Just the Basics, Please?

I know myself well enough to know that moving abroad was going to rattle me a bit (okay, a bigger bit) but that in the end it would be good for me. Some things I like a lot include peace, harmony, control, order, and efficiency. I knew most of the aforementioned things would not be available for some time. Simply put, my expectations have lowered to the point where getting the basic needs of our brood met is satisfying.

(Side note, as I'm proofreading this I just realized that I have this lingering sense of American entitlement that tells me I deserve/ must have/ need Internet. Plenty of people in the world survive without it. It's just that I really don't want to ... especially since it's the only mode I can stay in communication with all the people I know and love in the States. In that same vein, in case some of you may be wondering why it seems I’ve fallen off of the face of the earth. Here’s a little glimpse as to why the process of getting up and running here is Spain is going at a glacially slow speed – read imperceptible movement.)

I did quite a bit of research before coming to Spain and knew that getting Internet and phone can be a major challenge for expats. For this reason I began early on prodding our lovely relocation company with the request to begin working on getting us wired. Since we don’t possess the ever important NIE (think "green card") and only have our American passports to show for ourselves Relocations España had their work cut out for them. Finally, a company was located that promised us the moon – contracted cell service, land-line phone, and Internet. When we arrived at their storefront our hopes of cell service were dashed. Our translator quickly informed us that  it would be impossible to get a cell contract. They did agree to Internet and land-line phone. They said it would take 10-15 days.  We were happy with that. But after 30 days of waiting they sent word that the wiring at our house was incompatible with their systems and they would not be able to provide service. Really, it took a month to figure that out? The American in me wants to stamp my foot and say, unacceptable! Or at least to call someone and complain about the lack of customer service... but I wouldn't be able to say it in Spanish anyway. Also, customer service is not available here. You think I exaggerate!

Back to the drawing board. After more waiting, some surveying of other expats in our neighborhood and with the help of google translate we found a company that could provide service, but the question remained – it they would without our NIEs. We passed the job onto our dutiful relocation agent, David, who went to bat for us. I told him it was absolutely imperative that mi marido have Internet in order to keep a roof over our heads. His work without Iinternet is like a pilot without a plane. After another week of waiting, hoping (and David even promising to sign up for the sevice in his own name if need be)  we were all rewarded with the sweet news that telecom company Moviestar would provide us with service and that they would be out in 5 days to install the appropriate wiring or connect or whatever it is those magic men do.

DH and I couldn’t believe it. We were finally going to have a phone and internet and maybe even a bit of Spanish TV to pass the time…. The morning came and I excitedly announced to the moms at the bus stop that today was a big day “we’re getting furntiture delivered, Internet installed and I’m picking up or new car tonight”. My news was greeted with a more tempered enthusiasm than I'd hoped. We'll keep our cell phones'  handy (in case I have need emergency translation assistance - they are good to me like that) and good luck. I was feeling a growing sense of doom already. 

The long awaited hour came and... went. At 10 a.m. I called David, to confirm the time was indeed scheduled for 9 a.m. He relayed that the tech had been lost but should be arriving shortly. Finally the blessed door buzzed. Tech man shows his ID, I let him in the gate and he immediately begins a tyraid of sorts asking about the end of the line and where is this and that. Having not built the house and only understanding about half of his Spanish I asked him to hold on while I phoned the owner. Owner and now grumpy tech man chat feverishly for several minutes. Tech rambles a bit more and leaves. 20 minutes later Tech 1 returns with Tech 2 asking where owner is. I call owner, he says he is on his way (I missed that somehow, big surprise). Techs both combing house looking for outlet of wiring of some kind I assume. Owner and handy man arrive... Fast forward 20 minutes.

I had this moment standing in my living room of realizing how totally ridiculous my life had become.  I was literally chuckling as four men are wandering about trying to figure out how and where to do something to make internet and phone happen in our home. Three of them were are on their phones all in the same room talking very loudly. Two more men from IKEA are installing a storage system into the wall in said room. They are using drills and making an obscene amount of noise in otherwise empty of furniture and very echoey room. At the same time I'm translating the Spanish that is being spoken to me by owner and handy man I'm also attempting to think and speak in Spanish to the IKEA men that I want the wall unit equally spaced between two walls but not entirely mounted to the wall so we can still access the outlets behind them. All the while in the same room, our lovely new canary is happily and loudly singing his little heart out.  It was a lot like a zoo except it didn't smell as bad. 

