From Mitten to Keystone: I Have Cankles And A Southern Accent.

Just kidding, I don't have a southern accent, but EVERYONE else does. I don’t consider Pennsylvania to be that far south, so I forget they speak differently than I do. Slight culture shock.

I drove down to PA on Monday. About a 9 hour drive gave me awful swollen cankles, one of the reasons I don’t like long car rides. It was weird to leave knowing that I wouldn’t be back for a while, and it still hasn’t really hit me that I’m on my own now. On the way I stopped in Columbus to see the Benedetti family, and I finally met the adorable Luca, their newest addition. I had lunch and Graeter’s ice cream which is so good I can hardly stand it! (Second best ice cream in the country!)

My first night went well, I met my new roommate, Stephanie. She’s doing a two week externship at the equine hospital and will only be here until Saturday. I haven’t been able to see or talk with her much, but she’s short, blonde, cute and goes to Ohio State as an aspiring veterinarian. I guess there’s a 3rd roommate, Eric, who apparently is at his girlfriend's all the time. I’m not sure he even exists.

The weather couldn’t get much better, I hiked in the Laurel Highlands yesterday. They don’t call it the lowlands for good reason! This is no rinky-dink little trail. It’s so steep and root-y and narrow in so many places. I went on the lake trail, so most of the time I was one misstep away from rolling down the hill into the water. After catching up on the show, The Walking Dead, I entertained the thought of what I would do if a herd of zombies were passing through. But I figured I could outrun them since they’d trip on the roots or something. I was sweating, tired and it was so fun!

Otherwise I’ve done boring things, went to the grocery store for food and a toothbrush because I forgot mine. Good job, Rachel. But, I’m alive and well and trying to experience everything that I can!