Rose Colored Glasses?

I'm wondering if I'm just seeing the world through rose colored glasses, or if everything is legitimately better in Providence since I left it for France.  While we were across the Atlantic we were saying, 'The girls here are killing the girls from home,' but it appears the girls here haven't been killed, they are actually putting up a decent fight.  Campus looks vibrant and revamped; paths that had been seemingly forever under construction are now conveniently operational and the mailroom has moved to a spacious, air-conditioned place up the street.  Even random occurrences are happening in my favor.  Yesterday I was walking down the street when I was stopped and asked, "Want to be on TV?"  I revel in being interviewed so I excitedly accepted, slouched down to fit in the view of the camera and delivered a fun little interview.  One sure difference is that fewer people here smoke, and because I am not a second-hand smoke fanatic, that is a plus for me.  Glasses or no glasses, I like what I see.