Four Months! (and then some)

I meant to write a comprehensive review of my impressions of my new host country and it's fun and foibles at four months (eleven days ago to be exact), but time runs away from me faster and faster these days. Or is that just my boy?

There will be other posts that include many nice and educational pictures. Not today. Today is about the day to day.

I have a hard time writing both here and via email about life here because my life is always at one of two extremes. I am either doing something absolutely amazing and beautiful that would be on most people's bucket lists or I am cleaning the house and taking out the trash and scolding cats for dropping litter and fur all over the house and wondering if I shouldn't be looking for work so I'm not stuck at home looking at a mess all day. It really does come down to that. My visits to the Consulate break up the day immensely and make it seem to breeze by. As do my walks to the park or the mall or to visit friends.

So I do not want to just write about the good stuff and sound like my life is all glamour, nor do I want to complain about the things that are a normal part of everyone's life (laundry, cleaning, going to the grocery store...AGAIN). I know I have a good life here. If you can't have a good life here, you will never have one, because this place is very forgiving with the abundance of beauty and excellent food, great people and incredible historic sights.

I am searching for the middle ground. Or maybe just the ground. Our place is still coming together and that is a huge relief. There may be a car in our future. Or there may not. I have changed my mind on the car situation and would love to have one now. Of course, driving somewhere creates a whole new set of complications.

There have been two humungous and amazing breakthroughs for me this week. First, I have successfully placed an order for online grocery delivery. It should be here this morning. I don't like to complain (really, I don't!) about doing the shopping, especially when our stores are visible from our residence, but I figured, that with the walk and the incline, it's close to climbing twelve flights of stairs, toddler attached. I don't know how I managed in July and August when daytime temps were close to 90 degrees for weeks on end. Oh wait, I do; air conditioning and cold beverages. Some days cold showers too. The second breakthrough happened at just the right time too; organic produce delivery. This should arrive tomorrow. Between the two, I think I am set for everything except beer. And as we all know, climbing twelve flights of stairs with a toddler attached is totally worth it if it's beer you're carrying.