Austin

Within one week of landing in the Lone Star State, I was given a place to live, a job and had met several new friends. The city is amazing. As you enter south Austin, you are met with an intertwining of roads and what Texans would consider traffic. I smiled at the memory of all the traffic I would no longer have to endure back in California. Each street through the downtown is alive at any moment of the day. 6th Avenue, which could be described as similar to downtown San Jose, contains all of the hip places for the eclectic group of "Austinites" to spend their weekend evenings. From Argentinian to modern to street, everyone can find their flavor, and even have a different taste each visit.

As you make your way north, you first come across the entrance to the "rich" section. This is an area by the greenbelt that is home to the head of Microsoft and various other wealthy individuals. The homes here are worth millions and the trees cascaded the day I got to see it through a light fog. The leaves were in full fall color and had an ethereal, dreamlike feel. As we weaved through the glow of diffused sunlight, we came across the Colorado River and there was a canoer making his way through the seemingly still water. I felt transported to New England and could have cried it was so serene.

Further north still is the suburbs. The area opens up to different neighborhoods all teaming with families, brick facades and garages big enough to actually fit each inhabitants mode of transportation. In other states, the 'burbs are at least a half an hour from the city and show you nothing but soccer fields and Carter's outlets. For Austin, the home of self-proclaimed weirdness, the suburbs are but moments from downtown and advertise change and green living.

Being a resident in a city that boasts it's individuality and uniqueness fits me like a glove. Of all the roads I have traveled and all the sights I have seen, I am most surprised by seeing myself really fall for one place, one location, one area of the world. I have always fantasized about most cities I visit...seeing myself sitting at a cafe or reading in a bookstore or driving along a road. Reality, I am finding, beats fantasy. I finally feel home. I finally feel like I want to invest my energy into something. I finally feel like my life has a direction.

I couldn't have found my new life without an incredible dose of optimism amongst some of life's toughest tests. I am going to offer a dose of optimism each day. I anticipate no one wanting to read it but myself, and that's fine. But if you do, then I hope it makes you smile :)