Making Plans

Sitting along the East River with the Brooklyn Bridge on my right and the Statue of Liberty on my left, I ponder the John Lennon lyric "life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." I had a plan: move to New York, get a job and go to grad school (the latter depending on the former). Knowing that unemployment rates and the economy were the worst they'd been since the Great Depression, I arrogantly assumed that such statistics wouldn't apply to me because I was overqualified for the office jobs I was applying to, and I had a large and diverse network of New Yorkers pulling for me. So in January, I left Hawaii to pursue my dream of living in the Big Apple and have now, seven months later, found myself still without a job and a severely depleted savings.

I applied with multiple temp agencies, universities, countless postings forwarded by my network, and even Starbucks' through their online application, all without success. And I feel like I could have done more. Job-hunting in NYC is a unique experience. It seems for every position scores of more (overly) qualified candidates with JD's and PhD's as well as the inexperienced, more malleable recent graduates are applying--the different traits apparently appealing to different employers. Had my initial cockiness not blinded me to the truth of my situation, I would've been scouring Craig's List from the start, thought more creatively about my own abilities to broaden the types of jobs I was looking for, and found better ways to market myself.

Also gnawing at my mind is how much time I spent outside of the city. Even though job searching these days only requires a working internet connection to send out resumes and cover letters, it's hard to argue that leaving so much didn't, at least partially, take my head out of the game. However, I'm not upset I went. That time away was spent consoling a friend in Portland, attempting snowboarding in Syracuse, spending Passover with my parents in Connecticut, watching my brother graduate from college in Hawaii, and fishing with my boyfriend in Alaska. (The generosity of friends and family often made these trips more economically viable than staying in the city--a very expensive place.)

As the title of this blog Vacilanda and its meaning indicate, I understand the value of "the journey." However, New York was a destination that mattered, and one in which I was ready to settle down. I haven't given up on that plan. For now, I'll go back to Hawaii and regroup. I'll take some courses at the University of Hawaii to create a more competitive application and reapply to the programs that most interest me. I'll spend quality time with my 2-year old nephew, whom I miss and my 3-month old niece, whom I have yet to meet. And there's a chance I'll get my old job back and be able to take on more responsibility there. Honestly, Hawaii is the best fallback an unemployed person could hope for, and New York will still be here when I'm ready to give it another shot.

With boxes of my stuff already on their way across a continent and half an ocean, I have reservations but few regrets. I put in a solid effort to make a life for myself in NY and fell in love with the City all over again; from the museums and lectures to the picnics in the park and bars with friends... heck, I even enjoyed grocery shopping and going to the laundromat simply because it was a reminder that I lived in New York. The city of internationalism, competition, grit, and glamour--and I was a part of it.

As I gaze longingly at Manhattan's famous towers of glass and concrete, I think back on the past seven months and can only be happy with and grateful for the life that happened while I was making other plans.

To Teach a Man (or Nik) to Fish

Jarrett asked me if I wanted to join him and the rest of the salmon seining crew of the Pamela Rae for the trip from Seattle to Alaska. While I had no idea what that would actually entail, I knew I wanted to go. As the date neared and no job prospects were imminent I reserved my flight from New York to Seattle. Figuring I'd be spending about a week with guys who wouldn't be showering or changing their clothes that often, I took the opportunity to pack light. So with my polkadot rain boots and a small back pack, I left for the west coast.

By June 4th Jarrett was driving me to Ballard where the boat was docked and being prepped for the season, and I met the rest of the crew: Tommy, Jen (yup, a female--pretty badass too), Magnus and Matt (the captain), and also hitching a ride for the fun of it was Matt's lawyer friend Donny. The crew was really great. They all had great senses of humor filled with sarcasm, ridicule, and dirty jokes--I fit right in. Other than some crudeness, they all defied fishermen stereotypes--including that they all hold college degrees. Well, not Magnus. He hasn't graduated from high school yet.

By the evening of the 6th, we were on our way to Alaska. We rode up with the Favorite, an older seining vessel captained by a friend of our crew, and it was a good thing we did as they needed some help on the four-day journey.

It was an awesome trip. We enjoyed some of the best weather and conditions that Matt could remember through the inside passage--I didn't reach for the dramamine once--and the scenery was beautiful. We cruised between the green peaks of islands dotting our path and watched as more of them became snowcapped the further north we went. Most of my time was spent hanging out in the top house laughing and talking with the crew while keeping an eye out for whales, seals, otters, and dolphins all of which we saw.

I helped with different tasks around the ship including driving, learned how to tie a few knots, and was generally educated about a world I'd never seen. I even felt like I was a part of it, but mainly as a mascot. The crew enjoyed having me around, so when they invited me to stay longer and watch them actually fish, I couldn't resist.

Everything happened so quickly on deck with the lines (ropes) and crew all doing different things. And while it seemed chaotic, it was obvious that all the moving parts were working together to haul in the quarter-mile-long net and its catch. I liked being on deck and a part of it whether I was pursing the net or just helping where I could.

