atl (that means "atlanta")

I have made it safe and sound to Atlanta, the city of...rap? the place where winter is an idea? I slept during most of my flights and watched Gilmore Girls during the rest. I am staying in Brookhaven (isn't that a nice name?) with a girl named Melissa. She and her roommate live in a really swanky apartment, but, apparently, they have had security issues. There's a low-income housing project somewhere behind the apartment complex (I don't know where, b/c everything around here looks nice. I wonder how it would make me feel to live in a low-income housing project in the middle of all this other wealth...) But the apartments are brand new with washer and dryer and really nice appliances. I am really jealous of their kitchen with the stainless steel refrigerator, microwave, and oven, and they have one of those islands that can be so handy. :) Both Melissa and her roommate are from Texas, and, boy, are they proud of it! They have signs up like "We speak Texan" and "truckin' for Texas". It's funny. So far, the only music I have heard from Melissa's computer is country songs that promote Texas. ;) I have my own room and bathroom, b/c Melissa's roommate is in Prague this week... Yes, my dear, I think I'll just take a quick trip to Prague for the week. Would you like me to bring anything back for you? ...

Melissa is part of Teach for America, and she's been teaching a 4th grade, inner city class since August. She said that she wanted a challenge, and that this experience has really opened her eyes to the poor, African American culture. She didn't study to be a teacher, and she's leaving after this year, but she wants to go back to Texas and promote this kind of work. She told me that most of the other teachers who are there aren't really effective. They grew up in this system, and so they speak on the same level as the kids (incorrect grammar, yelling, etc.). Melissa is the only white teacher there.

The weather in Atlanta is really nice. It's, like, 70 and sunny. We went to Kroger's to get some food. Later tonight, I'm going to go NorthPoint Church at Buckhead. It's supposed to be a good church. Both of the people that I'm in contact with from Portfolio Center go there, and, it turns out, that Melissa goes there sometimes, too. I don't know if I'm going to try the public transportation or if Melissa will take me. I rode the MARTA from the airport to the closest station. It was nice, actually. I got a small view of the city. It's quite spread out, and the public transportation isn't that great. I'm not sure how I'm going to get to the Portfolio Center tomorrow, b/c a bus doesn't really go there.

Well, Melissa just left to go for a run in Piedmont Park (I'm going to have to check that place out tomorrow), so I guess I'm going to go to church on my own.

I'm in the Eastern time zone here, so keep that in mind if you call me!

Tomorrow at 10 is my appointment at PC. Other than me asking my questions, I'm not really sure what's going to happen. Keep that in your prayers, please.