Ella Baker House

Well, I've failed at blogging.  Things have settled down a bit in terms of my schedule and we also got internet at home, so I think I will begin posting more regularly.  I think I will start with the basics and work my way out in terms of giving you all a good view of my life here...so, first, the house I'm living in.

There are six of us total, half are from the Midwest, two are from the West Coast, and one is from the East Coast.  We're all living together in a house in Oakland.

Me, Lindsey, Grace, Victoria, Emily, and Molly

The house is called Ella Baker House, after the civil rights activist.  We are near Lake Merritt, and the neighborhood is great-- lots of shops and restaurants nearby.

Lake Merritt

The house is beautiful-- lots of communal space and rooms with big windows.  I am rooming with Emily (she went to Luther College...note the bedspread), and we get the room right off the kitchen, with windows on three walls.

My room!

I am a fan.

All that's missing are my discs on the wall

My side of the room, looking the other way

Here are some other pictures of the house:

Living room looking out into the dining room

The living room

The dining room

Victoria in the kitchen

Our fridge.  Ella Baker is on the top left.

Yeah, our house is sweet.  We also have great landladies who live beneath us and we get internet and laundry from them.  It's all very convenient.  Plus they have an adorable two-year old son.

Since we've been here for a little over two weeks, we've established a cooking and chore schedule, which begins in earnest this week.  So far I have learned to make tortillas...they're easy and delicious and serves as a base for most of the food I eat.

Tortilla-making machine

We've all also started working at our placements...there's so much more to cover, but I will get to it in upcoming entries.  Labor Day Weekend was a nice break to get caught up on things, including this blog.  More later, I promise!