I am a Stranger in a Distant Land

The view out our front room/kitchen window.  Hasn't stopped snowing all day!

Perspective.  

Life in Idaho has a different, slower pace than life here in Worcester.

This state, city, and people are different. And keep in mind, different doesn't mean bad.

Take for example the city's name. Worcester.

Looks like Worcester. It's said like Wuss-ter. Unless you're born and raised here.

Then you say it like Wuss-tuh.

Life here is the same. I've learned not to take anything for granted.

Especially when driving.  

When we first got here, Reed and I couldn't believe how aggressive and rude drivers were.

Every opportunity to drive left us both mad and saying all kinds of words we never used to say back in Idaho while driving. Idiot. Stupid. Crap. 

After a week and a half, it just is what it is. 

Drivers here do what needs to be done to get where they need to get.

Does that mean if you slow them down a bit, they won't honk at you? Better not believe that.

These are the honking-est drivers I have ever met. 

They pull out into traffic should they need to turn left from a parking lot. 

Doesn't seem to matter if they have the right of way. 

Pedestrians walk right out into moving traffic to cross the street. It's crazy.

EVERYONE here has the right of way. No matter if they actually do.

You know those left turn lights that are green and

mean that those who want to turn must yield to oncoming traffic?

Seems as if the TURNERS have the right of way here, and the oncoming traffic just waits.

In fact, this very phenomenon has a name. It's called the Worcester Left. 

Glad one of the our ward members turned me on to this fact.

Shockingly after a week and a half, Reed and I have just started to drive like them. 

You just do what you need to do and make sure you don't hit anybody. 

Surprisingly we haven't seen a whole lot of people pulled over 

in spite of all the illegal things we have seen these drivers do. 

Perspective wise, this way of driving isn't bad, well maybe just a little, but it's really just different.

It really kind of gives you a feel for the people here as well.  

They do what they need to do to live their lives and they try not to get in each others way.

There are exceptions to this. 

We've somehow managed to find quite a few people who are exceptions.

All of our ward members. The U-haul people. The man who hooked up our cable.

Kind. Considerate. Caring. In spite of the way they drive. :)

The other side of it is also a blessing.

The drug dealers outside. We don't get in their way, and they don't get in ours.

Our lives just go on separately, and yet somehow exist in the same area. 

We just stay in our separate circles.

Living our lives, thankful for the plethera of police officers who frequent the area in front of our building, keeping the riffraff down and making us feel just that much better.

Have I mentioned there is a homeless shelter kiddy corner to our building?

I think that's most of the problem.  It's moving in November. Hopefully.

Until then, Heavenly Father will keep us safe 

as long as we keep doing our part to keep ourselves safe.