RainMan
Yesterday afternoon Sylwia complained that it would be raining for the next three days, however, she did not warn me how it would be raining. When I was kicked out of the library at 8pm, it was raining cats and dogs (or “Schuastabuam” as we’d call it). I ran to the institute and considered waiting until the rain had abated – but then, what should I have done there without internet, and besides I still had to cook so it might have become very late. Therefore, I decided to leave all my technical devices (Laptop, MP3 Player, Camera – therefore unfortunately no photos of the event) at the Institute and started my march. However, at that time rain was so heavy it was difficult to breathe without drowning and after just a hundred meters I was soaking wet and looked for shelter in the LRT station. (The LRT, Edmonton’s underground consists of one South-North line, thus ranging somewhere in between Serfaus and Rome. According to David, it’s mostly used by the lower classes and using it is a bit of a stigma, because that means your parents are too poor to equip you with a car).
Well then, that was the opportunity for my first ride on the bus, after all one line goes directly from the LRT station to as close as about 100 meters from my home! So I thought. But unfortunately the limitations of my flat – which I’ve learned to like despite its peculiarities and my flatmates – were once again made very clear: The last bus of that line departs at 6pm – so it won’t really be an option during the winter if I would like too keep my present working rhythm (or even adjust it more towards my usual rhythm when the library is open longer during the term). At least Sylwia showed me today, that there are other connections at that time with one change so it isn’t too bad, at least if the connections work as good as the trip planner promises. (The Trip Planner on the ETS web page is actually quite useful. You can even look in advance what the stops and their surrounding look like! Perfect to avoid any unnecessary walk.. – Very American!) Still, travel time with these lines is 15 minutes, which is about half of walking time, so unless it’s freezing cold it’s not that much advantage.
Whatever, I didn’t know about those busses yesterday, so I accepted my fate, acknowledged the forces of nature and started walking as soon as the rain had abated a bit. It was amazing! Just another slalom - this time not for escaping caterpillars but for finding a path which was not completely blocked by puddles of water as most of the sidewalks were. So for some parts the only option was to walk on the road, but even there were little streams and at crossings with (obviously overstrained) drains brown whirlpools built. At some part I decided to do a little bit of kneippism and walk barefoot for the sake of my shoes. Thank goodness when I was crossing Whyte Avenue (which is about half of the way) the rain had stopped.. I don't want to know what's happening here if they had rains as we had last year. Evacuation?
Well then, that was the opportunity for my first ride on the bus, after all one line goes directly from the LRT station to as close as about 100 meters from my home! So I thought. But unfortunately the limitations of my flat – which I’ve learned to like despite its peculiarities and my flatmates – were once again made very clear: The last bus of that line departs at 6pm – so it won’t really be an option during the winter if I would like too keep my present working rhythm (or even adjust it more towards my usual rhythm when the library is open longer during the term). At least Sylwia showed me today, that there are other connections at that time with one change so it isn’t too bad, at least if the connections work as good as the trip planner promises. (The Trip Planner on the ETS web page is actually quite useful. You can even look in advance what the stops and their surrounding look like! Perfect to avoid any unnecessary walk.. – Very American!) Still, travel time with these lines is 15 minutes, which is about half of walking time, so unless it’s freezing cold it’s not that much advantage.
Whatever, I didn’t know about those busses yesterday, so I accepted my fate, acknowledged the forces of nature and started walking as soon as the rain had abated a bit. It was amazing! Just another slalom - this time not for escaping caterpillars but for finding a path which was not completely blocked by puddles of water as most of the sidewalks were. So for some parts the only option was to walk on the road, but even there were little streams and at crossings with (obviously overstrained) drains brown whirlpools built. At some part I decided to do a little bit of kneippism and walk barefoot for the sake of my shoes. Thank goodness when I was crossing Whyte Avenue (which is about half of the way) the rain had stopped.. I don't want to know what's happening here if they had rains as we had last year. Evacuation?
relationes - 2006/06/16 23:53
Those two guys on the picture sat only two tables away from me and actually - do you recognise that cheering guy behind the Trinidad and Tobago fan's left shoulder? The one in the white England jersey? Of course: That is ME! Just 21 days in this country and I've already made my first media appearance, that's a good record I'd say.. (It must be something with the genes, mum told be that my dear sister has made it into the Tiroler Tageszeitung these days, unfortunately I couldn't find it online... I wanna seeee!)