3 weeks in.

So, I've been in Bermuda for 3 weeks now. I'm currently waiting for my laundry to finish washing so I can throw it in the dryer and head off to TCD (transport control department) to hopefully ace my written test for my bike permit. Which brings me to the point of this entry - not so much a recap of what's been happened the past 3 weeks (that will take a lot more time than I have now), but the really interesting/weird/cool/shitty things about living in Bermuda.


1. Driving on the left is, well, really hard to get used to at first. Especially on a 50cc motor scooter. It's not that bad when just driving down a stretch of road - it's when you have to turn at an intersection that can easily throw you off. Making a left turn means you're turning really sharply and making a right turn means that you turn really wide. If you're the only one at the intersection, it's really necessary to check that you're going to be driving in the correct lane after you make the turn.

2. Learning your way around Bermuda is actually not very difficult. There are 3 main roads - South Shore Road, Middle Road, and North Shore Road (plus a few other big ones, but these 3 are lifesavers) that basically run parallel to each other and to the ocean across much of the whole island. If you can find one of these roads, you're not lost. If you don't know where you are, just start driving, and if you don't hit water within 5 minutes, then you're driving parallel to the ocean, likely on one of the 3 roads. The smaller roads (throughstreets, etc) aren't very well marked, so you really need to plan ahead with a map, especially if you're not familiar with the area where you're going.

3. The prices here are both astronomical and not so bad. Generally, the wages here are much higher than in the states, so people have a bit more purchasing power. Also, most of the boxed/canned (non-perishable) stuff is only slightly more expensive than in the states - maybe as expensive as in NYC or DC or some comparable large city. Produce is just disgustingly expensive (I paid 8 bucks for 6 gala apples the other day) because it has to be imported frequently and quickly. Gas is somewhere around 8 dollars a gallon but driving a scooter means I'm only filling up around once every 5 days or so, and then it only costs me about 10-11 dollars.

4. Dining out is a really different experience here. It's much slower and more relaxed than in the states. The food has been generally really good, although fairly expensive. If you go out for dinner at a decent place, get (alcoholic) drinks, an entree and either an appetizer or dessert, plan on spending around 30-40 dollars per person. And if you're paying with credit cards and splitting the bill, everyone just throws in their card and the waiter splits the check evenly. It doesn't seem kosher to split up exact entrees and give the waiter an exercise in his math skills. I actually like this a lot better than what we usually do in the states, which is make sure everyone pays exactly for what he or she ordered. Even if you pay a couple extra bucks, it is worth not having the hassle of trying to be "fair." Also, gratuity is almost always included.

5. You have to get a license to own and register a scooter, but not to drive one. This is one of the strangest laws I've found in Bermuda. You can rent scooters by the month if you'd like, for as long as you want, but you aren't able to purchase your own unless you have a driver's license. It kind of sucks for new people, because instead of just buying a used bike for around 1000 dollars, I'm paying 400 dollars a month to rent one until I can get my license.

I think my clothes are just about done, so I'll leave it at this for now.