Well, I finally made it Boston and I can say with all confidence that I think it’s going to be a great place to be.
I arrived last Thursday (Nov 9) with no place to stay and spent the next 48 hours scouring the Harvard Medical School off-campus housing website and craigslist for a place to live. I hadn’t yet figured out all the bus, subway, and shuttle routes so I figured, to play it safe, I had better find a place somewhat close to my new postdoc lab. After dozens of calls, emails, and some frustration, I finally found a nice place to call home. The best part is that it is only a short walk to my new lab in the Longwood Medical area. Mission 1 accomplished (although I have yet to find an equally convenient place to park my car).
Mission 2: Getting settled into the new lab.
Starting in a new lab can yield many great unknowns prior to arriving such as: will the people in lab be immediately friendly to a new member, will I get to work on a project tied to my interests, how does the PI interact with the lab members, etc. Luckily for me, I did my research when looking for a lab to do my postdoctoral research in, and I chose a lab with, not only a great reputation for research, but also a lab that had a great working environment.
Since I arrived at the lab last Monday (Nov 13), I have been so happy with my decision. The people in the lab have been really great; telling me about their research projects, and some even inviting me to possibly participate in related projects (that is great!). My first meeting with the PI, since starting, was also terrific. He broke down the projects of the lab, the direction the lab was going, and recommended who I should talk with in the lab that may have similar research interests. The new ideas, the new collaborations, the new technologies; it’s really exciting!
Now all I need to know is where the best local pizza place is.
Hey Mike,
Welcome to Boston! Hopefully some veteran Bostonians will post here with recommendations/advice to help you get settled.
I don’t know what the good pizza places are in your neighborhood (I’m a die-hard Cantabrigian) but I can say that if you do find a parking spot, hang on to it! They are rare. Driving in Boston is not always the most practical or quick way of getting around town. And the Green Line is notoriously slow. Do you have a bicycle?
Thanks for the suggestions Corie. Yes, I haven’t used my car since I arrived; it’s quite a nice feeling to have most things within walking distance. I look forward to exploring the town in the upcoming weeks. Thanks again.
Hi Michael,
Just wanted to welcome you to Boston; I’m a fellow blogger now.
As a pizza lover, I just HAD to respond to your request: Upper Crust (they are in Brookline, Boston, and another location or two) is my absolute favorite. Sweet Tomatoes is also great, though they are a bit further away in Newton.
And of course, there is always the North End: Pizzeria Regina has amazing pizza too.