All right, what's up after three weeks being in Royersford? My first week was horrible. I got sick and could not go to work at my second day because the centralized heater could not warm my room up. All I had for eat was just tasteless microwaveable foods like instant pasta, so out of desperation I almost asked my friend to send me rice from Pittsburgh, hahaha. I was also suffered from the weather, which somehow felt colder than Pittsburgh (it's not true :p). After that painful week, life is getting better and easier. It's not perfect, but I am hanging in there, cross my finger :)
As I mentioned to some of you, this such a small town is way smaller and quieter than Pittsburgh, which I considered so quiet when I just moved from Jakarta - "the waterworld" :p. Royersford is just a typical American suburb near the highway, with friendly neighborhood, spacious environment, and almost no public transport. This town is located north-west of Philadelphia, about fifty minutes by car. Several pharmaceutical companies are located around these area, which in fact is the main reason why my current company is having a branch here.
Being a suburb of Phily also means higher cost of living, especially for apartment rental. While in Pittsburgh you can have a descent one bedroom apartment for $600 or $700 a month, you have to pay about $1000 for the same stuff here. Considering size of the town, it is just painful. Moreover, living in suburb means that you need a car. I was quite worried to move to this area because I don't have one, and I can't afford it right away. Thanks to craigslist, I happened to find a room to rent in a townhouse, literally just across the street from my office. So at least everyday I can walk to work.
One problem is solved, how about weekends, socializing, and going to groceries? The first answer is: I have to change my life-style from student life in campus area to home-style weekend. I found the job is OK (what can you say in the first three weeks :p ) and my co-workers are really nice, plus I have two Indonesian co-workers: Albert and Josefina. Last but most important one, my landlord, which lives in the same house with me, is also nice. He and his girlfriend took me to Asian grocery last week, and today I found that a can walk to the nearest grocery store, although it took me about 30 minutes :p. So at least, grocery problem is solved.
The remaining problems is how to keep connected to people. Thanks to the internet that enables me to socialize in this virtual world. However, getting used to Pittsburgh crew with stuffs to do on weekends - from having dinner in restaurant to potluck parties, from watching football games (I didn't catch up with it anymore since I moved) to karaoke, or just simply chill-out in coffee shop, to be honest I feel somehow disconnected. I have met some Indonesians, most of them live spread-out in different suburbs. However, realistically I don't think that I can really join their community while I am partially immobile and depend on Albert and Josefina. I do have friends in Phily, one of them even drove me to check the apartment. But I haven't met her since then. Hopefully I will meet the other onenext week (hi there :)), yes, I will try to take the bus to Phily for the first time :). Slow but sure, I am making new friends.
So, everything seems pretty good for me now, at least better than two weeks before. Now the weather is getting warmer, and I hope that spring will arrive soon. One important thing I learn for sure, sometime you just have to accept the fact that you need somebody's help, no matter how independent you are :)
As I mentioned to some of you, this such a small town is way smaller and quieter than Pittsburgh, which I considered so quiet when I just moved from Jakarta - "the waterworld" :p. Royersford is just a typical American suburb near the highway, with friendly neighborhood, spacious environment, and almost no public transport. This town is located north-west of Philadelphia, about fifty minutes by car. Several pharmaceutical companies are located around these area, which in fact is the main reason why my current company is having a branch here.
Being a suburb of Phily also means higher cost of living, especially for apartment rental. While in Pittsburgh you can have a descent one bedroom apartment for $600 or $700 a month, you have to pay about $1000 for the same stuff here. Considering size of the town, it is just painful. Moreover, living in suburb means that you need a car. I was quite worried to move to this area because I don't have one, and I can't afford it right away. Thanks to craigslist, I happened to find a room to rent in a townhouse, literally just across the street from my office. So at least everyday I can walk to work.
One problem is solved, how about weekends, socializing, and going to groceries? The first answer is: I have to change my life-style from student life in campus area to home-style weekend. I found the job is OK (what can you say in the first three weeks :p ) and my co-workers are really nice, plus I have two Indonesian co-workers: Albert and Josefina. Last but most important one, my landlord, which lives in the same house with me, is also nice. He and his girlfriend took me to Asian grocery last week, and today I found that a can walk to the nearest grocery store, although it took me about 30 minutes :p. So at least, grocery problem is solved.
The remaining problems is how to keep connected to people. Thanks to the internet that enables me to socialize in this virtual world. However, getting used to Pittsburgh crew with stuffs to do on weekends - from having dinner in restaurant to potluck parties, from watching football games (I didn't catch up with it anymore since I moved) to karaoke, or just simply chill-out in coffee shop, to be honest I feel somehow disconnected. I have met some Indonesians, most of them live spread-out in different suburbs. However, realistically I don't think that I can really join their community while I am partially immobile and depend on Albert and Josefina. I do have friends in Phily, one of them even drove me to check the apartment. But I haven't met her since then. Hopefully I will meet the other onenext week (hi there :)), yes, I will try to take the bus to Phily for the first time :). Slow but sure, I am making new friends.
So, everything seems pretty good for me now, at least better than two weeks before. Now the weather is getting warmer, and I hope that spring will arrive soon. One important thing I learn for sure, sometime you just have to accept the fact that you need somebody's help, no matter how independent you are :)
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