End of story, need electrician to come and rewire part of the house for fibre optic lines, as opposed to traditional copper wire. He doesn't know when he can fit it in his calendar, some time next week. After that we can call and schedule an appointment for the unhappy techs to pay us another visit. I have no expectations that they will accomplish much on that second visit either. This is the way of Spain. The reason we love it - slow pace of life, and the reason we hate it - slow pace of life.

"Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones." Pro 25:15

*Just for your kicks - no word on when a phone line can be installed, or tv or gas for heat. The owner calls every single day to ask when they will install the gas. I hear it can take six months of longer. Who needs heat, or internet or phone anyway. Can you imagine this ever happening stateside? Like, never. People would revolt and take their business elsewhere, slander the company's name all over the review sites online and they would be out of business. Problem here is that most of these utility companies are monopolies. They know you will wait because they are the only once who got what I need.

**I know blogs aren't even half the fun w/o pictures. I promise to make up for it when my new fibre Internet is installed and my blazing fast connection can handle downloading pictures. 

The Good News and the Bad News

Today was good and bad, bad and good. Actually, that's a typical Spain day for me - ride the coaster. I woke up had time to read my Bible and prepare a healthy breakfast for the kids, in my own home -  very good. The kids have been feeling sick with colds and no amount of dragging/coaxing was getting them off their mattresses - bad. In just two hours I had a team of people arriving at the house for various repairs and cleaning projects, I needed those kids off to school - worse.  Since they would miss the bus after snoozing a couple of extra hours DH agreed to drive them into school for me - good.  Don't worry they popped up just fine, I didn't actually force them to school.

Fast forward several hours. 3/4 of the days's repair and cleaning projects completed - good (for Spain). But it means I'll be housebound again tomorrow since they need to come back - ugh, bad since I've got things to do like shop for groceries!

DH calls and says he's got good news, our household goods shipment is finally on it's way. And bad news, it won't arrive until December 4th. Bad, very very bad. Can you say, crestfallen? That's me. How can I possibly survive two more months, 8 more weeks, 55 more days without our precious belongings? What could possibly take so long? Apparently, they are putting our goods on the slow slow boat.

We've been in our new house about a week now and I've been sketching drawings and planning where our furniture will go. I've only allowed myself to purchase items we don't already have or absolutely can't live without thinking our shipment is 2 weeks out, not 2 months.

When you are a stay at home mum, your home really is your workplace and a big big part of your world. So realizing I wouldn't have the items I need to make our home felt pretty bad. After I stomped upstairs, plopped on my bed and half heartedly picked up a book ironically titled "What to do After the Boxes are Unpacked" (ironic since my boxes won't be unpacked for a long long time) I realized something. The fact is, I was given the gift of time today. Time to catch my breath, time to get on the floor and play with my babes (literally since there isn't anything to sit on), to read to my 9 year old until she falls asleep (I don't have to rush downstairs and clean anything up since the little we brought with us is it's neatly tucked into our closets) time to go for a walk and wonder what's behind all those high brick walls my neighbors have, time to read books (since we have no tv, and internet is spotty), time to be quiet (since my phone is too expensive to use for just chatting) time to BE, A human being, instead of a human doing...

This is a simple lesson, but one I'm positive God himself has set before me with His perfect timing. I'm out of excuses: not much to clean, organize or distract.  So looks like it's me and the fam spending some serious QT for the next 55 days. And as I  dutifully repeat to myself when I feel my blood pressure rising about some thing being sullied, "people are more important than things".  So while the bad news is I don't have my things, the good news is I do have my cherished husband and precious three babies and time to honestly appreciate them.


Colossians 1:10-12

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you^[a] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

Mama always said

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anais Nin

Note: Pictures will be added when I find that cord thingy that connects the camera to my computer...

My Mama always said if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. It's been two weeks since I've posted, besides the two I just put up (they were drafts). I haven't had much nice to say, and I was beginning to fear that I was using my blog as a big whine fest. Seriously, who wants to read about a girl fussing about how hard it is to move abroad. The fact remains, it's hard work. Let's just be clear for those of you who may have some misconceptions about the romantic notion of moving to Europe - this ain't no vacation. At least not, yet.

