

Despite the rain, (and the fact that I fell into a ravine at one point!)everything looked beautiful. In the 1800's, hotels were built and the likes of wealthy Clevelanders, such as Rockefeller and James Garfield, came and spent the weekends there. However, there were no remnants of the hotels left. I could understand why people would come there--it was so peaceful. You couldn't hear anything or anyone there. No cars, no noise--makes you forget that you were in Ohio.

At several points, we climbed and trekked on (and through) large rocks. It's a good thing that I am not as claustrophobic as I think because there were some tight spots. The guide also showed us several caves, but I was too exhausted to go climbing through them. One of my friends did and he had a great time.

I truly miss the mountains in Vermont and in Poland. Although I am no means an outdoorsy as I like to believe, it's still nice to spend time in the wilderness. Makes you grateful to live underneath a warm shelter.

A week since my experience in Putney ended...What have I done since? Basically being lazy, catching up on reading, having friends over for a visit, trying to prepare myself for grad. school and moving to Vermont, watching TV, trying to send last minute documents...while at the same time worrying about everything! I don't know if I will ever be calm. I should try to relax as much as possible. Over the next few months, I will be working non-stop.

Last full day in Putney today...I feel relieved, yet sad at the same time. I was almost in tears several times, saying goodbye to my beloved PIE students. However, goodbyes are a part of life, and everyone needs to move on. I already packed my bags and in a couple of minutes will be heading out to dinner. Tomorrow, I will be heading home, stopping along the way. There, I will see my beloved family and friends, as well as dealing with things that needs to be accomplished before moving back to Vermont in September. Sigh....So much to do, yet so little time.