Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Catching up!



Well, hello there!
As I mentioned in my last post (almost two months ago, yikes!), I want to revive this blog. So far it hasn’t happened, but I hope this will be the first to catch up on what’s been going on.
The last few days we had in California, were very fun and full of activity. Between packing, purging and getting the house ready for its long dormancy, we managed to catch up and visit with many friends. Of course, there were also some dear ones that we did not get to see before our departure (tiny sad).
Our arrival in Trento was fully charged with emotions. So many memories came rushing back and muscle memory led us to our favorite pizzerias, gelaterias and stores. Some places had changed names, some were long gone. The town seems more vibrant and full of life!
Our landlord turned out to be an irresponsible jerk that has no interest in managing his property or giving us all the adequate support we needed. We had to struggle for almost a month to figure out where the trash was supposed to go and how we should get it there. Trentino has a new system in place to sort all rubbish, this requires figuring out what goes where; in addition, for actual trash (non-recyclables, non-compostables) you need a special key/keycard to access the bins. The administrative assistant at the University has been invaluable in helping us with everything!!
For all the minor problems (small shower with clingy curtains, weird internet policies, smallest water heater on the planet, etc.), our apartment is full of light and centrally located (right on the main Piazza). This has led me to spend a bit of my everyday watching people come and go, in groups, on foot, by bicycle. I watch them take photos and linger eating ice cream or enjoying an aperitif in one of the many cafes.
In case, you’re wondering, I spend most days reading, walking around town, shopping for groceries and making plans for weekend activities.
(Note: I will add photos to this entry once I have stronger internet which will hopefully be very, very soon!)

Monday, January 5, 2015

2015! Happy New Year!

Hello friends and random readers!
As you may have noted, my last entry was in 2010. It has been quite a long time since I've blogged, but I have no excuses to give. I will just say that I have been busy and that I have hope of reviving this form of communication.
2014 was a great year for me! I obtained a second bachelor's degree in Oceanography at Humboldt State University, started a position teaching introductory chemistry labs and enjoyed it thoroughly... all before summer's arrival. During the summer I enjoyed visiting friends in Portland, Seattle, Denver, Chicago, and Milwaukee,  as well as a whole bunch of camping in the Canadian Rockies. The fall found us moving to Medford, MA for a few months. While there, we explored a bit of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and of course, an obligatory long weekend in NYC.
My hope for this year is to keep this blog current with my latest adventures, recipes and projects. Stay tuned for more info on my next move!
xo Catherine