The newness of Nieman…

And so it begins…

All the prep, anticipation and send-offs have culminated to the first day of the Nieman Fellowship at Harvard. It’s all a bit overwhelming, but Fellows and significant others feel the same, so great minds and all.

My search history already includes: What is Boom Boom Sauce? What is comeback sauce? What is a lassi drink? And what does Walpole Double Chocolate ice cream look and taste like?

I’ve already gotten two great recommendations for ice cream: Toscanini’s Ice Cream and Honeycomb Creamery. (Thanks Ann Marie Lipinski! Hitting that this weekend, if possible.) And thanks to Blair Kamin for the ice cream endowment for fellows. It was a delicious surprise to round out the first day’s festivities of getting to know one another.

And I’ve learned that Bostonians refer to the water fountain as the “bubbler.”

In just five days time, I’ve already hit more steps sans car than I’ve done in the past month with a car and I didn’t pass out! My brother Marshaun, the personal trainer, is in my head saying “tighten your core” as you walk the cobblestone streets of Cambridge.

Mix in reruns of “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Degrassi Junior High” and other ’80s and ’90s pop culture TV in between getting acclimated and I’d say the adventure is off to a great start. How could it not be when my 8-year-old nephew wrote an entire illustrated story for me to take with me on the Nieman journey so I don’t get homesick, titled “The Mighty Heroes” and yes, I am the character with the rocket boots! He also knows Rocket Raccoon is my spirit animal, so he sent me off with the toy to hold on to in his absence. And his brother provided me abstract art to color my new digs.

This is why I can do this…my village of supporters, friends and family are taking this journey with me in spirit. And because of that, I want to say I love you, you’re always welcome and I’ll be back.  In the meantime,  I will fill you in on my Cambridge adventures on this blog.

–Her Rockettship