I have two weeks left, and everything is happening fast. Tanja is here and gets back from the Philippines tomorrow. Rusty gets in on Sunday. Tanj and I take off to Vietnam on Monday, back the 6th and I leave the 10th. The 9th I will find myself surrounded by great company: Rusty, Digs, Tiffany, Yat Wan...a fitting way to go.
Anxiety is high, emotions rampant, and I can't possibly begin to articulate how weird saying goodbyes and packing my semester away has been.
I'm going to miss this place.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Senile Old Men
Dear Tiffany,
I don't know you yet but I already don't like you. The reason is simple. You are young. I hate young people. Like Sara. I especially don't like her because she is young and ugly. She's like a baby yeti. UGO. Plus she's Egyptian. I don't like them either. Living in the glory days of the past, trying to forget that even the Albanians and Georgians colonized them. The fact that you are friends with her puts you in bad standing already.
Anyway from my observations on your blog it looks like you are a real trouble maker. I won't tolerate that, I won't stand for it either. You will learn to respect authoritah!!! I don't think I would want to get to know you at all actually. All my years as an undercover agent for IASTE within @'s evil empire instilled in me a distaste for foreigners. @ would be a lot cooler if it wasn't for all the damn foreigners.
I just wanted to take the effort to give you a glimpse of how miserable you will be in Shanghai. Let me know when you are coming, where you will be staying blah blah blah and I will personally take it up on myself to ruin your life while you are here. It's a dirty job but someone's gotta do it.
Love and peace or else,
Digs
PS: I'm very creepy, avoid me at all costs if you know what's good for you. All the rumors you heard about me are the tip of the iceberg... The bad ones are the tip of the iceberg, the good ones are lies.
I don't know you yet but I already don't like you. The reason is simple. You are young. I hate young people. Like Sara. I especially don't like her because she is young and ugly. She's like a baby yeti. UGO. Plus she's Egyptian. I don't like them either. Living in the glory days of the past, trying to forget that even the Albanians and Georgians colonized them. The fact that you are friends with her puts you in bad standing already.
Anyway from my observations on your blog it looks like you are a real trouble maker. I won't tolerate that, I won't stand for it either. You will learn to respect authoritah!!! I don't think I would want to get to know you at all actually. All my years as an undercover agent for IASTE within @'s evil empire instilled in me a distaste for foreigners. @ would be a lot cooler if it wasn't for all the damn foreigners.
I just wanted to take the effort to give you a glimpse of how miserable you will be in Shanghai. Let me know when you are coming, where you will be staying blah blah blah and I will personally take it up on myself to ruin your life while you are here. It's a dirty job but someone's gotta do it.
Love and peace or else,
Digs
PS: I'm very creepy, avoid me at all costs if you know what's good for you. All the rumors you heard about me are the tip of the iceberg... The bad ones are the tip of the iceberg, the good ones are lies.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Oh Goody, A typhoon...
Tomorrow should be an interesting twist to life on this beautiful seaside campus when Typhoon Chanchu meets the HK shores. Notice that experiencing a typhoon is NOT on my list of HK goals.
Crapola.
Crapola.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Why am I still here?
I'm sad, frustrated, and demoralized. Why am I still in aiesec?
1) The unyielding belief in creating an organization that at this point doesn't exist.
2) The people
That's it.
1) The unyielding belief in creating an organization that at this point doesn't exist.
2) The people
That's it.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Good Day, Sunshine
Two goals accomplished today:
1) Get really lost
2) Have a near death experience
Some may disagree with the latter, but to two already-freaked-out and very lost ladies on what was meant to be a relaxing hiking trip through Sai Kung, a huge snake encounter directly followed by a WILD BOAR encounter definitely qualify, and "near death experience" can be crossed off my list of goals.
Aside from that little adventure, this has been an absolutely incredible day. Life is falling into place beautifully...I'm still in disbelief. There's just no way to describe how relieved and happy and lucky I feel, so I'm not even going to attempt to do it...BUT, one thing I do need to say is that I have some pretty fucking amazing people in my life, and I am so grateful for that.
On that note, 28 days till I'm back in the US of A!
1) Get really lost
2) Have a near death experience
Some may disagree with the latter, but to two already-freaked-out and very lost ladies on what was meant to be a relaxing hiking trip through Sai Kung, a huge snake encounter directly followed by a WILD BOAR encounter definitely qualify, and "near death experience" can be crossed off my list of goals.
Aside from that little adventure, this has been an absolutely incredible day. Life is falling into place beautifully...I'm still in disbelief. There's just no way to describe how relieved and happy and lucky I feel, so I'm not even going to attempt to do it...BUT, one thing I do need to say is that I have some pretty fucking amazing people in my life, and I am so grateful for that.
