My eldest niece is entering graduate school back East in the fall. Since she's spent the last thirteen years in the Midwest, and isn't familiar with Virginia, she was a bit worried about finding adequate housing, etc., before classes start. Well, she has lucked out, all because of her love of animals. She's been pet sitting for the past 6 or 7 years, and included that little fact in her resume. One of the professors in the department (Fine Arts) she'll be a TA in is going to be out of state for the entire summer vacation, and has asked her to house and cat sit from May till September. She just sent me photos of the house - wow! It's a huge house on several acres. Now she has a fabulous place to stay in the company of two lovable cats, pocket money, and time to get acclimated, go apartment hunting, and find a part-time job.
