Pittsburgh!

Ahhhh, I am in beautiful Pittsburgh for recruiting. It's my first time back since graduation, and I immediately had a rush of nostalgia when I left the airport. Everything has memories - the drive from the airport, which I made many times with various friends or at-the-time boyfriends; Station Square, which was reserved for the "fancier" nights out; Oakland, where I spent so many nights eating half price food and drinking too many Mad Mex margaritas; apartment buildings where exes and friends lived; and of course, CMU's campus, where I lived for 3.5 of my 4 years in college, and where I spent probably 95% of my time during school. Despite the nostalgia, I wouldn't go back - I was miserable, trying to cram a CS degree into an amount of time that it shouldn't fit into, spending my "free" time stressing about work I should be doing. But it's still a very weird feeling, being back at this place I haven't seen since it was my entire life.

Memories aside, I still feel a very strong pull from Pittsburgh, something I didn't realize still existed. I thought I was getting used to California's perpetual spring weather (FUN FACT: spring is my least favorite season), but being here where there is real fall is breaking my heart, because I know I have to leave tomorrow. I think I lied to myself, tried to convince myself that I don't really need fall or winter, but being surrounded by the beautiful changing leaves and a cold breeze just makes me feel so at home, like I'm finally back in my element. To quote my favorite RSAD article (yes I have a favorite RSAD article, shush):

Now, though, things are very different - the world so beautiful it takes your breath away. Leaves falling from the trees, puddles as permanent fixtures, fresh chilly mornings, faceslapping breezes, lots of excuses to wear coats, boots, plum-red scarves; everything, in fact, a good old-fashioned girl like me could want from a season.

I don't know if I can do this California thing forever. But for now, I'm going to stick it out and see how I feel in a few years. And hopefully get Google to send me to cooler climates as much as possible :)