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Saturday, August 18th, 2007
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I haven't posted anything in a while and I don't think that there is too much to post, but I guess it should be done. Yes.
Well, school starts in a few weeks and I'm terrified. It's scary to be responsible for teaching middle school kids English! yikes. My school is in West Harlem. But, at the same time I'm very excited about it all.
Right now I'm house sitting for Celeste and her dog won't stop bringing me her toy doughnut to throw. She's crazy and cute. She's a Boston terrier and everyone is in love with her. I wish I had an apartment this nice. One day I guess. It's nice to have some alone time--just me, the air conditioning and puppy, the dog.
yesterday Felix, Mark, and Liz came over and we made videos of the dog....so maybe soon you can see them on Youtube or something of that nature. WOOT WOOT. I think I'm in love with puppy.
AND she sleeps only when you sleep. She is non-stop. She is so CURT.
nothing going on in the love department except long-distance-open uruguayan fiasco. But how long can something like that continue?
My family is doing well.
I'm watching some weird movie with Antonio Banderas called "Follow My Lead" about ballroom dancing and public school children in NYC. Why are all public school kids in movies too busy "fighting for their lives" to do anything else??
sorry I'm so random.
spiraling towards teacherly......
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Saturday, July 28th, 2007
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hi everyone. SO, I've been away from LJ, but now I'm back. Kind of. I have internet in my house and will have about a month of freedom. so maybe i will tell you what i've been up to.
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just loaded the U-Haul truck!
...also cut the weeds in the backyard with a weed-eater! Lots of bug bites on my legs. It smells like summer in Atlanta!
Will be in NYC tomorrow night, moving in my new apt.
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i´m in Uruguay today. Got here yesterday. Will be going to a small fishing village from tomorrow until next sunday! i´m excited! (Balizas)
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Saturday, March 17th, 2007
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Hey guys! I got the NYC Teaching Fellowship. So I will be an ESL Teacher in a NYC Public School while pursuing a subsidized Master's in the same subject. I'm really excited because it's something that I've always considered, but was never sure of. So here's my chance. If I don't like it, I will know that I should do something else.
So I'm moving back to NYC (in May). I got into grad school in Uruguay, but I think I'm going to wait on that sort of thing, especially until I get financially secure. I can wait to travel the world a year or two more.
Love,
Michael
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Monday, February 26th, 2007
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It feels like it's time to post an update! WOOhoo.
So, last week I went to NYC for an interview with the NYC Teaching Fellows program. But more importantly, I got to see some of my dear New York friends! It was great. I was instilled with an undying desire to be back there and live a life with good public transport (which is lacking here in the HOT ATL). I won't hear back from the program for another 5 weeks...
Here in ATL I've been working at Pura Vida, a pan-latino flavors tapas bar. It's pretty fun, but I really can't work at a restaurant forever, or even for two more months. I'm getting tired of it. I pretty much just go to work and come home and cook for my dad. Sometimes I help my little sister with her homework. I feel like a fake replacement for my mother.
In anycase, while I'm waiting for the decision in NYC, I am also applying to graduate school in URUGUAY. I've already gotten the application finished and I've had my transcript certified at the Uruguayan Consulate in NYC. All I need now are passport-sized photos and I will be waiting to hear back from them. If I get in, it's a Master's in International Commerce (focusing on South America's MERCOSUR, similar to the EU system) which would start the beginning of April.
Of course, I think the NYC decision supercedes Uruguay only because in NYC I am closer to my family and my dad who may or may not be getting a liver transplant which may or may not require my presence. But I'm going to speak with his doctor on March 1st to see if my father could move to NYC or to Long Beach, CA and to see if my father wants to be considered for the transplant. This c onversation will definitely impact the fexibility of my plans.
In other words, right now my life is not very much of anything, but in just three months I could almost be anywhere.
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Thursday, January 4th, 2007
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Inspired by all of the other review-of-the-year LJ entries, I thought I would hop on the train with my own and, well, becuase it's something that is expected of us all.
I spent the passage from 2005 to 2006 on Playa Maruata, a small deserted beach in Mexico's state of Michoacan on the Central Pacific Coast. There were lots of hippie types from Mexico City and locals that cooked the fish that my friends had caught. I laid on the beach and looked up at the stars and realized that stars really do exist and that they are rather large looking when they aren't blocked by interference from big city lights. I felt rather at peace, although somewhat alone there on the beach. Alone because I wasn't Mexican, even though my californian friend, Josie, was there, and because I was really annoyed with my mexican ex-boyfriend. But I still met lots of interesting strange people and I think for the first time appreciated nature. It was a good way to start the New Year. That time in my life seems like at least 3 years ago because of all of the big things that have happened since. Little did I know that 2006 would be the first year that I would never see my mother in person, not even for a second. The last time I saw her was December 27th 2005, then I flew to Mexico to pass the New Year.
