Week two began with a brunch at Paul's house. Until the grocery store opens we have to rely on a mini market that is bigger than a convenience store but not as big as a Shaw's or Stop and Shop and not nearly as nice as a Whole Foods. Gosh I miss Whole Foods already. I hear that the campus Green Team is working on getting some type of weekly Farmer's Market on campus... eventually. But I digress. So we were limited in what we could prepare for brunch-- luckily we were a small group of seven. Menu-- Apples baked with raisins, nuts and honey, omlettes, toast, and "mock" Bloody Marys.
The best news of the week is that my new home is "ready for occupancy." I went for the walk through on Wednesday- pictures included- and I love it! I move in tomorrow. The funniest thing is that it is on Beacon Avenue! So I am moving from Beacon Street in Boston to Beacon Avenue in Saudi Arabia. I am in a neighborhood called The Gardens and close to Discovery Square (already nicknamed "Disco Square") and the Fitness Center when it eventually opens. It is in far better condition that those built so quickly in August when the largest group of employees arrived so I am lucky. It is a SPACIOUS two bedroom townhouse with a maid's quarter off the kitchen that is about as big as my apartment in Boston. If any of you can cook and clean I am hiring ;-) I have my own washer and dryer again which I am psyched about because the commute to do laundry at Mary Beth's or Peter and Ruth's would just be too expensive. My closet is so big I would have to increase the size of my wardrobe by 100 to fill it. I have a small balcony off the master bedroom in the front of the house and the guest room in the back has a larger balcony with table and chairs. I also have a small yard! I am not crazy about all of the artwork but I can work with it. I am hoping that my shipment is somewhere close so that I can really make it home soon.
Other exciting events this week included our first office birthday party- Rachel Yeh. She is working to assess the students' level of English and will be providing some language support. Her husband David is an Assistant Dean in the Academic Affairs area. I learned how to sing Happy Birthday in Arabic but don't ask me to repeat it. And then there was the Halloween Party at the US Consulate Wednesday night (remember that is my Friday...) The best way to describe that is to send you all back to a high school party in a VFW hall complete with a DJ and fog machine. Oh and balloons floating the pool. I must plan this summer for a costume for next year because there is a contest! Miss Lego won. Although there was one woman dressed as a Margarita who I would have voted for. The meatloaf was shaped like a mummy and served with mashed potatoes. Deviled eggs, chicken a la King and pork ribs completed the menu. Unfortunately we could not bring cameras or phones into the party so you'll have to use your imaginations.
I am still enjoying the work challenges too... software functionality with our application process is my biggest focus as our application deadline approaches. And recruitment planning of course. I head to Turkey and Kuala Lumpur in November! Campus tour coming next!
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