Six Months in Massachusetts
I am writing this on the Orange Line heading to class. At the Downtown Crossing stop, it hit me that I have been here for six months. I arrived on September 7, 2025, and I am writing this on March 9, 2026.
I am picking this back up on Mar. 20, 2026 at 1:42 AM.
What can I say about my first six months (and some change) in Boston? There’s a lot to say, yet not very much.
I want to start by saying that I have been enjoying my time here. I’ve come into contact with wonderful people, from insanely intelligent classmates to the sweet young ladies I met at a church event upon my arrival. Exploring beyond one’s own comfort is a critical part of our journey through life.
With that being said, there is always (or at least almost always) another side to the coin. Another end of the spectrum. And an additional point of view. My first six months here have been a bit overstimulating. I grew up in Foxworth. If you know anything about that quaint town, there isn’t much that goes on. Everyone knows each other. People take one glance at you and know who your family is. You’re more than likely to see the same person at the gas station a couple of times a week.
Furthermore, it is quiet. The sound of birds chirping, dogs barking and the faint sound of someone blasting music up the road is the most excitement you’ll hear.
However, Boston is different. There are so many sirens, nearly daily. The subways and trains are loud. Maybe to some, that’s a given, but to me? It is still incredibly shocking. Escalator sounds at stations. The background noise of people chatting suddenly becomes foreground noise. Before you know it, you are standing in the midst of a station while people walk and talk all around you. No one misses a single beat. For a southern girl like me, moments like these feel cinematic.
Picking this up, yet again, at 3:13 AM on Mar. 21, 2026.
Boston is far louder than the most rowdy city in Mississippi. I love it here, but I find myself missing the stillness of the Deep South.
So, where does this leave me? In the midst of the noise and rapidity of a new city, this experience has been incredible. And a constant reminder of how special of a place Mississippi truly is.
Putting this down now at 3:36 AM, Mar. 21, 2026.
