Recuperating in Boston

Afternoon Tea @ the Taj

The last several months have not been going according to schedule at all. There was supposed to be a light at the end of the tunnel – a blueprint of sorts for the grand escape and so far all I have is disappointment. To make matters worse, the work-place is hmmm. Yeah, hmmm. It used to be that I was content with work. When I came here and begun my thousand days or so count-down, work was the least of my issues. I had often wondered if this was depression and had told myself, no KChie, you are not clinically depressed. But, I would hear of someone taking their own life and think well, that’s one way to go about it. That’s really dreadful. Don’t worry, I’m not that far gone.

I’ve had good days here (mostly in the short summer-time) and have befriended other young single (“ethnic”) lady physicians with tales on par with mine with whom I socialize. Everybody else is too busy with their lives. Yes, I’ve enjoyed the brief moments of escape including the many literary adventures, the discovery of another world, my all time favourite mangoes, an exercise routine, blogging of course, and recently the joy of fine chocolates. But these are just fleeting moments and I have come to the realization that I am unhappy and have begun to seek ways to raise my stock on the happiness scale. 

So there you have it.

This past weekend I went to Boston to visit old haunts and meet up with good friends. I really had a good time seriously discussing life and what it means and eating good food. I did come back refreshed and motivated to not let the little things eat at me. I also regained some strength to keep on taking each disappointment as a door to a fabulous opportunity. I just know that one of these has my name written all over it and I just need to find it.

THIS TOO SHALL PASS!

Immediately upon landing in Boston, I found myself in Harvard Square for the best hot chocolate I’ve had state-side at Burdick. My other favourite hot chocolate is from Quetzal, a chocolate bar in Beligium whose motto is there’s more to life than chocolate but not right now. The Square is so different now from when I was there for college but Cardullo’s, a gourmet shop is still there. I remember when I first entered that store sometime in my sophomore year and saw all that imported chocolate and biscuits from my childhood. Heaven! The Square holds so many special memories for me including the celebratory crowd on November 4th 2008 when Barack Hussein Obama won the presidential election. Memories!

I met up with friends (and a relative) at various stages on the road to becoming a physician – 3rd year pre-medical undergraduate, 3rd year medical student, 4th year medical student just about to match – and thought about all the hope and aspiration I had at those stages.

I enjoyed a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts of which I used to be a member. I’m yet to see everything, that’s how fabulous the museum is.

I had sushi at JP Seafood Cafe in Jamaica Plains (JP) which for the longest time when I lived in the area I thought was a seafood grocery. Shame on me. I was not disappointed however it is no Fugakyu, a pretentious spot in Brookline with prices twice as much but for good sushi.

Also, in JP was a new Ethiopian restaurant, Blue Nile, that I had to sample and so I did. See, I’ve eaten at Asmara in Central Square (a favourite back in college but is actually Eritrean), Addis Red Sea in the South End (another college era hangout),  Fasika at it’s current Somerville location and also when it was on South Huntington Street, and Habesha in Malden.

The aftermath at Derna’s

I strolled around Roslindale and had a unique breakfast experience at
Derna’s. Unique because I felt I had been transported to the 1950s what
with the U shaped bright red counter AND I felt like I had left the US
as the owner, cook, and server (all rolled up in one body) was an old
Greek man and the patrons were most likely also Greek men who probably
came here every morning…and hung around till closing. This is not a
place you go to if you are in a hurry. I found myself strolling into the
Boston Cheese Cellar for a look-around and walking out with various chocolates.

I treated a friend to Afternoon Tea at the French Room at the Taj, the previously known Ritz-Carlton, the prestigious classic Boston hotel at the corner of Newbury and Arlington overlooking the Public Garden.

Afternoon Tea is an exquisite experience I have had on too numerous an occasion here at the French Room (Taj) as well as at Upstairs on the Square, The BOND Restaurant I lounge at the Langham, the Bristol Lounge at the Four Seasons, and the Palm Court at the Omni William Penn Hotel. Yeah, I guess I’ve had quite the Afternoon Tea experience. What can I say? It’s a time for total relaxation….and an extra special event if it is done around Easter or Christmas or when it’s blistering cold outside.

Last but not least I attended a concert at Johnny D’s in Somerville by the Duppy Conquerors, a Bob Marley cover band that performed his entire recording of Live Forever, his last recorded concert. I have a lot of respect for Marley’s political and social activism. It was an enjoyable night, right down to watching the man whose soul was very obviously touched by the music. But who could blame him. Paraphrasing the Jamaican Prime Minister who delivered a eulogy at Marley’s state funeral:

But, in a painful reminder of what city living is like, we drove around for about an hour, if not longer trying to find parking. Oh vey!