America

It has been now 3 days since I came. Seattle is either dark or gray. It is kind of depressing after Dubai. The city is much smaller than I thought as well. For instance, today I met a Russian lady at the mall and she said it took her 5 years to get used to it. She was from Moscow and she was used to big city life, always something to do... Museums, operas...Who would say a Russian person would be depressed to come to US?

Surprisingly much of my days so far has been spent shopping. I needed so many of the basics. Hat, gloves, umbrella, toothpaste, washing powder, beer, converter, lens solution, lens box (which are sold separate of solution in US). All of these I managed to obtain in the last 2 days, along with many items that I actually did not require: Victoria's secret bra, watch -ok, i kinda needed this as a serious employee of a serious company-, scented candles (now i realize i dont have fire in the flat, no lighters, no matches), computer book, 2011 calender, bunch of socks, face wash, earrings. *i hope that is all* From the original list, I still lack a fleece.

Here, I would like to get into the whole people's clothing issue. I came here full knowing that americans would not dress up. And I did check yearly temperatures of Seattle. But nothing could prepare me for this! People in all kinds of big coats, berets, loose pants, fleeces, rain jackets. I have not seen one sexy lady walking in downtown Seattle. None. And I can relate. I can truly relate. Dear god, how can 7 degrees feel like 0? It does absolutely. It feels kind of like you wish it would snow. So it would take some of this damn cold away. After the gloves my hands feel better. However, I am cold even in jeans! I will try my coat tomorrow. Hope things improve.

Yes, the fleece. Now I have realized that ALL people seem to wear are these loose, high-tech type clothes on the street. Obviously, these are necessary for warmth around here. Now my only real warmth experience with not too much damage to looks is nice fleece. However, I am not satisfied by any fleece. It has to be mildly lady-adapted. It shouldnt make you androgynous all of a sudden. And there you run into a whole problem of trying stuff on before you buy. (not too mention the whole US sizes problem)

Now I do very much understand the online shopping craze in the US. Because without a car, it seems hard to reach shops. Really there are so little in the city center. It almost felt like I have seen it all. And it was not much. Thankfully H&M is here. VS as aforementioned. Some department stores. Lush, body shop, HH (nice shop but not much fleece to have inside of coat). There are of course other shops. But almost nothing interesting. What kind of a small town I have fallen into? American Outfitters (that place I really am not counting on for anything), loft(no idea), macys, nordstrom(ex-swedes making money). I can easily tell that the revenue for world's largest economy does not come from downtown Seattle.

Now I gotta get up and try to put together an outfit for my first day. Both warm ( I will walk to orientation tomorrow and than walk to my workplace) and lady like and a touch sexy, that will make some sort of an impression. Therefore, shoes and dress and socks are still a serious issue.