So I realized something yesterday as I was trying to navigate around this city and get comfortable here. I’m am having a bit of culture shock. When I moved to Austin 4 years ago it was the first time I had ever lived outside of Michigan. I thought I was moving to the big city! Turns out Austin isn’t all that big city. Sure there are way too many people for such a small place but overall it has a nice mix of downtown and neighborhoods and for the most part they don’t mix too much. I lived in a neighborhood in Austin and it was quiet and I felt very comfortable indeed. I was surrounded by houses as I took my daily walk to the post office. It’s a totally different story here.

This is a big city. I have never lived in a big city. We are surrounded by noise and surrounded by apartment complex after apartment complex, there are so many people, tons of restaurants and little shops on every corner, buses all the time, construction, there is a lot going on. This would be a shock if I had come right from Austin but as we all know I moved here after getting comfortable again in rural Michigan. Basically it’s going to take some time. Bear with me.

There are some things that I found that are helping quite a bit though. The other day I met Walker downtown and he showed me my first peak at Mt. Rainier. On our walk home he took me to this little market with the cutest shops and I bought some of my favorite cheese. The library is about a block from your place and I’ve really stocked up on books and movies. Also for the time being I’m using their internet. We have also been cooking quite a bit which has been fun. We both choose a meal and then we both cook it and we’re set for a couple of days for lunch and dinner.

I’m still working on getting a daily routine which I imagine will be easier when we get internet in our apartment. It sure it nice sitting in the fresh air and using the librarie’s wifi. I can’t complain too much.