June 
17 2015
I have been in New Jersey for four days now. It’s hard to formulate words for how I feel. I had to drop Ed off at the airport this morning so I am officially taking on this city alone. I feel like I cheated a bit having him here. It’s always easier to have someone that loves you close by and I didn’t want to take any shortcuts in having this experience. But here I am 2,000 miles from New Mexico, without Eddie and I haven’t perished. My little heart knows I will miss him, heavy, soon, but everything is still so new my feels haven’t settled yet. When they do I’ll feel less me without him here.
The buildings are so tall, the cars on the road drive very aggressively and pedestrians do not give one single cuss about crosswalks. Literally all humans just go for it, regardless of the color of traffic light or how close the nearest crosswalk is to them; It is a total rat race out there. But everything feels beautiful. Strange, but beautiful. The people are different, I’m not sure how to describe it, but different. Perhaps more risky yet more vigilant, more poor yet much more rich.
Strangers here still seem strange.
Superficially the city seems old, run-down and definitely crime-ridden, but there’s something about it. It has heart. One hell of a strong, beating, hopeful, heavy heart. A lively pulse that seems to invigorate the residents and fill the homes and buildings to the brim. To describe this city as hopeless or full of despair or completely run-down would be a lie, which is honestly what I expected to unveil.
I was very sick today and ended up totally missing the first day of Induction but I feel better and plan to participate in everything tomorrow. We will be taking buses to Camden and actually ‘working in the community’… I’m unsure what that entails but that is the description on our schedules.
I love my roommate. Her name is Henrietta and she is from New Jersey and is going to teach in Camden, 3rd grade. She appreciates my enthusiasm and I appreciate her genuineness. I would love it if we roomed together again at Institute, but TFA is all about mixing it up so I doubt we will be.
I’ve told everyone so far that I love New Jersey…
But the thing is I know I will be living here the next two years for sure… so I’m not sure if I am so in love with it as I am relieved that nothing terrible has happened to make me hate it.
This Newly New Jersey gal is going to hit the hay. Thank you Rutgers-Newark for the most comfortable dorm room, cardboard bed hay ever.
All Things Jenna 