I killed some salmon myself--I won't go into the details of how--but felt it was important to do to maintain my philosophy of eating what I personally would or could kill. And we coined the term wild-caught-itarian to describe my dietary habits.

Some dungeness crab fell out of our net, but we're not supposed to keep them, so I can't tell you we ate them or that they were delicious. We did keep and eat the smallest King salmon we caught, which was still a huge fish (13 lbs?) and shared some with the crew of the Favorite. That was probably the most expensive free meal I've ever had.

This crew impresses me daily. They seem able to fix anything, they perform very physical labor for hours and stop fishing at 11 because "that's when it starts to get dark," (Oh, Alaska) and wake up to start again by 3am, not that it's light then. It's a job that, no matter how many times someone explains it, you just won't fully absorb until you live it. To be around such hardworking people with so much expertise and skill is humbling and inspiring. For all their toughness, they spend most of their time joking and laughing. And as with most jobs, it's the people around you that make all the difference.

After seeing one haul dump over a thousand pounds of fish onto the deck and the next haul pour nothing but jellyfish and flounder, I can better understand why some fishermen hold to superstitions; searching for some explanation of or pattern to nature's unpredictability.

I'm happy that my being unemployed (or a "member of the leisure class" as the crew likes to call me) allowed me to accept Jarrett's invitation. And even though, the crew has invited me to stay longer, I think it's time to make my way back east and get my own job... One that lets me sleep normal hours and doesn't make my muscles ache.

Like a poster of a cat from a branch, I'm hangin' in there

I have been putting off the next post until it could be filled with good news.  But I figure it’s best to just keep you updated no matter what.  Bad news quick like a Band-aid: I did not get into NYU, and I still don’t have a job.

I think my application to NYU didn’t properly demonstrate my analytical abilities, so I’m currently studying for the GRE’s and plan to take an economics course this summer, both of which should help me if I choose to apply again.  I did, however, get into The New School’s program, and they even gave me a merit-based scholarship.  Unfortunately, the scholarship is not enough for me to be able to afford their program.  I have one more school deadline on May 15^th to the City University of New York (CUNY), which is not only an affordable program, but is one of the better ones in the nation.  [Fingers crossed]

In the meantime, I’m still applying to jobs and using my network to keep their eyes and ears open for me.  In fact I just interviewed this past week for a position that I think I’d be great at.  I’m also in touch with some temp agencies who can hopefully find me a position in the interim.  At the moment, I’m cooling my heels with my parents in Connecticut for the holidays and to seclude myself while I study for the exam.    

I still love being back in New York and with my friends.  I had a great birthday party and got to catch up with people I hadn’t seen in a while.  I’m very happy I made this decision and this move, and I want to stay here and make it work. 

Hopefully, I’ll be able to post again soon with good news.  If not, know that I’m hanging in there, and I’m still committed to making this happen.

So Far So Very Good

The reason Jarrett and I drove from Syracuse to New York on a day where everyone was worried about a huge, incoming winter storm was because I had a job interview on Wednesday at NYU for an administrative assistant position at the Middle Eastern Studies department.

I interviewed with them, and I think it went pretty well.  Also, I have a few other job prospects at NYU that look pretty strong.  More details to follow.

So phase 2 of my plan is looking good: "get job, preferably at school I've applied to."

And a quick recap of phase 1: "find a (temporary) place to live." I'm living with my friend in Queens, and I love it. I'm just a few blocks away from a plethora of restaurants, grocery stores, and at least three bagel shops. (If you've never had a New York bagel, you don't know the potential for bagel deliciousness.) I'm close to a laundromat, two subway lines (half an hour to NYU), the main thruway (for those who may drive in), and the airport bus stop. There's even a diner nearby that was supposedly "voted best diner in New York by Daily News." (I'll let you know how it is.)  So basically, I. Am. Set.

Phase 3: "get into a public policy grad program in the city" is still in the works. One application is complete (NYU), and I hope to find out in March if I got in. The New School and CUNY applications are almost done. Ideally, once I get a job at NYU, I'll get into their school and go there. However, if I don't get into their school but still get a job, then I'll go to CUNY, which is much more affordable than New School.

So far things are going very well for me here. Even though it's cold and snowy and I only have one moveable arm, I'm stoked about how things are turning out. Thank you all for your support during my move. I hope you'll come visit me!

The move keeps on moving

I figure enough has gone on since I’ve arrived on the East Coast to warrant another update so here goes.

I got to New York City on January 11th and by the 16th, I had left again. I met up with Jarrett at Newark Airport after he flew in from Hawaii, and we rented a car and head up to Connecticut so that I could pick up my winter clothes and such. While we were there, an ice storm made us lose power for a night. Luckily, Jarrett “saved my life” by lighting a fire so we were able to stay warm until the power came back on. We had a nice time in Durham and Middletown. We ate out a few times, went to the movies and played Super Nintendo--my usual CT routine.

From there, we went to go see Jarrett's friend in Springfield, MA on the way up to Syracuse to meet his family. We went to Sunday pancakes at his grandfather's place, bowling, four-wheeling, and hung out a lot with his two (and a half) year-old nephew Jake. Jake and Teldyn Skyped one day, which was fun.

