Portland, Oregon

Portland in Oregon is a new city in a new state on my American journey and it is a place much more reminiscent of the UK. The land is greener, the trees varied and the weather more temperate and less intense than California. It has even rained here today - proper big, heavy drenching raindrops. There are a mix of pine forests and deciduous trees and the city is really easy to navigate your way around. Everything seems simple and easy to use! There is a train that operates throughout the city and the city is split into four quadrants by the river and a big road. Every street name begins with the associated quadrant, e.g. Southeast Division Street and Northwest Long Road so theoretically it is nigh on impossible to get lost! Even the bus stops say which direction the bus is going in. These things seem simple but I am learning that these little nuggets of information make all the difference! Nothing makes your heart sink more than when you proudly wait for a bus and find out you are on the wrong side of the road. The bus you really wanted left and the next one isn't for another 20 minutes. And it's raining. And you thought that it was always sunny here so you don't have a coat with you. 

This hasn't happened yet but I feel it is only a matter of time! The feeling in Portland is very relaxed, people are very friendly - if you sit in a coffee shop people nearby will ask you how your day is going and if you stand in a queue you are guaranteed to have some smalltalk. 

I have spent some time wandering around the southeast neighbourhood of Portland and am feeling like I am getting somewhat of a grip on it. There are wooden houses in the tree-lined neighbourhoods, all painted various colours. They often have chain-link or wooden fences around the gardens and a porch with steps going to the front door. There are a lot of single level homes and I have yet to see any terraces or even any semi-detached! 

I am getting used to America now, having been here for over a month. There are things everyday however that keep me on my toes and remind me of the cultural differences. It is state law in Oregon to have a petrol pump assistant fill up your car for you. You can turn right through a red light if the way is clear when driving. The poverty and homelessness in America seems to be very apparent and there seems to be a big divide between wealthy neighbourhoods and less affluent areas. The money is incredibly hard to use - the bills are all the same colour! They have bobcats, bears, coyotes and black widow spiders. The differences are many and some are huge and political and some are things as simple as the different plug sockets. It makes for an enriching experience though and the more used I get to the changes, the less exhausting it is learning new things.

I am really enjoying Portland and it is so far the most relaxed city I have visited. Portland in comparison to San Francisco feels to me much like how Sheffield feels to London. I have one more week here before heading to a smaller city called Corvallis south of here.