We stayed one night in new york and the next day we got to explore the city a little bit and I got to see one of my dearest friends, Orli.
New York was a bit intimidating to say the least. Very exciting as well. There was so much going on I didn't really know where to look. I could really relate to Noah who so wanted to ride the subway and then was completely terrified when the trains came rattling into the station and screeched to a halt. He is still talking about the New York Subway. Complete with the dancers in the train who did hand stands and cartwheels one day in New York was truly a memorable experience. We can't wait to get back and explore the city more fully.
Our time in Massachusetts was a great vacation mixed with setting up our new lives. Amidst our shopping, apartment hunting and car dealing we tried to make sure that Noah got to have some fun and to enjoy our first few weeks in Massachusetts with grandma and grandpa. Noah has taken the move fairly well. He does get upset sometimes and asks us if we can go back to Vallingby. He talks a lot about food in Sweden. and of course he misses his friends and daycare. He is also a bit confused about what exactly Massachusetts is. He was so good about saying that we are moving to Massachusetts before we left Sweden. But then when we were out driving, looking at houses he would all of a sudden ask if we could go back to Massachusetts now. Confused we told him that we were in Massachusetts and where would he like to go back to. Empathetically he said that he wanted to go back to yellow Massachusetts. It took us a couple of days to realize he meant the hotel, which is in fact yellow. So here are a bunch of pictures from our first month in yellow massachusetts.
We also got to see Boston, where in the interest of trying to sell this new country to Noah, we rode on a trolley, subway, and boat.
After Boston we were supposed to sublet an apartment from one of Jensen classmates. However, their daughter had registered high values of lead during a check up so they were in the process of suing their landlords for lead abatement and we of course could not move in. So instead we prolonged our stay in Yellow Massachusetts (thank you grandma and grandpa for your economic intervention!)
Our apartment search got desperate when we looked at dump after dump. Old houses, lead paint problems, wiring sticking out of the walls, cracked sinks. we were scared that this was standard and were wondering what to do. Finally we found three great places to choose from. A house up in the middle of the woods, with a pond, a house on a llama farm, and a duplex close to the commons of a town called Belchertown, with a direct bus to UMASS. After much consideration we decided that though the house in the middle of the woods was very romantic, perhaps we would feel a bit isolated and the ladder down to the washer and dryer in the basement was a bit much and the llama farm house was beautiful and what an experience for Noah, but Jensen and I and a farm, maybe not. So practical duplex it was. Much of the same thought process occurred while picking a car, which is how we ended up with the ugliest but cheapest and most practical car. I guess the theme of the next time of our lives will be ugly. Our duplex is kinda ugly. Practical and in good condition but kinda ugly nonetheless and our car, just plain ugly. So comfortable and everything and everyone fits. So all potential visitors need not rent a car. I will happily shuttle and there is a DVD system in the back, so you will be entertained. I actually don't know if this is a blessing or a curse, considering I have to listen to the teletubbies, over and over and over and over again. Tinkie-winkie, Dipsy, Lala and Poe can all go hang themselves.
We picked up our keys to our new place the other day and we move in this weekend. Our beds will be delivered on the second as well as our boxes from Sweden. Don't know when our internet will be installed but as soon as it is I will be back. Future highlights may include apple picking, town fairs and the colours of, from what I have heard, a truly glorious autumn.
