These Are A Few of My Favorite Things....That I'm REALLY Missing

Apart from the obvious homesickness and missing family and friends, there are some things that I find myself missing on a daily basis.  Large or small, based on infrastructure or just something that reminds me of home, here is a list (in no particular order) of things that I'm really missing.

1.  Sidewalks
You would think that they exist everywhere, but they don't.  Because so many people walk everywhere one would think sidewalks would be common (or at least a shoulder on the road).  That, my friends, is not the case.  Walking is treacherous at best and a death trap at worst.  Plus, now with the rainy season, people are trying to avoid the major puddles and think nothing of jumping right onto the street.  Needless to say, Ruby-dog and I don't walk in the city; only on the country roads (which are mud pits now).  My friend, Gina, says that the next president could probably win the election based solely on the "Sidewalk Platform." I have to say that I agree.

2.  New Seasons Market

'Nuff said.

3.  Cottage Cheese

What can I say?  I love the stuff and it's not available here.  Well--funny story--technically it is available here, but it's imported from South Africa and is whipped.  And flavored.   However, being the daring sort, I bought some of said cottage cheese without fully understanding what it meant.  Basically, and I did not know this at the time, Biltong is South African beef jerky.  Now combine that flavor with cottage cheese and whip it up and basically you have some sort of weird meat-flavored cheese spread.  Not delicious. 

4.  Roads with Clearly Painted Lines

Again, this is pretty obvious.  Driving here stinks.  There are no sidewalks, no shoulders, major potholes,  tons of pedestrians, tons of bikes (who obviously don't have reflective gear or lights of any sort to speak of), no street lights, heavy rains, and crazy drivers--especially the blue buses which is a post for later.  Combine all these factors with the fact that there are absolutely zero painted lines on the roads (marking the center line or side of the road, etc.), and every time you leave the house you say a little offering to the gods, in the hopes that you make it there safely.  

5.  North Bar, Pub Trivia Mondays in particular

What can I say?  Pub Trivia Monday nights with the fella's was a weekly tradition that went on for years. It just got the week started off "right."  Seth, Quiz Master Extraordinaire, found the balance between really tough, obscure questions, awesome picture pages, and special video clues.  Plus, I got to guest host once, which was brilliant!  Anyway, I really miss it.

6.  Yoga Union

The best yoga studio within walking distance of my house?  Yes, please.  I've been attending Yoga Union since I moved to Portland in 2006 and boy, do I miss it.  The Yin and Unity Flow classes kept me happy, at peace (sometimes when the world was a shitshow otherwise), and "centered" (for lack of a better word).  Plus, instructor Todd was wicked hot.  :)

7.  Recycling

Ummm.....yeah.  It doesn't really exist here yet.  Coming from Portland, where everything is recycled, I feel like my soul dies a little bit each time I throw away a plastic bottle or tin can or glass jar.  AISL just started paper recycling, but there's nothing yet to recycle other "recyclables."  Boo.  

8.  Good Beer (and Wine)

Good beer doesn't exist here.  The two local beers, Castle and Mosi, are basically like Coors Light.  I wouldn't even do them the honor of being PBR or High Life quality.  I was able to covertly buy a 12-pack of Fat Tire at the US Embassy Commissary store, before they realized that I was a teacher, but now I can't buy any beer/wine/booze there.  Has something to do with what embassy privileges are awarded to whom and, obviously, teachers rank near the bottom of the totem pole.  So far, I've had one beer and I'm hoarding the rest of them.  I guess I'll be able to have 1/month and that will last me until next year.

9. Walkability/Rideability

The favorite places I've lived (Portland and Chicago, though Walla Walla ranks high as well) have all been very walkable.  Or, if not very walkable, very easy to navigate using public transportation.  Public transport is pretty much non-existent here (unless you take a blue bus--aka "death on wheels").  So, I have to drive.  Everywhere.  Because of the aforementioned issues with walking or biking, driving is the only option, which sucks.  I miss being able to walk to too many bars, cafes, and coffee shops to count, to four movie theaters (all of them cheap seat/brew n' views), four major grocery stores (Fred Meyers, New Seasons, Zupans, and QFC), two of the best parks in town, etc.  However, perhaps the biggest downer is that my daily walk with Ruby consists of going up and down our road.  There are no loops or neighborhoods here, and everything is fenced off.  I could go in the bush but nothankyou with so many snakes around (in the last month I've known three people who have found cobras, puff adders, or green mambas on their property/in their houses.  I'm not going to push my luck!).  

10.  Coffee Shops (that aren't big, chain coffee shops, though at this point I might give my pinky finger for a Starbucks)

Not surprisingly, there's no "coffee shop culture" here.  I have found one pretty good coffee shop in the mall about 35 minutes' drive away.  So, because I hate malls, I've been there once.  What I would give for a nice, foamy latte from Albina Press right about now.

11.  Underdog Sports League, specifically volleyball and AMERICAN football (not soccer)

Team sports as an adult; what a novel concept.  Growing up, I thought that after Intramurals in college, the only sport I'd be able to play would be tennis.  Luckily, I discovered Underdog and have had so much fun over the last 5 years playing with them.  American Football is unheard of here (though I think for my next After School Activity, I'm going to try to organize it) and I miss playing with I Touchdown There so so so much!  It was my Sunday tradition; now my Sunday tradition is Ultimate frisbee.  A fine replacement, but still the glory and camaraderie of ITDT isn't there. 

12.  Being Able to See Peoples' Houses/Feeling of Neighborhoods

Everything here is behind a wall (usually topped with barbed wire and/or broken glass embedded into cement on top).  These walls average 10-15 feet tall and I have no idea what goes on behind them.  Homes, businesses, hospitals, etc...virtually everything is behind a wall.  As such, it's very disorientating; I am constantly lost because everything looks the same.  Probably because it is the same: one big concrete wall.  Even my house is "protected" with a giant wall on all sides.  

In order to get into my own house, I have to honk when I get to the driveway and my guard (24/7) lets me in.  My guards, Emmanuel and Frank, work 12 hour shifts, 6 days per week.  The day shift goes from 6:00 am-6:00 pm and then the night guard comes on for the other 6-6 shift.  Once per week, they have to work doubles (when they switch from the day shift to the night shift).  Other than the fact that it has to be the most boring job ever, they work such long hours and get paid (by the school, who pays for all security for the teachers) a bit more than $100 per month.  

There are obviously a ton of factors that play into the community infrastructure, but I greatly miss walking around the ole 'hood (especially at night when I could see how cutely decorated the houses are).  

13.  Ruby-Dog Services

Let's just say that over 100 pounds of my 500 pound shipping allotment went to Ruby's treats and food.  I wasn't sure what I'd be able to buy here (not much it turns out, so it was a smart move to bring tons of food, treats, and toys).  Regardless, I (and I'm sure Ruby-dog does, too) miss Portland Pet Supply and Mt. Tabor Vet Clinic.  The Wunguriyran's and Drs. Sulis and Bussmann took such great care of Ruby and Gus over the years.

Anyway, that's it for now...the "short list" of what I miss the most about life in Portland/the Northwest.  I'm sure I'll be adding to this as time goes on.