After suddenly realising that I only have a month’s working time to go before I skip this country, I’ve been a little nose down, bum up, and the blog has suffered. Never fear, your usual over-detailed description of proceedings will be back shortly. In the mean-time, have a look around our house.

Hi, my name’s David Snowdon, and this is my story. (For anyone who doesn’t get it, consider yourself un-Australian). We live at 5837 NW 181st Ave, which is about half an hour’s drive from downtown Portland, and about a 15 minute drive from Hillsboro, which is where most of Intel is.

Its a pretty nice house that Nate bought about a year and a half ago. Three bedroom, except its just the two of us and Nate’s girlfriend Brie. We’re a couple of hundred metres away from a shopping centre with restaurants, gym and supermarket. We’re also a few hundred metres away from the un-populated areas, so we’re right next to some fields.

Getting to the city is via the light rail. The station is down 185th about 3 miles, so its usually a bike ride. Fortunately, the light rail is really well set up for taking your bike.

Some things that are different:

1. •Light switches have little levers on them rather than flat switches
   

2. •Toilets are shallow and wide, with lots of water in the bottom.
   

3. •They water lawns and spray their driveways.
   

4. •Cable TV. Everywhere. With advertisements.
   

5. •Loyalty cards. Everywhere.