Conference vaxcat::friends

    
    
    	Pittsburg's a nice city...my wife's family is from there. I don't
    know tourist spots and such, but it's supposed to be very clean and
    neat.
    
    	Seattle? Washington state was named one of the top places to live
    in the country, so it can't be all that bad....:)
    
    
    chico

    Xtine,
    
    I'm in a meeting most of today, but I'll try to call you later with a
    contact in the US who might be able to give you some information.
    
    Jackie.

    
    Well, I'm not too familiar with Washington state, but Pennsylvania will
    always be near and dear to my heart.  A long time ago, I used to camp
    there for two to three weeks every summer, traveling all around the
    state, and staying at a different camp site every three of four days. 
    There are tons of things to do.  There's the Pennsylvania Dutch area,
    there's Hershey Park, where they make Hershey's Chocolate, there's the
    Quaker museums, and of course, no trip to Penn. would be complete
    without a trip through Intercourse, Penn.  Yes, that really is the name
    of the town!  If you do go there, and you enjoy breath-taking views,
    and wildlife, you just have to visit Carlisle County, and take a rid on
    their "highway" on the mountain.  It's a very windy road that goes up
    the side of the mountain. It is sheer rock cliff going up one side of
    the road, and sheer rock cliff going *DOWN* on the other side of the
    road!  There's no guardrail, and the speed limit is 45MilesPerHour!!!
    And, people actually try to do the speed limit up there!  It's very
    scarey in places! :*}
    
    Well, whatever your decision may be, enjoy!
    
    Terrie
    

     I spend a long week in Pennsylvania too when I was 13! It was in the
     fall and the colors of the leaves were very impressive! we managed to
     also make a gliderflight which was very special! Especially they way
     it comes in for the landing being so steep that I nearly pooped in my
     pants! hehehehehe! It was somewhat hilly but peaceful all together I
     guess. 
    
     m. ;-)
    
    

    
    
    Be sure to check in with Shilah.  She's from Washington State!
    
    /jen
    

    Pittsburgh is a steel town, used to be rough and ready, not sure about
    now, I have been there just twice.  I have visited Seattle only once
    and was shown about a bit by Shilah, I must say that I enjoyed Seattle 
    a lot more than Pittsburgh.  Pennsylvania is cold in winter, Seattle is 
    much warmer in winter, and you are not really far from the waters of
    the straits.  
    
    Dave
    
    

    Another vote for Seattle and I speak from 20 years experience.
    
    The city itself is absolutely wonderful, and the cost of living isn't
    too bad.  No more, most likely less than New England.  The University
    of Washington is a great school, I speak from experience.  They have
    some of the best libraries (but don't most universities!).  It is
    really easy for public transporation to the university from just about
    anyplace in the greater Seattle area also.
    
    It doesn't rain near as much as people like to think, that is only to
    keep people from wanting to move there.  And this is coming from
    someone who now lives in California!  You will not run of things to do
    in your spare time, and if you'd like some suggestion of places to go
    and things to see if you choose Seattle, let me know!
    
    It is extremely green in the springs, and that stays throughout the
    summer which are rather mild.  Summer is usually from mid-July to
    the end of September and the temperatures usually don't go above 85F
    and the humidity is very low but there are great breezes from Puget
    Sound.  The falls are colorful, not anything like the Northeast, but
    spectacular in its own way.  The late falls and winters do become
    rainy, but that is instead of snow, so the temperatures are very mild.
    
    If you'd like more info, let me know!
    
    Shilah

    I can personally and thoroughly recommend Pittsburgh.
    
    (It isn't just a steel capital anymore, Dave.. that was long, long
    ago.)
    
    Pittsburgh is about fine culture and good planning these days... and is
    also home to my most favourite restaurant.. The Grand Concourse.
    
    Don
    *8-)

I'm leaving in a month to go change my lifestyle - first (due to the weather in
the various parts of the US) to the West - the deserts.  The winter's the only
time I want to go there!

But then, after traveling for 6 months or so, I plan to move to the Seattle area
- due to its liveable year-round outdoor-oriented climate, the friendly and open
people, some college-town atmospheres, some small-town atmospheres, good food,
and in general __great__ lifestyle and work opportunities ...  

Mountains that are snowcapped year-round, ocean and LARGE bay (OK, sound) with
islands where some people live (ferry to mainland), flat land, rain or dry
depending on where you are that day, good transportation thru the entire area,
... what can I say!?!?!

