dream out loud

It’s easy to get stressed out, living in New York City. It’s even easier when you already have things going on in your life to push you over the edge. I was in the movies the other night, very crowded theater, and a guy walked by, asking if the seat next to me was taken. He responded with an ugly obscenity. It bugged me, of course, even the couple sitting next to me commented on it. I had to not take it personally – he was upset because he couldn’t find a seat more than 2 feet away from the screen and was taking it out verbally. Well… he should have showed up 45 minutes early like everyone else.

Anyway, that anecdote is neither here nor there, but one of the many situations in which I am trying to combat stressors before they even think about manifesting my being. I have a to do list a mile long but I need to relax and remember that these things will all get accomplished before I leave. I have not been sleeping well, not because I lay awake thinking about these things but they probably have become so pervasive in my mind that I’m subconsciously thinking about it.

One thing on the list is seeing everyone I want to see before I leave. It’s almost impossible to make time for everyone – they have busy lives too. What’s funny is that some friends I only see about once a year, so actually it is no big deal if I don’t see them until next summer. Funny though – I randomly bumped into a friend last Saturday and then one yesterday. They aren’t close enough that I might have called them to make plans before I leave, so I was really happy to have run into them by chance.

I got up early this morning and headed over to the Chinese consulate. It opens at 9am. I arrived at about 9:15 and it was packed! Luckily I didn’t have to wait… pick-ups have their own window. I stood on that line, hoping, wishing, praying that everything would be okay. When it was my turn, I slipped the woman my number and she handed me my passport. “$130,” she said. I was kind of shocked! I was expecting those two documents to be handed back to me with a big, red, REJECTED stamp over it or something. I was so caught off guard that I forgot to take out my wallet. I fumbled for it, paid her and felt like I was getting away with something I did wrong. (Please note, I’ve not done anything wrong!)

I was thrilled, and immediately opened my passport to find the work visa. I felt so happy to just look at it! I only have about 4 blank pages left in my passport… amazing.

I am feeling a little more “with it” now. I packed up a few boxes of things I won’t need this summer and moved them to my parents’ house. The movers will be packing my things from there, so it makes sense. Slowly my apartment will become more bare and I am secretly very excited about that. I have always wanted to live here in a more minimalist way and now I will be able to do it, even if it is an artificial state. I will continue to pack up, throw away, or give away. It’s kind of liberating, actually. I had an idea. Since the school is offering me shipping (I can ship 3 cubic meters by sea) I was thinking about putting in some stuff that I was going to donate anyway and donate it over in China. I am still working out whether or not that will be feasible.

As for the consulate, I went back on Monday, with a printout of an email that my school sent me, stating that the document is an original. The woman on staff this time, told me that the reason they don’t think it’s an original is because invitations are usually printed on a heavier paper, like cardstock. However, she took it from me and submitted it. When I pick up my passport on Thursday, I will find out if it was processed or not. She was very nice, but she said there are no guarantees.

I am in the market for some enormous luggage because I want to take as much with me as possible on the flight, rather than put it in the shipment. The delivery date for that is quite sketchy. Like, I could receive my boxes in October or December. Hmmm.

I would really like to have a tag sale. Does anyone want to join?