I went back to NYC, back to reality. I worked at 24 Prince and the LGBT Office at NYU. I went to school. I studied Portuguese and learned about the Mayans and Aztecs. My last NYU semester would turn out to be the easiest and most worthwhile. With Isabelle in the apartment we all got a little crazier and I would say were forced to have more fun. Xiaochang and I watched the second season of PROJECT RUNWAY and the first season of its Brittish counterpart, PROJECT CATWALK, both of which she had downloaded. Xiaochang turned me on to ALIAS and went crazy on her Proust thesis. But of course, when you are in NYC and doing a little bit of everything, time flies quickly and you often forget who you are or why you are there or that you are in one of the most amazing places in the world.
And then there was April 15th, up to this day, the worst day of my life. It started out with me almost being sexually assaulted in the Chelsea apartment of an older, but smaller, German fagot becuase I was irresponsibly intoxicated and unable to take the subway to my own house. After threatening to call the police I was able to escape. After going home and while getting ready to go to work, I heard Xiochang fall down in the hallway. I walked out to see what the noise was all about and I saw her there on the floor, dead looking. I freaked out and got that feeling that I used to get when I was a child and my parents would be passed out from being too drunk (or from falling down stairs from being drunk). I was able to wake Xiaochang up and help her to her feet. She assured me that she was okay, but as soon as I let her go she stood up and immediately fell to the ground, hitting her face on the wall in the process. She stared to convulse. I was sure that she was dying so I called the ambulance. Miraculously, by the time that it arrived she was in perfect condition to be witty with the paramedics. So Xiaochang...that's why we love her!
I went to work, and at about 11pm I got a message from my father asking me to call him back, which was unusual because he would never ask me to do that. I did and all I heard was my little sister crying. No one was able to tell me anything. I called back and I was informed that my mother had passed away. I can't even remember who told me anymore. I sort of freaked out in that it-can't-be-real sort of way. I went upstairs to the bar. Gave them my money and told them that I had to leave because my mother had died. I got in a cab and went to my apartment in Brooklyn.
I graduated on May 11th (I think) and it was a nice, normal sort of thing that leaves you wanting more...and wondering where to go from there. But, I was able to meet Xiaochang's parents (and share my distaste for foie gras), and hang out with KT Red's and Stephen's parents. I couldn't help but wonder where mine were. It was rather difficult seeing all those happy, mostly well-off families. But I guess that's always been an issue of mine, and, I guess I shouldn't assume happiness in any case. At least I had Kristal and Yonnathan as my surrogates!
I moved away from our beautiful apartment in Williamsburg in May as well. I miss it so much these days. But I was soon to go on a trip that would help me deal with everything that was happening around me.
After being in Atlanta for almost a month, or two weeks, and spreading my mother's ashes on Lantana Beach, her childhood stompingrounds, in West Palm Beach, FL, and spending a very trying car trip with my angered and depressed sisters and father, I decided to take a much needed vacation.
I started in Guadalajara, Mexico with Kristal and Mariana in a house on Prisciliano Sanchez street. It was a beautiful house with a horrible landlord. I was an English teacher for a month. But I had to leave because each one of us in the house was depressed for one reason or the other. I had to go a trip alone to deal with my issues.
I then went to Mexico City for two weeks and fell in love, again, with that metropolis. I took a two-lay-over sort of flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina. There I stayed at a deserted hostel in the ghetto, that only cost about 3 USD a day. I accustomed myself to a new type of Spanish and just walked around and enjoyed the architecture. I kind of moped around. I went from sweltering Mexico to freezing Argentina. It was winter there.
There I met many good people, including my favorite Uruguayo, Alvaro. I went to Uruguay and fell in love with Montevideo. I would return two more times during my trip.
I then went to Brazil and worked at Alpha Hostel Rio, a hostel on Rio's Botafogo beach. I went there from Argentina's winter to Rio's "winter". My first day there it was over 100 degrees farenheit. Rio is the most beautiful city I've ever been to or seen in pictures and has strangely integrated itself with jungles and mountains and beaches. Despite all of these things, I had to leave that place because I felt so threatened all the time. The only other city that scares me (but not half as much) is Atlanta, but I'm from there. I quit the hostel and went to Sao Paulo, which is now one of my favorite cities in the world, maybe because it feels so much like NYC. I rented, for the first time in my life, my very own apartment. I lived free of other people, when I decided, and had no obligations. I had to teach myself how not to go crazy with nothing to do. It was a good learning experience. I read a lot of Brazilian books. I became a hermit by day and a party animal by night. As I told all of my friends in Brazil, Brazil sure knows how to make you a fagot. It made me one. Oh, did it. Alvaro came and we had a honeymoon in Sao Paulo. I became a Spanish to Portugues and Portuguese to Spanish translator. I suddenly felt very capable with my foreign language capabilities. I fell in love with Brazil, and in Brazil, with a Uruguayan.
