This one is of Ali, someone I left in poughkeepsie, someone i miss a whole lot already, hopefully she'll come visit sometime, but until then, random AIM messages are going to have to do.

Alright, so i'm in here in Richmond. Moving in was a nightmare. As soon as i walked into my my apartment I was faced with a pile of rubble and a large hole in the ceiling. How disconcerting... but that was cleaned up and hopefully the whole will be fixed soon enough. I have a very limited amount of furniture, although the essentials are all here. Places to sit, sleep, read, that's all i really need for now. I figured out most of the essential store locations without getting too lost. I even managed to get my car inspected and registered which was something i thought would take time and endless pain. Things really are working out for the best, even though i'm in low spirits right now. It's only because i don't know anyone. That's the hardest part after getting so used to a college environment always surrounded by friends. When that's suddenly gone and you're forced to live alone for a little while it's a little depressing. But i'm trying to make the best of it and figure out a game plan to meet some people. Of course i can't really think of anything except going out to a bar and chatting up an attractive girl, which i would love to do, but i think i'm going to just hang out until i have to start work. I want that to be my main focus right now so things go smoothly. I really have high hopes for this job and so far things are looking good. It's just that first stressful day filled with first impressions and worries and judgments, it's going to be harsh. I can only imagine what is in store for monday. All i can do is make sure i look good and show up with some imaginary confidence.
Being in Virginia is such an odd experience. People act so differently here as opposed to the new jersey new york area. People seem nicer at first, but i'm not quite sure if it's actual kindness or just habitual reactions. For example, it's common in new jersey to ask a passer-by "how's it goin?" but you rarely expect a response other than the exact question back. Here when you say it every responds "good, and how are you?" actually provoking a conversation. It's startling, and hopefully i don't come off as incredibly rude when i expose my northern curtness. Another thing i've noticed is the common reference to God, like "God bless you son" or "have a blessed day." Not being very religious i would feel wrong saying something like that in return which provides another culture gap that people might misinterpret.
The racial divide here is something else worth noting. Even though there is a much higher population of black people there is just as much social segregation between blacks and whites. It's as if a lot of the time i'll see a white person be cordial to a black person but in a different way than kindness. It almost seems condescending in nature as if it's a given truth that a white person is simply higher up on the social status ladder. Hopefully i'm jumping to a false conclusion because i haven't been here that long, although things definitely seem a little out-dated for me.
In my immediate area there definitely a lot of forward thinking people. I really would like to meet some of them, it's just having the guts to just go up to someone and introduce myself is going to be difficult. That is the goal though. I really have to get a group of people around so i have some companionship and something fun to do on the weekends.