a visit from riaan

The past week we have had the opportunity to host a young man from South Africa by the name of Riaan ("Ree-ahn"), who is here to look at some of our fine schools for a PhD in physics. This is his first time to the US, so we have enjoyed seeing the US through the eyes of a visitor. Among the many firsts that he's experienced is a train ride, a subway ride, Starbucks coffee, Alaskan mooseburgers and SNOW! More on that in our next blog...

Riley has been recovering from the flu so it took him a few days to begin warming up to our guest, but now they're playmates:




























Since it was Jonathan's mom's birthday on Saturday, we drove down to Connecticut and I took Riaan to New York so he could experience The City while he was here. We had a full and fun 10 hrs there, seeing Times Sq, Columbia University, the Museum of Natural History & the Empire State Building.

Eating New England Clam Chowder at Grand Central (he liked it!):














Riaan's first cup on Starbucks, taken on 42nd St. (not too keen on it):














After seeing NYC, Columbia has now moved to the top of the wish list:














Riaan will be with us for the remainder of the week and then we have to let him go home. We've enjoyed getting to know him and we hope to see him again in the fall!

Shelby