The first couple of months that I lived in Atlanta, I was pretty much alone in the evening during the week after work, lonely and bored. I only knew Joy and Alberto and they lived 20 minutes away in Decatur. They weren't far...but we were all so busy getting used to our work schedules, new schools, work work work...that the weekends were the best times to visit until things calmed down at school.

When I would come home from work in the late afternoon/early evening, I would put on my running shoes and either go for a run or just walk around the neighbourhood.
In order to reach the 'Sandy Springs' neighbourhood, I had to first go OTP.

What does that mean, OTP?...let me explain: going 'Out of the perimeter' refers to the action of leaving the unofficial Atlanta city limits by crossing the highway that encircles the city called the 285...once you cross the 285, you are OTP or OUT OF THE PERIMETER, and on your way to the 'burbs. Most Atlantans highly discourage going OTP.

So, since I lived just inside the perimeter (in my Mexican 'hood, which I loved), I had to cross the 285 on foot into the lovely burby area of Sandy Springs.
The biggest danger was not being hit by an angry commuter arriving home after his 3 hour commute in the worst stop-and-go traffic you can find next to Los Angeles, but rather, the Chick-fil-A that was just down Roswell Road.

I ran almost everyday just so that I could enjoy the happiness that is the Chick-fil-A Chicken sandwich..........HEAVEN. JOY AND ALBERT I AM SO JEALOUS I WILL KILL YOU.

In anycase, I didn't know anyone other than Joy and Alberto, Stacy was still deciding whether or not to trust me enough to become my friend (naturally, I'm a bit scary and overwhelming at first) and Georgia had not yet whirl-winded into my life from the gymnasium (Oh sweet Buckeye Georgia from Ohio, mad love)...so, I walked.

I didn't want to sit in my cute little apartment doing nothing. I mean, I don't mind being alone, in fact I like my alone time, but sitting around is not for me...I am no couch potato...and I don't like working all night long...so, I walked.

What did I do on these walks? I went through stores, parks, by the cinema, to the grocery store, stopped in local bars for impromptu amateur guitar sing-alongs, read in Starbucks... anything...

The weather was great and I needed to be outside roaming around, not stuck in my apartment glued to the tv or looking at the walls (THEN AGAIN, I did have a pool)!!

I remember one of my first runs...I was heading out of my 'gated apartment complex' and just before I reached the gate I saw flashing lights: the police. They were arresting a man who had robbed a local store. Excellent. I felt very safe.

Every now and again I would ask myself...how did I end up here? Ah yes, school- Florida, Optional practical training for one year-Atlanta...I had turned down a position in Brooklynn, New York to be in Atlanta so, Police outside my gate actually wasn't so bad...was it?

I used to love taking the 20 minute drive over to Decatur to see Joy and Alberto. Often times we would sit around and watch tv together, do laundry (yes, sometimes I would bring my laundry all the way to Decatur and do it at Joy and Al's complex) and even stroll around Decatur. I always felt more at home in their home than in my apartment, like I was visiting family in another part of the city.

Now, Atlanta is the biggest city in the dirty south. It is a city mainly of transients. If you want to have a life in Atlanta, you've got to make it so you better get involved in SOMETHING!
I joined the Rotaract club, I found a co-ed soccer team (which led to a co-ed drinking team!), Stacy finally became my friend (my charm won her over hehehe), and I got settled into school and had more time to spend visiting with Joy and Alberto (my main reasons for moving to Atlanta, yes, it's true).

This proved to me that even in a strange transient city like Atlanta, if you are pro-active, you can have a meaningful existence...and a fun time...(if you are reading this and feeling very confused, the only thing I can say is that you have to spend some time in Atlanta to know what I'm talking about).

I remember the first time that Enrico and I spoke about Atlanta. We both commented the same thing...we felt suffocated there...not close enough to the water (in my case, the lake, in his the sea)...it does have the 'hoochee, but it just didn't cut it...regardless, for what it gave me, Atlanta was cool.

Ramble ramble ramble blah blah blah full stop.