We've been here 33 days now, and I figure it's just about time to get back into writing. Here's the facts to catch you up. We've moved hotels, and have spent the last two weeks at a lovely four star hotel in the heart of Sant Cugat (the little town outside of Barcelona that we've fallen in love with and will live in). We are in very short walking distance of groceries, shops, restaurants, and parks. We've got two adjoining rooms which means kids in one and adultos in the other which is a massive improvement!

Our air freight arrived in perfect shape on Asher's birthday which was fantastic considering it had his birthday presents within. It was a huge celebration by all, sort of like Christmas, probably less meaningful that Jesus's birthday, but definitely more exciting than any Christmas morning we've ever had. We'd been waiting for these items for two weeks and you'd think it had been two years what with all the squeals of delight!

The kids are adjusted to and loving school. Their teachers are perfectly suited for each of them. Big A's love's art and has worked in museums all over the world, Medium A's is a highly skilled seasoned teacher who knows how to handle a boy with some passion. Both are American, which is an added bonus.

Our house is nearly finished! We've been anxiously waiting for it and visiting it several times a week. The interior is completely done and the exterior has some final touches and it too will be completed. We've ordered a few furnishings to get us by until our container comes (which is who knows when) and they are set to be delivered tomorrow. Now, you see why I've finally caught my breath enough to sit down and write a bit. Sweet relief of having a place of our own to lay my babes heads down at night is on the way...

I haven't had any time to sit down and study Spanish with my Rosetta program, or apply for language schools, HOWever I'm understanding more and more every day. I wish I could say the same for my speech... I don't think I'm sounding any better or forming correct sentences. But I am able to get the idea across. Enough to compare mattresses with the saleswomen, ask questions and order them for delivery all by myself! Well, hubs was there for moral support. I was walking around tonight and realized that I was so relaxed I was actually comprehending surrounding conversation bits without even trying. let's just say the light bulb is seriously considering turning on in my brain. Wouldn't that be grand?

My driving has improved, I don't grip the wheel quite as tightly, don't always need the GPS, and some days go by without even a honk, the odd look or hand flail. However, it's still intimidating driving in heart of Barcelona... I'd rather take the train. You always get there on time when you take public transport. Pretty much never when we drive.

I've seen a bit of Barcelona beauty. Our new Spanish friends Ester and her novio, Jose Luiz were kind enough to take us to Plaza Espana and show off some of the pretties. And we're going to Spanish speaking church again this weekend. The kids were begging us to return before we'd even left last week. God has richly blessed us indeed.

Default : Deny

Many of you know mi marido (DH) works with computer security. One of the main things he tries to teach his clients to protect their networks with the principal of "default deny". In other words block access to your valuable data unless someone has an express need for having it. According to DH not too many companies employ this principal which why there is a success brood of hackers about, an incidentally why my DH is highly employable.

Apparently the Spanish government has imbued this principle to it's citizens in every form of bureauracy  from retail grunts to immigration lawyers. This is especially true if you are a foreigner from a non European Union country. We're told Spain takes second in worst bureaucratic bull, surpassed only by Italy.

By default Spain as a country doesn't trust anyone. (The opinions expressed here are solely ours and most likely highly ignorant, you are warned - locals please don't bother to correct me, at the time of posting, I'm over it all anyway). Consider the following examples (and also see below the reason for my lack there of posts these previous weeks).

Drivers License:  By default they don't trust that you've learned to drive in another country and have been doing so for 18 years. In six months from the time I arrived my US driver's will no longer be valid. If I am found driving with it after that time my car would be immediately impounded. (Information obtained by actual real people's experiences). I cannot simply convert my license. Instead I am obligated to take a 40 hour driving course which consists of two consecutive weekends all day Saturday and Sunday. I suspect I will be taking these classes with other unfortunate expatriates and Spanish teenagers. After such time if deemed capable I can sign up to take the written test (in English, but more difficult because it's a mix of American, British and Australian English with odd phrasing) and the driving test (given in Spanish only). If I pass the written I can take the driving. I hear I should expect to 'suffer' during this process and most likely take the tests several times before passing. At such a time as I am given my Spanish license I will have a big "L" on it for learner (or loser depending). This L states that I am a new driver and am not allowed to drive over 80 km (50 MPH). Um, I'll get run over on the freeway at that slow of speed. I would have that L limitation on my license for three years until I gained my experience. However, if I want to convert my US driving experience to Spain I can do so. It only requires an obscene amount of patience, a lawyer fluent in English and Spanish and money to burn.

