dream out loud

This morning I had dim sum with Stacey. Weaving through the Fujian section of Chinatown on East Broadway was kind of a cigarette-smoking, spitting, crowded mess. As obvious as it sounds, a thought that occurred to me while I was walking through this was: get used to it! Though I’ve been in China enough times to not be completely culture shocked, there is always an element of shock when you arrive somewhere so different. I think for me, it will be less culture shock and more about dealing with change. I don’t deal with change all that well…

After dim sum, I went to the Chinese consulate to apply for my work visa. Armed with the documents that the school sent me, my passport, my application and my 2X2 photo, I went as west as you can get in Manhattan. I took my number, V0180 and I sat there watching the board as my number was blatantly skipped over! I went up to the guard and told him that. He assured me I could go up to any window and just tell them that my number was skipped. Gee.. real efficient! I did just that and the woman proceeded to tell me that my documents were not originals. Hmm… I know I didn’t color copy these myself. When I tried to ask for further detail to find out what they needed, I was yelled at. So I was turned away. To be continued…

Today is an 8 week countdown before I leave for China. Fortunately, the time before I leave is the best time in New York… summer! Season of free, fun events. So tonight, I began part one of this wonderful summer journey. It poured this afternoon so at first we feared this would not work out. Luckily, it rained up until about an hour before the show began. Headlining was Yael Naim of Macbook Air fame. Opening for her – Herman Dune and Piers Faccini (my new musical crush.)

As of today, I am leaving New York in two months. I’m anxious, nervous, excited, and happy. There are moments of extreme joy, extreme sadness and extreme panic. I think it will be like that every day until I leave. Perhaps even my first few months in China. I have begun my packing list (and checking it twice!) I filled up my calendar for at least the next two weeks. Full of things to do, people to see – all things I will miss about New York.

This summer is sort of like a segue between closing a life chapter and opening a new one. A tad dramatic, I know…

I just realized that I have 10 more weeks in New York City. So much to do…