A few days ago Jon and I were talking about me needing a GPS. He was for it, I am against. My argument is that I have gone through 10+ years of driving without ever using one (the few times in Switzerland don't count--> not my car, and the road signs are in German). Any time I've needed directions I simply ask, look them up on Google Maps/Mapquest, or even {gasp!} use an actual map. I'm pretty committed to these methods.
Of course as my life would have it, the very next day I had an interview at a fancy schmancy prep school. I did what I always do and got my directions off Google Maps and headed out in my cute teacher outfit feeling fairly confident. And then I got lost. But luckily I was able to find my way after only a few short minutes! And then I got lost again. Well, I guess not "lost", I mean I knew where I ended up--> on the 10-mile bridge to St. Petersburg. That's right, bridge. As in no exits or U-turns.
When I finally arrived on the other side I did a quick turn-around and sped back to Tampa. By this point I am in a near panic that I'm going to be late for this interview. I guess the stress about being late, my cursing the Google Maps directions, and karma for cutting someone off all combined to teach me a lesson because just as I started to find my way again... Oh yes, I got lost a third time. Now I found myself at the airport. The airport! Where you can't go faster than 30 and you have to circle around the entire thing to find the exit.
Long story short, I called the school and explained my situation and was asked to call again after the holidays to reschedule. I headed home totally defeated with the GPS conversation running through my head. Irony at its best.
I never found the school.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Appreciation Day
Reading my last entry about grocery stores and how ridiculously overstocked they are, I thought I sounded a bit anti-America :( So I would like to clear the air and dedicate this post to the US and the reasons I love living here.
In no particular order...
-Grocery stores! Now that I'm getting used to them again I appreciate having so many choices and opportunities to find exactly what I'm looking for. Why settle for "extra butter" popcorn when I can have "movie-theater butter" popcorn?
-Doggie bags/boxes. The portions here are considerably larger, but even in Europe I sometimes had trouble finishing my meal. It's nice being able to take the left-overs home with me, even if I do accidentally end up leaving the box at the table or never touching it again once it's in my fridge (I have a tendency to do both... I'd say 90% of the time).
-Store hours. OK, if I had put everything in order this would most likely be #1. This is definitely something I took for granted before my stint in der Schweiz. I can go shopping after 6pm AND on a Sunday?! America really is beautiful.
-Air conditioning! Every building you walk into has central air and is usually set at a reasonable temperature. No more fanning, no more perspiring (doesn't that have such a nicer ring to it over sweating?), no more sleepless nights. Not only is A/C practically nonexistent in Switzerland, but God forbid you open a window to let in a breeze!
*I will admit, however, that I sometimes have trouble breathing now when the air/heat is on. Just have to get used to it is all! And I'll probably end up buying an air filtration system thingamajig.
-Entertainment. There is always something to do, somewhere to go, someone to see. And on the rare occasion that there isn't, well there's always something on TV!
That's enough for the list for now. I think it also goes without saying that my friends and family are the numero uno/zahl ein/number one reason I'm happy to be back in the Land of the Free. But I still love Switzerland! Both countries have their pros and cons and I wish I could combine the positives and create my perfect place to live in. For now I will just continue to be thankful for having the opportunity to experience both countries :)
In no particular order...
-Grocery stores! Now that I'm getting used to them again I appreciate having so many choices and opportunities to find exactly what I'm looking for. Why settle for "extra butter" popcorn when I can have "movie-theater butter" popcorn?
-Doggie bags/boxes. The portions here are considerably larger, but even in Europe I sometimes had trouble finishing my meal. It's nice being able to take the left-overs home with me, even if I do accidentally end up leaving the box at the table or never touching it again once it's in my fridge (I have a tendency to do both... I'd say 90% of the time).
-Store hours. OK, if I had put everything in order this would most likely be #1. This is definitely something I took for granted before my stint in der Schweiz. I can go shopping after 6pm AND on a Sunday?! America really is beautiful.
