I took German for four years in high school. I even dreamt in German one night and couldn't remember English for about half an hour in the morning. Frau Buller and I will always be friends. But this is really not taking me very far in the Southwest. I pronounce "pollo" like the sport polo. When I was in San Diego, a concierge almost spit Coke out her nose when I pronounced it "La Jolla" instead of "La Hoya." These are not good traits when moving to New Mexico. But I think I've gotten better. I've at least progressed to pronouncing it "Heymez Mountains" for the "Jemez Mountains."
I am of course loving New Mexico. On Sunday I will have been here for two weeks, but it feels like I've been here longer. I am so antsy to take advantage of everything! I am right by the foothills, and it looks a lot like Salt Lake. I so miss my friends and family, but there's not much I can do about it right now. I've been able to go on an adventure or two while adjusting to work, but been pretty exhausted trying to unpack and just figure out where the bathroom is at work. Nonetheless, I am drawing from some resources to try something new every week.
Two weeks ago was Bandelier National Monument by Los Alamos, NM. I learned two very important things here: I don't like Bed and Breakfasts where the couple lives there, and I don't like hiking by myself. Boring. A cute old couple lived at the Bed and Breakfast, but I felt like I was visiting at my grandparents' house and couldn't do normal things I would do at a hotel like sleep in and watch a movie with lots of treats spread out on my bed. Plus, the grandpa (not really one, but it felt like one) told me my biological clock was probably ticking. Do not ever say that to someone traveling by themselves, fyi. Or say that to anyone, ever. It's weird.
Bandelier was amazing--lots of archeological finds, where Indians used to live. You had to climb up really tall ladders to get to the places where they would live. Sounds much more intense than it really was, especially since I think I maybe saw a lady in high heels. I am finished with taking ranger recommendations. Last year a ranger in Southern Utah with crazy eyes told us a hike was "crazy hard" and we would be stuck in tons of water. Bone dry, and very easy. A ranger here told me a hike was her favorite because of all the archeological finds and it was so different from the rest of the hikes. Fast forward to me deciding to turn it into a trail run because it was boring and just like what I had hiked an hour before. Still fun, but still...
Standby for last weekend's and this weekend's adventures...
I am of course loving New Mexico. On Sunday I will have been here for two weeks, but it feels like I've been here longer. I am so antsy to take advantage of everything! I am right by the foothills, and it looks a lot like Salt Lake. I so miss my friends and family, but there's not much I can do about it right now. I've been able to go on an adventure or two while adjusting to work, but been pretty exhausted trying to unpack and just figure out where the bathroom is at work. Nonetheless, I am drawing from some resources to try something new every week.
Two weeks ago was Bandelier National Monument by Los Alamos, NM. I learned two very important things here: I don't like Bed and Breakfasts where the couple lives there, and I don't like hiking by myself. Boring. A cute old couple lived at the Bed and Breakfast, but I felt like I was visiting at my grandparents' house and couldn't do normal things I would do at a hotel like sleep in and watch a movie with lots of treats spread out on my bed. Plus, the grandpa (not really one, but it felt like one) told me my biological clock was probably ticking. Do not ever say that to someone traveling by themselves, fyi. Or say that to anyone, ever. It's weird.
Bandelier was amazing--lots of archeological finds, where Indians used to live. You had to climb up really tall ladders to get to the places where they would live. Sounds much more intense than it really was, especially since I think I maybe saw a lady in high heels. I am finished with taking ranger recommendations. Last year a ranger in Southern Utah with crazy eyes told us a hike was "crazy hard" and we would be stuck in tons of water. Bone dry, and very easy. A ranger here told me a hike was her favorite because of all the archeological finds and it was so different from the rest of the hikes. Fast forward to me deciding to turn it into a trail run because it was boring and just like what I had hiked an hour before. Still fun, but still...
Standby for last weekend's and this weekend's adventures...
