Love N-Y-C, dislike J-O-B

New York City is incredible.  On my first day here my friend, Lawrence, and I had lunch at a Tibetan restaurant buried in a corner that only a local could find.  We then dined at 10 p.m. at a Coffee Shop Bar, which was as full with patrons as a sandwich shop at lunchtime (also filled with incredibly good-looking wait staff, which I hear are the aspiring models and actors/actresses of NYC.)

The night only started there then continuing to the East Village for drinks.  Interestingly, the bartender was so upset at the time that he gave us all of our multiple drinks for $8--a price unheard of in Manhattan. 

As we take the 24-hour subway (incredible feature of the city!) back, Lawrence runs into a friend from college in Minnesota, Aaaron.

A couple of stops in and three girls board who, we discover, are trying to break the Guiness Book of World Records for the shortest amount of time to visit every stop in New York on one ticket.  We met them at about hour 13 (of an estimated 22.)  This was their effort to bring attention to and protest the rate hikes proposed by the New York Transit Authority.

The week continued with meeting friends from college to hear about life since then and then being invited by loose-acquaintances-now-turned-friends to a drink at a florist/bar (called Sycamore.)

The week also included a visit to Central Park, naturally.

Then a friend of a friend was a DJ last night in Brooklyn, so another friend of a friend--now my friend--was Honey Boo Boo. Here we see what happens when Honey Boo Boo meets a Smurf.

Today was filled with a haunted walk in Prospect Park (the Central Park of Brooklyn) at which my friend's roommate coordinated volunteers.
They gave away coupons for delivery food and free sunglasses (in October.)  I most certainly snagged a pair.

Yes, I love NYC.  I am in the process of finding a J-O-B first (before finding an A-P-T.) I've applied to multiple staffing agencies, am attempting to get my resume into strategic hands, am trying a few personal connections, and am pursuing part-time opportunities as a mid-term strategy (teaching German, English, or Mandarin.)  However, those steps are far less interesting to report.

Now it's time for a theatre's Halloween Fiesta.  Gotta be in the doors before 9 for the good deals!

Cheers from New York City!
Later Days,
Rick

A fabled move

I've traveled; I've met people from multiple corners of the world; I've learned languages; I've made memories.  Now, I want to set up my life.  My desire to quantify life leads me to evaluate it with a formula.  Each component I want in my life represents a factor being summed.  Altogether, the total must exceed an arbitrary level of happiness.

Job + Family + Friends + Culture/Theater/Orchestra + Restaurant Scene + Dating Scene + Public Transportation + Job Opportunities + Active Community = Standard of Living

After China, a month in Europe, and seeing family and friends in Minnesota, I thought Minneapolis/St. Paul just might be enough for me.  I then looked into some firms in which I'd been interested for the past 5 years.  After a waiting process and unfortunate responses, things simply didn't work out for me in Minnesota.

Thus, (thank you Glee for providing storylines and songs with which I identify)
It's Time

Now it's time for that oft-attempted, fabled move to New York City.  With my love of a metropolis, this city has all the components I need to make the life I want. 

I've moved into foreign environments before, four times actually.  I know what it takes to make new friends, learn a city, find new routines, and adapt to a different way of life.

Roots Before Branches (Thanks again Glee)



With each experience, I feel I'm ever more capable to make it in New York.

However, this time there's no Plan B.  After Freiburg, Stuttgart, and even China, I always had something in the back of my mind that I may pursue.  There was always another experience I was eyeing.  

So this is it.

Empire State of Mind 

 I fly on Tuesday morning with a suit, resume, and those skills I possess.  Until then it's many farewells--something I know all too well--and flooding the market with my resume.
It's time to do what it takes, fight for the life I want.  It's time for New York.



Later Days,
Rick