-Air conditioning! Every building you walk into has central air and is usually set at a reasonable temperature. No more fanning, no more perspiring (doesn't that have such a nicer ring to it over sweating?), no more sleepless nights. Not only is A/C practically nonexistent in Switzerland, but God forbid you open a window to let in a breeze!
*I will admit, however, that I sometimes have trouble breathing now when the air/heat is on. Just have to get used to it is all! And I'll probably end up buying an air filtration system thingamajig.
-Entertainment. There is always something to do, somewhere to go, someone to see. And on the rare occasion that there isn't, well there's always something on TV!
That's enough for the list for now. I think it also goes without saying that my friends and family are the numero uno/zahl ein/number one reason I'm happy to be back in the Land of the Free. But I still love Switzerland! Both countries have their pros and cons and I wish I could combine the positives and create my perfect place to live in. For now I will just continue to be thankful for having the opportunity to experience both countries :)
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Supersized
One thing I've noticed and have yet to get used to since I've been back is how incredibly overwhelming grocery stores are. I mean, there are aisles upon aisles of store- and brand-name products. I remember the days when I could be in and out of Publix with an entire weeks' worth of groceries in no time. Now it takes me ages to pick items as I stand and stare at the vast amount of choices.
Do I want regular, low-fat, reduced-fat, fat-free, or light salad dressing? How about regular, double-stuffed, chocolate, mint, or peanut butter Oreos? (Double-stuffed of course, this is only an example). And when you finally do make a flavor/health choice, it takes another 5 minutes to pick a brand. And oh goodness, WHAT SIZE?!
I can't take it, I just can't right now. My first few times shopping I felt completely lost. I literally stood in front of the massive shelves of cereal with my mouth hanging open. I've always been bad at making decisions as it is. How in the world can I do it when I have so many choices? I dread having to go grocery shopping now. Or just shopping in general really (don't even get me started on Walmart!). I'm sure the feeling will pass as I get more accustomed to being back in the land of the supersized, I just find it funny that it never bothered me before. It was just how things are and I guess I didn't know any different.
*One more thing... produce. Or for me specifically- apples. I bought a few Red Delicious and they are twice the size (but unfortunately half the flavor) of the apples in Switzerland. That would be thanks to all of the hormones and other drugs we love to pump into our foods...
Do I want regular, low-fat, reduced-fat, fat-free, or light salad dressing? How about regular, double-stuffed, chocolate, mint, or peanut butter Oreos? (Double-stuffed of course, this is only an example). And when you finally do make a flavor/health choice, it takes another 5 minutes to pick a brand. And oh goodness, WHAT SIZE?!
I can't take it, I just can't right now. My first few times shopping I felt completely lost. I literally stood in front of the massive shelves of cereal with my mouth hanging open. I've always been bad at making decisions as it is. How in the world can I do it when I have so many choices? I dread having to go grocery shopping now. Or just shopping in general really (don't even get me started on Walmart!). I'm sure the feeling will pass as I get more accustomed to being back in the land of the supersized, I just find it funny that it never bothered me before. It was just how things are and I guess I didn't know any different.
*One more thing... produce. Or for me specifically- apples. I bought a few Red Delicious and they are twice the size (but unfortunately half the flavor) of the apples in Switzerland. That would be thanks to all of the hormones and other drugs we love to pump into our foods...
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Job Hunting Blows
Frustration central. I have now been in Tampa for 2 weeks and still have no prospects. I swear I've sent my resume to at least 20 schools in the area and have only scored one interview in the process. It was completely last minute, too. They called and woke me up, then asked if I could be there in 2 hours (1 1/2 really since it would take me 30 minutes to get there). I haven't interviewed for a teaching position in the US in over two years, so it's safe to say that I was completely unprepared and blew it. Jon's trying to cheer me up by saying at least it's an experience and now I have some practice under my belt. But then I have others telling me that I don't stand a chance unless I have an in at a school already, which I don't really...
So. Maybe I should nanny again? It's not so bad and I actually kind of enjoy it when it's not mind-numbingly boring. The pay is obviously nowhere near as good as what I made in Switzerland, but right now anything is better than nothing.