We spent a few days inside because single-digit temperatures kept us in hibernation, so we were excited and eager for a Day O Fun of snowboarding and a Syracuse basketball game. Jarrett is a skier, but after considering my knee problems, we decided to both look goofy by attempting to snowboard. We got to the slopes, purchased lessons and didn't want to sit around doing nothing for two hours until the lesson started, so we decided to give the bunny hill a foolhardy shot. Unfortunately, that was when I fell, put my arm out to stop my fall and POP out came my shoulder--"severely dislocated." I asked Jarrett to put it back but since neither of us had experienced anything like that before, we ultimately opted for professional medical attention. His Mom who works as a nurse came with us to the ER. So after four hours and some intravenous drugs, my shoulder was back in place and immobilized, and I was insistent that we try to salvage our Day O Fun with the SU game. We ended up attending one of the worst games Jarrett remembers seeing. The best part of the day was grabbing drinks after the game at the Blue Tusk bar nearby where my friend recommended the bloody marys. It was pretty good. Not as good as Emalee's, but then again, nothing is.

I stayed in Syracuse for another week to see a specialist about my shoulder. In that time, Jarrett and I were able to meet up with my good friends Lee and Connie who I knew in Hawaii and have since moved to Kingston, Canada, an hour north of the US border. The four of us shared a great dinner and reminisced about Hawaii.

So I saw the specialist on Tuesday, and he said that everything seems fine, but since I tore some ligaments in my shoulder, I have to wear the immobilizing brace for the next two weeks until they heal. Then I’ll be in physical therapy for three more weeks, and I should be back at 100%!

So finally on Tuesday (2/1) after my doctor’s appointment, Jarrett and I started making our way back to the city. We stopped in PA to see his friends on the way.

For those of you keeping track, Jarrett and I have been to Hawaii, Oregon, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania together in the past four weeks. So when people ask me how I like living in the city, I can't really say I've done a whole lot of that, but from the time I've been there, I've definitely liked it.

I did it!

I made it.  Here I am, sitting in my room in Astoria typing a blog post about how I've moved to New York.  Hard to believe that this is my new home.  It doesn't feel like reality yet.  I'm used to coming to New York and staying with my friend Liam, so it feels normal.  Although, I did have a moment as I was staring into my newly delivered boxes; part of me thought, "why didn't I just leave this stuff in Hawaii," while another part of me remembered, "oh yeah, it's not my home anymore."  Otherwise, I'm just taking each day as it comes and nothing feels too weird or out of place.

Going to Portland and hanging out with my friends for a few days helped me to not feel the sting of all that I was leaving behind, which was a heck of a lot.  And brings me to the very valid question that everyone is asking: why did I leave Hawaii and in the winter?  It doesn't make much sense.  I mean, I finally felt at home there after years of feeling like some kind of mainland invader and was even helping to raise Teldyn--one of the most valuable experiences of my life.  Well, I yearned to be more than an office manager living with my brother.  When I tried to branch out to find work that better suited my potential, my lack of a Master's degree continued to be a barrier.  So this summer I made the decision not only to return to school but to move to a place that would challenge me personally, professionally, and intellectually.  Wanting to live in New York since I was in high school, it seemed an obvious choice.  However, I want to be clear, leaving Hawaii and Teldyn is the hardest thing I remember ever having to do, and that's part of why I'm doing it.  I needed to step out of my comfort zone, to test myself, to grow.  Leaving Hawaii after I made it my home, feels like I've left on my own terms instead of running from something; and it provides me the added security and luxury of knowing that I have a whole life to go back to in Hawaii if and when I want to.

Now I'm applying to New York University, New School, and City University of New York for their programs in Public Policy.  I want to learn about what policies work, how they can work better, and the potential for applications.  In order to afford those first two schools, I'm applying for jobs there to get the benefit of free tuition after one year of employment.  And that, right there, is the reason why I made this move in January, of all months.  I'm hoping to get a job as soon as possible, so that when I start school in September, it won't be too long before I can get the tuition remission.

I spent my very first day here (Wednesday) unpacking and cleaning.  The next day, I did some food shopping and met up with a friend in Manhattan where I was recognized by another friend who happened to be at the same bar.  (I guess this city isn't as big as people say it is.)  Yesterday and today, I took it easy.  I haven't been feeling very well (congestion, sore throat, slight fever), so it's been a good excuse to stay inside and sleep, which I'm much better at than I thought I'd be.

It's cold here.  The kind of cold that makes your eyes water, and since I haven't really experienced winter in four years, I'm approaching it the way a bear would--hibernation.  Luckily, staying warm and rested has meant that I'm kicking this cold pretty fast, and I'll be ready to get back in the city in no time.

I'm not really sure what this blog will look like now.  It's not going to be about my jaunts and travels (for a while), but if I keep up with it, it could be about my biggest adventure yet.  Are you ready?  'Cause I'm ready.