Boston on Sunday, Aug 23, 2015
Ok, this is my 5th day on Boston. so many mixed feelings. I know I should feel happy and grateful but please forgive me God, I'm stress out and I'm kinda hopeless not to mention that I feel teary all around.
However lets move on to the
lesson learned I got while I'm moving here as a graduate student without none to depend on and limited money
1.
The Power of Google Maps
Yeah, lets start with the positive one first - even tough I admit that I did write no 2 first.. haha. Well before arrived, make sure you have your smart phone with you and dont forget to activate the international data roaming (at least for 1-2 day after arrival) this is to ensure you can taste the magic and how high-tech it is. Thanks so much for creating google maps. You can easily go anywhere, it already suggest you direction and the methods (walk/car/bus) incl time arrival time. Subhanallah.. how I love google maps. Keep up the good jobs google!
2.
Finding temporary place to stay
Do not ever, I repeat
DO NOT EVER rent airbnb apartment if you need some privacy and you want some quiet place. Airbnb private room is not the suitable place. People here are love to talk out loud, play the TV/movies on high speaker volume, and invited guests for party even tough you're here renting the room. Well perhaps because of the cultural difference. But well, where's on earth the courtesy/respect to your guests?
If you're alone or with your friends. better and cheaper to find youth hostels (HI Boston) but if you're bringing your parents just find a hotel. You'll find apt in any way, don't worry. Or if you like Airbnb so much and want to try, just find the whole apt, not the shared room/private room.
And the other thing that is s*ck is the strict cancellation policy, you cant get any refund from any nights you dont spend. See? Hotel is much much worthy than renting a room in Airbnb.
3.
The cost of having back up plan and inappropriate choices
In general cases, I guess it's always wise to have a backup plan. Well that's really true, but this time my back up plan cost me lot more than it should be. In the mid of limited money, time, and energy -again- I made this plan of renting 2 weeks of airbnb private room in 2 different places. Why 2 different places? partly because the first place is already full for the 2nd week and ofc because i was late to book the room *__*. So, why it's inappropriate choices and why it costs me lot more than it should be? The answer is, if everything goes well, AAMIIN, I might have found apt to stay and will be able to move asap. Then I don't have to fill the Airbnb that I already rent (actually very happy with it, i just dont want to move to another airbnb room).
4.
Jet lag
Well lastly, I should admit that I'm having a jet lag. 11 hours differences yeah. I didn't realized until yesterday. So im having this symptoms of early night sleeping (which not me at all, at 7 pm EST I'm already very sleepy and then have a long night sleep) and early wakes up (which is ofc not me also, i already wake up around 5am EST) haha. now on my 5th day I'm trying my best to adapt with this hours. Sleep when everyone sleeps and wake up when everyone does. I'll put some of the tips i found on how to recover from jet lag on another post.
5.
Moving cost
For God Sake, everything in here is so expensive. I mean like real expensive. For example moving helpers cost you $99 dollar per hours and min 3 hours?? My God! So my suggestion would be, just buy some new and cheap -big furniture- in IKEA since the delivery cost is very exp from other provider. IKEA provides delivery cost (rightly into your room for only $59 and you can add $89 for assembly cost if you're female like me who cant and doesn't want to know how to assembly bed frame). Other small things you can grab from Free and Sale pages in facebook or Goodwill or other small furniture stores.
Of course there are things that I don't regret:
1.
Arriving early before the school begins
Despite the high price I had to pay because apparently my chosen date was peak date, at least one thing for sure, arrived early (1 week before the school begins) is perfect. Primarily because of the jet lag, like hey, I'm already 5 days being here, but I'm still having one *__*. And you'll never know so many small things eat so many time of yours (like for me immunization and other compliance things that you didn't have time to take care previously because of your day to day job). More importantly, take your time to adapt with your surroundings too. Try the local transportation and understand the map.
Another thing about Boston:
1.
The transportation connection from 1 line to another line is s*ck.
Seriously, I think it's because T in Boston is one of the oldest transportation system in eastern US. that's why it's not very well designed. I mean compare to south korea for example, even tough we need to walk far- but everything is well connected and giving you assurance that you're in the right direction (since every line is well connected).
Conclusion:
1.
Pledge to myself
Let's make sure to become useful and helpful person when there's another Indonesian/people coming to Boston!