If I can help answer your questions, send mail...


Alan

    AWESOME Alan!!!!
    
    Thats great news - I wish I were going too.
    
    I have always been 'drawn' to the Northwest and have been seriously
    considering a move to the Seattle area.
    
    Good luck in your journey
    Joyce

    Wow!  Snow capped mountains... ie skiing?  bay... sailing?  if only I
    can scrape together the dough...
    
    Seattle sounds like its getting full with all these people moving
    there... should be fun.
    
    I checked again the Carnegie subjects and I just can't raise the
    enthusiasm for the course... though the timing is better.
    
    Can anyone give me an idea about the cost of:
    
    student digs
    food - eg pizza/steak house... just to compare
    drink - Southern Comfort and Coke?
    
    Activities:
    
    Skiing? where? how far? travel... cost?
    someone at college mentioned White Water Rafting...
    
    does it sound like I'm looking for a holiday??? you bet! 
    
    but I don't want to get there and be miserable because I can't afford
    to do anything except stare at 4 walls...
    
    
    
    Xtine
    
    ps. sorry I was a while getting back - I got some bad news yesterday

    
    
    
    >My sister just moved to Seattle and LOVES it..can't wait to go
    >visit!;-)
    
    
    Hey I'm supposed to be going to visit Seattle too when are you going
    
    
    iceman

    
    Hi Xtine! ;-) how are you? I am terribly sorry to hear about your
    grandma! My cincere condolences. I am glad your grandma managed to get
    to such a beautiful age of 92! that is something you don't hear often 
    anymore! You have all the reason to accept her not being anymore with
    good feelings, Xtine! 
    
    Huggs,
    m.        

    re: .12
    
    >>student digs
    
    Depends on what you want.  My suggestion is to call the local newspaper
    and have them send you the latest Friday and Sunday editions.  The
    papers are "The Seattle Times (afternoon edition) and "The Seattle
    Post-Intelligencer" (morning edition).  
    
    >>food - eg pizza/steak house... just to compare
    
    There are some GREAT very reasonable priced places to eat near the
    University as well up on Broadway near Discovery Park, which isn't too
    far away, or hopping on public transit and getting yourself to the
    waterfront or the Seattle center.
    
    >>drink - Southern Comfort and Coke?
    
    Depending where you go...but you'll pay about $3.00 to $3.50....unless
    you go to one of the state liquor stores...
    
    >>Skiing? where? how far? travel... cost?
    
    There are TONS of places to go skiing...and it is real skiing on real
    mountains...just to name a few Crystal Mountain, Snoqualmie, Mt. Baker,
    Stevens Pass...the snow pack at most of these starts at over 72
    inches..they have tons of ski lifts and the university ALWAYS has deals
    for students that includes bus ride up and your lift ticket.
    
    >>someone at college mentioned White Water Rafting...
    
    Same as the ski trips...just keep your eyes and hears open in the
    Student Union.
    
    Shilah

    re: .9 Alan 
    
    You aren't coming back??? You are going away forever?? (sniff)
    
    Serenity

    If I can get the dosh together it'll be March 28th - June 10th...
    
    Looks like I won't be drinking Southern Comfort.... hard to believe an
    American liquor is dearer in the US....
    
    
    
    Xtine

re .12 - I found the costs lower and the accomodations better than the southern
NH area; food seems to be comparable, slightly lower in the stores - closer to
the growing in California??

Rents are hard to tell - can u grab a copy of the Seattle newspaper where u are?

Drink prices in a city, even for the same drink, will vary _considerably_ just
due to the type of establishment - 

In my own opinion - and I'm getting ready to put my life where my opinion is -
decide on the lifestyle you want/need "right now", then pick the place to live
for "right now" that comes close to giving you that lifestyle.

The Seattle area is one of the few places that meet my "lifestyle criteria"
right now; the deserts are a place I need to go at least temporarily first,
onthe way to Seattle.

I was in Seattle in Fall '92, still liked it from when I was there a lot a
decade earlier, visiting friends. This time I was with someone who had a
different set of friends, so I got to see another side of the city.

One of the things I like about Seattle and San Francisco are that they seem
accessible, like small towns but with the amenities of a city.  I still don't
want to live __IN__ a city - even those - but they are about the only cities I
would dream of living _close_ to: and San Francisco is no longer on the list,
for other reasons.

