Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Hello Again from Charleston

Well hello there!  I just realized that I haven't posted anything since way back on October 18.  Time flies, as they say.

So, what's been up?  Working and learning.  Right now I'm in a section of CGFS call Post Support Unit.  It's been fun and informative so far.  In a few months I'll rotate into another part of Global Financial Services - like Payroll - and get to learn new things and meet new people.

Charleston has been quite charming.  Sultry is a good word for it, I think.  People for the most part have been friendly.  The food that I've had so far has been very good, too.

I went back to Lynn for Thanksgiving.  It was great to see Mark and Cosmo and family and friends.  It felt familiar, but also different.  I think I'm coming to realize that while Massachusetts may want to consider me a resident, it's not really "home" anymore.  That's sad, but also exciting to think about where else may be home in the future.  But right now it's Charleston and Lynn.

Mark is coming down for for Christmas, New Years, and his birthday.  I'm very excited, and so is he.  I'll be off, so it will be nice to hang out in downtown, try out some restaurants, maybe a pub tour, a plantation, and perhaps even check out Savannah.

I'll keep this post short and leave you with some photos.

The Arthur J. Ravenel Bridge from Charleston to Mt. Pleasant (it has an actual bike lane and is the best hill to ride in the whole area).

A little holiday cheer on King Street.

I may have to register my car in South Carolina, but I'll always remember where I'm from (sorry, Oklahoma).

I'm still finding these tags on my belongings.  I've been told by other foreign service officers to get used to it.  (BTW, it's one of the tags the movers use for household effects moves.)

I found out that the pineapple as a symbol of hospitality has a bit of a bawdy history...ask me about it sometime.

I took a haunted tour of Charleston with a few friends.  It was fun.


Yes, I decorated my cubicle at work.  No, I don't have anything in my stocking...yet.