On life changing adventures

Hello, readers. (All four-ish of you!)

First, I would like to begin with a sincere apology for taking so very long to update you kids on my cross-country move. Unfortunately, I was not able to upload any pictures until today- and you know how I love to put pictures to words.

That being said, here we go. I have a lot to tell, sorry if it gets scattered in some areas.

[This is going to be a long one, folks.]

Day One: The Leap.

I woke up on Tuesday, April 14th at around 5am. The previous night I had spent last minute packing and, of course, doing my fair share of crying with my family. I am kind of attached to them, after all. We left the house in the dark, trying to talk minimally about things that didn’t have to do with my leaving- to try to hold off the waterworks. (Of course, it didn’t work.) 

After we arrived at the airport, I tried to check in and get on my flight as soon as I could. Quick- like a band-aid. It’s so much easier not to cry when you are around a ton of strangers, and thank goodness for that. I was lucky enough to score a window seat, and leaned against the window and said goodbye to Florida before my tired eyes gave up on me, and I fell asleep.

As my luck would have it- this was the day that a completely random and unsuspected tornado occurred in Florida, so the turbulence was all but easy to sleep through, and I was jolted awake so many times before finally giving up on sleep and trying to read a little of David Foster Wallace’s Consider The Lobster. 

Generally, turbulence is made so much better by looking around the airplane and seeing other people calm and collected- but I had no such luck. The woman next to me- who was obviously scared of flying from the beginning- would not stop crying. I tried to focus on my book and drown her out, but it’s kind of difficult when airplane seats are so very close together. I’m not sure the pilot knew how much he calmed my nerves by smooth-talking us over the loud speaker and telling us the shaky stuff would be over soon. 

When we arrived in Chicago around 10am (we crossed over a time zone, so this felt like 11 for my east coast brain) it was 32 degrees and raining. Of course, the airport was well-heated, so I got to sit warm and cozily in the airport, eating my artichoke salad from Pot Belly’s, and looking at beautiful, cloudy Chicago out the window. 

My flight to Seattle left at 12pm, and again, my seating choice-although I did get another window seat-was not so lucky. (I swear, if I could bottle my luck, I could sell it for big bucks on the black market for people to feed it to people they wanted to screw over.) I sat next to a very dirty “biker” type man with a sketchy goatee and who smelled of cigarettes, drywall and soil. (I sat next to him long enough to be able to analyze the scent.) He breathed very heavily and read (sometimes aloud) a book about army recruiting the entire flight. Thank goodness for you, iPod.

Despite all of the unlucky seating, I cannot convey to you the excitement my heart felt when I looked out of the plane window and saw the snowy mountains, or when the pilot announced that we were fifteen minutes away. That it was fifty degrees and partly cloudy. That I was almost home. 

When we landed in Seattle, I was one of the last ones off the plane. I had to take a minute to soak it in, plus- it wasn’t like there was anyone waiting for me at the airport. It’s a strange, lonely, exciting feeling, arriving in a place you’ve never been with all of your belongings, knowing nobody is there to greet you or help you with your luggage. I stepped off the plane and followed the sign to retrieve my luggage. Thankfully, Sea/Tac airport is not very large, nor was it very busy- so my anxiety was at a minimal level. I rented a baggage cart and went to retrieve my bags. It wasn’t until I got them all off of the conveyer that I realized the cart was only big enough to fit two of them (I had four and my purse) and my arms are not strong enough- nor am I coordinated enough to steer two carts. I decided to go fishing for some help.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to look far. There was a young man- lanky, foreign and awkward, who obviously saw me struggling with my things and asked if he could help. I thought of making some sarcastic remark about my super human ability to carry tons of luggage, but I didn’t want to risk sounding like a jerk. He lead me through what seemed like a maze of an airport (I would’ve NEVER figured it out by myself!) to the very bottom floor, where a line of taxis were waiting for me. After many grateful remarks (and a thank-you-tip) I was in the taxi and on my way to my new home- hoping my roommate had left the house key in the mailbox as promised.  

Nobody told me how awkward taxis were, but I was too distracted to care, too busy pressing my face up against the window and trying to remember the scenery. When we arrived on my street, the taxi driver asked me which one was my house. I had been trying, for the last fifteen minutes, to play it cool. To act like I did not come here completely alone to a place I had never been. A house I had never seen. Roommates I had never met. 

“I don’t know. I’ve never been here. I don’t really know what it looks like.”

“Are your roommates Indian? There’s an Indian poster in the window.”

