Another day, another place

On Thursday we moved from the hotel in Arcadia to Pasadena, where we have a large 2 bedroom apartment. Unfortunately we will only be able to stay here for 2 and a half weeks, as it is actually student accommodation and it will be fully booked for summer school starting in June. So on we go with our nomadic lifestyle...

I picked up our rental car also on Thursday, at least now we are somewhat mobile. In a short 3 days we became known in Arcadia as "those strange people who walk"! It was really funny when we asked directions and they would always say - "Oh it's just 2 exits away on 210" or something like that, and when I said we're walking they'd give me a strange look and shrug their shoulders! The rental car is a new Pontiac Grand Prix, the most powerful car I've ever driven (and this is an "intermediate" car according to the rental agency). Anyway, it's got a 3.8L engine with 200 horsepower, looks pretty sporty but still has plenty of room in the back for Lucas as well as a big boot (have to say "trunk" here) for the groceries. So basically we have a car for the entire duration, but a place to stay only for a couple of weeks at a time - we are surely living the American way :-)

We've now been here 5 days but still have jetlag and have not really been anywhere except the office, supermarket and department store. However, today is Saturday and hopefully we'll have the energy to check out Old Town Pasadena this afternoon.

I've also learnt a little more about what World Vision does - it seems I knew less about it than the average person when I signed up for this project! Some of my friends actually sponsor kids under World Vision's sponsorship program, and most of them knew the connection with Bono (a few said before I left, "Get Bono's autograph when you're there" and I was thinking "Huh?"). Now I know how Bono is connected with World Vision, and what the "One Campaign" is all about.

Working with an organisation like World Vision, where every dollar that you save on the project can directly help a child or family somewhere, makes one think twice before taking a taxi or booking that hotel room when a motel is good enough. That extra 30 bucks can keep a child fed and clothed for a whole month! I shall attempt to do my part by taking public transport to the airport tomorrow, as I have to go to Washington DC for a required training program on Accenture Development Partnerships.