Getting around life's little lessons...

I've learned a few things since I have been here. Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks. I've learned that if you order ground beef, not to ask for half and then kilo--implying half a kilo because that means one and a half kilos or about four pounds of ground beef. I was frying and freezing one entire morning. The next point I learned was also a grocery store mix-up--take items from basket before paying. I made the mistake of leaving them in the basket. The cashier said something, I shook my head, she gave me one of those "idiot" looks--which I deserved--and promptly emptied my basket, walked around the counter and placed it back in the stack before checking me out. Lesson learned. I never did that again.
I was also given a phone--an old Nokia flip one...needless to say, I learned to text on the next generation phone--the one that actually have letters and not numbers and letters on the key pad...well, watching me text (it's called SMS here) is like amusing at best. It usually takes several minutes for me to answer, and the it is pretty nasty. I just learned after two weeks how to back space to correct my mistakes. But my friends here are very patient.
I've also learned that taking the iPad for a walk on the beach in March is not a goog idea. It got so cold, my electronics shut down, causing me to panic a little since it is my main source of communication. Don' t mess with Mother Nature in Mother Lithuania. I'm also learning to develop a very flexible conversion formula from oz to ml--8 oz of tomato sauce is about the size of a 250 ml jar here. If not, it's a lot more "tomatoey" with my new recipe.
I was even able to get a return bus ticket--for the correct day and correct time to the Riga airport. However, I didn't realize I need "documents" to buy the ticket, but my credit card had my name imprinted on it, so that served as my "document." So, life has been full of surprises. The buses have been a crap shoot--sometimes my bus pass works and sometimes it doesn't. But then again, it doesn't work for the locals either. I am just waiting for the "bus police" to find me the time it does not work...
Even though the weather is maturing into spring, it's still really cold waiting for the buses. Murphey's Law--the colder I am, the longer I wait for the bus. I usually walk most places though. It keeps me warm, but I always know Number 8 will be coming past at any moment.
Next week, I get to pay the electric, gas and water bills by readingthe multiple meters throughout the flat, calculating the payments, and taking the bills to the Post Office for the appropriate stamps. That should be a precious exercise...