Monday, November 13, 2017

Mostly local news

          
All I had to do today was play cards with the Methodists. The front door rang sleigh bells when I opened it. A pleasant surprise. And, because I have no post in mind to use them, the rest of the fall pictures are interspersed in the rest of my post.


One card player was returned from a three week jaunt to visit children and grandchildren. One son lives in Seattle. Much of what he said I’m reading about in Slate, among other publications. They stayed in a nice AirB&B that had been a garage, and now was rented to visitors to the city.


He had been worried about transportation in the city, and his son said “Chill, Dad.” Public transportation buses are plentiful; Uber is a phone call away. Cars are available at the curb; with the phone app you unlock the car, authorize the ride, drive, leave it at a curb and find the charge on your credit card. Then there are hundreds of bicycles available, with the tap of an app.


The homeless population was disconcerting. The shortage of affordable housing is acute. Finally, the phenomena in yesterday's post; houses are built on forty foot lots, to maximize housing available. Housing is fairly affordable here in Ohio. The new homes at Salt Creek start around $225,000. More than I ever paid for a house, but it’s the current cost. I doubt homes are that inexpensive in Seattle and surrounds.


The opportunity for Laura to spend next year abroad, on a scholarship, has come up. Actually, we are late to the game and scrambling to catch up. In one day’s time Laura has completed and submitted the preliminary paperwork. Which is to say, she’s motivated.


My job tomorrow, when I have nothing to do and all day to do it, will be printing and completing all the doctor and dentist and whatnot releases, talking to school counselors, etcetcetc. I talked to Ann, who spent her high school and college years in Switzerland. Ann said students entered the first day, proud of their honors French background, and floundered the first semester, trying to grasp system, language, life in a Swiss village.


Then, a talk with the counselor, or the unit principal, if necessary, to see that Hudson is familiar with exchange programs and Laura won’t be five years in high school. Let’s all guess the first question from Laura when she comes in from school tomorrow.


It will be interesting to see how Laura narrows her choice. Everything in the northern hemisphere seems available, except countries with English as the first language. I had the list read aloud to me yesterday, and remember nixing Turkey and India. I’ll print it out tomorrow and start with my fine tooth comb. She will need a mighty fine argument to get to a couple of global spots.

24 comments:

  1. Sadly houses in many of the big cities here won't leave much change (if any) from a million.
    Good luck to Laura. And to you in negotiating the path.

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  2. I hope a suitable place is available and she has a wonderful time. She deserves it and it will be a fantastic experience.

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  3. An International Scholarship!! What a fabulous opportunity :D I do hope Laura finds a place that suits both of you and of course, hope that she is accepted.
    I love the autumn trees here.
    $225,000 for a house sounds ;like a bargain to me. Here in Adelaide, that won't even buy a two bedroom unit.

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  4. Such an exciting opportunity. I hope it all works out for Laura.

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  5. That's exciting, Turkey use to be a wonderful place, we lived there in the 80's, not good now. Germany would be a good choice.

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  6. Good luck on the scholarship that would be terrific news.

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  7. Such exciting potential for Laura! A great learning adventure if she can get the scholarship.

    We bought 2 houses here in Phoenix for the cost of one house in San Diego. Ridiculous. Sadly the homeless are rampant in both cities. Hard to look at them, hard not to look at them, so I donate to the rescue mission and hope they'll go there for help.

    betty

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  8. I can guarantee the cost of housing in Seattle will be many times more than the cost in most of the USA just as where I live (a short hop from Seattle) is one of the most expensive cities in the country. It really is a shame. Just on the radio today they were interviewing a few highly paid men who are homeless because of the lack of affordable housing and sudden changed circumstances. The governments are doing a little now to try and correct things although they are exceedingly late to the game.

    How exciting for Laura to have all these choices for education. I'm sure with you guiding things the right choice will be made. All the very best to you both in the process.

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  9. very exciting, and great photos, too!

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  10. That is exciting news. I hope Laura gets the opportunity to go if that's what she wants.
    House prices here in the UK are ridiculous and while in the Town shopping I saw many homeless.

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  11. Hari OM
    ..anything in the Bonny Land? Or is it to utilise the French? What a fabulous opportunity though. India would be fine BTW - Turkey rather more volatile. I gather there would be a host family... oh how exciting!

    Don't even talk to me about house pricing.... ggrrrrrrr.... YAM xx

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  12. I would like to be a fly on the wall as you and Laura sort out the options...

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  13. What an exciting time for Laura! Hope everything goes according to plan.

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  14. Daughter's friend spent a year in Iceland painting the hosts' barns etc. She was miserable. Have met some great kids from Germany, Finland and Korea.

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  15. Good luck to Laura! It would be an amazing opportunity.

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  16. How exciting! I spent 3 nights in Zurich, Switzerland in 1969 and saw snow for the first time and also ate cheese fondue for the first time. Hope Laura finds the country of her dreams.

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  17. I read an article just a few days ago about the homeless in Seattle. Seems it is known as a good place to be homeless if that's what your situation is, so a lot of people from other places drift there. I didn't realize how expensive housing there is, however.

    Good luck to Laura (and you) in the hunt for a safe but exciting opportunity next year.

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  18. I do hope it all works out well for Laura.

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  19. well, how cool is that! hope it all works out for her.

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  20. Please keep us posted on this interesting potential opportunity for Laura. Houses are extremely expensive in and around Seattle. We lived just north of Seattle from 1985 to '88. We had a beautiful house with a nice yard that we bought for about 95 and sold for about 105. A friend who still lives there told me several years ago that houses in our former neighborhood now sell for 400.

    Love,
    Janie

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  21. Our kids are in immersion French where they spend half of the day learning subjects en francais, but they would still get slaughtered in a genuine first-language french class.

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  22. How exciting to get to study abroad. I would be scared myself.

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