A truly amazing city

OK.  So now I’ve spent just over 3 weeks here.  It has been really exciting.  I almost feel like a new person.  I’ve been doing a lot of things differently than in times past.

Here is the house I’m living in.  Sorry, the picture is dark.  I decided to update the blog at the spur of the moment, and well, you get what you get.  Anyway, it is a 108 year old house that apparently is modular.  The landlord says it (and the 3 houses nearby) were shipped on on trains and then assembled on site.  Turns out it was also assembled without inuslation.  No minor issue, but at least we don’t live in Minneapolis!

I have also been going to a number of different groups.  If you are new to a city (or if you just want to make friends in your current one) I strongly suggest meetup.com.  I have used that site to meet a lot of new people.  I found Spanish languge groups, professional networking groups, and I’m sort of starting a Korean language group as well.

I am also trying to be more intentional about eating well.  I mean, in my previous life, I was content to just eat chicken nuggets and call it a day.  Or ramen.  On occasion I would get really enthusiastic and make something more special.  I decided it was time to grow up in this area, so I subscribed to a weekly shopping list/recipe website.  I need that because I am so clueless otherwise.

I have joined zipcar.  Read about it.  It is awesome and fun.

A few days down

I’ve been in Portland for 5 days now, and have managed to get a lot accomplished.  I’m pretty sure I’ve found a place to live. You might be able to tell, it is pretty close to the center of town.  Really convienient for school, which starts in the summer.  What reamains to be seen is how conveinient it will be for my job.  That’s because I am still searching for the right one.  Portland is supremely walkable, bikeable, and public transportation usable, so I think I might be able to get by without buying a car…unless I find a job out in the suburbs.

I think I’ve had a cup of coffee every day.  Don’t worry.. they all cost less that $2.

Tomorrow I’m going to sit in on a marketing class at the university.  It’s just a way to stay connected to what’s happening on campus, since my cohort doesn’t start classes until summer.

When it rains…

A change of scenery here because I’m about to have yet another change of scenery in my life.  I’ve developed this habit of moving around a lot.  It’s good, because it means I have gotten rid of A LOT of the junk I had been collecting over the years.  Cleaning out a storage unit you haven’t really opened much in 2 years is really great.  I threw away or donated more than half of that crap.

Anyway, this friday I’m moving to Portland, Oregon.  I should really say I’m starting the process, since a few boxes will remain at my parents’ house in Baltimore.  One day, I’ll have it all…..

I just got back from Central America last Friday and have been spending the past week organizing myself for this next change.  I’m getting really excited about it, and things are falling into place already, from nearly 3,000 miles away.  I have several open doors (to borrow a phase from Sarah Palin) right now for housing, and am beginning to explore what job possibilities there might be.  It is fun to sit back and see what God delivers!