On that note, 28 days till I'm back in the US of A!
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Border Crossings and Teddy Bear Kingdoms...or lack thereof
I woke up this morning in eager anticipation for my long-awaited shopping trip into Shenzhen. Consumer goods were waiting for me across the border, and I was ready. I had my fanny pack on, my passport ready, my knock-off northface glued to my back, and pictures of my soon-to-be tailored suits printed and ready for action. After the 25 minute MTR ride, followed by another 30 minute KCR ride...Jess, Jacqui and I eagerly arrived at the borders. SZ and the glorious shopping in store were only a few short feet away.
One slight problem: my visa expired YESTERDAY.
I sat staring at my passport in disbelief. How the fuck did it get to be May 7th?! Three months have passed since I was in Shenzhen? I asked if there was anything I could do. Nope. I asked if they gave visas at the border. Yeah, unless you're from the good ol' US of A. Fucking A man, Fucking A. So, after I proceed to beat myself up over my idiocy, I had to turn my ass around as the girls proceeded on an epic shopping adventure without me. It took about another half hour in between the SZ and HK borders as I waited to be cleared to go back into Hong Kong. I cried. A nice man gave me a napkin. That helped a bit.
after a rather disappointing start to my morning, I decided there was only one thing to do with the rest of my day to make me feel better...find Teddy Bear Kingdom. For the longest time, I have heard tall tales of the mystic lands of Teddy Bear Kingdom located somewhere in the heart of Hong Kong. I was told I would encounter it on one of my HK endeavors. A certain person got lost in the midst of the land of the Teddy Bears, and his eerie retelling of the events only escalated my anticipation of the adventures I would encounter when I made the discovery.
I was given no clues as to location before journeying to Hong Kong...only that it was inevitable I would stumble upon it. I came to Hong Kong confident in the certainty of finding it..but as my time here progressed, I began to second-guess myself. What if I was never to discover the magical place? What untouched part of Hong Kong did it consume? If I can't find this place, how much of the rest of HK am I missing out on?
I finally asked for a hint. HK museum of art. Noted.
My search was temporarily forgotten through the excitement of travels and the daunting week of school work which followed (yea, I actually take classes). But, today, after my piss-poor morning, I was determined to find it once and for all. I took the MTR to the TST stop, speed walked down Nathan road, under the subway to the upscale mall SOGO. I then began to ask questions...people pointed left, they pointed right, looked at me funny and shook their heads. you know, the usual.
Finally, I get the answer to the puzzle: This is it. SOGO. Teddy Bear Kingdom was replaced by the mall one year ago.
NOOOOOO!
One slight problem: my visa expired YESTERDAY.
I sat staring at my passport in disbelief. How the fuck did it get to be May 7th?! Three months have passed since I was in Shenzhen? I asked if there was anything I could do. Nope. I asked if they gave visas at the border. Yeah, unless you're from the good ol' US of A. Fucking A man, Fucking A. So, after I proceed to beat myself up over my idiocy, I had to turn my ass around as the girls proceeded on an epic shopping adventure without me. It took about another half hour in between the SZ and HK borders as I waited to be cleared to go back into Hong Kong. I cried. A nice man gave me a napkin. That helped a bit.
after a rather disappointing start to my morning, I decided there was only one thing to do with the rest of my day to make me feel better...find Teddy Bear Kingdom. For the longest time, I have heard tall tales of the mystic lands of Teddy Bear Kingdom located somewhere in the heart of Hong Kong. I was told I would encounter it on one of my HK endeavors. A certain person got lost in the midst of the land of the Teddy Bears, and his eerie retelling of the events only escalated my anticipation of the adventures I would encounter when I made the discovery.
I was given no clues as to location before journeying to Hong Kong...only that it was inevitable I would stumble upon it. I came to Hong Kong confident in the certainty of finding it..but as my time here progressed, I began to second-guess myself. What if I was never to discover the magical place? What untouched part of Hong Kong did it consume? If I can't find this place, how much of the rest of HK am I missing out on?
I finally asked for a hint. HK museum of art. Noted.
My search was temporarily forgotten through the excitement of travels and the daunting week of school work which followed (yea, I actually take classes). But, today, after my piss-poor morning, I was determined to find it once and for all. I took the MTR to the TST stop, speed walked down Nathan road, under the subway to the upscale mall SOGO. I then began to ask questions...people pointed left, they pointed right, looked at me funny and shook their heads. you know, the usual.
