Apt to adapt

Marta and I have been here for close to three months and are getting used to our new environment. There have been quite a bit of changes during this time and the list of life lessons continues to grow. When I first got here I had no definite plan for employment other than helping Marta while she gets used to her first year as a full-fledged teacher. My days mostly consisted of waking up at around 5:30 AM and preparing a breakfast and lunch for Marta before heading over to the school. There I would make copies and perform other small tasks while she got ready to teach all day. At home I kept up the housework and cooking and occupied myself by fixing up the house and wandering around town. Although I am severely directionally challenged, there are only so many places one can go and within a week I became fairly acclimated to the area.

A few weeks ago I was surprised by a phone call from the AC store (one of the only employers in town) in  response to my application and wanted to know if I still wanted to work. I went down to fill out the paperwork and within minutes I was learning how to stock shelves at a grocery store. I am currently averaging Forty hours a week doing everything from stocking, helping with deliveries, and sometimes working the cash register. My co-workers are great to work with and I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to get a more intimate interaction with the community on a daily basis.

Things have been a little rough since I took the job at the store though. I wasn't expecting to be working full time and I don't get home until close to Eight in the evening. The both of us have not had full time commitments at the same time for awhile now and the change has been tough to get used to, especially since Marta is at the very beginning of a new career. Fortunately we have the weekends together, but time is limited due to the copious amount of it required for lesson planing.

Aside from reading and watching movies, we like to go on long walks together, usually to the airport because the scenery is nice and there is a loop that brings us back into town. We recently went to the cemetery on a nice sunny day with our friend Sharon and enjoyed the path along the boardwalk through the trees. Also, Donkey Kong Country has become dangerously addicting and is perpetuating procrastination, but allows for a much needed distraction from the tires of the week.

Change is one of the necessary ingredients for this dish we call life and as Winter fast approaches we are sure to encounter plenty more. Remaining mindful of our goals and priorities will be the inspiration for us as we continue to live through this challenging venture.