Hey Hey

What up my people..

Some new news to report. Overall though, I would have to say that this just feels like work. I think I will start sending out emails to make sure people see what I have written. But of course only to those I miss speaking to on a regular occasion and really should be picking up the phone and calling. But you can't send pics over the phone, so this really does serve a purpose.

I've been in Bethlehem now for about a week. Although I started working amost a month ago, I haven't actually worked in the office for a full week yet. First training in Detroit, then thanksgiving, then testing in baltimore, and now this week. Things are good. I have my very own cubicle. It's very nice. I use my German on a daily basis and I even think it is somehow improving here. (Ich habe die Worter Raendel, Zylinderkerbstift, Fase, Steigung, und Teilung gerlernt!). I'm settling in and it's too early to see how much I like working. I def don't love it yet, but it could get better.

Right now life is really busy (as if it usually isn't). I wake up at 6:30, which I know, isn't very early for many of you, but I don't like it. I am looking for an apartment and need to do all the other little thing one obsesses with in a new place. Anyway, things are good.

here are some pics to give you a feel of my life:

This is the old and abandoned Bethlehem Steel plant along the Lehigh River. It's very impressive and a large section of the riverside is still abandoned. It was the 2nd largest producer of steel for ships in the USA during WWII and the third largest steel manufacturer in the world! Now look at it.

The next pic gives you an idea of the area of Lehigh Valley. Sparce. But not so bad. It's like the farmlands around aachen. I went to some meeting for the Lehigh Valley Hospital tonight (I got a flu vaccination) and they were saying how this area is the fastest growing region in Pennsylvania and the third fastest in the country (that I find hard to believe). But there is a lot of development here. In any case, the views are picturesque.


A funny sign




And something I didn't expect is that Bethlehem is pretty German. I think the original settlers here were from Germany. it's a pre-rev war town and many of the homes with signs in front of them have german last names. (i still need to take the tour). Anyway, they had a christmas market here that is supossed to be in the style of a German Weihnachtsmarkt. For somewhere in the US, it's not bad.



The bratwurst was also okay but the Kartoffelpuffern (Latkas) were not.





The other problem I have here is that my internet is unbelieveably slow in my hotel/apt. It sucks and I will probably not be doing this again before I move.

be good.....your one and only