Starting up in North Carolina

Well, I never thought I would end up in North Carolina, but here I am. Cory and I moved here so that I could start start my PhD in coastal & ocean policy at Duke University. We've really been having fun exploring Durham, which is where the main Duke campus is and where I'll spend my first year. It is so green here! We just had a fantastic thunder & lightning storm this morning, which we never got back in California! Also- rent is super cheap here, which is very exciting! I could do without the mosquitos, though. They've been eating me alive.
Right now we're in the lull before the storm, with school starting in just over a week and Cory interviewing for jobs out here. I was a little worried about moving to the south (bible belt and all, eeek!) but luckily this town is pretty liberal (you actually see more anti-war bumper stickers here than pro-war ones). So that's been a relief! I've attached a few photos below of our move and new place.
-N
Above is the little house we're renting here, which actually costs just a little over half of what we were paying for a STUDIO in Los Angeles! I can actually plant vegetables here! yay! :)

We stopped in Colorado on our way across country, and this Columbine flower was growing up at about 11.000 feet elevation in the rockies.

Here I am getting settled on our new (used) super-comfy couch!