Welcome!

Welcome everyone to the 2007 Boston, MA group of NSCS Distinguished Scholar Interns! My name is Stephanie Demarest, and I am the NSCS Program Coordinator living on campus here with the Scholars this summer in Boston. I will be here throughout the summer to help with whatever is needed and plan weekend activities for interns to make sure they get the most out of not only their internship experience, but Boston living experience!

I was a DSP participant last year in the Washington, D.C. program and loved every minute of it. There are a lot of great things planned for this year and I hope that by keeping this blog up-to-date at least once a week you can follow along with all of our adventures this summer!

As you know on June 1st students moved into their dorm. I think many would agree it's not the typical "dorm environment". We are living in an old house with 3-4 rooms on each floor and a bathroom on each floor. In the basement of one side of the house is a lounge area with a tv and some comfy furniture as well as a laundry room. In the other side there is a very large kitchen area that students may use if they wish to cook any meals. I am posting some photos below of the place. (Note that you can click on a photo to see it bigger)



^^^The front of our "House"^^^



^^^Front Door^^^


^^^Main Staircase^^^


^^^Main Lounge / Front Room^^^


^^^Staircase from above^^^


^^^TV/Lounge area in the basement^^^


^^^Laundry Room^^^


^^^Kitchen ^^^
After students got settled in, the majority of the group met for an optional group dinner. We ventured out on the "T" (the subway) and went to the Quincy Market area. There is a hall of about anything you could possibly want to eat from seafood to Italian to Greek to standard America hot dogs....and of course ice cream! There is also a lot of shopping in the area that we were able to explore. I think most will agree that they will be back to this place to check out more soon! Below are a few photos of dinner, the Quincy Market area, and students on the T (and for many, their first time riding this sort of public transportation!).

^^^On the "T"^^^

^^^Dinner together^^^

^^^Street Performer^^^ .................. ^^^The City^^^


All in all, it was a great first day here and students getting settled. A couple of students were even lucky enough to get their hands on some Red Sox vs. Yankee tickets for tonights game! I haven't heard any massive roars or noise moving down the street post-game yet so it must not be over

Saturday many of the interns ventured to the massive grocery store with me for some groceries. We learned that even when two cabs leave the store at the same time and are heading the same place...doesn't mean the cab fare will be even close to similar! Ha! Many of us bought lots of groceries and supplies and split the cost of a couple cabs. My group paid $7.10, the other group paid over $15!!! CrAzY! That's what happens when drivers get to go their way (the long way) and not the way you want them to I guess? After shopping many of us gathered for some entertaining lunch conversations in the kitchen and we proved just how resourceful college students are! There was spaghetti made in a frying pan (no one had a pot), and pizza skillfully pulled from the oven using a napkin for pot holders.

^^^The pizza masters^^^


^^^I had to break the spaghetti for her. (I'm in the red)^^^


^^^After all that hard work

Well, that brings the time to an end so far...please check this site regularly for more updates!!

Until next time...


Stephanie