A year on the island

July 4th marked one year living on the island.

Here are 10 things I have learned over the course of the year, living in the Azores:

1) Spanish and Portuguese are NOT the same, although knowing some Spanish helps.

2) The American lifestyle may be too fast paced, but island life can sometimes move too slow.

3) Other than cars and motorcycles, appropriate forms of tranportation include donkeys, horses, tractor pulled carts, and ATVs.  It is also OK to parallel park your ATV on a busy street in between 2 cars.

4) Yielding to cows is prefered, how ever not required.  If you can safely pass, go for it.  Oh, and do NOT complain about cow poop on your car.

5) Street bullfighting is a sport, and should be taken very seriously.  Just because you are at least 6 feet off the street, do not assume you are safe.  Bulls CAN and WILL jump when they want.

6) If you are at a Portuguese restaurant and are ordering fish or shrimp, make sure to ask if that is coming with it's head still on or will that be removed.

7) The Magic Jack, Skype and Vonage can be life savers.

8) Do your shopping during the week.  Do not expect anything to be open on a Sunday.

9) Just because there may not be a natural beach, a beach can still exist.  The ocean can be turned into a swimming pool.  Oh, and beware of jelly fish.

and

10) Never complain about living on a tiny island.  Life could be much worse.

Last year on July 4th we were flying from Baltimore to the Azores.  We arrived just in time for the fire works, but with some minor hold ups, we just missed them.  This year Ryan's squadron booster club had a food booth, so I helped with the selling of hot dogs and ice cream.  We had an early shift so we were able to spend the whole day at the festivities on base.  Here are some of my pictures from the very awesome and well done fireworks show. 

QUESTION:  What is one new thing you have learned over the past year?