Being a teacher sucks sometimes. There are a few openings right now because girls are getting knocked up, but it seems that the principals already have people in mind to step in as a replacement. So the question is, how do I get in their good graces? How does a person get their foot in the door if the door never opens to begin with?
So. Maybe I should nanny again? It's not so bad and I actually kind of enjoy it when it's not mind-numbingly boring. The pay is obviously nowhere near as good as what I made in Switzerland, but right now anything is better than nothing.
Being a teacher sucks sometimes. There are a few openings right now because girls are getting knocked up, but it seems that the principals already have people in mind to step in as a replacement. So the question is, how do I get in their good graces? How does a person get their foot in the door if the door never opens to begin with?
Monday, November 8, 2010
Road Trip!
Roanoke, VA--> Woodstock (Atlanta), GA--> Gainesville, FL--> Riverview (Tampa), FL
Travel time: 31 1/2 hours. Drive time: 15 hours
I convinced my bro to drive down with me so a- I wouldn't have to spend 15 hours in the car alone, b- I would have a backup driver while I "relearn" how to drive, and c- I could put him to work moving my stuff! The drive was pretty uninteresting... We played a lot of rounds of 20 questions and punched each other during the license plate game. One thing I noted was how the further south we travelled, the worse spelling mistakes got at the gas stations we stopped in. My favorite was one that promised they accepted "both debit and critid." Seriously?
We were lucky enough to break the drive into 2 days, with a one-night stopover in Woodstock, GA to visit my dear friend Kristen, who has- since the last time we saw each other- managed to get both engaged and knocked up! Glad I got to see her and meet this man of hers so I could approve (which I did!). Her mom also treated us to a delicious dinner. I love Southern hospitality :)
On day two, en route to Gainesville to reclaim my furniture from storage, the skies opened up and let loose like it hadn't rained all year. Too bad for Jeff I'd decided earlier that he should drive... We managed to make it to Gville unscathed and the rain mercifully stopped for just the 15 minutes it took to load the rented truck, then we got back on I-75 and made it to Tampa in good time. Too good, in fact, because we got to Jon's house before Jon was even off work. And of course he was then asked to stay late as well. After sitting in his driveway for nearly an hour, he did call to say he'd remembered the code for the garage door so we could at least wait inside the house. And here I am!
Travel time: 31 1/2 hours. Drive time: 15 hours
I convinced my bro to drive down with me so a- I wouldn't have to spend 15 hours in the car alone, b- I would have a backup driver while I "relearn" how to drive, and c- I could put him to work moving my stuff! The drive was pretty uninteresting... We played a lot of rounds of 20 questions and punched each other during the license plate game. One thing I noted was how the further south we travelled, the worse spelling mistakes got at the gas stations we stopped in. My favorite was one that promised they accepted "both debit and critid." Seriously?
We were lucky enough to break the drive into 2 days, with a one-night stopover in Woodstock, GA to visit my dear friend Kristen, who has- since the last time we saw each other- managed to get both engaged and knocked up! Glad I got to see her and meet this man of hers so I could approve (which I did!). Her mom also treated us to a delicious dinner. I love Southern hospitality :)
On day two, en route to Gainesville to reclaim my furniture from storage, the skies opened up and let loose like it hadn't rained all year. Too bad for Jeff I'd decided earlier that he should drive... We managed to make it to Gville unscathed and the rain mercifully stopped for just the 15 minutes it took to load the rented truck, then we got back on I-75 and made it to Tampa in good time. Too good, in fact, because we got to Jon's house before Jon was even off work. And of course he was then asked to stay late as well. After sitting in his driveway for nearly an hour, he did call to say he'd remembered the code for the garage door so we could at least wait inside the house. And here I am!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Ami-style Halloween
Oh goodness, Halloween in America rocks! It's so nice to have kids come to the door asking for candy all dressed up and excited (or on a sugar high). And the adults get to have fun too! Everyone knows Halloween is an excuse for most girls to "dress" in as little as possible, while guys can put on a mask and go. How unfair is this, btw? The guys get an eyeful and meanwhile the girls don't even know what they look like... Anyway, the point is that at least everyone dresses up. Granted, while in Switzerland I did attend a couple of Halloween parties and my friends dressed up, but once we left said party and went to a club we would be the only ones dressed in costumes, making us feel completely out of place. On the flip side, going to a bar/club on Halloween here without wearing a costume makes you the outcast.