Now my trip is over and I'm in Atlanta. I got back the 13th of December. I have plans of grandeur (grad school, love, family, travelling) but I have to make some money first. So, to celebrate the passage from 2006 to 2007 I was training at one of Atlanta's best restaurants which happens to have lots of Spanish speakers (!). I didn't make any money but I had lots of fun. It felt sort of like a movie when the character at the end is beginning his or her new life. Everyone toasted and I got my glass of cava (they serve only Spanish and Latin American products so champagne was out of the question). I looked around, thought of the difficult but amazing year that I had had, and felt that it was all going to be okay. I was with new friends and will hope see my old ones soon. Here's to a new year!
Happy New Year to everyone!
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Friday, December 15th, 2006
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I'm back in Atlanta looking for a job. booh. Hey atlantans, send me an email.
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Tuesday, December 12th, 2006
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Well, after maybe the best sex I´ve ever had, I went to the airport and was separated from Álvaro for the fourth time in a matter of four months. I´m now taking advantage of my 14 hours in São Paulo by hanging out at the closest mall to the airport. I rode the bus for an hour and then I walked around inside the mall for hour, then I saw THE ILLUSIONIST (which I kind of liked) and then I ate in the food couth and now I´m going to go see SAW 3.
And even though I´m not taking advantage of my last day in Latin America, I thinks it´s okay because I´m rather sad and pessimistic about the coming months that I am to spend in Atlanta. It just doesn´t seem like fun when I´ve been spending the last few weeks on a second honeymoon in a beautiful, green, european-esque south american city (MONTEVIDEO).
However, being back in São Paulo makes me feel good because it helps me remember why it´s such a great place. I love the language because it´s pretty and easier to understand than spanish, sometimes, and there is a high level of diversity here and no one seems to be bothered or impressed by it. I could definitely come back and live here.
BUT my new romantic life plan is to move to MONTEVIDEO and do a master there. I don´t see why not really. It may not be the smartest idea, but at least I would be happier for a while doing that. If it doesn´t work out it doesn´t work out.
I haven´t really thought about how it WIll work out. But at least there is someone there for me.
I am excited to see my family and friends. Oh, except my family moved to the ghetto without telling me!
love,
michael.
p.s. i have 7 hours left in this hemisphere.
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Monday, December 11th, 2006
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Hey everyone. It´s my last day in Uruguay. My last day with my Uruguayan...for a while anyway. Tomorrow I will be back in Sao Paulo for 14 hours and then I will be in Atlanta 48 hours from now!
What can I say...I´m excited and depressed. Yay!
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Wednesday, November 22nd, 2006
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Well everyone, since I know that people don´t like to search for pictures to look at them, I thought I would try to recap (very briefly) the highlights of my trip with a photo entry!
CAn you believe it? I´m SMILING?!!!
behind the cut? (if this doesn´t work, don´t worry, I´m working on it)
( Read more... )
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Saturday, November 18th, 2006
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I´m in Iguaçu and hopefully I will make it back to São Paulo in time to go to Santa Catarina (the beach)!
Love you all,
michael
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Friday, November 17th, 2006
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Wish me luck! I´m headed out to Iguaçu Falls (I think it´s the 8th wonder of the world unofficially...or something like that...are there only 7?). It´s a 16 hour bus ride each way, but it´s at the border of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. SHould be fun. As always, I didn´t plan well and haven´t made a reservation at a hostel or hotel.
OH, and I´ve bought plane tickets to spend my last 2 weeks in South America with my favorite Uruguayan, so I will get to say good-bye to him for a fourth heart-wrenching time!
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Tuesday, November 14th, 2006
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Hello everyone. Just posting to let everyone know that I´ve put new photos on my photobucket page of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. (got to photobucket.com, search for mike_719, and open the links to the various photos organized by city)
São Paulo is still going well, with the exception of the neighbors who complain that I make too much noise....when I´m sure that brushing my teeth doesn´t make any perceptible noise.......
Yesterday Àlvaro returned to Uruguay after being in my apartment for 2 weeks. He confessed that he is in love with me. And strangely enough I feel the same way. I have been with him in 3 different countries now (Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil). Our time together totals only 4 weeks. Is that enough time to know?
It´s difficult because it´s possible that I will never see him again.....Uruguay is very far away.
In any case, I´m glad that I´ve had the time that I have had with him.
