1st Week in Jersey
4 Apr
Well we survived our first week in New Jersey. If I were to give you directions to our apartment here, the final step would be to turn right between the liquor store and the dry cleaners. We’ve made lots of Chris Farley jokes about living in a van down by the liquor store this week.
This first week was rough. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you know that our movers were late, they damaged my piano, they didn’t even deliver my piano bench and they only sent one mover, so my father-in-law had to help. There was also a lot of trouble with the apartment complex.
We are having a lot of trouble driving. Things are just so different here than in Texas. There are no u-turns, and if you miss your exit, you can’t just pull off at the next exit and loop around. We have a Garmin on the way.
I think I had a pretty good attitude before we left Dallas. I was staying positive and thinking of this as an adventure. Now, I honestly can’t wait to get back home. I’m counting the days until the lease is up on this apartment as I’m furiously scrubbing everything.
Tonight David wanted to get away from the boxes and mess, so we drove to the nearest Apple store. It was in a nice shopping area complete with a White House Black Market. David saw a Chipotle and said, “We’re not in h***!” Yeah, it’s been that bad. We just hadn’t seen anything nice. Mostly we’ve seen places where I wouldn’t drive after dark.
I’m really looking forward to visiting a church this next Sunday. Perhaps that will help us feel more at home.
David likes his job a lot. It’s a company that was outsourcing their IT department, and is just now bringing it in house. This is a wonderful opportunity for David to code and create the way he wants to, not just the way things have always been done. We are so thankful that God has provided him with employment. Also, we are grateful David’s arthritis hasn’t been too bad this week.
Thanks for all your prayers! We still haven’t found renters for our home in Texas, so please continue to pray about that.
Praying for you daily. Was it nice to finally sleep in your own bed again?!! Love you both!
Hey Girly! Miss you! Just think of all of your obstacals as dragons that you must slay while your on your adventure! But instead of a sword to kill your foes use; prayer, bleach and a big fat smile!
Moving to a new city is SO challenging. Best of luck in your new journey.
PS Stopping by from SITS.
umm… please no killing people though. I won’t be held responsible if you go postal and pull a mass murder at the apartment complex!
Ah Gal – so sorry it has been so tough. I’ve been thinking of you all weekend and praying for you. Culture shock huh? I can’t imagine going from my home here in Arkansas to New Jersey. I’d probably be hiding in my apartment with a shotgun on my lap jumping at every little noise. I like my country/redneck atmosphere!
(((HUGS)))
Katie, I’m glad they have Henry…he is better than a shotgun!
Ashley, I can’t believe it has been a week already. Hope the next week(s) go by as quickly and praying that you find a good church. I’ll be sending some BBB coupons in case you want to shop for dishes. You’re wipping the appartment into a home so quickly too! That makes life cozy for your hubby, I’m sure!
After years and years of living in the same small hometown, in the last four years, I’ve lived in 5 different places in four different states, each of which was dramatically different from the one before. Each of which I either absolutely hated or was remarkably indifferent to when I first got there. Each of which I grew to love and was sorry to leave when I left. And did I add that we lived in furnished corporate apartments, so that we had furniture, linens, and even kitchen things that were NOT my stuff?
It’s been stressful, to say the least, but once I go through the initial “I hate this place” phase, it can become an adventure.
It WILL get better, trust me. Not saying that you’ll fall in love with the place, but you will adjust, and to find things and places that will help you to feel, maybe not even at home, but more comfortable.
You han gin there kiddo…it will get better! You will get used to your new area, even it you don’t LOVE it. THere is a HUGE difference between Texas and NJ! My goodness! Give yourselves time to adjust.
Praying you find great renters for your house in Texas!!
wow what a week. It’s hard to move to a new place I am sure. Especially when you aren’t familiar with the area. I hope all goes well for you guys and it gets easier.
At least it seems you both still have your sense of humor!
Hope things get better soon. I’ll be praying for you.
Oh my gosh. I SWEAR, not all of New Jersey is like this… there are really nice parts! I hope things start to look up soon.
You’ll soon learn to give directions by route/road # and exit #. That’s how we exist here. And I live in a suburban part of NJ.