Life in Roanoke, Virginia may be boring (my brother and I have deemed Roanoke the place "where fun goes to die"), but Halloween was quite fun! We found the one day of the year that is actually worth living here! Saturday night the restaurant/bar where Jeff works was having a giant Halloween party and costume contest so I decided to go check it out. It being a last-minute decision, I had nothing to do but recycle my costume from last year- a mime. I quite like being a mime because it is an excellent excuse to not talk to people if you don't want to. Let's just say it came in handy this year as well.
Anyway, I saw some way-cool costumes, and here are my favorites:
My bro with Russel Brand & Katy Perry
Not sure, but super cool
Alan from The Hangover of course
Birds of prey
Not bad, right? I wish I hadn't been so shy about asking to take pictures of people because there really were some excellent costumes. Of course there were a few Snookies and Lady Gagas, a bunch of Guidos (I even saw a "Guido Kit" at Spencer's Gifts, complete with spiky hair wig and brown/orangy body paint for the tan) and vampires, but the majority of the costumes were really creative. Oh yeah, the guys dressed as birds of prey won $500 for first place. Not too shabby! And there was a guy dressed as Jason who was creeping me out the entire night as he stayed in character and just walked really slowly around the bar staring at people. Oh yes, and as a cop from Reno 911 my brother had his ass grabbed and slapped throughout the night- by both males and females!
Overall it has a been a fun Halloween weekend and I am glad to be in the US for it! Now I have next weekend to look forward to as I am moving to Tampa! And before that I am stopping in Atlanta to hang out with my sister-from-another-mister. Fun times ahead!
Life in Roanoke, Virginia may be boring (my brother and I have deemed Roanoke the place "where fun goes to die"), but Halloween was quite fun! We found the one day of the year that is actually worth living here! Saturday night the restaurant/bar where Jeff works was having a giant Halloween party and costume contest so I decided to go check it out. It being a last-minute decision, I had nothing to do but recycle my costume from last year- a mime. I quite like being a mime because it is an excellent excuse to not talk to people if you don't want to. Let's just say it came in handy this year as well.
Anyway, I saw some way-cool costumes, and here are my favorites:
My bro with Russel Brand & Katy Perry
Not sure, but super cool
Alan from The Hangover of course
Birds of prey
Not bad, right? I wish I hadn't been so shy about asking to take pictures of people because there really were some excellent costumes. Of course there were a few Snookies and Lady Gagas, a bunch of Guidos (I even saw a "Guido Kit" at Spencer's Gifts, complete with spiky hair wig and brown/orangy body paint for the tan) and vampires, but the majority of the costumes were really creative. Oh yeah, the guys dressed as birds of prey won $500 for first place. Not too shabby! And there was a guy dressed as Jason who was creeping me out the entire night as he stayed in character and just walked really slowly around the bar staring at people. Oh yes, and as a cop from Reno 911 my brother had his ass grabbed and slapped throughout the night- by both males and females!
Overall it has a been a fun Halloween weekend and I am glad to be in the US for it! Now I have next weekend to look forward to as I am moving to Tampa! And before that I am stopping in Atlanta to hang out with my sister-from-another-mister. Fun times ahead!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Here We Go Again...
My first year in Switzerland I attempted this blogging thing by writing at least a weekly account of all of my new adventures. I did pretty well, too, until I got a boyfriend and my time became otherwise occupied. Newly single and back in the good ole U.S. of A., I've decided to give it another shot. I do realize that my stories won't be nearly as exciting because I'm no longer living in a foreign land, but weird stuff happens in America all the time so who knows what I may come across! Stay tuned...
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