So I've been here a week...

Hello everyone!

So I know how much all of you want updates about how I'm doing out here in Colorado, and frankly I just don't have time to call all of you. I thought a blog would be the perfect solution! This way you can check up on me or ignore me, whatever floats your boat.

So, I've been out in Denver now for a week and so far things are going pretty well. My hotel I've been staying in is definitely not the Ritz, but it gets the job done. Apartment searching was a little disheartening in the beginning as it seemed every place in my price range and the right neighborhood was either a garden level or a piece of shit. Craigslist came to the rescue though and I found a cute little house right outside of downtown with a really fun roommate. This is just one of many things in my life I owe to Craigslist (job, apartment, bike, etc.). If any of you are relocating, Craigslist needs to be your friend.

I'm moving in this coming weekend so I'm super excited to have a place called home. My roommate Meg has two dogs so I'm sure the house will be lively. I'm really excited to explore my new neighborhood and hit up some local bars (One down the street looks very Billy's-like). I'm also within walking distance to downtown and all the stadiums so that is awesome and I'm really looking forward to my first Rockies game.

My job is awesome. I have to say that everyone I've met so far has been great and this job is absolutely perfect. It is exactly what I want to be doing. Working downtown is super fun and it makes me feel like a grown-up. Downtown Devner is very similar to downtown Minneapolis, minus the skyways. That is just one of the many things different here in Denver. I'll make a list at the end of some of the others.

I'm heading out to Leadville, CO next week for my first field job. I am going to be taking soil samples from peoples' property that are contaminated with lead and arsenic. I'll be out there all week staying in a hotel and hopefully doing a little site-seeing if I have time.

Other than that, I've just been getting used to things here and figuring out how to get around and all that. The light rail and buses here are awesome and it makes me feel really bad for everyone back in MN who has to ride our buses there. I haven't been to terribly homesick yet, although I'm sure it's coming. Once I get settled, I'm sure I'll miss having all my familiar faces around. Denver is slowly starting to feel like home, although it really still feels like I'm on vacation.

So, I promised you a list of all things different/the same here in Denver:

Different:
1) Mountains...duh.
2) Legal jaywalking-they have crosswalks that go diagonally thru the intersection..weird at first, now I kinda like it.
3) No humidity...it was 101 yesterday and it didn't even feel that hot.
4) No skyways.
5) Light rail and buses rock my world...freeways are awesome too. Kinda weird though because the only freeways they have are interstates, all other roads have stoplights.
6) Everyone here is super laid back and does not operate on a schedule. I am still getting used to this...meetings don't have a time and people show up to work whenever they want to.
7) Homeless people are EVERYWHERE and it is illegal to give them money. You can give them food, but if you give them money, you can get a ticket.

Same:
1) Most importantly, they do have Jimmy John's.
2) Downtown Denver is like a mirror image on downtown Minneapolis.
3) Everyone is super friendly.
4) Everyone seems to be mostly liberals.
5) They have all the stores and all the restaurants that Minnesota has...not any less and not really any more.
6) Everyone is obsessed with the Rockies, just like Minnesotans are obsessed with the Twins.

So that's all I've got for now. For those of you still reading this ridiculously long post, I hope you enjoyed it and I miss you all!!

Peace,
Amanda