Banks: When you open account you have to open special non resident account which is only valid for six months. This special type of account wins you higher bank fees for everything including obscene fees to transfer my own money from the US into my own account. We've figured out that being a non resident here pretty much means you get your pocketbook gouged at every turn. After six month's time our account will automatically be closed and we'll have to sit through the 2 hour process to open another resident account. It was literally two hours. I mean it. Can you imagine the outrage if it took you that long to complete any service in the US?

Grocery Stores: There is only one way in and out of the grocery store. The bathrooms are located on the outer side behind the cash registers and you are strictly prohibited from going out to use them and coming back in. Some stores even seal bags from other retailers (seal a meal style) to prohibit you from stealing.

Cell Phone: We can't get a contracted cell phones. That means, up no iPhone! Don't even get me started on this one. Let's just say it's sort of like my boyfriend (iPhone) dumped me and I still can't stop thinking about him (except, it's a her, cuz she's purple and she helped me do everything like um navigate, organize my contacts, surf the net while away from my computer). Now it's just me and my ordinary cheapo - basic - ordinary - not smart - can't even text, well hardly - foreigner pay as you go phone. I'd have to have an NIE which is like my green card and I can't get that until the VISAs are settled and a truck load more paper work is shuffled.

Hotels: They require photo copies of front and back of your credit cards, copies of your passport, and charge you every few days to just make sure you are good for it. We went rounds with the hotel manager about how giving photo copies of your credit card and signature is like a major security no go. It was that or sleep in the car.

The whole thing is kind of ironic since Barcelona is the number one city in the world for pickpocketing/ purse snatching. They don't trust us, yet I'm the one wearing my cross body purse in front and holding on to it!

Odd images from our first week

This post is well, three weeks overdue. The first week was a bit overwhelming, taking pictures was definitely down the list of priorities after finding something to eat, and managing our way about, um anywhere. However,  a few things stuck my fancy and I somehow finagled my camera out and captured them. 

A tiny terrace, as most are in the city. I love that people fill the space with fruit trees. I can't wait to plant a lemon tree in our garden. 

My first 'grocery run' at afore mentioned 7 eleven style store - we've come to adore the 'jamon' flavored potato chips. You won't find cheese flavored snacks here, but ham oh, yes!

This contraption, was indicative of our first lodging at the 'apart hotel'. There was no way this thing was going to dry my hair in time for me to collect retirement. Oh, wait I won't have any. Oh well. 

Nothing too exciting for those that have been to Europe. But. now instead of figuring out what state cars are from, we quiz the kids on what country from whence they've come. 

No such thing as a trash cute in apartments, folks have to walk their garbage and mandatory recycling down the street to the nearest eye sore bins. They perfume the air a bit, so they are easy to find. Our house has a cute little door in the outer wall of the gate / fence that you put garbage into on one side and the garbage man opens on the other and takes away the stuff. We still have to hoof it down the street to recycle... Um, "Asher, I've got something fun for you to do". 

This is everywhere. The Catalan's want free and many of us non natives just want to understand them (literally, why can't they just speak Castellano / Spanish?)

Carrer is the Catalan word for Calle which is the Spanish word for street. This is how I have to decipher 80 % of the language, twice! 

Enjoying a cup of gazpacho, some bread and wine with my love while we watch the kids exhaust themselves in the adjacent play structure. 

Something beautiful in our hotel garden. I dreamed about going down there to journal, but chores and obligations pressed in and time ran out before we left. 

My future place of pensiveness... a lovely tree in our upper back garden just waiting for the sweet little table and chairs to arrive so we can finally, sit together. 

Just an example of the GORGEOUS houses surrounding the kid's school just on the outskirts of Barcelona in Sarria. I'm dying for some of that lovely purple flowering foliage to grace our home. It's everywhere and SO pretty. 