Finally, I get the answer to the puzzle: This is it. SOGO. Teddy Bear Kingdom was replaced by the mall one year ago.
NOOOOOO!
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Summertime
I've decided to raise the middle fingers up to resume-fucking for the summer and go with my gut. I'm working at Teatro IATI the non-profit Spanish theater company as an intern to the administrative director. And, if all goes as it should, I'll be living with Clarali. Come August if I'm not fluent you all have a right to punch me in the ass.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Pulled in Two Directions, and I want it All
I went from zero summer prospects to way too many in 1 weeks time....
Option #1: Pace Summer Internship Program: High-intensity, obscure internship specifications, NYC history and culture courses, all with a rigorous global culture and leadership development focus
Option #2: Assistant to the Artistic & Administrative Director at NY ARTISTS UNLIMITED
founded in 1982, is dedicated to taking professional theatre to under-served audiences. The
company focuses on works that evoke dignity of the indivi-
dual and sanctity of the human spirit. A multicultural nonprofit
company, we tour self-contained to the ethnically-specific and
-diverse neighborhoods of New York City and the Northeast.
Option #3: Intern with the Artistic Director of a Spanish theater company at Teatro IATI
Teatro IATI (International Theater arts Institute) is a New York based, non-profit theatre organization established in 1968 dedicated to the production of theater works in Spanish for children and adults audiences, which it performs on its home base of NYC and on tour in the US and abroad. Teatro IATI specializes in the performance and promotion of contemporary Latino and Hispanic playwrights through play readings, workshops, and full theatrical productions. Teatro IATI serves as bridge between these playwrights and the increasingly mobile Spanish-speaking community in NYC, in the US and around the
world.
I sat here seriously torn in two polar opposite directions, and each one represents a field I'm passionate about and could seriously dedicate my future to. Do I take the structured, high-intensity international business route, or the riskier route-less-travelled of the vibrant theater world of NYC, all while developing my Spanish skills? This is incredibly daunting to decide, because it forces me to prioritize between two completely opposite and equally inticing paths, each that could potenially open future doors.
This brings me right back to choosing my major. I entered into college with intentions to major in Theater and Poli sci...I wanted to have it all...Reality check: not enough hours in the day for a double major with theater if you want to have a social life, and especially if you want to have an AIESEC life. So, a choice was made, classes dropped, auditions stopped, and in my gut, it was the right thing to do.
Now I find myself pulled in that direction once again. It took me a phone call to a teacher, a second-mom, a mentor, and a friend to put things into perspective. To help me sort my thought process out. To show me where my gut is.
I'm almost ready to make a decision.
Almost
Option #1: Pace Summer Internship Program: High-intensity, obscure internship specifications, NYC history and culture courses, all with a rigorous global culture and leadership development focus
Option #2: Assistant to the Artistic & Administrative Director at NY ARTISTS UNLIMITED
founded in 1982, is dedicated to taking professional theatre to under-served audiences. The
company focuses on works that evoke dignity of the indivi-
dual and sanctity of the human spirit. A multicultural nonprofit
company, we tour self-contained to the ethnically-specific and
-diverse neighborhoods of New York City and the Northeast.
Option #3: Intern with the Artistic Director of a Spanish theater company at Teatro IATI
Teatro IATI (International Theater arts Institute) is a New York based, non-profit theatre organization established in 1968 dedicated to the production of theater works in Spanish for children and adults audiences, which it performs on its home base of NYC and on tour in the US and abroad. Teatro IATI specializes in the performance and promotion of contemporary Latino and Hispanic playwrights through play readings, workshops, and full theatrical productions. Teatro IATI serves as bridge between these playwrights and the increasingly mobile Spanish-speaking community in NYC, in the US and around the
world.
I sat here seriously torn in two polar opposite directions, and each one represents a field I'm passionate about and could seriously dedicate my future to. Do I take the structured, high-intensity international business route, or the riskier route-less-travelled of the vibrant theater world of NYC, all while developing my Spanish skills? This is incredibly daunting to decide, because it forces me to prioritize between two completely opposite and equally inticing paths, each that could potenially open future doors.
This brings me right back to choosing my major. I entered into college with intentions to major in Theater and Poli sci...I wanted to have it all...Reality check: not enough hours in the day for a double major with theater if you want to have a social life, and especially if you want to have an AIESEC life. So, a choice was made, classes dropped, auditions stopped, and in my gut, it was the right thing to do.
Now I find myself pulled in that direction once again. It took me a phone call to a teacher, a second-mom, a mentor, and a friend to put things into perspective. To help me sort my thought process out. To show me where my gut is.
I'm almost ready to make a decision.
Almost