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Wednesday, October 25th, 2006
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Last night I was robbed! I guess I was kind of expecting it to happen at some point since everyone I know here (and everyone in RIO) has been. I kind of feel like it was my fault too--I was walking alone at 1am on a normally busy street. Normally I walk alone at night when it´s just getting light outside (a.k.a. after going out to a club) and at that time there really aren´t people searching for people to rob.....however, 1am is right after people are getting home, right when the subway stops. Of course there are going to be stragglers that get home late for some reason, and they are the targets for robbery.
I was getting rather close to home, but I was feeling pretty stupid the whole time for being out so far from home at that hour. I was somewhat nervious. I was about 4 blocks from my house when I see two questionable guys my age. I walked a little further over on the sidewalk to avoid contact with them. They obviously walk towards me and immediately I knew they were going to rob me. So I immediately took everything out of my pockets and told them it was all I had. They wanted a cell phone but I told them I didn´t have one and they left. They were almost friendly. In any case, I never cary much money because that sort of robbery is rather common here. I hope that fulfills my quota for being robbed while I am here. It still feels a thousand times safer than RIO.
I´ve also decided to be not stupid and take cabs when I´m pretty sure I will be robbed.
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Tuesday, October 17th, 2006
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Well, I moved to São Paulo and within about 20 hours I found an apartment. I´m living all alone! For the first time in my life. I´m excited. I think it could get lonely, but it I think it will be great to sort of have lots of alone time. Right?
Well, by chance, I live across the street from a gay mall, and on the same street as the best gay clubs (not the scary dangerous ones by the hostel that I stayed at the other night.)
that´s about it for now.
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Monday, October 16th, 2006
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hey everyone!
I´m in São Paulo and it looks like it could be fun.
Felix, what is you adress again`?
The paper i wrote it on got wet and i cant read it.
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Saturday, October 14th, 2006
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This is taken from cnn money online. Just wanted to see how my hometown compared to NYC. The results surprise me. I feel like the only significant difference in living costs would be housing, but what do I know?
Salary in Atlanta GA: $30,000
Comparable salary in New York (Manhattan) NY: $64,744.32
If you move from Atlanta GA to New York (Manhattan) NY...
Groceries will cost: 41.095% more
Housing will cost: 313.3% more
Utilities will cost: 66.535% more
Transportation will cost: 12.467% more
Healthcare will cost: 31.008% more
and for queens....
Salary in Atlanta GA: $30,000
Comparable salary in New York (Queens) NY: $40,335.01
If you move from Atlanta GA to New York (Queens) NY...
Groceries will cost: 33.779% more
Housing will cost: 89.668% more
Utilities will cost: 58.808% more
Transportation will cost: 8.334% more
Healthcare will cost: 15.302% more
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Thursday, October 12th, 2006
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I´m sitting here at work in RIO de Janeiro and I find myself thinking of my family and friends that are somewhat scattered across the globe (or rather, scattered throughout three continents). This might be the first time in my life that I´ve contemplated returning home early. It´s not that I don´t like Brazil, because I do, but there´s just something that´s calling me to return. Of course, I can´t return because that would be stupid, but I´ve never had this urge before.
I think it has a lot to do with my mother´s death. I feel somewhat guilty being so far away from home when my little sister is left alone to take care of my sick father (who is awfully cute and deserves to have his children near). But, to justify this trip to myself, I think about how this is a once in a lifetime opportunity (possibly)--it´s hard to have time and money to travel for 6 months or a year. RIGHT? For me it is. Also, I am working on a marketable skill--Portuguese/foreign language capabilities. also, not to forget, I struggled working entirely too much at restaurants to pay for the four years of my undergraduate education while my friends did worthwhile internships......I deserve a break. BUT, I have been on break since May. So that makes 5 months (I thought it was more). Maybe I do deserve a little more time.
At least people in Brazil are nice! Also, Portuguese grammar, while more complicated that Spanish grammar, is actually easier in its usage because of the extra verb forms that basically allow you not to conjugate sometimes, if you so desire--which is great! WOOT>
SO I´m headed to São Paulo and I´m sure that that´s not the best idea. WHy? well, first of all, I´m leaving RIO because I feel too unsafe, but São Paulo is equally as dangerous. It´s also larger, which could add to the stress factor. I would like to live on a beach somewhere where there are only about 100 inhabitants. Maybe for a month. I guess if I really wanted to do this I could. Maybe I will.
BUT! My uruguayan is coming to São Paulo for the first 2 weeks of November, so I can´t really do the beach plan until afterwards. I´m going to have a honeymoon with a uruguayan in Brazil. I should probably try to get a Brazilian lover....
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Friday, October 6th, 2006
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Well, I´ve come to the decision that I have to leave this hostel and go to São Paulo! I just need to tell the boss. Everyone is disorganized here, and the brazilians hate the chileans! It´s like a soap opera. Besides, I need to not work all day everyday! I would like to actually have a chance to do something social or take a picture.
Hope everyone is doing well.
Michael
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