Loads of Fun

So one of the things I read before moving abroad is about how difficult it can be to accomplish everyday tasks at first. In fact, it can be so distressing one author suggested making it a goal to do just one thing a day. Normally I'm a very task oriented kind of girl, so the idea of getting only one thing done didn't sit well with me. After a couple of exhausting first days we realized the one thing a day rule was a good one. It goes like this: we bought cell phones (using only our mediocre Spanish to negotiate) - check, or met with the real estate agents and signed our rental contract (with a translator present) - check, located the school, navigated horrific parking conditions and attended the orientation - check. While the one task a day doesn't excuse us to couch potatodom it does allow us to feel some measure of success. There is still all the basics that have to be done like navigating the roundabouts, finding a restaurant that is open when we are hungry (much harder than you can imagine for a number of reasons - later post), and assuring our kids that we are indeed going to have a home again soon, oh and don't forget learning Spanish at breakneck pace. 

 My heart yearned to explore beautiful Barcelona this last weekend. I'm ashamed to admit I haven't hit any tourist spots. Nope, not a one. I'm starting to feel a bit like I've lived a few miles away from Disneyland my whole life and never ever been there. Except that to me the city of Barcelona is way better than Disneyland and I've only lived here 9 days now. Still,  I'm desperate to see some of the famous architecture like 

La Familia Sagrada...

or visit the Plaza Catalunya... 

Or simply just take in the beauty that is everywhere. I know it's there... 

But I am here, out in the 'country' 20 minutes from the city and my nose told me it was time to do some laundry. You know it's bad when it's your kid's first day of school and you are digging through the dirties to find something not 'too' dirty. I wince to admit. None the less, I'd been dreading the laundry since it would mean first, finding a laundry mat and second, hanging out in one. I've only used them a few times in the states and don't have fond memories. So, for my first solo adventure with the car I loaded up the trunk with most all of the clothes the five our us brought in our luggage. Yup, you guessed it the air freight still has not arrived. We are being told another 7-10 days now. Apparently, this is the way of all things legal / administrative in Spain - astronomically slow! But once again, I digress. 

To my delight I accidentally found the laundry mat while on a run into town the day before. So navigating wasn't hard. However back in parking is not my favorite. I braved it anyway for the sake of my poorly dressed Kindergartener. (Sorry about those dirty shorts buddy, your Mommy really does love you). I was proud to have found a spot only a couple of blocks away from the place. I knew I wasn't going to find anything close so I came prepared with the newly acquired and already worn out jogging stroller. I loaded the clothes in and made my way to the 'Lava & Lava' (translated : wash & wash). I love how the sign had a couple of English words on it to make me feel so welcome. 

Here's the jogger all loaded up with our laundry. I'll admit I got a couple of strange glances, like maybe I had a baby under all those clothes. I didn't care one bit I was pretty proud of my parking job and nothing was gonna break my stride. I know it doesn't look like a lot, but it was four heavy bags full and when you only packed a weeks worth of undies for everyone and they are all dirty, the situation seems well - more urgent. 

You all must think me very silly, but this little laundry adventure was kind of empowering for me a few days ago. I'm totally over it now. But at the time every new thing seems like a really big deal. Now, let me be clear the Lava & Lava is no laundry mat. It was a ultra clean high tech super tiny laundry facility (smaller than half of a one car garage). The operating system for all the machines on the wall was a bit daunting. I was staring at the words, trying to comprehend their meaning when suddenly a loud dialing sound comes out of a speaker followed by a booming voice "Señora, hay una problema?" ....  maybe that is what he said, I actually have no idea I was in surprised and a little scared. I thought maybe I was in trouble. I pushed the intercom button and said 'no'. I couldn't think of anything else to say, no I didn't need any help - I'm a big girl now. I guess he didn't see how I parked that car out there.  He spouted off a bunch more Spanish I couldn't understand as quickly as he spoke and I stood dumbfounded. Finally the yaking stopped and I went back to reading and was nearly ready to insert some dinero in the machine. Then in marches a very large man wearing tight jeans, a muscle shirt, some gold jewelry and enough sweat to saturate it all. I later deduced that the place is run by video surveillance and sweaty man was on duty. (Maybe he needs the employee discount).  However sweaty, he very kind to walk me through then entire procedure of adding money via paper, coin or loaded Lava & Lava card. He said the card was best if I was going to be doing a lot of laundry. So we went with that. 

