Day 1

So it's day one here in Saugatuck.
I moved in yesterday evening with a woman in her late 70's, and as such does not have a reliable internet connection. That being the case I'm currently at the public library...I had to sneak my way onto the computers because I'm not a tax-paying member of this extremely small community. It looks like the neighbors have hidden networks around the house, though, so I'm hoping that I can con one of them into letting me onto their wireless. This whole 25 minute drive to get to a functioning computer might kill me.

The town, itself, is actually quite beautiful. I'm nestled in between the Kalamazoo River, the Kalamazoo Lake, and Lake Michigan. Needless to say, the town has something of an aquatic theme.
I gave myself a tour of the town, yesterday, for about an hour an a half. It's only 10 square blocks, technically, but I'd say it's closer to 8. It's two blocks deep and 4 blocks across. Not much space to take a tour, but I got around.
I also found this place, which is actually the shared library with the neighboring town of Douglas (right on the other side of the lake/river).
Everything here is very nice, though. There are some 30 art galleries in the area, if you can believe it, and a few years ago a McDonalds try to buy it's way into the neighborhood. The residents fought it off...The closest chain store or restaurant (what they call a "box store" or "walmart store") are about half an hour north, in Holland, Michigan.
I don't mean to dwell on how little this town is...I'm just extremely surprised that it could BE so small and that it hasn't collapsed in on itself.
The woman I'm staying with, Oma, is in her mid to late 70's and she has 8 children...7 of which live with their families within a mile of Oma's house. Krazy, right?
Fortunately, though, they're all very nice.
I'm extremely welcome and everyone seems very happy to welcome me here, tell me to make myself at home, and invite me over for dinner. Additionally, I've already fixed a computer scanner and a wireless network...My work here is cut out for me.

So far I haven't found anyone who doesn't know Oma and the family.
I went to visit the place that I'll be working (Saugatuck&Douglas Convention and Visitors Bureau) and everyone there knew that I was Oma's new resident because they'd never seen me before. Small town.
I'm here at the Library, over on the Douglas side of the river, and everyone knows me.
As it turns out, the project that I'm supposed to be working on...The Cool Cities Catalyst project...Well, Oma was the Chair of the project. Linda(Auntie), one of my neighbors, was the head of some committee for the developement of it. And one of the cousins, also in the area, now runs all the events in the building and runs a Dance Asylum in the upper levels. So the people that Cool Cities brought me to interview...well...I'm living with them. Cool.

Obviously, I have quite a bit to say, but my time on these computers is limited...So I'll be taking off soon.

In closing, though, I'm safe. I'm sound. It seems that I will be well taken care of, here, and that I have a lot to learn from the people I will be spending time with. Hopefully I can get alot from this summer, and I look forward to updating on how that is going.

Lastly, I packed way too much stuff......I have a room, with a BIG, bed. But it's a little room, so the big bed takes up most of the space. So I have only a small path from the door to the bed and I have to navigate everything else by touch. Well...Here's hoping.

I'll see you all later and I look forward to updating as often as things come up! (maybe sooner...I'm not sure how often things really HAPPEN here).

Ok, take care, everyone, I hope to hear from you soon.

Ciao!