We are well overdue for an update so let me try to back up...
Colorado:
After hanging in New Zealand for 3 months, Ross and I returned to the States to spend some time in Colorado. I was able to reach out to my old school and somehow landed a long term substitute position in the same grade and subject as I was teaching last year. Meanwhile Ross was still waiting to hear what HSBC had in store for us. Just as we were beginning to say "well its nearly Christmas so we won't hear anything until the New Year", HSBC contacted Ross and informed him he would be starting a short term position in Buffalo the following week, wah wah wah - not quite the glamourous first posting we had anticipated. We were able to enjoy Thanksgiving in Breckenridge with great company, lots of food, and even a few days of skiing before Ross left for Buffalo, New York. I did not accompany him right away as I wanted to finish my subbing position, so it was off to the Hampton Inn for Ross and again we were living in two separate states. Ross returned for Christmas with the family which was wonderful and included Oma visiting from Chicago. I finished the substitute position and met Ross in New York City for New Years. We spent the weekend seeing old friends and enjoying walking the ever entertaining streets all day long. I then returned with Ross to our new temporary home - Buffalo.
Enjoying a beautiful day at Breckenridge
Fun at Fox Meadow Middle School
A full thanksgiving belly and a day of skiing
Ouma opening gifts Christmas day
Hank planking
Occupy Wall Street - unimpressive
New Zealand bar in NYC
Delicious pork buns in NYC!
Buffalo:
We arrived to a snowy, blizzardy Buffalo (which I had been warned about), and made our way to our home - 'Downtown Buffalo Hampton Inn'. When I was younger I had always imagined that "I should like to live in a hotel - I would never get bored of it" - that is no longer the case! The novelty soon wears off and living out of a suitcase becomes tiresome. I decided to join a local yoga studio to keep myself entertained as we were under the illusion that we were only going to be in Buffalo until Jan 27th. Well a week before Jan 27th Ross received the congratulatory email informing him his position here in Buffalo was being extended until Dec 31st. Since hearing this news I signed down for a 30 day challenge at yoga, started apartment hunting, and began applying for teaching positions. So far, so good - I am on day 25 of the 30 day yoga challenge, have found an apartment in a really nice area called Elmwood and we should be moved in at the latest by March 1st, so now it is just the job front.
Ross is keeping really busy at work, he is working on a project that seems never-ending, but happy to be working nevertheless. As he is working at the airport location we have a car, so that has allowed us to take weekend trips. We have been to Toronto for a weekend, Niagara Falls, Niagara-On-The-Lake to do some wine tasting, and St. Jacobs to see the farmers market... all in Canada - the border security even commented on it today!
Ross and I have enrolled for the Chicago Marathon which is in October so we are going to start a training program soon - yikes!
Now that I have debuted a post on here I will try to ensure not so much time goes by again between posts :)
Our arrival to Buffalo :)
Just a typical weekly weather status here (thats fahrenheit for you Kiwis)
A common site out of the hotel window
The hotel room
Downtown Buffalo with One HSBC in the background
Ross hard at work
Occupy Buffalo
Making ourselves at home in the "Elmwood Village"
The yoga studio
Buffalo Wings!
Poutine - a Canadia specialty
Look what we found in Canada dad!
Niagara on a really cold day!
Wine-tasting
My first funnel cake!
Farmers Market
