Rude Awakening

Have you ever had one of those days where you wake up and something doesn’t feel quite right? You walk down the street and you notice that something feels just a little bit different than what you're used to. Then it hits you. You're not in Europe anymore.

Welcome to my life. It's been over a month, and yet occasionally I'll say something in German before realizing that no one here understands that language. I still have trouble shopping for produce and not looking for the little scale/price machine. And those little wilty bundles of soup vegetables were ever so lovely. Pushing a cart feels rather odd as well.

Something interesting though, is that since being home, I'm noticing things - European-type things - more often. Butte's cool that way. The old buildings with their pediments and ornate decor, the random little pub on the corner, the rooftops of little Victorian-style homes all clumped together. Granted, most people who live here, or come through here say there's nothing to do. I'll have to agree with that for the most part. Unless you're a heavy drinker, your options are: going bowling or going to the movies, or there's always the option to wander through Wal-mart. The thing that a lot of people don't realize is that Butte has a very rich history, and there's actually quite a bit to do. You just have to look.

So that's one of my goals for the next little while. I'm taking a semester off of school and working here at home, so since I'm gonna be here for a while, I may as well make the best of it right? I'm determined to find at least 5 cool things here in Butte. And the refrigerated section of Wal-mart doesn't count. Maybe I'll be able to find some new and different "local cuisine" to sample. I'm already a fan of the pasties, and since I don't drink, I'll have to pass on the beer. I still haven't tried corned beef and cabbage. I'll have to do that - St. Patrick's Day is coming up soon and everyone eats it around that time of year. I've gotta live up to my Irish heritage somehow.