New York or Bust

We are both planning on going to grad school in 2010 in the New York area. Patrick is looking at Rutgers and a few City Universities in Manhattan. I'm looking at NYU and Yale.

We also decided that whether we get into our programs of choice or not, we're moving to New York next summer. It's time to try something new. We'll let you know how it goes.

Baltimore

I've been back in the states since April 18th. The first two weeks were hard for me but now I'm fine. I can't wait to travel again. I was even crazy enough to think we might be able to take a trip this year. We have no money so that idea went out the window pretty quickly.



Baltimore is an unexpectedly pretty city. Everyman Theatre has put me up in Mt. Vernon. It's about a 5 minute drive above the Harbor into downtown Baltimore near Center Stage Theatre Company. There are eclectic clothing stores, lots of restaurants and great art museums. We're in a nice part of the city. I'm sure it also looks blown out and dilapidated in parts but we've been spared the grittiness.

This apartment has been so helpful. It has everything we need. Patrick came home on May 20th to a warm shower, food in the refrigerator, wi-fi, cable, a wardrobe I brought from storage, a choice of shoes and me. He was overwhelmed to say the least. He walked around the apartment not knowing where to be or what to do. It was kind of funny to see him repeat my behavior. I felt the same way when I got back. Hopefully I was a comfort to him.

Anyway, I'm thankful for this apartment and glad the theatre was able to hook us up. It has made acclimating so much easier. Patrick and I found an English Basement apartment in D.C. We move in next week. Slowly but surely we're getting back to real life.

Last Night... In South America

I usually think about these first, but here goes...

South America is massive and awe inspiring. Longest mountain range in the world, biggest watershed, grandest wetland, highest waterfall, ridiculous beaches. Hard to beat in terms of natural wonders. An outdoorsman´s dream.

Music is everywhere, often too loud. So many types, from what I knew of Salsa, Samba, Tango, to Folklorico, to Tambores, to the very country like accordian style music in Colombia, and much more.

Then there´s culture. It´s much more diverse than I had realized. Much more of an influx of European immigrants than I thought, especially in Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. I couldn´t count the number of indigineous groups. Sadly, their contribution to national cultures and institutions seems as poorly appreciated as in the States. Same with African contributions. As Erika said about cultural appropriation in Brazil, "It´s our national music, but F@#@ yáll!" There´s the more traditional and conservative Bolivia, and the free and loose Brazil, and everything in between.













I´ve got to admit the food was not quite as good as I had hoped, but I couldn´t escape without several new culinary loves. Pabillon Criollo, Pastel de Choclo, Parilla Steaks (I´m a total convert), Churasco, Alioca, Feijuada. I´m afraid to say I didn´t try the Hormigas Culonas (literally fat ass ants) or Cuy (guinea pigs), although I did try Alpaca and loved it.

Cities with dynamic artistic lives, Sao Paulo, Arequipa, Salta, Bogota, even the much maligned Santiago proved to be my favorites. Makes sense. Small towns I liked best were either gorgeous or friendly, or had a great market on weekends.
People are people, and we met all types. Just like anywhere else, I guess. But we also met incredibly friendly, open, fun loving people at almost every stop, even though we speak only a little Spanish and we´re a blackhole when it comes to Portuguese.

I don´t want to go on too long, but I wanted to share something... It feels like an epic introduction. I feel like I´ve just scratched the surface, and I hope I´m good on my word and make it back to see friends very soon. Hopefully with better language skills and some work to do.

Friendliest Big City in the World

Okay, so Bogota is not all smiles and roses. It´s a metropolis, with all the trappings, good and bad. But I´ve never been somewhere where people are so open. I´ve met a friend a day. Jennifer and Eduardo, on Montserrat, Jose in the artisan shop, and then Mario in my hotel.

Mario is an independent documentary filmaker. We had beers and walked the city last night for hours. Erika and I have met amazing people all throughout our trip, but it´s rare to find true kindred spirits. Mario and I talked about art and society, politics, youth culture, Plan Colombia, music, you name it.

Last night was unique, because we have similar interests. I hope we can collaborate down the road when my Spanish is better. But meeting someone really friendly, open, and patient seems like the norm in Bogota.

Per my Wife´s Prodding (Testing my Atheism)

Things happen for a reason... This belief that I have is one of the only things that mitigates my atheism.

So, as soon as Erika left our honeymoon (which people often find very strange) everything I´ve been lugging around started to fall apart. My camera connection cord stopped working after the amazing beach, Tayrona. (That´s what´s been keeping me from uploading pictures.) The wrist band of my watch snapped. My dope Brazilian shirt lost a button, I ripped a whole in my jeans, and I lost my beanie. Signs are pointing me home, I think. I listen to these things.

Another example is I canceled the last week of my Spanish classes in Bogota. I didn´t think it was worth the money, the school wasn´t well resourced or organized, plus the 5 hours of cultural activities that were supposed to be a part of our instruction were a total joke. Then I got completely lost trying to find my way to campuss, and missed the first day. Screw it, I can learn with my books on my own, I thought. The only problem was finding people to talk to. Can´t practive listening by yourself...

The next day I studied for two hours on my own, and went for a ride up Montserrat, which overlooks Bogota. The city ain´t pretty. It´s like a mix of LA and Eastern Bloc Czeckoslovakia. I offered to take a picture of a family up on top of the hill, so they could all be in it. When I snapped it I told them to say "whiskey," and they all laughed. After that they insisted I come and walk around the rest of the hill with them. Within 5 minutes the father of the group said he would love to get together and practice English and Spanish, respectively. An intercambio. I was going to go to the university later that day and ask around for one, but I didn´t end up needing to. Seemed like it happened on purpose. I went out with them the next day, and they showed me around, and I practiced a lot. Fit like a glove, they´re so lovely. We´re going to hang together when I get back from Villa de Leyva.

So these experiences seem like syncronicity, or seem destined or purposefull somehow. I get to believing in a higher power/being/consciousness.

Then I go to church like I did with my host mom in Cartagena, and I remember why I am at least areligious, if not completely atheist.