Saturday, 09 August 2008

• Moving, part two: I say hello

  Jake and I have been in Idaho for one week.  While the adjustment has been a little challenging for both of us, we found some new things to which we could say "hello"...
  
  --A small-but-cute apartment.  With that come our lovely neighbors: B. (the mom), D. (the little boy, around 7), and E. (the very cute 2-year-old).  E. doesn't speak much English, but that hasn't stopped her from inviting herself into our kitchen via the patio door.  She's smiley and adorable, and hasn't let a little language barrier get in the way of welcoming us to the neighborhood.
  
  --A farmers' market, less than a mile away.  It runs every Saturday from May to the end of October.  We went this morning, and the produce was great.  There must have been about 20 vendors, selling everything from regular produce to specialty pancake mixes to homemade dog treats.  We bought zucchini, tomatoes, and apricots.  Next week, we plan on stocking-up on sweet corn so I can freeze a bunch for this winter. 
  
  --A grocery store with a HUGE bulk-foods section.  I was stoked... they have everything from flour and sugar to pizza crust mix, veggie burger mix, and granola.  We bought a 25-pound bag of pancake mix, in addition to a lot of other great bulk foods.  Hooray for cheaper foods and less waste!  Said store also gives a six-cent discount for every bag you bring to bag your groceries.  We saved thirty cents
  
  --We found out that North Dakota is not the only state with nice people.  We've met some very friendly Idahoans, too.
  
  --I said hello to my new employers on Wednesday.  I went to tour the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind, and I'm very excited to start.  The resources available to me will be great... I'll even have my own SmartBoard!  I will have 4 students, and one more will join my class in November or December.  That will be a new kind of challenge for me, as the new student is moving here from China, and will know no English or ASL.  The Chinese end of the adoption says she has good language skills in Chinese Sign Language.  If that is true, she should transition fairly well to ASL.  If not... I will have my work cut out for me.
  
  --The beautiful Snake River Canyon at the north end of town.  It is absolutely breathtaking.  Jake and I biked there yesterday and walked along the south rim.  It was fabulous.
  
  --Drier weather... which means the heat index is pretty much not applicable like it is back home.  It's nice not to feel sticky all the time!
  
  I'm sure we will continue to find more things that we enjoy about our new home.  I will post pictures as soon as I find the digital camera my mother allegedly gave to me...
  
  

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