Traffic, public transportation, and the beautiful scenery

Another full week gone by, and with it came more orientation to my new job than I can wrap my head around, experience in the unpredictable traffic that is my commute home (it can range anywhere from 35 minutes to 2 hours when accidents happen), and more introduction to the beautiful outdoors. After a long week, Joe and I decided to do something outdoors on Saturday. We drove about 30 miles east to Snoqualmie Falls which is a beautiful natural waterfall that sits at the bottom of a gourge. We hiked about a half mile down, climbed a fence and a few rocks and got to take in a breathtaking view of the falls. Unfortunately we then had to hike back up the hill which really kicked our cadiovascular systems into high gear but the trek was enjoyable none the less (of course Joe may argue that last part:-) Later we explored the downtown surrounding the University of Washington. It definitely has the college feel with students milling about and eateries for any ethnic palate. Not quite as inviting as State College but then again I could just be a little biased!
Today I woke up to sunshine and thought it would be a great day to explore the shopping mecca of downtown. Only in true Seattle fashion, the sun disappeared and rain accompanied me on my walk downtown. I could not be discouraged by the rain and wind and found my way to Nordstram's a little wet but content none the less. How could I not feel any different when so many wonderful stores are within walking distance from my front steps? The rain continued for the rest of the day leaving me no choice but to take the bus once I hit retail overload. I am familiar with 3 different buses that are choices to drop me within 2-3 blocks of where we live. I've had little experience on public transportation since my days at Pitt but somehow I don't quite remember the strange smell of bodies mixed with rain or the unkept looking man yelling "watch out for the truck" as we treked along. I could feel myself shifting to take up as small of a space as possible with every lurch and stop the bus made. The very nice driver whose breathing could be heard in the microphone before announcing each stop managed to get me where I needed to be. As I walked the rest of the way home I decided to remember what that ride felt like on a Sunday afternoon and to weigh my transportation options the next time I ventured downtown; if only to save my sense of smell if nothing else!

A Citys' Answer To The Beach

I had the pleasure of viewing first hand Seattle's offering of a beach experience at Alki Beach in West Seattle. History says that Alki was the landing point for the first white settlers coming to Seattle. As you drive along the strip, your eyes take in the bicycle riders, in-line skaters, and kids running about. As you look to the right you get a breathtaking view of the Seattle skyline complete with the big cruise ships leaving port on their way to Alaska (someday we hope to be passengers on that boat!) All along the waterfront are high rise condo's that go for over a million dollars and further down cafe's, restaurants, and shops. The smell of the sea is easy to find and if you get close enough to the water, small waves can be seen and heard. It's peaceful and picturesque and a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the downtown area.

Little Fish In A Big Pond

With most of the unpacking done and almost everything in its place, it was inevitable that the day I started my job would come. I found the school with ease and walked in to 100 new and eager faces looking around with the same look of question marks that I felt. After a big welcome to the district-I join 22,000 students and over 1200 employees, all of the new Special Ed hires were escorted to a very hot computer lab to be introduced to writing IEP's in the state of Washington. For anyone who can understand and appreciate Pennsylvania IEP's, be glad that they are the ones that you are filling out. I have to erase some of what I learned in PA, give new names to old terms, and learn the new lingo for goal writing all the while clicking away with the mouse as it is much more "clicker" no-friendly. I know it will become easier with time but for now my mind is just going in circles. My placement is going to be at an elementary school and a preschool (yay something familiar!:-) When I found out my placement, people surrounding me kept talking about how I was "up on the plateau." I still am not sure what they meant but if a plateau in their dictionary means nice houses in a suburban neighborhood in a school that is just 10 years old then yes I am on a plateau. I got a brief (and confusing) tour by a very nice kindergarten teacher but have not yet met the principle or special ed teachers-both of which should be very helpful to me! I had a change to review a number of files and it looks as though I'll have a nice variety of children (along with some challenges). I feel as though I'm starting from square one and that the last 3 years have been erased from my experience as everything feels so different. Of course there was the topic of what to do with difficult parents and I was able to easily relate (and relive my nightmare) with my experience in that area. We continue to have our orientation schedule jam packed with things to do all next week before returning to our respective schools. I'm sure I'll just be a walking question mark by next week. My commute continues to be unpredictable with a beautiful view and 25 minutes in the car in the morning traveling across Lake Washington. The afternoon is completely different with traffic galore and the nightmare of crossing lanes to get to my exit in time while being patient with the carpoolers (or noncarpoolers as I've seen many people abuse that privilege). It has taken me up to an hour to get home but with everything so new I haven't even minded. I'm sure once the novelty wears off I'll feel differently. Both at work and on the road I feel like a little fish in a very big pond (with a great view:-)
xo
Nicole

City Driving

Although I was able to practice city driving while living in Pittsburgh and had some more practice with trips into Philadelphia, traveling 611 day in and day out voided me of the constant city driving in which I could have benefited. I was quickly brought back into practice today as I successfully attempted to cross 4 lanes of highway quite easily to reach my exit and am slowly learning how to navigate in and out of the carpool lane. It is not as easy as it may seem. As much as I like to think my driving skills stellar, there was a moment where I wanted to make a left turn and proceeded to switch into the left lane only to hear Joe yell "One lane" over and over. It seems that the city of Seattle does not feel that everyone is privy to 2 lanes on either side and does not always designate it's turning lane. A lesson well learned. All I could do was turn and smile at Joe and give a little "ooops" as our journey continued on. We reached our destination of home in one piece with a little driving lesson to stick in my back pocket.
XO,
Nicole

The Adjustment Period

My first few days here on the west coast have been filled with unpacking boxes, settling in, and of course exploring (and getting lost!) in this new city. I've already learned that in the quaint little neighborhoods surrounding our temporary residence that stop signs don't always exist and instead you just slow down and yield at each intersection all the while having faith and crossing fingers that nothing is coming on either side. Seattle has been surprising us (and maybe welcoming us) with sunshine and enjoyable temperatures everyday. I figure it's just the honeymoon period before the clouds come in. Of course at this point I find that an even trade after sweltering in the humidity of the Pennsylvania summer. I've already drank more coffee in the past 4 days and have nearly doubled my daily comsumption. I'm not sure if it's just fatigue or the fact that coffee places stare you in the face (and intice you to come in) at every intersection or a combination of the two. Our neighborhood is teaching us about cultural diversity and my first experience in the neighboring Starbucks had me as the minority. Looking around I knew that I was no longer in my safe haven of Pennsylvania residence. And after I get used to the constant car alarms, and sirens at all hours of the night (and did I mention my constant paranoia that someone could be breaking in at any momeny?) I will add it all to the positives of this new experience and all that comes with it. But for now I'm still an east coast girl trying out west coast living.
XO
Nicole