Day 5: A Neighbour!! And Downtown

September 29, 2010

Just when we've been feeling so down about where we're living and that this is just the quietest neighbourhood, the doorbell rang. Fraser and Jacob were out at the store. I was wondering who it was this time. So far, besides our landlord, we had one young boy come by asking for the previous tenants and one lady asking if a deaf child lived here. I opened the door to see a young girl, probably around 13. She was holding a plate of brownies. 

"Hi," she said, "I'm your next door neighbour. We just wanted to say welcome to the neighbourhood." 
Praise Jesus!! Hallelujah! Thank you, God!
"Thanks so much, "I said. "So you live in the blue house?"
"Yes."
"Do you have siblings?" I guess I was desperate for the communication of others.
"Yes, and older sister and a brother over seas."
"Oh, wow," I said. "I have a little boy who's almost two. He's at the grocery store right now."
Slight awkward pause. She was only young, after all.  "Tell your mom and dad thanks and that we're glad to be here." So the last part of that was a lie. We wanted it to be true.

I came back in the house elated. I couldn't wait to tell Fraser. We've been greeted!! At least by one person. One family. I ate a brownie. It was the best brownie I'd ever eaten.


 Headed downtown this afternoon. Drove to a Max stop. Max is their light rail system. Of course, not knowing much of the area, we drove to a station that has no park-n-ride. We parked in the Costco lot and walked back to the station. Got on the train and headed down. 
Jacob enjoyed looking out windows and at other passengers. He always loved the bus in Boulder so this was cool for him. 

We walked around downtown for awhile, had some Thai food. Not as good as the first restaurant. Also hung out at a brewery so Jacob could have an actual dinner. He wasn't much of a fan of the Thai. Lots going on downtown. Lots of different people, lots of things to see. 
Fraser and I were feeling a bit of culture shock, actually. Pretty funny considering everyone told us that Portland was just like Boulder. I think some areas probably are but for us, it felt like a huge difference. It's a lot bigger, that's for sure. A lot more eclectic, which is good overall but also overwhelming at first. Lots of fun looking eateries. A big water fountain park area when we first got off the train. Lots more exploring to do over time. 

Bummer to return to suburbia. Fraser was wishing we could live right downtown. And it is a bummer that it takes half an hour and two ways of transportation to get down there. A year seems like a long time at this point to be living where we are but a lot happens over a year as well. And this way we can find a place in person where we really want to live which is better than doing it blind.