There are simply too many variations in food and drink prices, IMHO, to make a
comparison valid between Seattle and, say, Baltimore...  Shopping in Pike Place
Market may cost more or less than a commercial food store, but the food is
better and more varied - who cares about the cost?  (Go there and see what I
mean!!) You can always eat less later to make up for the splurging.

Go, see if you like it; stay if you do, leave if u don't - enjoy life in either
case, be happy.

There's a cookbook named something like "Beautiful Northwest Cookbook" - the
book is GORGEOUS, the photos _outstanding_, and the recipes are mouthwatering. 
Get it and dream!


Alan

re .16: Serenity, I'll be coming back - to visit you! - if I can't convince you
to come with me!!!!!!!

My kids live in Maine - when I come back to visit them I'll be looking for a
place to hang my hat for a few days (any offers?!?!?!)

Now that I've found you, S., I can't just go away from you, or forget you
"forever"!   (grin!)


Alan

    Okey Doke...
    
    The exam passed (not good, but probably passed it)... the funeral went
    off as well as these things can...
    
    and out of all this stress - I DECIDED!!!
    
    I signed up for Seattle!! as long as the bank loan comes through I'll
    be in Seattle from March 28th - June 10th!
    
    
    I'm sure you won't mind me asking more questions later...
    
    
    ttfn
    
    
    Xtine

    Hi again...
    
    
    We have been trying to discuss accomodation.. I was just expecting to
    sign up for Uni residence - but one of the guys going reckons theres no
    pubs etc on campus as the minimum drinking age is 21 and most people
    there will be very young...  is this true?
    
    We would like to live within a short distance of the University, there
    are three of us...we'd need at least 2 bedrooms...
    
    Can anyone recommend an area to concentrate on - ideally we only want
    to have to hire a car for weekends... though we have been advised that
    the cheapest option is to sit the US driving test then buy an old car,
    use it for the 2.5 months then sell it - is this feasible?
    
    
    Xtine

    Yes, the drinking age in Washington is 21, and although there will be
    underclass people there is also a well-accredited law and medical
    school there so there are several "older" students as well as several
    who are attending for their Masters and Doctorates.
    
    There are several areas that are one direct bus routes to the
    University.  Direct meaning you get on a bus within two to three blocks
    from your home and get off right at the University.  Some of these
    neighborhoods are Ballard, Fauntleroy, Queen Anne, Wallingford,
    University, Lake Union, Lake Washington, or ever across Lake Washington
    in Bellevue.
    
    It really depends on how much you want to pay as to where to
    concentrate.  
    
    Shilah

    Shilah
    
    Thanks for the info... 
    
    I guess we'd need at least 2 bedrooms... and we'd split the rent between 
    3... would we get a 2/3-bed place for < $1000 a month?
    
    Have you any experience of the graduate accomodation provided by the
    University? I believe it is in 6-person 'flats'. 
    
    Would you recommend being on or off campus?
    
    One major question is whether or not we would be able to let somewhere
    for just 10 weeks... often here in the UK the minimum let is 6 months.... 
    
    
    Ta
    
    
    Xtine
    

    You should be able to find a 2/3-bedroom for roughly $1000 in the area. 
    If you would like, I can get my hands on one of the local apartment
    guides and send it to you to look at.
    
    You are right about most places wanting a longer lease, but I'm pretty
    sure if you were to tell them your circumstances that you would be able
    to find a place that will rent to you month-to-month.
    
    I don't have any experience with the housing for graduates as I lived
    in the city and didn't have to consider it.  I'm not real fond of
    living on campus, the area is far too hyper for me as I perfer to live
    quietly and party loudly.
    
    I would solidly recommend Ballard and the Broadway District as areas to
    look at as they have great pubs and communities and reasonable priced
    housing.  Wallingford, Lake Union, Lake Washington, Queen Anne and some
    of the others are much higher priced areas.
    
    Shilah

    Probably a stoopid question...
    
    I was wondering about organising access to some spon-doodles whilst I
    am in Seattle.  I don't want to carry $000's of travellers cheques, and
    I don't really want to move all my money (ha ha!) into my Mastercard in
    case I don't use it all (here hoping?)
    
    Then I struck on a bright idea - my current account has a Visa Delta
    debit card - I've used it before in an Italian bank to get money direct
    from my UK account - I presume I can use this in a US bank?  Anyone
    know for sure?
    
