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Thunderstorms
Aug. 23rd, 2008 04:35 pmToday I went out to campus to try to figure out where all my classes are, but discovered I can't get into any of the buildings, which was a bummer. However, having gone out to campus, I decided to explore 4th Ave., the sort of seedier Harvard Square-esque place nearish to campus. There were a lot of tye-dye and hemp shops that advertised their "daily discount item", as well as lots of souvenir boutiques selling Mexicana and Native American crafts. I almost bought a plant-your-own-cactus kit from a seasoned old man, but managed to stop myself. Maybe later.
While walking along the avenue, I saw a man sitting on the sidewalk with his back propped against the wall of a store. He seemed to be sleeping, and was definitely still breathing, and as I walked by I couldn't seem to get his image out of my head. Finally, I stopped into a little snack shop along the strip and bought two bottles of water and brought one back to him, but he had slumped such that he was laying down in a sort of awkward position, but still breathing. I yelled a couple times at him to see if he would wake up, but I couldn't seem to wake him. I left the bottle of water close to his head, so I hope that he wakes up and finds it. I probably should have shaken or kicked him or something, but I found myself too scared. I feel kind of badly, but I couldn't seem to make myself do anything else. I was pretty stunned at how everyone else seemed to ignore him, but at least he wasn't dead, so I hope that he's alright.
Right now, back in my room, there seems to be the first signs of foul weather since I arrived almost a week ago. The sky is coated with dark clouds and palm fronds in the courtyard are being blown completely sideways by gusting winds. As I was biking back from 4th, I could see the mountains to the distant north shrouded in dark clouds, with tiny tendrils of distant lightning lacing out to lick the darkened cliffs.
Now it's actually raining, and even though it's coming down pretty insistently, it's not the unforgiving torrents of back home. The raindrops seem almost gentle, cold and mild and floating on the warm wind. From my place in the valley and on the second floor walkway, I can see for miles--surveying both the areas under the same rainfall and those distantly sunny where the storm has already passed.
It's already letting up, and the rain feels refreshing, rather than tiresome. This is the first time in a long time that rain has failed to bum me out.
I'm actually pretty ready for classes to begin.
While walking along the avenue, I saw a man sitting on the sidewalk with his back propped against the wall of a store. He seemed to be sleeping, and was definitely still breathing, and as I walked by I couldn't seem to get his image out of my head. Finally, I stopped into a little snack shop along the strip and bought two bottles of water and brought one back to him, but he had slumped such that he was laying down in a sort of awkward position, but still breathing. I yelled a couple times at him to see if he would wake up, but I couldn't seem to wake him. I left the bottle of water close to his head, so I hope that he wakes up and finds it. I probably should have shaken or kicked him or something, but I found myself too scared. I feel kind of badly, but I couldn't seem to make myself do anything else. I was pretty stunned at how everyone else seemed to ignore him, but at least he wasn't dead, so I hope that he's alright.
Right now, back in my room, there seems to be the first signs of foul weather since I arrived almost a week ago. The sky is coated with dark clouds and palm fronds in the courtyard are being blown completely sideways by gusting winds. As I was biking back from 4th, I could see the mountains to the distant north shrouded in dark clouds, with tiny tendrils of distant lightning lacing out to lick the darkened cliffs.
Now it's actually raining, and even though it's coming down pretty insistently, it's not the unforgiving torrents of back home. The raindrops seem almost gentle, cold and mild and floating on the warm wind. From my place in the valley and on the second floor walkway, I can see for miles--surveying both the areas under the same rainfall and those distantly sunny where the storm has already passed.
It's already letting up, and the rain feels refreshing, rather than tiresome. This is the first time in a long time that rain has failed to bum me out.
I'm actually pretty ready for classes to begin.
