chocolate covered pretzels

We've been living in America for over a month now. It was a slow start, what with not having social security numbers and all that jazz - but we're climbing slowly! We now have WiFi at home, a bank account, an account with the electric company - all the good stuff. We don't have any furniture yet and the apartment is a little sad since the Christmas tree had to go, but it's pay day soon so hopefully a sofa isn't too far away. A course summary of first impressions:

Likes

• maple syrup
• chocolate covered pretzels
• sparrows
• scrapple
• jerky
• ice hockey (go Flyers!)
• the ever changing colours of Philly's skyline (and)
• the view from our apartment
• blood oranges in bulk

Dislikes

• social security numbers
• bonkers licensing laws
• banks
• the lack of supermarket online shopping and home delivery options
• calling the main course an entree
• the price of butter, tea bags and marmite
• our neighbours

Things I miss about home (without mentioning our nearest and dearest)

• rain
• humid air
• the dim slanting light of winter
• the smell of the undergrowth
• furniture
• blackbirds and robins
• our garden (trying not to think about that one too much)
• heating that works
• everything!