12:15 pm – Friday 23rd November 2001

Well, I'm back…

Yes, it's been a little while, but I guess my diary addiction was too strong to keep me away for long. I'm here in Miami, land of heat and sunburn and sweatiness. I got here Monday night after a bidding a sad farewell to Allison and catching first a crowded flight to Chicago and then a blessedly empty one to Miami. My new boss met me at the airport which was cool, and he put me up in a hotel for the first few days.
To list all the things that have been happening would take to long, but I've applied for my social security number, because until I have that (2 weeks) I can't be put on the payroll which means I probably won't be paid till the end of December. I have a cell-phone and a bike now which makes it a lot easier to get around and contact people. I also found a good place to rent, but it was rented out literally 5 minutes before I arrived to look at it. Wherever I find a place, it's going to be tiny because the area around the University is incredibly affluent, the houses are mansions, and everyone seems to have two cars and a boat. Even small one bedroom apartments are +US$600, so I'll probably end up in the disused servants quarters of some rich couples house (I'm serious, it's very common).

The people at the lab are nice, but I have recurring bouts of loneliness, not being paid and not being allowed to work yet contribute to this too. My new boss invited me down to his place for Thanksgiving dinner last night which was very nice of him. Today I extended my stay at the hotel, I'm hoping that I will find a rental place in the paper tomorrow on online in the next week. Once I have a permanent home, I think I'll start to feel better.

OK, apologies for not sending post-cards and stuff, I'll do my best to post again soon.
Lots of love… :)

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