Two Months

It is that point apparently where I am half way finished with my time here. Part of me can’t believe it, and would like it to continue much longer. The other part of me is ready to go home already. It is difficult for me to say what exactly is driving me to want to be done already, and what level of significance each has. It is some combination of everything though that makes it difficult to tolerate in times compared to life in the U.S. or Germany for that matter. Let’s begin:

1. Technology Usage – Think back five years ago how everything was in the U.S., that is the state of things here. Information regarding businesses, stores, restaurants, and even classes at the Polytechnic are sparse to non-existent. I imagine that has something to do with the horrible internet here. There idea of high speed ADSL occasionally meets what they advertise, but personally I think I had faster, more consistent service in 1997 with a 56k modem and NetZero’s free dial-up service.

2. Business Hours – Supposedly Italians work an average of 40 hours a week. I am curious how that is possible based on the normal hours of operation of most places.
a. Monday – 3:30 to 7:30 pm
b. Tuesday thru Saturday - 8:30 to 1pm then 3:30 to 7:30
c. Sunday – closed
The post office is even worse. They close at 2pm, and don’t open again in the late afternoon. That is more then likely why Italian post takes so long. Speaking of the Post, businesses and technology, why can’t I pay bills online? For some crazy reason you have to pay bills at the Post Bank, which is exactly what it sounds like, a bank run by the postal service. This combined with the operational hours means lines are out the door and take 20+ minutes to get through. I have to pay my rent every month this way, and it drives me crazy because you are never near a post office when it is open. The Atrium Apartments has spoiled me with auto bill pay, thank you Julie for making my life simple.

3. Public Transportation strikes – What exactly do they think they are accomplishing by randomly choosing days not to run service. Are their union members so stupid as to think that actually convinces people of how useful they are and that life would be hard without them? Certainly for the few without vehicles life becomes difficult, but the periodical nature of the strikes has led many people to buy vehicles and transport themselves to work. If anything they have lost jobs to the increasing presence of the cars. Run more buses and trams, don’t take strikes and people will more likely take public transportation. There is a stop for some bus within two blocks of just about anywhere in the city limits.

That should be enough for now.