I'm typing this (and will publish it) on my laptop. Finally, my system is wirelessly networked. It took almost a year because of many various issues. It's been quite frustrating, but it is at last complete.
This also marks 1 year that I've been in my apartment. The place is coming together quite nicely. I have a number of great pictures on the walls (some from friends, some that I took, a few that I bought). I got almost all the light fixtures up soon after I moved in, but Angel has a fondness for lamps so I've been adding some lamps tot he rooms as well. It's nice to have the option for the bright lighting, or the "warm" lighting that the lamps provide.
We took a trip to Italy last weekend (for 4 days). It was a great time, I plan on trying to get pics up soon. We went to Turin, Pisa, spent a couple days in San Gimignano (in Tuscany), and Sienne. San Gimignano was great, I highly recommend it if you spend time in Tuscany. The views were amazing, the weather was perfect, the food and wine were out of this world.
So, now that I've been here for 1 year I'd like to answer some of the wuestions people have been asking me.
1) What do I miss the most? Friends and family are number 1, but at times there are a number of other things. Specific foods (like bar-b-q), customer service, or just not having to work so hard to understand people.
2) What has been the biggest surprise? Probably having to get a driver's license, and the difficulty that comes with it. I passed the written test (bucking the trend and using my own pantented method). But I still need tot ake the driving part. I still have about a month, and I should be taken the driving part the week after next.
3) What has been the best thing about moving? Probably just the fact that I am so close to so much. Going to Geneva, Marseille, or into Italy for a day is pretty nice. Having so much so easily accessible is great, it's probably what I'll miss the most when I leave.
4) What has been the most disappointing thing? Maybe the lack of music. There are a couple of music festivals near here, but there is very little live music most of the rest of the year. Roughly half of the music on the radio is american or brittish.
5) What is the biggest cultural difference? Well, this probably isn't the biggest cultural difference, but it's the one that stands out the most. If you don't eat lunch or dinner at the approximate "normal" times you're pretty much out of luck cause everything is closed. Almomst nothing is open during the weeknds (all stores, not just restaraunts). This all goes in hand with the general lack of customer service.
Well, that's it for today, maybe I'll list the next 5 next time.
Posted by Brian at April 25, 2004 03:30 PM