“I don’t know...I’ve never met them.” 

Well, there goes cool and collected. 

I paid my fare and he helped me to the door with my luggage. I sifted through the mail in the mailbox nervously while he stood there waiting to make sure I made it inside alright. (To any other person, this would’ve been a nice, comforting gesture- but it just made me uncomfortable.) There it was, a little key with a little post-it labeled “house” waiting for me at the bottom. I thanked him and dragged my luggage through the door.  A little skeleton key labeled “room” and another next to it labeled “basement” were on the little table inside. The door on the immediate left was my room- I knew that much. I shuffled inside and sat down on the sandy floor to look out of my [gigantic!] front windows before calling my mother and sister to tell them I was home. A different home then the one I had left earlier. So strange.

I waited a few hours for my roommates to get home and did a little in-house exploring. The house was pretty messy, which was kind of what I had expected- both of my roommates being boys and all- but that didn’t matter to me at the time. I had no idea where anything was- and the time change was already having it’s effect on me. My futon lay in a box on the floor- ready to be put together, but I had nothing to put it together with. I was about fifteen minutes away from laying it on the floor and taking a nap before Andy came home.

I was sitting on the floor attempting to put the pieces of wood together when I heard a knock at the door. Andy bounced right in and introduced himself to me. He showed me around the house and briefed me on the workings of things, then we sat and talked for a while. I was so excited to be there finally, so excited that at least one of my roommates was completely nice and welcoming, that I forgot about being tired. Shortly after, my other roommate Marcus came home (on bike, as he always does) and gave me some really helpful maps and information about bus routes, where the nearest grocery stores were, and where the library was (all of which were my primary concerns.) At this point I knew I completely lucked out with the roommate situation.

I went to bed early that night- and slept really, really well.

Day Two: Settling in.

I had originally planned to go exploring the second day of my arrival, but I needed to go to the grocery and decided it would be a really good time to use the bus for the first time. I didn’t have very far to go, according to Marcus’ directions, and I figured I was least likely to screw up a short distance. 

I took the bus to Trader Joe’s- which didn’t have much of what I was looking for- but at least I could obtain the basics. After I bought my groceries, I decided to walk home. After riding the bus there, I realized what a short distance it was, plus there was no shortage of scenery on the way. It was such a nice day out. Sunny and chilly. Just cold enough to see my breath, but a clean, crisp cold unlike anything we have in Florida. Walking home was definitely a pleasant experience, even though walking uphill made me come to the realization that I am not in as great of shape as I need to be.

I came home and ate a microwavable pad thai meal (so tasty!) and proceeded to clean up the house. It was actually pretty fun cleaning, because when something is visibly dirty, you can see instant results from your efforts which makes you feel like you’re doing something right. I’m all about instant gratification. 

I found a hammer in the basement and put together my futon before my roommates got home. Again, we sat around and talked for a while, and I asked where to get a bus pass, and what bus to take to lead me downtown (although I had been on a bus once, that did not- by any means- make me well adjusted to them.) Andy suggested that I meet him downtown after work to go to a small vegetarian restaurant he had never been to, and I was all to excited for new adventures; and even more excited about having him to help me get back home when we were finished.

Again, early to sleep. 

Day Three: Downtown Venturing.

The thing about early to bed is, you’re always early to rise. I woke up early enough to say goodbye to my roommates before they went to work. I showered and readied myself (physically and mentally) for my trip downtown. 

After being on google maps for about half an hour- finding places I wanted to go and how to get to each destination from the one before (and writing them down on a small piece of paper for reference...just incase.) I headed off to the bus stop. As the bus crowded more and more I tried to pay attention to street names, so I would get off at the right stop. I found my way around more easily than I ever thought I would, and got myself a library card (which was the most exciting thing I had done since I’d been there- for me at least.) I walked through downtown to the Metro station, where I got a May bus pass (again, with my luck, they stopped selling April bus passes the previous day, when I decided to clean.)  I found my way safely home in the late afternoon and ate lunch while I watched People’s Court (our tv only gets channel eleven for now.) 

A few hours later, Andy called and said he had completely forgotten about a coworker’s going away party that night, and that he’d have to rain check the dinner for another night. Of course, me having nothing better planned...ever...I told him not to worry about it. After all, I’d be around for a while with no plans. Being the old lady that I am, I put on my pajamas and settled in to watch some Netflix in my bedroom, before he called again. 

