A Few Minor Differences...

I am excited to say that we have been in our new house for two nights now. It is definitely a change from the temp housing that we had here on base. And there are a few things that we are already having to get use to.

For example, natures cuckoo clocks. In temp house and in the states, we have alarms that we pick the time of and set...here, the church bells start chiming at 7:00am and the roosters start their business at sunrise. We love being next to the church. It is beautiful and we feel safe as if God's eyes were really upon us and we ALWAYS know what time it is. We will get use to the 7:00am wake up call, so I am not worried. And the roosters will eventually be white noise much like the cows have already become :)

Another adjustment we have made is to our driving. On base, most of the driving rules we have in the states are obeyed...unless your Portuguese and then they are only obeyed if some one is watching...however OFF base...DUDE...it is crazy. They have round-a-bouts instead of stop lights, which keep traffic flowing pretty well. We have had a couple of moments like that in European Vacation with Chevy Chase...oh, look kids there's Big Ben and Parliment...but so far we manage them well. The traffic jams that would frustrate us back in the states are made of cows here...no kidding...we have cow traffic jams instead of cars. I have heard that if they surround you, you could lose a rearview mirror, but so far that hasn't happened to us. Wish us luck! The most intriguing driving difference thus far is how people just stop their cars WHERE EVER to stop and talk with someone, park, you name it they will stop in the middle of the street and you go around them. The funny thing, is that nobody gets mad! It is such common practice, you just go around them as if you knew that was going to happen! Back in the states, an act like that would be followed by the finger, cussing or honking if not all three. But here, it is what it is and you move on. The other funny thing is that people just stand in the road. They are not worried that a car is going to come by and kill them, they are just talking with each other. No big deal. The best was this weekend when we saw a drunk guy stumbling his way home walking in the middle of the street...he could have cared less that there were cars behind him and in front of him and that he was holding up traffic...again, no honking, no fingers...just some good laughs and we all moved on! Nao Faz Mal (No problem). We are learning to live by this phrase!

As in most European places the showers are little water pressure, the washer and dryer are small (at least we have them...most local nationals just hang their clothes out to dry...but the humidity makes that take FOREVER), and the streets are tiny. We have had to get use to how cold having all tile floors make the house, but again...Nao Faz Mal. This is all part of the adventure.

Well, I need to run. We are going to a Pink Tie Gala for breast cancer on Saturday and we have to find and purchase local and formal attire. Wish me luck finding shoes for my GIGANTIC feet...the women are short with small feet here...no size 12's I'm sure. So maybe I will go barefoot...anything goes here and that is part of it's charm! We really do love it here! Best adventure by far!