He didn't speak any slower or attempt any English he just showed me around and explained everything in Spanish like I could understand him. He explained everything I needed to know: that the machines are loaded with soap (nice) and that the times and temperatures on the washers and dryers are adjustable. Finally he pointed out it's okay to leave since the doors and cannot be opened until the cycle ends. This place was the ritz of laundry mats. Check these baby's out: 

I found it very handy of them to provide these cute little matching laundry baskets for me to move my wets to the dryers. Here's the clothes all clean and ready to dry. I didn't snap any more photos of the rest of the process. I know you all know what clean dry clothes look like. What you don't know is that is smelled oh so fresh. Who would have guessed a laundry mat would be so lux! 

As if a bunch of fluffy clean clothes for the family isn't enough of a treat, God blessed me double. Let me explain. While there I met a young Spanish gal who didn't know how to use Lava & Lava. Since I'd just been given the grand tour, I was able to show her. Except, my Spanish was broken and babyish. But she got the idea. Then, I went for a little walk and found those pillows we've been needing at a little whole in the wall store. When I returned I ventured to practice my Spanish with said girl. When she learned that I had moved here she asked if I wanted a language partner.  She went on and explained that she has taken English all her life but needs to practice it in order to get the kinds of jobs she wants in the marketing industry. She said she's had dozens of interviews and been turned away because of her poor English. Do I want an language partner, um YES! Usually you have to pay good Euros to find one of these through a language school and here one walks into the Lava & Lava. She even has a car and is willing to meet me in parks with the kids.  Now hold onto your pantelones, here's where it gets really good. We exchanged numbers and talked further to realize she attends a local evangelical church (rare around here) planted by a church in Texas. Double blessing! The services are in Spanish, but there are a few English speakers in the congregation and it's nearby. Who knows what it will be like, but we are planning to attend next weekend. Needless to say, I didn't have to drive back to our hotel. I was flying. I just accomplished three things! Laundry, language partner, and potential church - check, check, and check! 

Getting Around

In the States, you can typically get around with simple instructions and/or a decent paper map. Most major cities were planned on a grid and sooner or later you'll get from here to there even if you had to take a few wrong turns. Little bit harder here in the Old World. In Barcelona, for example, there are no street signs. Instead, street names are posted on little plaques on the sides of buildings. Provided that the sun is not casting a glare, you have 20/20 vision, you can read and comprehend the Castilian street names and can read the small printed plaques at 30 kph (and that there is a sign, often times there is not) -- there's a 60% chance you will make a correct turn at the upcoming intersection.

Did I say intersection? I should be more clear. Most traffic interchanges are "traffic circles." See the picture below. No stop lights, etc. Just merge into the blender and try and pop out the other side without getting honked at too many times. This was definitely and adjustment! When you come upon several traffic circles in a row it can be extremely disorienting. Especially given I am not hard wired to gauge North at all times like some people I know. North? How about what side is up? The kids think we are on some sort of roller coaster ride at times.

An directions for navigating the traffic circle can be a challenge too ... Here's an example of a fairly tame traffic circle.

... so we turned to technology to help us along. I think I mentioned before that we got a TomTom brand GPS unit with our rental car. Still unsure if the model is just so old it doesn't work right, or was designed by blind monkeys. What ever the case, it barely works and often "locks up" at the most inconvenient time. Convinced DH that I would be far more pleasant to drive with if we had a decent GPS unit, so we got a Garmin 3790T at an electronics store. This unit is so thin and light it reminds me of an iPhone. DH upgraded all the maps, plugged in all my necessary locations, and now we have a fighting chance at getting around. The thing I like about it the most is that it actually responds to the touch easily instead of having to pound in the letters like the Dumb Dumb, I mean Tom Tom.

I've been driving around quite a bit lately, figured at some point our bread winner would have to return to a real office and I'd be on my own so now was as good as time as any. I've got all the important destinations loaded into the new GPS (Carrefour, the school, our new home - for when we finally get the keys) and I'm feeling a little more confident after a week abroad. That's not to say that it doesn't take all my concentration and extra strength deodorant to get from point A to point B.