Andy invited me to a work party downtown with some of his friends in their work suite. (yeah, work suite.) So I, excited that I had a roommate that was not only friendly and helpful, but wanted to actually hang out with me outside of our apartment, got dressed and hopped on a bus to Pike Street where he met me and walked me to the party. It was small and nice, just a few friends who were all really nice and welcoming. I had a really good time.

On the way home, it started raining. Andy and I got off of the bus about halfway and walked the rest (it was SO nice outside!) We talked and talked and Andy made a really tasty tofu scramble, which we ate while watching Across the Universe. 

Maybe my luck isn’t so bad, after all.

Day Four: Uwajimaya!

On Friday morning, Andy’s four year old son Drew came from Spokane, Washington to visit for a few days. Drew had been talking about some kind of candy he wanted from a place called Uwajimaya for a few weeks, so Andy wanted to take him there. When he invited me to go, I was more than happy to oblige. Asian markets are my kind of thing. It was nice out, so we walked downtown (which surprisingly and wonderfully isn’t very far away) and Drew picked us flowers and talked about the candy he was really excited to get.  Normally, I’m not a big fan of kids, but Andy’s really wasn’t so bad at all.

We stopped at a few stores on the way to look at fish (another thing Drew was really excited about) before we finally made it to Uwajimaya. We ran around picking up interesting food from the grocery store, and I bought some curry paste- a kitchen staple at my house- before we wandered into the food court area, where I tried “Tofu Pho” for the first time.

So tasty!

We bought some frozen yogurt on the way home, grabbed the bus, and watched Kung-Fu Panda before I decided to go to bed.

I love you, Uwajimaya.

Day Five: Pike Place Market

I woke up early Saturday morning and made myself coffee in Marcus’ french press for breakfast (my new-found routine) Andy and Drew were getting ready for their trip to the Seattle Aquarium, and I was planning to make a trip to Pike Place Market for the first time. Drew insisted I come with them, so we all went to Pike’s Place together. 

On the way there, we saw some street-side magic tricks, and passed a factory where they make cheese (and tried some tasty freshly-made samples!) We pushed passed tons of people before we finally walked into the market itself. I don’t usually like crowds, but I will adapt to anything for that place. Pike Place is my new favorite place in Seattle. 

I could go on and on for days about the flowers, the produce, and the world’s famous Pike Place Fish Market (where they do throw fish, I saw it!) but I will just put some pictures here to show you instead. I’ve been writing for a long time and my fingers are starting to ache. I felt uncomfortably touristy for these pictures, so I didn’t manage to get a good picture of them actually throwing the fish, but I was paying more attention to the produce, anyways.

Oh, and did I mention the produce? So pretty! 

After a while of my awe-struck pushing through the market and mustering up enough self control to avoid buying everything I saw (I knew I didn’t want to carry anything through the aquarium with me) we went into the Seattle Aquarium. 

My favorite part about the aquarium was that it was built into the Puget Sound, so mostly they didn’t even have to regulate the water. 

Here’s some pictures of Andy petting/ looking at some fish! Sorry I’m skimping on the writing details, this entry is gettin’ reeeal long.

Aaaaand, the cast of Finding Nemo!

[Side note: while Andy and I were petting the anemone, they started shooting out a weird-looking liquid, which the aquarium lady later told us was sperm- and that they were mating while everyone was petting them. Sick.]

After the aquarium, we ate at a place right on the Puget Sound- a little bread place with homemade sourdough and soup (in a bread bowl). Andy had previously told me that in the Northwest, they eat everything out of bread bowls. I thought he was joking, but it turns out it’s really true. Even pizza places have their pasta baked into a bread bowl. This really is my kind of place.

On the way home, Andy stopped at the AM/PM down the road and bought some hot tamale popsicles- which were some of the most confusing things I’ve ever tried. 

Day Six & Seven & Eight: Lazy Days.

I’m not going to write about these separately, or in drawn out descriptions, because apart from leaving the house to get slurpees and buying a Sunday paper, Andy and I have just been at the house with the windows open, enjoying the weather and his days off. We took turns cooking for each other, and watched a few movies. 

Day eight I applied for a few jobs to places around the area. 

Here’s a picture of my very favorite cherry blossom tree on the way to the grocery store about a block from my house:

In conclusion...I love Seattle, I love my roommates, I love my house, I love cherry blossom trees, I love fresh produce. This has been the best experience of my life. Let’s just hope things continue to be so easy and enjoyable. 

Promise my next update will be SO much shorter! :)