    
    
    Xtine

    I've used mine in Canada and the Carribbean, but never in Europe.  Did
    you consider bringing the money with you in the form of a Cashier's
    Check from your current bank and then opening a savings account at a
    bank in the in Seattle?  Then if you don't spend all of the money you
    can close the account via the same type of Cashier's check and deposit
    it back home in your bank.
    
    They would give you an ATM (debit) card for free to access your money
    in your savings account and then you wouldn't have to worry about
    paying the fees for international money withdrawals and you know that
    it would work.
    
    Shilah

    I'm gonna check out with the bank over here tomorrow when I go to beg
    for the loan I need....
    
    I hadn't though about the international costs... I guess that'll add up
    to quite a bit...
    
    Is any particular bank better than any other - especially as we hope to
    travel the lentgh of the US... or are all banks 'state-specific'?
    
    
    Xtine

    Well, in the Seattle area, SeaFirst is the biggest bank, which is owned
    by Bank of America and they are located pretty much throughout the US,
    so you would have access to your cash via the cash machines pretty
    easily.  First Interstate is located through all of the Western States,
    but not on the East Coast, but you can still have access to your money
    via any cash machine.  Manhattan Chase and City Bank are located just
    about everywhere, but with very limited branches on the West Coast.
    
    Once you open an account in the US your money is pretty easy to get to
    via just about any cash machine, the only thing you have to consider is
    the service charge if it is a machine that doesn't belong to the bank
    you have an account with.  These service fees range from $1.00 to $3.00
    per transaction.
    
    

    I got the MONEY!!!!
    
    
    well, the OK to the loan... all I need now is the visa... and somewhere
    to stay...
    
    I think I will open an account in the US when I arrive... the bank here
    said if I used my Visa card there is no charge unless I use it to get
    cash out of a machine... so I guess its Visa for puchases... and a US
    account for cash...
    
    
    
    Xtine
    
    

    Lucky thing.... Can I come too... ;->>
    
    
    >> YUPPY::CARTER "Windows on the world..."
    
    Have you been listening to Belinda Carlisle by any chance?? ;->
    
    Rick.

    Nope... time to change the PN I think.... I've had this since Digital
    first got into Windows office products would you believe... must be years 
    old...
    
    
    Need to think of a new one I guess?  
    
    
    Xtine

    
    Xtine...It sure is time then to change your PN to something else
            how 'bout somthing like....One dollar or share? ;-)))
            which is about how much they are worth these days! ;-)))))))
    
    m. ;-)
    

    
    
    
    
    But this .33 Isn't worthless AT ALL! It's the "get Theresa to have
    a fantastic time with Terrie, Alan and Ann today"!!!!! ;-))))))))))
     
    It was fantastic to hear that t. arrived safely at Terrie's and that
    they were having a good time together! 
    
    m. ;-)
    

    OKEY COKEY...
    
    
    ON THE PLANE IN 12 HOURS!!!
    
    
    See y'all in 3 months...
    
    
    
    Xtine

	3months!??! that's a loooonnnnnngggggg plane ride! :)


chico

    hi y'all...
    
    had a WONDERFUL time in the US!
    
    
    ... now can anyone tell me what address format to use (from ALL-IN-1
    and VMS) to mail people on internet?
    
    
    Xtine

    Welcome back Xtine!
    
    I think I have that information in my directory somewhere.
    
    Jackie

	VBORMC::name@service@internet

	It works for internet, compuserve american on line and many others.
	If you have any problems, give me a bell 782 2156.

R.

    Thanks guys...
    
    Well I guess you like to know where I've been?
    
    Whilst in Seattle I visited Vancouver and Victoria - only spent a day
    in each, not nearly enough time...
    
    I went to Stanford for some student charity games, and whilst there
    stayed with family in Half Moon Bay... the guided walkman tour round
    Alcatraz was the best thing for tourists I've done... and the flight in
    a private plane through the towers of the Golden Gate was awesome!
    
    I visited the rain forest in the Olymic peninsula - it rained (surprise
    surpirse)...
    
    Went white water rafting - unfortunately so did my camera - so no
    piccies to prove it!
    
    I went back to San Fransisco for a week or so to get a tan... then got
    persuaded back to Seattle for a number of graduation parties...
    
    finally I went to the San Juan islands on my last day - the weather
    turned out beautiful after a rotten start in Seattle - and to top it
    all we were sitting watching out to sea when a school of killer whales
    stopped by to play for half an hour... absolutely excellent end to a
    great time...
    
    
    I made a number of really good friends, so I hope to be back pretty
    soon...
    
    
    Xtine